Football writing, thoughts and more by Gary James
It’s City v Sunderland today. the first meeting between these clubs was a 2-1 City win in December 1899. The legendary Billy Meredith scored one of City’s goals that day. There have been cup finals, charity shield games and key matches in the League. Many of these are featured on this site. Here’s a link to all the articles tagged Sunderland:
https://gjfootballarchive.com/tag/sunderland
Today’s the anniversary of a memorable day at Chelsea when a crowd of 8,071 (imagine the seat counters if that occurred today) at Stamford Bridge watched Manchester City defeat Chelsea 3-1. Here’s some film of the day when City’s former FA Youth Cup winners Ian Brightwell (scored 2) and Paul Moulden scored:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X42HrZYvH74
You can read more on this season below if you subscribe. This article is a 4,100 word feature on the 1988-89 season. Enjoy!
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Tomorrow’s feature is the last on the 1980s as we tell the story of the 1989-90 season. If you missed the earlier features then start here:
The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald
Over the years much has been said about Steve Daley and his time at Manchester City with many myths developing. While his price tag had a direct impact on his performances it is unfair to suggest that he achieved nothing (which is often said these days!) during his time at City. This image actually shows something positive and is a nice reminder that late in 1979 he was viewed so positively that he was acclaimed as City’s player of the month for November. Presumably his match winner v Bolton that month played its part.
Obviously, things like this are subjective but I do believe the wider narrative of him as a ‘failed’ player developed simply because the media focus on how expensive he was was overwhelming. As fans we were told that he HAD to deliver game after game because of his price (think about how that narrative is used today and consider what happens when a player doesn’t perform as the highest level expected of him; how many times are we told ‘Haaland hasn’t had a touch yet!’ because it’s a story that some want to tell?). Steve Daley was for many, many years City’s record transfer. It wasn’t Daley’s fault his transfer was so expensive but it was something that was always hurled at him if he had a poor game. I interviewed him a few years back and we discussed his transfer, City fans and the ridiculous spending City did. It was great to interview Steve and I enjoyed it immensely, helping fill in some gaps.
This interview is available to subscribers below.
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A few days ago I posted an image of Deyna on the cover of a City monthly magazine published during 1979-80 (see image below). Now here’s another photo from that magazine showing Kazimierz Deyna in action. This photo shows him during the Manchester derby of 10 November 1979 when City beat United 2-0 (goals from Tony Henry and Mike Robinson). United players Kevin Moran and Mickey Thomas are there too of course.
Back in 2003 I wrote this profile of former Manchester City player and Polish World Cup star Deyna. He was such an important and unusual signing at the time he joined City in November 1978 that I feel this article is still appropriate and of interest to subscribers to my blog today.
If you would like to read this in-depth article and all the others on this site (including the entire Manchester A Football History book) then please subscribe. It works out about £1.67 a month if you take out an annual subscription (£20 per year) or £3 a month if you’d like to sign up for a month at a time. Each subscriber gets full access to every article posted so far and all those posted throughout your subscription.
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On this day (18 September) in 1968 Manchester City’s first European Cup fixture against Fenerbahce ended goalless at Maine Road. This was the first time two British clubs from the same city had competed in the European Cup. Here’s a match report of the City game:
Subscribers can read a feature about that game here:
This article is available to subscribers. It costs £3 per year (cancel anytime) to subscribe and monthly subscriver get full access to all the articles, interviews and books published since 1 October 2022. There’s also a special annual option (see below).
This article is available to subscribers. It costs £20 a year (£1.67 per month) to subscribe and for that you get full access to all the articles, interviews and books already published since the site was created in December 2020 and throughout your subscription.
In my collection is this newspaper called ‘City Football Monthly Review’ from the 1979-80 season and this cutting asks what a lot of us wanted to know back then. Over the years people have tried to suggest Steve Daley was not a great player, but it was the ridiculous price tag that was an issue. He was un doubtedly a talented player before he arrived and multiple clubs wanted him. Regardless of what was said in later years there was a bidding war with Aston Villa and Everton offering various deals, including multiple players at one point in the days immediately prior to City signing Daley. I interviewed Daley a few years back about it all and that can be read here:
https://gjfootballarchive.com/2024/10/19/steve-daley-interview-2/
If you’d like to find out more on the 1979-80 season then why not subscribe? Subscribers can read the following 4,220 word article on the entire 1979-80 season – a season which saw heroes leave and spending get ridiculous!). My article, like the other indepth subscriber pieces, contains material from interviews I have performed with many of the key figures – chairman, managers, players and others. You can read this below.
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 or there’s a special annual rate below which gives greater access and works out much cheaper.
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (above) or £20 a year (here) to access everything posted since the site was created in December 2020. This special rate works out about £1.67 a week and gives access to everything posted, including PDFs of 3 of my books.
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In my collection is this newspaper called ‘City Football Monthly Review’ from the 1979-80 season. I’m not certain how many issues were printed but I think I’ve got a couple. This one fell out of a box I was sorting through the other day containing a few late 1970s items. The player on the front is Kaziu Deyna, a brilliant footballer who arrived at City perhaps too late in his career. His arrival was high profile at the time.
The newspaper carries quite a few interesting articles. Do you have a copy of one of the other issues? I’d be keen on seeing pages from other issues.
If you’d like to find out more on the 1979-80 season then why not subscribe? Subscribers can read the following 4,220 word article on the entire 1979-80 season – a season which saw heroes leave and spending get ridiculous!). My article, like the other indepth subscriber pieces, contains material from interviews I have performed with many of the key figures – chairman, managers, players and others. You can read this below.
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 or there’s a special annual rate below which gives greater access and works out much cheaper.
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (above) or £20 a year (here) to access everything posted since the site was created in December 2020. This special rate works out about £1.67 a week and gives access to everything posted, including PDFs of 3 of my books.
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Your contribution is appreciated.
Here’s a section from a magazine in my collection. It’s part of the 1970s Book Of Football series and this section shows Manchester City’s kit and club details as they were in 1972. For years much of this didn’t change but now almost every line of club facts/details have changed, even the address of course! Interestingly, the capacity of the Etihad today is closer to the recorded capacity of Maine Road when this was published than at any other time since then (the seating of the North Stand dropped the attendance by around 10,000 and the capacity continued to drop until the move to the current stadium and then the increases since then).
I’ve not reviewed every fact but from memory the ones that remain are: Founded 1880 (as St Mark’s but 1894 at MCFC); the record attendance of 84,569; record victory and record defeat; Most League goals has been equalled; Tommy Johnson still holds the most goals in a League season but all the other player stats have changed. Of course the badge and kit have also changed on more than one occasion since then.
On 12 September 1925 Manchester City and Manchester United met in the first Manchester Derby to be played at Maine Road (United had been in the second tier for the first couple of seasons of Maine Road’s existence). Here’s the background, report and stats from that game (this is all from the book I wrote with Steve Cawley called The Pride of Manchester – the history of the Manchester Derby). Enjoy!
MANCHESTER CITY 1 (Cowan)
MANCHESTER UNITED 1 (Rennox)
Manchester City: Jim MITCHELL, Sam COOKSON, Philip McCLOY, Sammy SHARP, Sam COWAN, Charlie PRINGLE, Billy AUSTIN, John (known as Jack) WARNER, Frank ROBERTS, Tom JOHNSON, George HICKS. Manager: David Ashworth
Manchester United: Alf STEWARD, Charlie MOORE, Jack SILCOCK, Ray BENNION, Frank BARSON, Frank MANN, Joe SPENCE, Thomas SMITH, Jimmy HANSON, Clatworthy ’Clat’ RENNOX, Frank MCPHERSON. Manager: John Chapman
BACKGROUND
United had spent three seasons in the Second Division and returned as runners-up to Leicester City. Some of the old faithfuls remained, notably Silcock and Spence, but inevitably team strengthening and transitions had occurred, in particular, with the acquisition of club captain Frank Barson. Signed in 1922 for the huge sum of £5,000, United promised Barson a pub if they were promoted within three years – and he just made it! A former blacksmith, Barson was an attacking centre-half of international standard but also carried a notorious reputation as a traditional ‘hard man’ who was quick to exact retribution if a team-mate was fouled. Another useful signing was Frank McPherson, a man with reputedly the hardest shot in football. The Reds made a quite promising start to the new campaign and had looked impressive in a 3-0 home victory against Aston Villa.
City’s playing squad had changed considerably since the last derby, while manager Ernest Mangnall who had joined the Blues from United in September 1912 and played such a major role in the development of both clubs had left City in May 1924, and was replaced by David Ashworth. Meredith had also finally retired in 1924, bowing out in an FA Cup semi-final against Newcastle, although he retained a connection through his son-in-law Charlie Pringle who now played for the Blues. A number of fresh signings had been made; Frank Roberts for £3,400, Billy Austin for£2,000 and Philip McCloy for £3,000. City also had great hopes that Sam Cowan, a centre-half signed from Doncaster Rovers in December 1924 would develop into a quality player. City had moved to their magnificent purpose-built stadium at Maine Road in August 1923 and had established a provincial record crowd of 76,166 in the stadium’s first season. Now, with the derby imminent, its capacity was viewed at a possible 85,000!
BEFORE THE GAME
P W D L F A Pts
UNITED 4 1 1 2 5 4 3
CITY 3 1 0 2 3 4 2
MATCH VERDICT
The derby rivalry resumed in front of what was, at the time, City’s record League gate. City were deemed the better side in what was a rousing contest. Local born ‘keeper Alf Steward had an outstanding game keeping the lively City forwards at bay with a string of fine saves, before ’Clat’ Rennox then went down to the other end and gave the Reds the lead with a smart shot.
Sam Cowan capped a wonderful display by scoring the equaliser with a powerful far post header from a left wing corner (see photo). It was a fitting reward for Cowan, who besides being the man of the match, looked to be a player the Blues could build a future around.
“The Athletic News” reported on the resumption of the derby match after a four year break: ”The first meeting of the Manchester rivals after a lapse of four years brought the City club the largest League gate they have ever enjoyed. It was not so great as that recorded at the Cup-tie with Cardiff City in March 1924, when 76,166 spectators paid for admission, but over 62,000 people passed through the turnstiles, and, with ticket-holders, the attendance was officially returned at nearly 66,000. It was a magnificent spectacle and a game fought in a splendid spirit. That the City did not defeat their rivals was due primarily to the brilliant goal-keeping of Steward, a Manchester-born player, to whose rich promise the Athletic News referred last Monday.
It was fitting that on the only occasion he was beaten the success fell to Samuel Cowan, for these players were the outstanding figures in the contest. Cowan’s headwork was a feature of the match. More, he tackled with grim determination and effectiveness, and distributed the ball with discrimination and accuracy.
Cowan promises to be all that the City club expected when they brought him from Doncaster Rovers last season. He has all the physical requirements for a centre half-back, and, judging by his display in this match, he has the temperament for the big event. His equalising goal was a masterpiece in headwork and judgement”.
If you’d like to know more about this season for Manchester City why not read the following 4,900 word subscriber article on the 1925-26 season. If you subscribe (see below) I hope you enjoy it. If you are not currently a subscriber then why not try it for a month (£3 per month or sign up for a year at a discounted £20 per year)?
Here’s the article:
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Here’s an article from this day (12 September) in 1986 when Manchester City manager Billy McNeill was unhappy with the way City’s team was playing. He felt some of the experienced guys were letting the side down and, following City’s success in the 1986 FA Youth Cup final, he knew there were some talented young players coming through. This article suggests that and it’s worth noting that David White and Darren Beckford were going to be in the squad for the Oxford game. McNeill was clearly getting frustrated and it wouldn’t be long before he walked out on the club for Villa.
If you’re interested in knowing more, here’s a 2,500 word feature on the 1986-87 season for subscribers:
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 or there’s a special annual rate below which gives greater access and works out much cheaper.
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (above) or £20 a year (here) to access everything posted since the site was created in December 2020. This special rate works out about £1.67 a week and gives access to everything posted, including PDFs of 3 of my books.
If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see:
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