Pep Guardiola’s men stand on the cusp of a fourth Premier League title in five years, with victory over Aston Villa on the final day of the season all that stands between that dream becoming a reality.
Our final match of the campaign will also represent legendary captain Fernandinho’s last in a City shirt, as the Brazilian calls time on a phenomenal nine years at the Club.
But for Etihad Stadium PA announcer Alex Kirkley, our showdown with the Villans also takes on an extra weight of significance.
Indeed, the man behind the voice you’ve heard on countless occasions at the Etihad is celebrating his 300th match behind the microphone this afternoon.
Having first called the action for a pre-season match in 2010, the lifelong supporter has witnessed his beloved City claim every available domestic honour and push the boundaries of footballing greatness over the past decade.
It is a job which, for Kirkley, remains as much of a privilege on its 300th iteration as its first.
“It means an awful lot (to reach 300 games), there isn’t a game where I turn up at the stadium and don’t think about how privileged I am,” he reflected.
“I know it sounds a bit twee but considering how well the Club is doing I truly believe it’s one of the best jobs in football. I’m really lucky.
“The first game I ever did was a pre-season friendly against Valencia in 2010, David Silva and Yaya Toure had just signed. It felt like a new dawn for City at the time.
“My day job is in sales so I’m presenting and dealing with people all the time so it just fulfils that need in my life to shout and perform I suppose, it’s great.
“I think the last game I missed was when my son was born about three and a half years ago!”
Alongside his responsibilities as Stadium announcer, Kirkley also oversees City’s Tunnel Club hospitality interviews – chatting to City legends and opposition celebrity fans alike.
A new facet to his role this season, he has had the chance to speak with the likes of famous DJ Trevor Nelson, actor and comedian Steven Mangan and Keith Allen among others.
The short journey up to the PA room at the Etihad Stadium follows, where his meticulous preparation, often starting three or four days prior to the action, comes into fruition.
Nonetheless, some standout moments have, of course, cut through that routine – none more so than City’s inaugural Premier League title win.
Indeed, Kirkley has revealed that the fan, rather than the professional, took charge of his judgement at a crucial moment in the match, as City searched for the victory which would ultimately end our 44-year-wait for a top flight title.
“We’ve had the odd earthquake tremor in Manchester over the years, but that’s the first time I’ve ever felt a physical structure shake between our feet,” he said of our 3-2 win over Queen’s Park Rangers.
“The David Silva corner was about to be taken for Edin Dzeko’s equaliser just as it went into injury time.
“The board had gone up and normally I’d make the announcement straight away, but as a fan I didn’t want to put Silva off, almost like a snooker playing taking a shot.
“I kept my mouth shut as he took it and then once the goal announcement was done I revealed the amount of stoppage time retrospectively.
“I’d like to think that I played a role in that game, even if it was very small!”
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Ten years on, 93:20 remains a watershed moment for Manchester City and one which Kirkley remembers as fondly as the day he announced Sergio Aguero’s title-winning strike.
But the announcer has also pinpointed two further moments which personally stand out above others in his 299 matches to date.
He said: “I don’t know if you’ll remember an RB Salzburg player called Alan? That was one of the moments when I really felt in touch with the fans.
“It was December 2010, it was freezing cold and when he came on and I announced his name, everyone in the crowd just ran with it: ‘Alan! Alan! Alan!’.
“We ended up beating RB Salzburg 3-0, I don’t think it was an instant classic but mainly for the Alan reasons it sticks in my mind.
“(Pablo) Zabaleta’s final match was really poignant as well when he came on against West Bromwich Albion.
“I got quite emotional around that, he was one of my favourite players at City, who would’ve run through the wall for the Club and was an adopted Mancunian.
“They’re the ones that stand out for me, they’re the days that I’ve really enjoyed.”
Congratulations to Alex Kirkley on his 300 games behind the microphone!
