The handmade masterpiece, including the embroidered names at either side of the Union Jack, was Christine’s pride and joy.
The flag went everywhere with her, and after meeting Tom, everywhere with them for the next 20 years – that’s all home and all away games!
It clocked up thousands of miles on its adventures and became well-known by City fans who often stopped Tom and Christine, so they could have their photographs taken with it.
READ: From the archives:The Wizard who came to tea
READ: From the archives: The 113-year-old City flag
READ: From the archives: Got! Not got!
They also hung it from the windowsill of their house on match days, within a goal-kick from City’s Maine Road home and again, supporters took the opportunity of having their photographs taken with it.
Tom and Christine got married in true CTID style on 27 Feb 1976 and spent their honeymoon on the train – and the flag, of course - travelling down to Wembley for the League Cup final on the Sunday.
Colin Bell was Christine’s idol and she made it her mission to get every player she could to sign the flag, and she just about managed the lot.
Some of the signatures you can still be seen on this much treasured archive item.
The stories that flag could tell…
Tom is still a City die-hard, but his much-loved wife Christine has now passed away.
The flag holds many special memories for Tom and the flag she made more than 50 years ago has been kindly donated to the Club by Tom for preservation.
Do you remember the Maine Road flag, or did you have a picture taken with it? We’d love to hear from you if you have.
Or do you have any rare City treasures you’d like to share with the Club - we’d like to hear from anyone who has any items of special or personal interest....
