Emily Laycock on her hopes of turning her love of Manchester City into a dream career – from supporter to reporter

As a young person, I’d be glued to my phone anyway. But as an aspiring sports journalist who wants to take photos, post on socials and take notes for match reports constantly, my phone never leaves my hand. Sometimes this means the energy of a football match can get lost within my camera roll, so I’ve made a pact with myself to live in the moment. So far, so good. 

Going to a Champions League game isn’t like going to an ordinary football match. Even more so a Manchester City Champions League game: you cannot escape the buzz, the electric atmosphere and, obviously, the talent on the pitch. Arriving at the Etihad for a Champions League night under the floodlights, seeing the sea of blue and hearing Blue Moon erupting from fans young and old, makes me jittery with excitement. 

At City’s meeting with Sevilla in November, I was ecstatic to see Rico Lewis, a player I’ve followed through the academy, given the chance to start a match of this stature. For once, trying to capture the perfect angle of his goal wasn’t the first thing on my mind. I wanted to be fully submerged in the emotion flowing through the blue sea as his shot rippled the back of the net.

Him becoming the youngest player to score on his first start in the Champions League called for true celebrations, and it perfectly encompassed what this competition is for me: youthful talents making a name for themselves as they compete against the best of the best in Europe; players who show their quality with every touch of the ball. And I never want to miss a pass because my attention is drawn to my screen – not while I’m a fan. 

The ultimate dream for me is to goto the Etihad on a Champions League night not as a ‘Cityzen’ in the stands, but as a reporter in the media seats, looking out over the pitch knowing I’m in the privileged position of telling the story of the beautiful game unfolding in front of me. That would be the epitome for me. After all, the Champions League is the ultimate competition.

But for now, while I’m still in the stands, I will absorb fully the thrills – and not be distracted by that phone and its hungry lens.