Football Dynasty-Chapter 19: Relegated

Full Members' Cup was the second edition of the tournament created to compensate for the ban on English clubs from European football following the Heysel Stadium disaster.

Since Manchester City was playing at home, they wore their iconic sky blue kit, while Ipswich took the field in their maroon away jerseys. The energy in the air was electric, and Richard could feel the anticipation building as he watched fans making their way toward the stadium entrance.

Richard didn't know exactly how Manchester City would fare this season.

Their first-team manager, Billy McNeill, had quit last September, just a month after the English First Division had started, to take over at Aston Villa. His position was filled by his assistant manager, Jimmy Frizzell.

Their performance?

Enough to make the board despair.

In the EFL Cup fourth-round, they were knocked out by Arsenal with a 3-1 defeat.

The FA Cup third-round, which concluded just two weeks ago, also saw them eliminated by their city rivals, Manchester United, with a 1-0 loss.

In the First Division, while their city rivals are comfortably mid-table, they're battling relegation!

The funny part is Aston Villa's performance under ex-City manager Billy McNeill. They're also fighting relegation alongside City.

Some even say the battle for the top spot in the relegation zone is a showdown between former colleagues Billy McNeill and Jimmy Frizzell.

City: Suckling, Gidman, Wilson, Clements, McCarthy, Grealish, Simpson, McNab, Varadi, Lake, Barnes – Subs Redmond, Scott

Ipswich: Cooper, Zondervan, McCall, Atkins, Dozzell, Cranson, Humes, Brennan, Deehan, Wilson, Gleghorn – Subs Yallop, Cole

Richard adjusted his scarf tighter around his neck as he made his way up the steps of Maine Road, the chill of a late January afternoon biting through his coat.

Today, he clutched a paper ticket like any other supporter, weaving through the crowd before finally settling into a worn-out seat amidst a sea of sky-blue scarves.

'It's weird,' he thought. No matter how many times he came to matches in this era, the atmosphere always felt... different.

The cold concrete beneath his feet, the scent of meat pies mingling with cigarette smoke in the brisk air, and the raucous chatter of fans all around him—it was a sensory overload, raw and authentic.

The pre-match rituals of old-school football and the modern game were worlds apart, and he could feel it deeply.

Here, everything felt more raw, spontaneous, and entirely fan-driven. The atmosphere was born in the stands—constant chanting and singing, crowds waving scarves and flags, and the occasional flare lighting up the terraces. It was messy, loud, and imperfect—but that was the charm.

It was a stark contrast to the view from modern football, where the sports itself had become a spectacle. Clubs used PA systems, light shows, and jumbotron screens to play hype videos before kick-off. Fans still sang, of course, but the chants were often led by designated ultras or carefully pre-arranged routines.

The atmosphere felt more orchestrated. And the flares? Those were either heavily regulated or outright banned.

Even the pre-match coverage was different. It was simple—a brief segment showing the line-ups before jumping straight into the action.

Now, there were hours of build-up—pundits dissecting tactics, making predictions, conducting player interviews, and broadcasting live shots of warm-ups.

The player entrances had also changed. Here, he could see teams simply walking out side by side with the referee—no mascots, no elaborate displays.

Managers exchanged relaxed handshakes, if at all. There were no players strolling onto the pitch hand-in-hand with child mascots, standing behind anti-racism banners before kick-off.

And then there were the tifo displays. Now they were spontaneous—fans holding up scarves or homemade banners. It was heartfelt but chaotic. In the modern game, tifos had become massive, choreographed spectacles, sometimes involving thousands of fans unveiling professional-level artwork that could cover entire stands.

For Richard himself, the modern game had its perks—the technology, the global reach—but there was something special about these moments. Something pure.

The referee's whistle echoed through Maine Road, pulling Richard back into the present. For all its changes, football was still football. And for now, that was enough.

21st Minute – City Strikes FirstRichard barely had time to settle before the first moment of magic. A long ball floated from the back, cutting through Ipswich's midfield. Imre Varadi, City's number nine, read it perfectly, slipping between two defenders. One bounce, then a fierce drive low past the keeper. The terrace around erupted—hats thrown in the air, beer flying, strangers hugging. Maine Road at its best.

24th Minute – Ipswich Answers BackBut City's joy was short-lived. Ipswich pressed forward almost immediately. A quick series of passes on the right flank left City's defense scrambling. The ball was squared low across the box, and Ian Wilson met it first-time, guiding it past the outstretched arms of Suckling.

"GOALLLL!!!!!"

"BOOOOO!!!!"

The roar erupted like a thunderclap, but the response from the home crowd was instant and venomous.

It was unclear whether the boos were directed at Ipswich or City players for them failing to deliver better results.

The sound of triumphant chants rippled through the stadium, while a deafening chorus of boos echoed like a tidal wave.

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46th Minute – Varadi AgainThe second half began just as the first had ended—chaotic and relentless. Barely a minute in, City pushed forward with intent. A looping cross from the left found Varadi again, leaping high between two defenders. His header was perfectly placed, arcing over the keeper into the net. Maine Road exploded in euphoria once more.

Fans surged forward, some nearly spilling onto the pitch. Richard laughed aloud, caught up in the moment, forgetting himself entirely. It was pure, childlike joy.

50th & 54th Minutes – Ipswich's ComebackBut football, cruel as ever, had other plans. Ipswich, refusing to fold, pressed on. From a corner in the 50th minute, the ball ricocheted off bodies before falling kindly to Tony Humes, who smashed it into the roof of the net. The away fans were delirious now.

City seemed rattled, their earlier dominance slipping. Just four minutes later, calamity struck.

A mistimed tackle inside the box sent an Ipswich player sprawling. The referee's whistle echoed—a penalty. Kevin Brennan stepped up, the stadium holding its breath. Suckling dived left; the ball went right. Ipswich led 3-2.

The home crowd fell into a heavy silence, the kind that only football can summon—a mix of frustration and disbelief.

The Final Whistle.

As the referee's final whistle rang out, sealing City's fate, fans around Richard were already making their way to the exits, muttering frustrations or offering half-hearted consolation to their family.

The opposition, however, was different.

"NA NA NA NAA... IPSWICH..."

Their chants echoed through Maine Road, twisting the knife a little deeper into the hearts of the home crowd.