United's Era
For close to three decades either side of the millennium, United painted Manchester red.
In 31 of the 32 seasons from 1980 to 2012, they finished above City in the league ladder, suffering just two derby defeats in that time - 1-0 in 1981 and 5-1 in 1989, both coming at Maine Road. The latter of those two games is one our two fans well, but understandably for different reasons.
"It was a freak result, really," says Rothband. "Our FA Youth Cup-winning side of '86 had come through with Steve Redmond, Paul Lake and Ian Brightwell and so on and it was just one of those moments where you can think ‘that was good’ – a joyous moment in time.
"It was a moment to have some bragging rights in the city and with your friends who are Stretford fans."
Motty adds: "My first derby memory is of that 5-1 hiding at Maine Road. Most of my mates at school were United fans, but there were a few who ed City. They gave us a bit of stick and it was horrible.
"The only goal I can from that day was Mark Hughes' volley, as you can imagine. But the derby was very kind to us after that for a long time."
It certainly was. United would remain unbeaten against City for the next 13 years.
David Oldfield (2), Trevor Morley, Ian Bishop and Andy Hinchcliffe gave City the 5-1 win over United in 1989
David Oldfield (2), Trevor Morley, Ian Bishop and Andy Hinchcliffe gave City the 5-1 win over United in 1989
What began as a gap between the two in the 1980s - illustrated by United claiming a trio of FA Cups and consistent top-four finishes as City bounced between divisions one and two - became a vast gulf in the following decade, during which United remained undefeated against a City side heading to their lowest ebb.
Key to United's dominance was the arrival at Old Trafford of Alex Ferguson, who overcame a sticky start to oversee a period of unprecedented success at a time when English football became the biggest show in town following the top-flight's rebranding as the Premier League.
In 26 years as Red Devils boss, the Scot won a remarkable 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League crowns, five FA Cups and four League Cups.
United won the title in eight of the first 11 Premier League seasons
United won the title in eight of the first 11 Premier League seasons
Even when United were beaten to the title in that period it was often by the slenderest of margins, with the Reds never finishing lower than third between 1991-92 and 2012-13 - the last of Ferguson's seasons in charge.
So consistently brilliant were Ferguson's sides in this period they became the nemesis of practically every team in the division, certainly those with title aspirations.
Few could live with them, certainly not over a prolonged period. Arsene Wenger's Arsenal managed it briefly, as did Jose Mourinho's Chelsea. Blackburn and Newcastle gave it a decent shot. Liverpool, the best side of the 1980s, were - as Ferguson threatened - knocked off their perch.
"My earliest memory is of City beating us in ‘89," says Motty. "The season after, City finished above us in the league. But once we started winning things, we just kicked on, winning titles and the Champions League.
"We were in dream world."
He continues: "During that time City were just a comedy club. They were rattling through managers, never did anything, got relegated. They always seemed to be imploding."
Indeed, as the Scot was establishing his United dynasty, City were in decline, burning through bosses such as Brian Horton, Alan Ball, Steve Coppell and Frank Clark and heading not just out of the top flight but to the third tier for the first time in their history courtesy of a second relegation in 1997-98.
"I that game where they thought they were staying in the Premier League if they got a draw and they were timewasting, but really they needed to win," says Motty, recalling the match against Liverpool on the final day of the 1995-96 season - a game that ended 2-2, confirming City's relegation. "The fans were screaming at them that they needed another goal. It was ‘let’s all laugh at City’."
United did the league double over City three seasons running from 1993-94 to 1995-96
United did the league double over City three seasons running from 1993-94 to 1995-96
In contrast, City fans struggled to find the funny side of their failure, instead fatalistically leaning into a long-standing belief about their club that can be captured in a simple two-word phrase.
"It is 'typical City'," explains Rothband. "I think we are losing it now but in that period it was the thought that if it can go wrong, it will go wrong.
"We were changing managers every season, sometimes twice a season. In many Stretford fans’ eyes, we were a laughing stock.
"But it wasn’t really a rivalry then. We were heading off to the third tier of English football and they were winning stuff.
"That just built that hatred I had as a young man and facing all those coins and bottles being thrown across by their fans. To go from those games in the late 60s and early 70s to then a situation where they were riding high – it was painful. I still bear the scars today.
"I wanted them to lose every game they played. Every Champions League final I was desperate for whatever team they faced to beat them.
"People would say to me ‘but they’re the English side’ - but I didn’t care, I wanted them to lose every game. I still do. It is ridiculous. I am a 65-year-old grown man."
To cram salt in their wounds, City would suffer some notable and painful derby defeats on the way to rock bottom.
This included a debut winner for a then 17-year-old Ryan Giggs in a 1-0 United win on 4 May 1991 at Old Trafford. The Welsh winger had begun his career with City but switched to United aged 14.
Eric Cantona made his Man Utd debut against City in a 2-1 United win on 6 December 1992. The mercurial French forward would be an especially sharp thorn in the Blues' side during his time as a Red Devil, scoring eight goals in derbies over four seasons, including two the following season as United came from two goals down to win 3-2 in a classic at Maine Road.
City tried everything to stop Cantona scoring against them
City tried everything to stop Cantona scoring against them
Cantona was on target again the following year but was forced to play second fiddle to Russian winger Andrei Kanchelskis, who netted a hat-trick in a 5-0 thrashing of City at Old Trafford.
The final goal of Cantona's prolific run against City came via the penalty spot in another 3-2 win at Maine Road on 6 April 1996. It would be four years before the two sides met again.