Manchester City fans revive inflatable banana tradition at Anfield

During the recent football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield, traveling supporters brought a large number of inflatable bananas into the stadium. Reports indicate that over 1,000 of these items were present in the stands, reviving a distinct fan culture tradition that had largely been forgotten in recent decades.

The tradition traces its origins to August 1987, when Manchester City fan Frank Newton brought a 1.5-meter long inflatable banana to a match at Maine Road following a bet with friends. The act quickly gained popularity among the club's fan base, becoming a staple at away games by 1988, including a notable appearance during the Boxing Day match against Stoke. While the practice faded over time, fans chose to bring it back during the recent Merseyside derby to demonstrate the playful spirit and historical identity of the City supporters.

Today, the inflatable bananas serve as a recognizable symbol of the rivalry between the two clubs. Both sets of supporters have acknowledged the practice as a harmless expression of football fandom, marking a return to a specific, decades-old aspect of English match-day culture.