City till I dye!

CITY fanatic Craig Reed

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MANCHESTER City fanatic Craig Reed has brought a whole new meaning to the phrase needle match.

The 29-year-old, who lives in Hollinwood, spent three hours having the FA Cup tattooed on to his back ahead of Saturday’s final between his beloved Blues and Stoke.

And while some City fans are understandably nervous about the outcome of their first final appearance in three decades, Craig has adopted a more bullish outlook.

“The tattoo says Manchester City, FA Cup winners 2011, so I have been given a bit of stick by my mates,” he explained.

“If the worst happens and we don’t lift the cup, it is something I will just have to live with.

“As a City fan I am used to being let down but I think we are going to win on Saturday.”

While Craig admits his latest tattoo — he has 28 altogether — was painful, he has no regrets.

He added: “It hurt quite a lot because it was pressed on to the spine, and took three hours to complete.

“But it is a labour of love. About 20 of my tattoos are City-related. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Craig and 11 other mates from Oldham are heading to London on Friday night before making their way to Wembley the following day for the final.

“I could not afford to go to the semi-final (1-0 victory over Manchester United) so I am so pleased I got another chance to get to Wembley.

“I have been waiting for this since watching my first game in the Kippax stand at Maine Road as a seven-year-old.”