Top snooker player Nigel Bond has made a successful career out of potting the black, but when it comes to football, the former British Open champion from Darley Dale is a true Blue

Lifelong City fan Nigel is heading back to Sheffield's Crucible Theatre, snooker's spiritual home, where the betfred.com World Championship kicks off today, hoping to take inspiration from Thursday's glorious effort.

Nigel, ranked world No.23, faces in-form former world champion Peter Ebdon, who has just pocketed the China Open title and will start favourite to progress in their first-round clash on Tuesday.

But Bondy, 43, who has been practising in Sale with another former world champ Shaun Murphy, said: "The UEFA game with Hamburg was brilliant, and on another night we'd have gone through against the odds. Elano was so unlucky with those free kicks. It was an inspirational night for City fans everywhere."

The UEFA Cup quarter-final was a rare visit to the City of Manchester Stadium this season for Nigel, as a busy snooker season clashes with the Premier League season - and it was a far cry from his last match.

He said: "My oldest son Matthew is a fan as well. We've only been able to get to one game together this season - the Forest Cup tie! We were shocking that day. We even left before the end, something I never normally do."

Bondy's allegience to the Blues doesn't follow a family tradition: "My dad Graham is a big United fan. He used to go to matches a lot, but I would never go with him. I think that's why I became a City fan, I just rebelled. I decided 'No'. But to be fair to my dad, he used to take me along to Maine Road.

"I used to love watching Colin Bell, Dennis Tueart, Asa Hartford, Ray Ranson, Dave Watson, and big Joe Corrigan in the nets. But my favourite player was Peter Barnes, probably because I was a left winger as well. He was my idol and, yes, I did have posters and pictures pinned up on the bedroom wall."

Nigel, who has had some legendary clashes with old rival Stephen Hendry over the years, is heading for veteran stage in snooker terms and looking forward to a time when he can see City play more often.

He said: "The future's looking good, isn't it? The new stadium is great, although I know the die-hards will probably say we should have stayed put. Maine Road was difficult to leave but it was definitely the right way forward for the club.

"The current team is starting to shape up very well now. Mark Hughes has to be given a bit of time to build. He's never been in a position like this before, with good money to spend, but he's made some cracking buys.

"Craig Bellamy is a great player and he'll get goals for us, and getting SWP back was a tremendous move by the manager. Robi still needs to produce his home form away, but I'm sure he knows that."