Ben can be Blue Mee-nie
STEVE MILLAR BEN MEE can send his footie-mad family over the Blue Moon today by denting Manchester United’s top-four ambitions.
The Burnley defender, 27, was at neighbours City from a kid for 12 years and his nearest and dearest to him are mostly all Red baiters.
So Burnley taking points off the old enemy at Turf Moor will seriously boost City’s Champions League qualification quest – as well as seeing the Mee clan raise a glass to Ben the Manc.
Mee (below) said: “I’m Claret and Blue now but Blue as well. And yes, it would be pleasing if we could take points off United. My brother Craig’s a blue. He’s a big City fan.
“My dad Chris is a bit more on the fence but both my grandads were Blue.
“I’ve got cousins coming to the game who are United fans. I’ve got cousins and uncles here, there and everywhere who are City and United fans. I’ve got quite a big family.”
Blue blood has always been pumping through Mee’s veins and he joined City’s academy at the age of nine where he dreamed of following in his heroes’ footsteps.
Mee captained the City side which won the FA Youth Cup in 2008 and he was progressing through the ranks until he was stopped in his tracks.
He added: “I managed to play one game. There were a lot of changes going on at the club around that time. Mark Hughes was manager and I was getting into the squad, travelling with them.
“I was hoping to make my first-team debut but he got sacked midway through the season. Roberto Mancini came in and had different ideas.
“As a young lad you’ve got to work your way back up into the manager’s plans because he does not know too much about you.
“I just wanted to get out and play some first-team games because I knew at City that success was wanted pretty soon. Finally, though, it was about finding the right team, the right club to go to.
“I ended up coming in at Championship level. That was a good level for me to come in at. I did well at Leicester and managed to get my move here.
“Was it the right move? Yeah, I think so. I managed to get to a good level and then worked my way up to play in the Premier League.”