Hugely successful campaigns in recent years have helped to raise the profile of Pep Guardiola’s side globally, whilst impressive pre-season tours all over the planet have helped the club appeal to new audiences.
26-year-old Jacob Lackey from Knoxville, Tennessee (USA) is a huge City fan and there was one moment that confirmed his love for the club.
Jacob was a casual City fan and enjoyed watching the team in action, but after Sergio Aguero’s infamous winner against QPR in 2012, his passion for the club was cemented.
“In America, the Premier League wasn’t big at the time so you hardly ever saw anything but a few highlights here and there,” he relates.
“I was watching TV on a Wednesday night and they showed the highlights from the last Derby at Maine Road in 2002, and I got to see Gary Neville feed the Goat as they say.
“The moment I truly fell in love with the club was the 93:20 goal.
“Just the unfiltered emotions you saw on the touchline and in the stands was absolutely amazing. It really cemented my fandom for me, I knew that City was the club for me, just seeing how much it meant to the players and especially the fans.”
Jacob, who lives almost 4,000 miles away from the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, admitted that he is keen to encourage the generations to come to support City, mainly because of the connection that the club maintains with the fans.
“I definitely would, just the bond I feel with the club is something I think that differentiates City from other clubs around the globe,” he revealed.
“Their willingness to connect with fans is immense.
“Back in August we actually had a regional Supporters Club watch party in Atlanta for the opening Premier League match against West Ham, and the club was not only nice enough to send all six trophies for the party, we also got to meet and ask questions to former City player Shaun Wright Phillips!
“I know that’s a very unique experience and I personally can’t thank Manchester City enough for the experience.”
For millions of football fans around the globe, this is a very difficult period due to the suspension of the sport due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
Jacob is also struggling without seeing his beloved City in action on a weekly basis, but he did reveal that he’s using a couple of strategies to help cope with the gaping hole.
“It’s definitely a very odd time right now,” he admitted. “But the biggest way I’m coping without City in my life right now is by watching match replays and playing out my Manchester City career on FIFA 20.
“I can’t say I’m as good as Guardiola unfortunately.”
Not many people are!
To find out more about MCFC Knox or your local supporters club, visit - supportersclubs.mancity.com. Join the official supporters club family today.
*Jacob Lackey runs the Manchester City Knoxville Supporters Club.
