Over the course of a memorable decade at the Club between 1997 and 2007, the Yorkshire-born goalkeeper established himself as one of the most popular players to represent the Club.
Affable and engaging off the field, on it his talent, passion and sheer will to win endeared him to generations of Blues – not least for his performances during our back-to-back promotion winning campaigns of 1998/99 and 1999/2000.
All told, he made 172 appearances for the Club. But there is one game in particular for which Weaver is synonymous with City.
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That incredible ’99 play-off win over Gillingham where, after fighting back from 2-0 down on 90 minutes to force a dramatic 2-2 draw, Weaver then took centre stage, saving two spot-kicks in the ensuing penalty shoot-out to help Joe Royle’s buccaneers secure a 3-1 win and with it promotion back to the first division.
“I get asked about it every day of my life and that’s amazing 25 years after the event,” Weaver reflected recently when he made his maiden appearance as a special guest on Matchday Live.
“If I could pinpoint one moment in my whole City career that would be it.
“It was an absolutely incredible day the way the game went. Losing 2-0 with time almost up, then two goals in last few minutes with Dicky [Paul Dickov] equalising in the fifth minute of injury time
“And then onto penalties.
“It was a truly remarkable season. I was only young at the time, I’d just turned 20 and it was my first full season in the first team, so to end like it did was remarkable.
“Nowadays, there is so much research into penalties. The goalkeeper will have all the info on his water bottle, there are iPads to study etc.
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“For me there was no looking at their penalty takers. It was just a feeling I had and, luckily, I saved two and they missed another.
“A big part of it also was that it was at the City end. For them [Gillingham], the goal must have looked smaller.
“You get a bit lucky in the shoot-out and whenever I think about that day and that season and those seasons, it was unbelievable for me personally and everyone connected to the Club as well.
“It was special times.”
Reflecting on his decade as a whole Weaver says gratitude is his overriding emotion.
It was a roller-coaster ride, featuring promotions, relegations, managerial changes and a serious career-threatening injury to his knee.
But for Weaver it was an experience that proved priceless and left him with memories and cherished friendships to last a lifetime
“I had 10 wonderful years at City. I was so, so lucky,” Nicky added.
“When you are in the moment and playing, you don’t really appreciate or understand how lucky you are.
“It’s only when you have retired and look back and it was like ‘Wow I had 10 years there’ – though I wish it was 10 years now!
“There were lots of standouts. The year after ’99 we got promoted again so it was back-to-back promotions, then we got relegated and then promoted again.
“I had serious knee injuries and missed quite a lot [of playing time] and then to come back play in my final season at the club and make 30 odd games, that was something I was really proud off as at one point I thought I might have to retire.
“City are such a great club and the fans do remember their history. And it’s amazing as even now I get kids coming up to me and asking about Wembley as their parents have told them.
“And what a time to be alive as a City fan now!”
