Maine Road MAYHEM! No wonder Man City fans have never forgiven Luton

Coincidence or not, Brian Horton suggests meeting at The Kenilworth, his local in an area just south of Manchester that has been home for 30 years. The landlord comes over for a chat, punters make a point of saying hello.

After nearly two years as the devil-may-care Manchester City manager appointed in 1993, he is fondly thought of around here. He does the supporter branch meets across the north, regaling tales of how Franny Lee attempted to sign Luis Figo. He is often at the Etihad watching from the chairman's lounge.

But he also happens to have been the opposition captain on one of City's darkest days, when Horton's Luton Town sent City down in a relegation shootout on the final day of the 1982-83 season.

That day, Hatters boss David Pleat galloped across the Maine Road pitch. Down in legend at Luton's Kenilworth Road, down in infamy where Horton calls home.

'Dennis Tueart has probably already told you - and told everybody else,' Horton says as pint glass hits wood. 'There was a punch-up in the tunnel. He says he hit me and nothing happened. Hang on, you think you're hitting me and I'm not f****** hitting you back?'

Tueart is in Hale, 10 miles west. 'I think I started it,' he twinkles. 'Honestly, the way I was feeling, it could've been anyone. Brian was a very vocal player, which was fine. When you go up Maine Road, you head to a door at the top and we all just…'

Tueart claps his hands together, one woman having her lunch in the Italian restaurant glancing over.

'He went to shake my hand. We're all a bit touchy-feely, you know what I mean? It might've been a dozen of us. A scuffle, a medium-sized brawl!'

After that, City sat in silence inside their dressing room for an hour. They had needed a point to secure safety. The