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does anyone know wher this 'citizens' crap started?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 9:37 am
by rosbif cuisson 'bleu'
I noticed Darren (english pundit) on Canal+(France) starting to call city fans 'citizens' about 2 years ago and thought it was just french telly that had made it up, but it seems to be catching on. What the fuck is that all about? I never knew anyone who called themselves a 'citizen' since i was a kid....( a long while now); Don't like it, it makes us sound like 'johhny come lately glory hunters', like you know who...

Re: does anyone know wher this 'citizens' crap started?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 10:12 am
by Blue2
City's nickname has been the Citizens for at least 45 years and probably much longer, it seemed to get forgotton and is maybe making a comeback with some people.

Re: does anyone know wher this 'citizens' crap started?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 10:25 am
by sandman
rosbif cuisson 'bleu' wrote:I noticed Darren (english pundit) on Canal+(France) starting to call city fans 'citizens' about 2 years ago and thought it was just french telly that had made it up, but it seems to be catching on. What the fuck is that all about? I never knew anyone who called themselves a 'citizen' since i was a kid....( a long while now); Don't like it, it makes us sound like 'johhny come lately glory hunters', like you know who...


In an attempt to not sound like a 'Johnny come lately glory hunter' you have proven you are a 'Johnny come lately glory hunter' by not knowing a nickname that has gone back literally generations... Well done.

Re: does anyone know wher this 'citizens' crap started?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 10:29 am
by PoC
sandman wrote:
rosbif cuisson 'bleu' wrote:I noticed Darren (english pundit) on Canal+(France) starting to call city fans 'citizens' about 2 years ago and thought it was just french telly that had made it up, but it seems to be catching on. What the fuck is that all about? I never knew anyone who called themselves a 'citizen' since i was a kid....( a long while now); Don't like it, it makes us sound like 'johhny come lately glory hunters', like you know who...


In an attempt to not sound like a 'Johnny come lately glory hunter' you have proven you are a 'Johnny come lately glory hunter' by not knowing a nickname that has gone back literally generations... Well done.

THIS!!!!!!!!!!

Re: does anyone know wher this 'citizens' crap started?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 10:34 am
by Alex Sapphire
PoC wrote:
sandman wrote:
rosbif cuisson 'bleu' wrote:I noticed Darren (english pundit) on Canal+(France) starting to call city fans 'citizens' about 2 years ago and thought it was just french telly that had made it up, but it seems to be catching on. What the fuck is that all about? I never knew anyone who called themselves a 'citizen' since i was a kid....( a long while now); Don't like it, it makes us sound like 'johhny come lately glory hunters', like you know who...


In an attempt to not sound like a 'Johnny come lately glory hunter' you have proven you are a 'Johnny come lately glory hunter' by not knowing a nickname that has gone back literally generations... Well done.

THIS!!!!!!!!!!


or maybe rosbif's question should be:

are we the fans really called "citizens"?
at least we're not "peacocks"

Re: does anyone know wher this 'citizens' crap started?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 10:35 am
by Ted Hughes
Tbf, we've been called that since dinosours ruled the earth & it always used to be down as our 'official' nickname but City fans haven't tended to use it since I started going in the late 60's & I don't know of any songs with it in.

Re: does anyone know wher this 'citizens' crap started?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 10:40 am
by Green & Blue
I have no idea but im laying the blame on pannini sticker albums.every team had to have a nickname

Re: does anyone know wher this 'citizens' crap started?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 10:47 am
by rosbif cuisson 'bleu'
see ted hughes reply, i'm of the same generation, ty Ted. and i'm not,going to go into who came 1st, but my dad din't know that nickname either....

Re: does anyone know wher this 'citizens' crap started?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 10:49 am
by PoC
rosbif cuisson 'bleu' wrote:see ted hughes reply, i'm of the same generation, ty Ted. and i'm not,going to go into who came 1st, but my dad din't know that nickname either....

Do you sit in the north stand and turn up 5 mins late by any chance?

Re: does anyone know wher this 'citizens' crap started?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 10:55 am
by Slim
I am fairly certain it was the original nickname of the club.

Something to do with Anna Connell giving the drunks a social nexus that didn't focus around drinking. I am sure I could weave "moral fabric" in there somewhere and it would all make sense why we are called the citizens.

Don't worry Cordon Bleu, no-one expects you to learn the entire history of MCFC in the 2 months you've been a 'fan'. Give it some time.

Re: does anyone know wher this 'citizens' crap started?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 11:18 am
by sandman
Slim wrote:Don't worry Cordon Bleu, no-one expects you to learn the entire history of MCFC in the 2 months you've been a 'fan'. Give it some time.


THIS!!

and just so you know the Etihad Stadium used to be called 'The City of Manchester Stadium', we moved there in 2003 from a place called Maine Road, you may even refer to the current gaff as 'Eastlands' if you wish?

Re: does anyone know wher this 'citizens' crap started?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 11:23 am
by Slim
I still call it Maine Road on occasion.

No quite there yet, eventually CoMS, then Eastlands and finally Etihad....20 years should do it.

Re: does anyone know wher this 'citizens' crap started?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 11:44 am
by paddyblue
http://www.epltalk.com/origins-of-nickn ... lubs-26520

Origins of Nicknames for 20 Premier League Clubs

Supporters of Premier League clubs often pride themselves on their nicknames, but do you really know the origin of them? Do you know the origins of the Baggies, Gunners, Red Devils, Toffees, Trotters, Hammers, Lilywhites and Citizens?

Let’s take a closer at look some of the interesting stories behind each of Premier League club’s nicknames.

Arsenal – The Gunners

Like many, Arsenal’s nickname goes right back to when the club was originally founded. Way back in 1886, workers at Woolwich Arsenal Armament Factory decided to form a football club called Dial Square. The club would be renamed as Woolwich Arsenal before dropping the prefix in 1913, but their original connection with the armament industry would remain and the names Gunners is now synonymous with the club.

Aston Villa – Villans

Not the most fascinating story behind this one. Formed when a local cricket team Villa Cross needed something to occupy themselves during the winter months, the name Villa inevitably evolved to Villans.

Blackburn Rovers – Rovers

Again not the most imaginable nickname. Rovers is a common team name for a side which is willing to travel distances for victory. Logically fans shortened the clubs name to Rovers.

Birmingham City – Blues

When the club was formed as Small Heath Alliance they decided the club would play in a dark blue shirt. The club would stick with these colors and the nickname Blues was born.

Blackpool – Seasiders/ Tangerines

One of several clubs to have multiple nicknames. The term Seasiders relates to the popularity of the town as a tourist resort on the North West coast, while Tangerines relates to the colour of the clubs home kit. The club picked up the colours after been impressed when a club official saw a Netherlands side play.

Bolton Wanderers – Trotters

There are a few reported explanations for this one. One explanation claims that like Rovers, the term Wanderers implies a side is willing to travel great distances for victory. The term Trotters is simply a variation. Another explanation claims that the Trotters nickname originates because people from Bolton have a reputation for being practical jokers. Pranksters are known locally as Trotters. The most bizarre explanation claims that an old ground was built next to a pig farm and stray balls would end up with the pigs.

Chelsea – Pensioners

The nickname comes from the well known Chelsea Pensioners – war veterans living in a nearby hospital. In 1905 the club adopted the crest of the Chelsea pensioners, and the nickname followed on.

Everton – The Toffees

The famous nickname comes after a local sweet shop known as Mother Noblett’ sold and advertised the Everton mint. The sweet shop is located opposite Prince Rupert’s Tower, which forms the majority of the Everton crest.

Fulham – Cottagers

This nickname originates from the famous cottage which is an iconic part of Fulham’s Craven Cottage ground.

Liverpool – The Reds

Another nickname which doesn’t take two much explanation. When Liverpool adopted the city’s colour of red as the colour of their strip, the nickname of the Reds simply followed on.

Manchester City – Citizens/ The Blues

Again not the most fascinating story behind this nickname, the name Citizens has simply evolved from the term City, where as The Blues has obvious connections with the clubs home colours.

Manchester United – The Red Devils

A few conflicting stories describe the Red Devils nickname. One rumor suggests that during a tour of France in the 1960s the club were branded the Red Devils due to their red kit and Sir Matt Busby liked the name so much he asked for the club to incorporate a devil in the badge. Another story suggests it stems from local rugby Salford. The rugby club were nicknamed the Red Devils and with United formally training in Salford the nickname transferred over.

Newcastle United – Magpies / The Toon

The name Magpies originates from the clubs iconic black and white striped kit, where as ‘The Toon’ comes from a local pronunciation of town.

Stoke City – Potters

A fairly straightforward nickname that originates from the large connection with the pottery industry in North Staffordshire.

Sunderland – The Black Cats

In 1997 when Sunderland moved to the Stadium of Light the clubs supporters were also given the opportunity to vote on the clubs official nickname. With 11,000 votes the club announced their official nickname as ‘The Black Cats’. The historical link with black cats goes way back to the 1800’s with a River Weir artillery base named “Black Cat Battery”. This name reportedly developed after a member of the local militia who was manning the station fled after thinking a black cat was a devil incarnate because of the howling wind and full moon at the time.

Fast-track to 1905 and a black cat was pictured sitting on a football next to the club chairman at the time, and three years later a black cat would appear in the clubs team photo. The fans believed that the animal brought them good luck and in 1937 Sunderland fan Billy Morris took a black cat to Wembley in his pocket, Sunderland would win their first FA Cup trophy that year. The connection grew even further in the 1960s when a black cat lived at Sunderland’s Roker Park ground and was cared for by the club.

Tottenham Hotspur – Spurs/ Lilywhites

Spurs is obviously a shortened version of Hotspur which comes from the clubs connection with Shakespeare character Harry Hotspur. Lilywhites simply comes from the colour of Tottenham’s home shirt.

West Brom – Baggies

One of the most debated nicknames around is West Brom’s. The popular belief is that the name originated from the baggie shorts that the players wore around in the early 1900s. But club historian Toby Matthews claims: “In its early days The Hawthorns had only two entrances, one behind each goal. On match days the gatekeepers would gather up the takings at each end and be escorted by policemen along the sides of the pitch to the centre line where there was a small office under the stand.

“The gate money, mostly in pennies, amounted to a considerable sum and was carried in large cloth bags. It wasn’t long before some wag in the crowd started shouting “Here come the bag men!” at their appearance in front of the main stand, and this developed into a chant of “Here come the Baggies,” giving the team its nickname.

West Ham – Hammers

West Ham’s nickname originates from the Thames Ironwork Football Club, a team from which they developed. The West Ham crest features two crossed rivet hammers and the club has been known has the Hammers ever since

Wigan Athletic – Latics

Wigan are not on their own with this nickname with League 1 side Oldham Athletic also claiming it. Latics is simply a corruption of the world Athletic.

Wolverhampton Wanderers – Wolves

Probably the most unimaginative nickname out of the bunch, but the most commonly used. Most football fans will know the Midlands club as Wolves, and there is no prize guessing why!

Re: does anyone know wher this 'citizens' crap started?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 11:54 am
by dazby
I really liked the black cats story. Nice one.

Re: does anyone know wher this 'citizens' crap started?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 11:59 am
by Alex Sapphire
Slim wrote:I am fairly certain it was the original nickname of the club.


and the fans?

Re: does anyone know wher this 'citizens' crap started?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 12:01 pm
by Slim
Alex Sapphire wrote:
Slim wrote:I am fairly certain it was the original nickname of the club.


and the fans?


Named for I would guess, but I certainly hope it's something more than an evolved word from City.

Re: does anyone know wher this 'citizens' crap started?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 12:45 pm
by MCFChistory
The first known reference to us as "The Citizens" is from a 1898 match programme.

Personally though, I think it's a name that has been imposed on us, and was probably invented by the media. I don't see why any fan would have used the term "Citizens" when they could just say "City".

Re: does anyone know wher this 'citizens' crap started?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 12:59 pm
by PoC
MCFChistory wrote:The first known reference to us as "The Citizens" is from a 1898 match programme.

Personally though, I think it's a name that has been imposed on us, and was probably invented by the media. I don't see why any fan would have used the term "Citizens" when they could just say "City".

Its just something you never really hear any more is all (bad drills by OP for not knowing), i heard some fella say shape yourselves city last year, not heard that for years

Re: does anyone know wher this 'citizens' crap started?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 1:00 pm
by mr_nool
Fans abroad seem to use the term a lot more than UK based fans.

A lot of the supporter clubs in countries like Sweden, Norway and Italy use it.

Re: does anyone know wher this 'citizens' crap started?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 1:13 pm
by Chinners
Citizens crap? .... I stopped reading after that