Man City fans bring inflatable bananas to Anfield

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 11 Oct, 17:24 · Archive

Manchester City supporters have brought inflatable bananas to their match at Anfield against Liverpool, with the fan group 1894 distributing over 1,000 of the inflatables among travelling supporters for Sunday's 4.30pm kick-off.

The trend originated in August 1987 when Manchester City supporter Frank Newton brought a five-foot blow-up banana to Maine Road for a match against Plymouth Argyle. According to Dante Friend of 1894, the movement is linked to former City forward Imre Varadi, whose name inspired the chant 'Imre Banana' among fans on the Kippax stand. Frank Newton then took an inflatable banana to the next game, and the practice spread widely among supporters.

The bananas reached peak prominence on Boxing Day 1988 when over 10,000 travelling City fans brought inflatables to Stoke City's Victoria Ground, with City players even running onto the pitch holding giant yellow bananas before kick-off. The spectacle sparked a nationwide phenomenon, with rival fanbases adopting their own mascots including Stoke City's Pink Panthers and Grimsby Town's Harry the Haddock.

This marks a revival of the tradition, allowing the present-day fanbase to reconnect with the club's historic terrace identity during a testing period following an independent commission finding Manchester City guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial rules.

How it is being reported

• Tension, ‘cheat’ banners and inflatable bananas: Manchester City’s welcome to AnfieldAn incendiary atmosphere greeted the former Premier League champions for their first game since being found guilty of breaking financial fair play rules Fans lined the streets of Anfield in preparation for the arrival of the Manchester City team bus, with pyrotechnics and pure vitriol adding to the tense pre-match atmosphere. Every vantage point was taken, with spectators standing on walls to get a glimpse of the enemy, only for the coach to sneak in from the opposite side of the ground to avoid confrontation. The subterfuge defused a volatile situation that could have turned into an…Guardian Football · 11 Oct, 17:50
• Why Man City fans have brought inflatable bananas to Anfield for Liverpool clashMan City fans have added to the spectacle at AnfieldEvening Standard · 11 Oct, 17:08
• Why do Man City fans carry inflatable bananas? Reason explained before Liverpool clashManchester City fans are set to bring and wave inflatable bananas in the stands during their game against LiverpoolMirror Sport · 11 Oct, 15:00

In this story: Manchester City · Liverpool · Frank Newton · Imre Varadi · Anfield · Maine Road

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