IAN: FUTURE SO BRIGHT

Nov 2017: Hudd’field 1 Man City 2 Mar 2017: Man City 5 Hudd’field 1 Feb 2017: Hudd’field 0 Man City 0 Feb 2000: Hudd’field 1 Man City 1 Nov 1999: Man City 0 Hudd’field 1

Man City – 26 wins Hudd’field – 22 wins Draws – 29 MANCHESTER CITY old boy Ian Brightwell will applaud the 2018 champions at The Etihad today, admitting that Pep Guardiola’s beautiful game has left him crying with joy.

And Brightwell’s mind will no doubt wander back to the bleakest day ever when every City fan around the world wept tears of despair.

That was 20 years ago this month, in fact, when City were relegated to the third tier of English football for the first time in their history.

Brightwell (right) was in the stands that May day at the Britannia Stadium when City beat Stoke 5-2 but disastrously still went down.

He said: “Now that was a sad day. I was watching from the stands after travelling to Stoke with the lads. It broke my heart, I can tell you.

“I had played for City most of the time in the old First Division and the Premier League and I couldn’t really believe what was happening. The club was in turmoil. It STAYING UP: Guardiola has defended his man over a ‘dive’ storm probably started two years before that when City had gone through a load of managers.

“I had 13 in my professional career there. And in those last 18 months, City had six with Big Joe Royle in charge when we went down.

“The third tier was crazy. I had supported the club since I was a kid and with all due respect, to go to places like Macclesfield Town, York City and Lincoln didn’t seem right.”

The transformation since has been out of this world. Three titles, one FA Cup and three League Cups later has left Brightwell, 50, open-mouthed in amazement.

He added: “The football we’re watching can only be described in one word – beautiful.

“City have gone to another level. It’s so beautiful to watch and brings a tear to my eye.” STEVE MILLAR