Thursday
Sep092010
Am I Mancunian?
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 4:41AM
Why the name of this blog? I mean, it's pretty self-explanatory, but why did I choose Mancunian? I come from a little town called Stalybridge, on the border with Derbyshire, not from the City of Manchester. Therefore, is it wrong of me to consider myself a Mancunian?
At the end of the day, whether I am a Mancunian or not, is just a label. A label, according to the all-knowing Wikipedia, assigned to anyone from Manchester the city, Greater Manchester, or a supporter of Manchester United or Manchester City. Well, on those terms, I am a Mancunian as I hail from Greater Manchester.
"But you're address is Cheshire!" says Nicole. Well yes, but though we still use that in the address, my home is part of the Greater Manchester community, albeit right at the edge of that district.
But being a Mancunian is more than just where you live. Sure, it's a label you can adopt to easily tell people where you are from, but just because I live in Greater Manchester does not make me a Mancunian. I am a Mancunian because I love Manchester, because I was brought up with Manchester, and all its wonders, good and bad, at my doorstep. I am Mancunian because all my family are Mancunians, almost as far back as my family tree goes. For better or for worse, we -Hampsons, Spratts and Stringers- are ultimately Mancunians.
And so when people here ask me where I am from, I tell them I am from Manchester. Not because its easy to name a big city. Not because the entire world knows about Manchester United. But because I love Manchester, and it will always be my home city. It gives me so much to celebrate, bemoan, and talk about; from the superb music which enriches the nightlife, to the rundown council estates which are so much a part of the atmosphere of Manchester.
Though rather crude, I end with a definition of Mancunians from Urban Dictionary, which as is often the case, defines us in terms of our arch enemies. There is no Luke Skywalker without Darth Vader, no white without black, no Doctor Who without the Daleks, no Manc without a Scouser. (Someone from Liverpool).
Spare a thought for poor Mike Byrne, who lives right in between these two warring factions, in Warrington.
At the end of the day, whether I am a Mancunian or not, is just a label. A label, according to the all-knowing Wikipedia, assigned to anyone from Manchester the city, Greater Manchester, or a supporter of Manchester United or Manchester City. Well, on those terms, I am a Mancunian as I hail from Greater Manchester.
"But you're address is Cheshire!" says Nicole. Well yes, but though we still use that in the address, my home is part of the Greater Manchester community, albeit right at the edge of that district.
But being a Mancunian is more than just where you live. Sure, it's a label you can adopt to easily tell people where you are from, but just because I live in Greater Manchester does not make me a Mancunian. I am a Mancunian because I love Manchester, because I was brought up with Manchester, and all its wonders, good and bad, at my doorstep. I am Mancunian because all my family are Mancunians, almost as far back as my family tree goes. For better or for worse, we -Hampsons, Spratts and Stringers- are ultimately Mancunians.
And so when people here ask me where I am from, I tell them I am from Manchester. Not because its easy to name a big city. Not because the entire world knows about Manchester United. But because I love Manchester, and it will always be my home city. It gives me so much to celebrate, bemoan, and talk about; from the superb music which enriches the nightlife, to the rundown council estates which are so much a part of the atmosphere of Manchester.
Though rather crude, I end with a definition of Mancunians from Urban Dictionary, which as is often the case, defines us in terms of our arch enemies. There is no Luke Skywalker without Darth Vader, no white without black, no Doctor Who without the Daleks, no Manc without a Scouser. (Someone from Liverpool).
- Mancunian- Definition- A fine person who was born in or currently resides in the most majestic city of Manchester. Unfortunately, they live not 40 miles away from the utter bastard scum of Liverpool but in their brilliance, continue to prosper as the Capital of the North, even if the scousers come up the East Lancs to nick more tyres.
Spare a thought for poor Mike Byrne, who lives right in between these two warring factions, in Warrington.
Reader Comments (2)
If U****d fans are Mancunians then surely half of Indonesia should talk like Liam Gallagher?
Wikipedia's definition, not mine!