How times have changed: 14 years at Manchester City for George Evans

George Evans is breaking records after just one competitive first-team appearance for Manchester City.

His introduction as a substitute during City's 4-1 League Cup win at Sunderland on Tuesday made him the first player to represent the club at every age group in its academy, from the under-8s to the senior team.

The lifelong Citizen's 14-year career with the club began with a team still hurting from its drop into the third tier of English football that's since become a European giant with a star-studded squad.

(Courtesy: @MCFC)

Evans began training at City's old training ground, Platt Lane, after being spotted as a 6-year-old. In an era where clubs undertake significant renovations to keep spies and paparazzi from peeking into their sessions, Platt Lane was a true relic.

The sparse trees around its perimeter were bad enough for privacy, but Platt Lane was notorious for the large fence separating the facility's main pitch from rows upon rows of terraced south Manchester homes.

While City was at its lowest ebb in what's now called League One, the abuse disgruntled fans shouted through the fence became so vitriolic that then-manager Joe Royle had the team train at a local school in the lead-up to games.

The first team moved out to its training ground in Carrington in 2001, then from its Maine Road ground in the deprived Moss Side area of the city to the Etihad Stadium, which was built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. But the Citizens' academy sides continued to train in Manchester's urban sprawl, with the older youth teams playing at local Hyde United.

In 2014, however, every Manchester City side - from the under-8s to the first team - moved to the Etihad Campus, the plush £200-million complex based around the stadium in East Manchester.

The move came after the first team plundered four major trophies in four years. Previously, Manchester City hadn't won a trophy for 35 years, and hadn't captured the top-tier title in 44 years.

Even if Evans fails to make the grade with the club he's supported all his life, he's witnessed firsthand one of the most extraordinary transformations of a modern football club.