Stan the man....my memories!

This was the League fixture i longed to see, Man City v Bury. I never ever expected to see it (and probably never will again) but somehow Citys demise towards the back end of the 90s had made it happen.

I went to the Tuesday night sold-out Gigg Lane fixture actually hoping for a draw, that's exactly what happened, David Johnson scoring for Bury early in the 2nd half and the blues LB equalising with a header from a corner for City in the 82nd minute (can't for the life of me think what he was called). Inbetween Georgie Kinkladze had a penalty saved by super Dean Kiely to preserve the Shakers slender lead.

Due to my football committments on Saturdays, i couldn't get to Maine Rd for the reverse fixture but couldn't believe the score when we all returned to the pub after our game. Even i couldn't believe how little Bury had imo done the impossible......to this day i regret not going.

The reason i've posted this is because of the article on the BBC sports website today (which i'll post below) with Stan Ternant. I actually spoke to Stan when i went to a corperate do at Gigg a couple of weeks ago. I jokingly said "they're not as good as the 96/97 team are they?" refering to our successive promotions. Never putting the lads down he smartly replied "No, but they're not a bad bunch".

To this day, during my time he's been the most successful manager at Gigg and will always be held in high esteme by me, it was an absolute pleasure to meet and talk to the fella we call Stan the man.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17926208

Got a lot of time for Stan, as honest as they come. Unfortunately i was at Maine Road for the reverse fixture Den, and Kiely was immense that day, like most times he played against the Blues. That was a 'typical City' day, thank fuck we don't get many like them now.

We've had some top keepers at Bury over the years, Neville Southall, Paddy Kenny, Phil Hughes and Gary Kelly but Dean Kiely was something special. He had a presence and bravery that adhered him to the fans, he'll always be remebered by us for his penalty save in the 89th minute at Watford to keep the game goal-less, we needed a draw to gain promotion too.

ps. Thanks for your comments Si. Just wanted to share one of my memories from one of Burys very rare good times (i'd have prefered 2 draws tbh).

I would have too Den, but Bury fully deserved the win, they played like a proper team that day, like City are now. Bury seem in a good place atm mate, after some troubled times, great to see. All the best to them, except against the blues when/if they meet

Got a lot of time for Kiely, i see him often as i live round the corner from the baggies training ground, he is a legend in these parts too.