With the club coming one step closer to the Premier League title at the weekend, Manchester City fans in Congleton already had plenty to celebrate.

But now there is even better news for Beartown-based fans of the Sky Blues.

Our town is close to having their first-ever official Congleton Manchester City Supporters group.

Colin Jeffries, who lives in Lower Heath, has founded a group with the hopes of it becoming affiliated with the football club.

"At the minute there are 64 of us," said Colin.

"The only local supporter clubs around here are Macclesfield and Crewe. But Congleton is getting bigger, and there is a connection with Congleton and Man City with the Brightwell brothers and Daniel Sturridge who went to Congleton High School.

"So Congleton needs something where all the fans can get together, find a neutral venue in town where they can meet up and watch the games.

"I moved to Congleton five years ago, and was born in Manchester. There are lots of people like me from the Manchester area moving into Congleton who don't know anybody, so it is a good way to meet new people.

"Lots of people have reached out to me to say thank you, I've just moved here and don't know anyone from Congleton, this would be a great way to get meet like-minded fans.

"Club-wise, Congleton is very much Congleton Town, Liverpool, Stoke and rugby. But with lots of Manchester people moving round here it seems right to do this now."

Colin has had a season ticket at Manchester City for 24 years, which includes the tail-end of the Maine Road era, including a stint in the old Third Division.

The father-of-three's favourite player this season is Bernardo Silva.

He is even related to a former player Derek Jeffries, who played alongside Mike Summerbee and Colin Bell, the latter of which Colin was also named after.

"The other aspect is to see if we can help people from round here get to the games," he added.

"I currently drive to and from the games, I drive past many supporters on coaches, in cars with their City shirts and scarves, why can't we do that and hire a minibus? It will take traffic off the road, and allow people to get together, have a couple drinks and allow safe travel before and after the game."

Any Congleton area coach companies can get in touch with Colin via Facebook if they want to help with transport for the new club.

Colin would also love to hear from a Congleton bar or venue who will welcome the new club in for regular meetings. Those interested can message him via Facebook.

"My favourite thing about Congleton is the community feel," he also said.

"What first struck me when I first came here is that when you went into a shop, people would ask how you were or how your day was. It just felt warm and welcoming.

"My kids have settled in really well, especially with my daughter who started at Eaton Bank Academy halfway through the school in Year 7."

While their case to be officially affiliated with the Sky Blues should be heard in time for next season, the currently unofficial group are known at present as the Congleton Blues. (Not to be confused of course, with Congleton Jazz & Blues!)

Colin will be the chairman of the group, and his wife will be the secretary. They are still looking for a ticketing officer for the group.

There were attempts to get a supporters club going in Congleton back in 2019, but COVID-19 scuppered those plans.

Join their group on Facebook here. Or you can contact Colin with enquiries via [email protected].

But even just days after their formation, the group has already seen Congleton residents and City fans who previously didn't know each other socialising.

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