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Attendance figures from the 1977-78 season have resurfaced, and the support Manchester City had speaks volumes.
City had the fifth highest average attendance in the Premier League last season, with just over 53,000 turning up to the Etihad Stadium week-in week-out to see Pep Guardiola's side win the title for a third season in a row.
However, despite the loyal support the club enjoys, over the years a narrative has developed that City don't have many fans.
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On any occasion that a City match doesn't sell out - Champions League and cup games are less popular among the club's core fans - rival fans jump on social media to post photos of empty seats and make jokes at City fans' expense.
Others - who admit that City games are well attended - claim that most supporters only started following the club after Sheikh Mansour bought the club in 2008.
City fans know the narrative is rubbish of course, but now one supporters has provided proof that the club has always had a loyal following.
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The fan - @bifana_bifana on X - has shared a list of average attendances from the 1977-78 First Division campaign.
City - who played at Maine Road at the time - average a gate of 41,687, the third highest in the league. Tony Book's side finished the season in fourth place, 12 points behind champions Nottingham Forest.
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City did secure qualification for the UEFA Cup for a third straight season, and went on a run to the quarter-finals where they were knocked out by Borussia Monchengladbach.
That season the attendance charts were topped by neighbours Manchester United, who averaged a crowd of 51,860 at Old Trafford. Liverpool were the only other side to attract more supporters, with an average of 45,546 fans turning up to Anfield each week.
One fan was quick to point out the ridiculous nature of rival fans' 'no fans' claim.
"3rd is not bad for a club with no fans and no one cares about," they tweeted.
Featured Image Credit: GettyTopics: Manchester City, Premier League, Liverpool, Manchester United
