Blues fans can give themselves a big pat on the back - not only did they play a huge role in Thursday night's UEFA Cup spectacular against Hamburg, they also raised a remarkable £8,212 for The New Children's Hospital Appeal.

Every donation for the thousands of inflatable bananas and City flags that helped produce that marvellous atmosphere from a 47,000 sell-out crowd at the City of Manchester Stadium went to the club’s official charity for the 2008-09 season.

Manager Mark Hughes was down at the new children’s hospital development on the Manchester Royal Infirmary site at Oxford Road recently to check on the progress of a project dear to the club’s heart, with a £20million target well on the way to being raised by the Appeal.

Jenny Yates, the corporate and individual fundraising manager, said: “The grand total for last week’s collection came to £8212.56, which was fantastic. Many thanks to City fans for their kind generosity.”