Monthly Archives: Nov 2021

Dismal Days AFTER the MCFC Takeover

Here’s a flashback to a difficult period on this day in 2008…

City conceded twice in three consecutive League games during this period, dropping to 13th after a 2-1 defeat to Spurs on 9thNovember. It was a difficult time, especially as manager Mark Hughes felt aggrieved with some refereeing decisions. Most notably, Hughes was unhappy that Middlesbrough on 29th October had been awarded a highly debateable penalty by referee Lee Mason. Replays showed that there had been minimal contact between City’s Sturridge and Boro’s Wheater as the player went down outside the area. That goal switched control in the game. Hughes: “Wheater was not in full control of the ball, he was outside the box and the linesman did not give it. The shape of the game changed… All night the referee took it upon himself to make decisions that were quite frankly disappointing.”

After defeats at Bolton and at home to Spurs the media began to speculate that Mark Hughes’ position was in doubt. City, a point above the relegation zone, had suffered seven defeats in 12 League games causing journalist Daniel Taylor to comment: “Hughes is now at a club where the high expectation levels make him vulnerable…[Hughes] did not sound entirely convincing as he tried to pass some of the blame for this defeat to the referee Mike Dean for ‘not taking into account the [rainy] conditions’.”

It should be noted that City had ended the Spurs game with only nine players following the dismissals of Fernandes (26 min) & Dunne (83) and that Tottenham also had a man sent off. 

Match Stats:

2008-09

29 Oct  Middlesbrough (A)                    L 0-2                                        25,731

2 Nov   Bolton Wanderers (A)               L 0-2                                        21,095

9 Nov   Tottenham Hotspur (H)              L 1-2 Robinho                          41,893

Historic Name That Ground – Week 21

Here’s the latest ground to identify. I know it’s a tough one BUT… there’s a reason I’ve chosen this week to post this image plus eagle-eyed visitors to this site may notice that I have actually used part of this image before in connection with another story. So where is it?

On Friday I’ll post the answer but before then it would be great if you can post your guesses below. So, as well as the ground see if you can work out why I’ve posted the image this week and what the previous story I’d used part of this image for was in connection with.

Can you name the ground featured in the image above?

#ManchesterDerby – Utd 0 City 2

Here’s a brief clip I took today of City fans at the end of the Manchester Derby at Old Trafford. A dominant day for Manchester’s Blues.

Historic Name That Ground – Week 20 Answer

On Monday I asked ‘can you name the ground featured in the image above? Believe it or not this image is from the 1960s. I’ve had to obliterate something from above the door that would’ve given the ground away.’ The answer is…

Everton’s Goodison Park photographed in 1966. Did you get it?

Next ground on Monday.

While you’re here why not subscribe to my site and you can then access every article, interview, audio recording etc. already posted and those that will be posted during your subscription. It costs £20 per year (about £1.67 a month) or you can sign up on a monthly basis at £3 per month (you can cancel at any time, so you could sign sign up for a month, access everything you want and then cancel). You can subscribe below:

Subscribe to get access

Read more of this content when you subscribe today.

Subscribe

I had planned to run ‘Historic Name That Ground’ only during the close season as in previous years, but it’s proving of interest so I’ll keep it going for a little while yet. If you have an old image of a ground that you think it’d be worth including in this weekly quiz then please get in touch. They don’t have to be from the 1900s to 1960s – even ground images from the 70s and 80s may prove a challenge to identify these days. You can email me at gary@GJFootballArchive.com Thanks.

Joe Mercer Plaque Unveiling – 18 November 1.30pm

Great news for those who, like me, like to see Joe Mercer recognised for his enormous contribution. There will be a blue plaque unveiled for Joe at Ellesmere Port (a town that meant so much to him throughout his life). I’ll be talking as will Susan Lea (Joe’s granddaughter), Graeme Sharp, Mike Summerbee and others. Peter Reid will do the formal unveiling. Further details below…

The unveiling will take place at 1.30pm on Thursday 18th November at Ellesmere Port Civic Centre, Civic Way, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0AZ. It will be great to see as many people there as possible. Please come along and help celebrate this wonderful player and manager.

Ellesmere Port was such an important place for Joe. He was born there; went to school there and continued to live there for years, even when he was a professional footballer and England international. He spent most of his life living on The Wirral and continued to visit the schools, clubs, and people of Ellesmere Port throughout. He even took the FA Cup back there when he won it at Arsenal and at Manchester City AND the European Cup Winners’ Cup when he managed to City to that success in 1970.

This unveiling deserves to be well attended because Joe achieved so much for the teams he was involved with. Ellesmere Port mattered to him and he mattered to us, so let’s celebrate his life.

Foreword to my first book. Thanks Joe for all you’ve done.

Norwich Suffer

A flashback to a high scoring win for Manchester’s Blues on this day in 2013…

After the 2-1 last gasp defeat at Chelsea in their previous League game, manager Manuel Pellegrini took the decision to drop goalkeeper Joe Hart for this important match with Norwich. The decision brought much scrutiny City’s way but Hart’s replacement Pantilimon had little to do as the Blues thrashed Norwich 7-0.  The win lifted City to fourth in the League but more significantly demonstrated the fire power the Blues possessed and demonstrated to all that Pellegrini’s men were determined to mount a serious challenge for the title. Seven separate scorers – including an own goal – made this City’s largest top flight win since 1968. Afterwards Pellegrini was delighted that his side kept striving for more: “Normally a team 4-0 ahead finishes working.”

City had a 100% home record in the Premier League but away from home life was not so easy. At Sunderland in the next League game the Blues were unfortunate to lose 1-0. The BBC’s Sam Sheringham explained: “Referee Mike Dean’s leniency was on display once again in the build-up to the opening goal. The official opted not to penalise Bardsley when he appeared to bundle over Milner, allowing the full-back to race on to Brown’s long pass and curl a precise finish past Costel Pantilimon.”

The Blues were back down to eighth in what seemed likely to be a tight title race.

Match Stats:

2013-14

2 Nov   Norwich City (H)                        W 7-0 Silva, Nastasic, Negredo, Toure, Aguero, Dzeko & Johnson (OG)              47,066

10 Nov Sunderland (A)                         L 0-1                                        40,137

League Cup

30 Oct  Newcastle United (A)                 W 2-0 Negredo, Dzeko             33,846

Gary James and Peter Barnes Talks – Nov & Dec

Over the coming weeks Peter Barnes and I will be talking at various locations about the biography I have written on Peter. Here’s a brief rundown of the locations and dates, starting with tomorrow night (Tuesday 2nd November 2021):

Tuesday 2nd November – West Yorkshire MCFC Supporters Club (8pm; Morley Cricket Club, Scatcherd Lane Morley, Leeds LS27 0JJ)

Thursday 4th November – Castleton MCFC Supporters Club (7pm; Royle Bowling Club, 958 Manchester Road, Castleton, OL11 2TL)

Monday 8th November – Denton, plus Haughton Green, branches of the MCFC Supporters Club (Denton Conservative Club, 45 Manchester Rd, Denton, M34 2AF)

Thursday 11th November – Abbey Hey MCFC Supporters Club

Tuesday 16th November – Orrell MCFC Supporters Club (7.30pm)

Friday 19th November – Ashton under Lyne MCFC Supporters Club

Friday 26th November – Stretford & Urmston MCFC Supporters Club

Thursday 2nd December – Warrington MCFC Supporters Club

Monday 13th December – Wilmslow MCFC Supporters Club

Monday 20th December – Irlam MCFC Supporters Club

At each talk/evening we’ll be selling the book at a discounted price of £15 (cash only) and we will, of course, sign copies for those in attendance. Obviously, our diaries are pretty full with events and other activities but if you are interested in myself and where possible Peter talking about the book at your event then please contact me with details and we’ll see what we can do: gary@GJFootballArchive.com

This 372 page, colour paperback book is £16.95 (including UK postage). For those interested in buying the book but unable to attend you can order it here:

The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – UNITED KINGDOM

Order today for £16.95 (incl UK Postage and Packaging).

£16.95

UK postage included; outside UK contact me for additional postage costs. You do not need to have a PayPal account to order – use the ‘Pay with PayPal’ button above and it will give you the option to pay by credit/debit card without creating a PayPal account.

Historic Name That Ground – Week 20

This is a tough, grimy one but can you name the latest ‘Historic Name That Ground’? If you’ve not seen this feature before then each week for the last 18 weeks I’ve been posting an image of a football ground taken in the past and you can see if you can recognise the ground. Some will be easy, others not so. You’ll be able to post your view in comments at the bottom of each page.

On Friday I’ll post the answer. So here goes….

Can you name the ground featured in the image above? Believe it or not this image is from the 1960s. I’ve had to obliterate something from above the door that would’ve given the ground away. As always, answer on Friday.

While you’re here why not subscribe to my site and you can then access every article, interview, audio recording etc. already posted and those that will be posted during your subscription. It costs £20 per year (about £1.67 a month) or you can sign up on a monthly basis at £3 per month (you can cancel at any time, so you could sign sign up for a month, access everything you want and then cancel). You can subscribe below:

Subscribe to get access

Read more of this content when you subscribe today.

Subscribe

I had planned to run ‘Historic Name That Ground’ only during the close season as in previous years, but it’s proving of interest so I’ll keep it going for a little while yet. If you have an old image of a ground that you think it’d be worth including in this weekly quiz then please get in touch. They don’t have to be from the 1900s to 1960s – even ground images from the 70s and 80s may prove a challenge to identify these days. You can email me at gary@GJFootballArchive.com Thanks.