Keeping the faith

FOR as long as he can remember, Nathan Foy has listened to dad Barry wax lyrical about the day he watched Manchester City win their last piece silverware at Wembley.

On Saturday he gets the chance to see it with his own eyes.

Father and son, who live in Failsworth, head to the capital together this time, to see the Blues tackle Stoke City in the FA Cup final at the home of football.

The fact Nathan is 23-years-old will tell you he is yet to see his idols lift a trophy — unlike Barry (62), who was in the crowd when Dennis Tueart’s overhead kick clinched a 2-1 League Cup final win over Newcastle United in 1976.

“Despite everything that has happened since that day, I always had faith City would return to Wembley in a cup final,” said Barry.

“It always has to come back around, doesn’t it? I have never even thought about giving up hope.

“I have some wonderful memories from the 1960s and 70s.

“My friends and I jumped in the car and drove from Failsworth to Wembley for the League Cup victory over Newcastle. We could not wait to get there.

“It was a long way to travel, but we thought nothing of it.

“Now I have the chance to go back. Nathan and I are so excited about Saturday’s match. I am confident we will win and I hope so for Nathan’s sake.”

The Foys join 28 fellow Blues for the trip South, with a crack-of-dawn departure from the Wheatsheaf pub pencilled in.

Nathan, who runs and plays for Oldham Sunday League outfit Royal Oak, said: “It will be the same group of lads who went down for the semi-final win against United.

“Most of the Royal Oak team are City fans so they will be coming along.

“Luckily our season finished on Sunday so the final didn’t clash with any of our matches!

“Mind you, it still would have been a no-brainer — I was hardly going to miss City’s first chance of winning a cup in my lifetime.

“I’ve heard my dad talk about the glory days and it is brilliant that he got to see the club during such a successful era.

“Hopefully we can both witness the start of a new one.”