The 1970s: A FAC Tie With Wigan

The series of features/articles covering Manchester City in the 1970s continues with the day the Northern Premier League’s Wigan Athletic came to Maine Road to face the ECWC & League Cup holders City. Who’d have thought that one day these two clubs would meet in a FA Cup final and that Wigan would be victorious? Hang on, let’s not talk about that. Let’s get back to the 1970s…

Colin Bell netted the only goal of this day (2 January) in 1971 and you can watch it here:

The Wigan Athletic Supporters Club website tells the Wigan perspective on this day and is well worth reading:

‘The third round draw pitted them against Manchester City away at Maine Road.  City at the time were holders of the League Cup and European Cup-Winners Cup and were doing well in the League.  Their team that day, 2 January 1971, was full of star names:  Joe Corrigan in goal; Tony Book, Arthur Mann, Mike Doyle, Tommy Booth, Alan Oakes, Mike Summerbee, Colin Bell, Francis Lee, Neil Young and Derek Jeffries, with Frank Carrodus on the bench.

‘Latics had in their line-up Dennis Reeves; Alan Turner, Billy Sutherland, Gordon Milne, Doug Coutts, Ian Gillibrand, Derek Temple, Bobby Todd, Geoff Davies, Jim Fleming and Graham Oates with sub Ian Ledgard.

‘The referee was one of the top officials of the time, Pat Partridge from Middlesbrough.

‘Both teams changed their strip, City into their renowned (at the time) black and red striped shirts with black shorts – the colours they’d worn to victory in both the FA Cup in 1969 and the European Cup-Winners Cup in 1970.  Latics wore all white with blue trim.  But best of all, BBC’s “Match of the Day” cameras were there to record the scene.

‘Not being overawed by their European trophy-holding opponents, or by the 46,212 fans, Latics held out until the 72nd minute when goalkeeper Dennis Reeves’ boot split when taking a goal-kick.  The ball went to Neil Young, who flicked it inside to Colin Bell, who made no mistake.  One goal was enough for City, and two late fine saves from Joe Corrigan put paid to Latics’ dreams.  They received a standing ovation from the crowd.‘

You can read more on Wigan’s season and history at the Wigan Athletic Supporters Club website:

https://www.wiganathleticsupportersclub.co.uk/wigan-athletic-197071-season/

This series of articles and features on Manchester City in the 1970s will run throughout January with indepth articles some days and smaller ‘on this day’ style posts on others. There will be flashbacks to great games, players and more. Every day in January will offer something to enjoy.

Subscribers will get access to everything. If you want to know more on this incredible decade for Manchester City Football Club then why not subscribe and read it all? You could even subscribe for a month and see what you think. The following 5,600 word article is on the successes of 1970 and is available to subscribers below. Enjoy!

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