With a six-pack firmer than a Sean Gregan tackle and hair floppier than Paul McKenna's previous 'do, Adam Rickitt set many a young female heart fluttering when he joined Coronation Street as the hunky (and much revamped) Nick Tilsley. Since then he has enjoyed much success as a pop star and is currently starring in the musical Rent.
But on a Saturday afternoon soon you could find him in with the "public" at Maine Road: "My dad worked in central Manchester and as a kid I remember being driven into town to have lunch with him. We used to pass down Princess Parkway and I always saw people going to or from Maine Road."
"I was really curious and I wandered down there when I was about seven or eight. Football was a bit of an unknown quantity as far as I was concerned as we played rugby at my school, but the roar of the crowd from outside the ground was amazing. The first game I went to was the derby against United. I was ten or eleven and I just loved it. I think we won 2-1 and it was a really special occasion. All Mancunians are footie fans and most support City (that old chesnut).
"I had a season ticket from the age of 12 and followed them religously up untill recently, as I have been on tour with Rent since the start of the year. City fans are so loyal, we dropped into the Second Division a couple of years ago and we were still gettting crowds of 30,000. That is almost ridiculous for a club that was struggling at the time, but we would still get those numbers if we were in the Conference."
He may only be young, but like many City fans of generations gone by Adam's a fan of Franny!"My favourite City player of all time is Francis Lee. He epitomised everything about the club with his charisma and spirit." But again like other blues, he feeds the goat like the best of them: "At the moment the team is fantastic and Shaun Goater is on fire. Kevin Keegan has brought a really fighting spirit back to the squad. That is what we need as we are a team full of stars like David Beckham.
"Keegan had laid himself on the line. Whatever his history with the England team his record at club level is amazing. He took Newcastle and Fulham up and I think he is exactly what we need. Maybe he does have a point to prove because of how the media have labelled him but he has already done a good job at City."
"I would love us to go up but a decent season and some stabitility wouldn't be bad either. Last time we went down from the Premiership we just dropped straight through into Division Two, but Keegan has not let that happen. Last time we went up to the top-flight we weren't really prepared but he won't let that happen either. His brand of football is a double edged sword. The styled, attacking play is an absolute joy to watch but it can leave the defence vulnerable."
And what about today's game:"North West football is fantastic. With the likes of City, Preston, Bolton and Burnley all challenging the established clubs. The game with North End will be a great occasion for the region. We can score goals by the hatful but we also will concede a few so I think we'll win 4-2."
