Timothy Dalton talks about his beloved Manchester City FC
Timothy Dalton can justifiably lay claim to being Manchester Cityâs most famous fan.. Any actor who can claim to have played James Bond twice in their career has every right to assume that mantle, not that Dalton ever would.
He is based in the Hollywood hills these days, but Cheadle-raised Dalton is a lifelong City fan who still takes defeat badly and enjoys victory as enthusiastically as any South Stand dweller does on a matchday - reports
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He was last in town for the 1-0 win over Blackpool on New Yearâs Day, but the memory of his first City game is still crystal clear in his memory.
âI remember being very little, probably about eight-years-old, and me and my friend used to get on the bus to Platt Lane and walk through towards Maine Road,â he recalled.
âWeâd always try and get into the game by sneaking through the legs of the fans and under the turnstiles so that we could watch without having to pay.
âWe used to watch from what we called the âPopular Standâ which eventually became the Kippax. We got beat on the day of my first game, but Iâll never forget watching those sky blue shirts playing on that green pitch.â
There is no doubt in Daltonâs mind who is his all-time hero and he has vivid recollections of his idol at the peak of his powers
âWithout question it was Bert Trautmann,â he said. âHe was fantastic. He was a hero for great reasons and he saved City on more occasions than I care to remember. I remember one player unleashing an almighty volley and Trautmann didnât even have to move, he simply put one hand up and caught the ball.
âNot only that, but as that famous FA Cup final proved, he had bravery as well as brilliance.â
Dalton played the enigmatic secret agent 007 in the 1987 The Living Daylights and the 1989 blockbuster Licence to Kill, but was more recently stealing scenes in Hot Fuzz as sleazy supermarket boss Simon Skinner.
But how does an LA-based film star keep abreast of his beloved Blues?
âWith the internet and satellite television, I can watch about half of Cityâs games live,â he revealed. âA number of US channels cover Premier League matches but if they donât cover a particular game then Iâll go to the City website, watch the Matchday Centre and listen to the radio coverage on there.â
Dalton is already counting the days until his next visit to the City of Manchester Stadium though win, lose or draw, heâs promised heâll neither be shaken, nor stirredâ¦
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