HE'S ONE OF THEIR OWN

MANCHESTER City held a minute's 'appreciation' for Ricky Hatton ahead of beating Manchester United 3-0 in yesterday's derby.

- BY DEREK FOLEY

City home matches if he could schedule it.

It was an especially poignant moment in the Etihad Stadium, remembering the boxer, the Blues fanatic, who had passed away that morning.

Hatton had a special place in City's fans' hearts, firstly as a celebrated amateur and then immediately after turning professional and a first fight in Widnes before his second in Madison Square Garden.

Famous for his distinctive blue City shorts in the ring, Hatton's chosen music was the version of Blue Moon with the upbeat faster ending, adopted by the Kippax terrace in the late 80's and by the club itself a little later.

Through Man City's worst of times, Hatton's passion was to fight at the Manchester Arena - after City home matches if he could schedule it.