ONE black spot in a triumphant year for Bury South MP Ivan Lewis was the relegation of his beloved Manchester City.

A lifelong Blues supporter, Ivan went to their last game at Stoke, but even a 5-2 victory couldn't save them from plummeting into Division Two, an all-time low.

The MP, who enjoyed a training session at Maine Road last week with chairman David Bernstein, attended the crunch match with his dad - "he's served a longer sentence than me".

He said: "It was very sad and depressing and people were very upset.

"But City fans are a unique breed and very loyal. When we realised the other games had not gone our way, we started singing "We're going to win the league" and "Are you watching Macclesfield?

"They're an amazing group of supporters and I don't think the club has treated them the way they deserve to be.

"It was also galling to see Alan Ball celebrating staying up with Portsmouth, but we'll come back."

Not that his fellow Labour politicians are rubbing it in. Word reaches the Guide that a Radcliffe councillor has sent Ivan a map showing him how to get to Macclesfield.

He said: "My reply wouldn't be printable in a family newspaper. I'm looking forward to a trip to Blackpool, though."

Mr Lewis paid tribute to the achievements of Bury FC in their first season in Division One.

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