Monthly Archives: Apr 2025

Football Pioneer Percy Ashley’s Birth

On this day (1 April) in 1892 at Bolton the pioneering football manager Percy Ashley was born. Ashley was the founding manager for the Manchester Corinthians pioneering women’s football team. My research for Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History has documented, for the first time, Percy’s life, achievements and corrected many myths that are out there about him and the team. You can now find out the facts (not the fiction!) about this incredible man and the team in my new book. Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History is a must for anyone interested in Manchester or women’s football and consists of 356 pages.

It is illustrated throughout and you can order it now for £25 (including UK postage and packaging). I’ll sign all copies ordered direct from me below.

If you live outside the UK then please contact for details of 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.

UK ONLY – Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History

The story of a pioneering women’s club as told to Gary James by those who were there. This will be published in late December 2024. This is UK only at £25 (incl UK postage and packaging). Outside UK contact for additional postage costs.

£25.00

The 1990s: Crystal Palace 1 Manchester City 3 Video Highlights

Here are some highlights of the Crystal Palace-Manchester City game played on this day (1 April) in 1991 when the Blues won 3-1 with a hat trick from Niall Quinn. Here’s the clip:

The 1990-91 season had included a shock managerial departure which could have disrupted the club but ultimately the Blues finished 5th, 3 points ahead of Manchester United. Here’s a 2,700 word article on that season:

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This series of articles and features will run throughout March 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 March will offer something to enjoy.

Subscribers will get access to everything, while some on this day material will be free for all to view.

If you want to know more on this incredible decade for Manchester City Football Club then why not subscribe and read it all? If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see:

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