Maine Road’s highest crowd of the season, 50,439, witnessed a pulsating game against League title hopefuls Liverpool on this day (19 April) in 1976. The game was goalless until the 74th minute when Steve Heighway scored the opener. In the 87thminute, as City searched for an equaliser, the Blues were unlucky when a David Fairclough attempt was diverted in off Tommy Booth and then in the final minute future Blue Fairclough blasted home a Kevin Keegan pass from 14 yards out.
Paul Power came close to scoring a consolation goal a few moments later, as goalkeeper Ray Clemence and Emlyn Hughes scrambled the ball off the line, but the game ended 3-0 to new League leaders Liverpool, who led the table from QPR by a point. The Daily Express report praised City’s performance: ‘City stuck manfully to their job and until Fairclough began to create his havoc they always looked likely to take at least a point.’
You can read more on the 1975-76 season with this 5,320 word article – a season which saw Tony Book guide the club to major success. 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 5,320 word article is on the 1975-76 season and is available to subscribers below. Enjoy!
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If you enjoy all the free material on my website and would like to support my research and keep this website going (but don’t want to subscribe) then why not make a one-time donation (or buy me a coffee). All support for my research is valued and welcome. It allows me to keep some free material available for all. Thanks.
If you enjoy all the free material on my website and would like to support my research and keep this website going (but don’t want to subscribe) then why not make a one-time donation (or buy me a coffee). All support for my research is valued and welcome. It allows me to keep some free material available for all. Thanks.
I’ll be publishing the second edition of the non-profit making book on the Manchester Corinthians soon. I’m desperate to include the names of as many former Corinthians as possible in the book and so I’m making another call for the names of women who played for the Corinthians at some point during the club’s astounding 40+ years to be identified. As with the first edition of the book there will be a list of all known players included within Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History (second edition). While over 350 names have already been identified, I know there are many other women who played at some point during the club’s history. So please ask your families, spread the news and let me know of anyone who has possibly been missed. If you’ve got the first edition check the list at the back and see if ‘your’ Corinthian is named.
I want to record the names of the players and, where possible, the years they played. So please get in touch. I don’t want anybody to be missed.
It’s worth remembering that some Corinthians had previously kept quiet because of reactions they may have had to playing football in the past. In fact, during my research, I have met women who had not told their families that they played football and so asking the simple question ‘Did you play football, Nan?’ will sometimes bring out a wonderful aspect of your nan’s life. So, I urge you all to ask your mum, mam, ma, mātā, mom, madar, mama, nan, gran, nani, nana, nonna, granny, babushka, grandma (or whatever term of affection you use for your mother or grandmother) about playing sport.
Ask your mam or your nan if she played – you never know what you’ll hear! Granny may well have been one of the club’s pioneering figures – or a leading light at another club whose story needs to be told – but just hasn’t talked about it!
If you find a Corinthian then get in touch. I really don’t want to leave anybody out of my book. But time is short, so please ask now.
As well as asking your mam or your nan, how about helping the book by subscribing to it? You will get a copy of the second edition book (posted out before it appears in the shops) and your name will be included in a special roll of honour published within the book if ordered before publication:
UK ONLY – Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History (second edition)
The story of a pioneering women’s club as told to Gary James by those who were there. This is UK only at £19.95 (incl UK postage and packaging). Outside UK contact for additional postage costs. This revised and updated second edition will be a paperback edition and contain more pages than the first edition.
£19.95
Opportunities to buy multiple copies, sponsor the book or donate to ensure it’s published to the size and standard the women who played deserve exist. Please email Gary@GJFootballArchive.com for more information on those opportunities.
This book is a must for anyone interested in Manchester or women’s football and will consist of over 360 pages. It will be fully illustrated throughout and subscribers can order it now for £19.95 (including UK postage and packaging). All orders received before publication will have the purchaser’s name included within the special roll of honour at the back of the book. You can order the book for someone else – all details will be checked and confirmed before publication.
The book will be published this October (2026).
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.
The book will include the story of the club as told by the women involved, alongside a significant amount of archive material. Myths will be corrected and the facts of this pioneering club will be told in an easy to read format.
The club went on to represent Manchester, football and female endeavour for decades, winning major international tournaments in Europe and South America. The Corinthians are, without doubt, one of the most important football clubs ever to come from Manchester and they were a prominent and pioneering club in so many ways.
As well as the interviews and dozens of archive trips there’s been a concerted effort to compile as comprehensive list as possible on women who played for the club. I’ve managed to compile a list of over 350 women who played for the club. Objects and trophies have also been rediscovered. This is the type of detailed research I enjoy. It’s time consuming, difficult and often frustrating but occasionally you find a little gem that adds significantly to our knowledge. There have been quite a few of those.
The Hebden Bridge talk when the campaign for a Blue Plaque and other tributes was publicly announced, December 2021
Those subscribing to the book will receive a copy signed by author Gary James and posted out to subscribers before it appears in any shop or is distributed to any retailer. This is the ONLY way to guarantee your copy.
Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History will include interviews with players from every era of the club from several founding players back in 1948-49 through to those playing for the club in its final days over 40 years later (yes, that’s right – over 40 years later!). The book tells the story of the club from start to finish via the voices of the women who played. Via these voices the entire history of the club is explained with the key figures identified and remembered. There’s a remarkable trail of women linking the first game with the last.
Over fifty Corinthians have been interviewed for this book and their remarkable stories and memories are supported with an amazing array of photographs, newspaper articles, match programmes, trophies and other items of memorabilia from every era of the club’s existence.
Alongside chapters chronicling the history of the club there are features on founder Percy Ashley, who dedicated his life to promoting women’s football, and on Gladys Aikin (a key figure not only with the Corinthians but also with the early years of the Women’s Football Association) and George Aikin, who continued to take the Corinthians on tours into the 1980s. There are special features on the major tours of the 1950s and 1960s when the Corinthians found major international success.
The cover of the book will be worked on by the designer over the coming months but following feedback from former players the maroon and dark blue options will be replaced with a blue, more reminiscent of the colour first worn by the Corinthians (based on player memories, reports, programmes and other material found so far).
An unlucky away game at Leeds on this day (17 April) in 1976 was noteworthy for a goal by Colin Bell, playing his second comeback game for Manchester City. Journalist Alan Thompson writing for the Daily Express summed up the game well: ‘Leeds were awful for most of the first half, went in a goal down, but they won the match… As Mike Doyle says, “We threw the game away… AGAIN!”’
City’s goal came after five minutes when the ball was swung out to Colin Bell, playing his second comeback game after his devastating injury in the November derby match, on the edge of the box. Bell scored with a magnificent shot which went in off the upright. Sadly, the game ended in a 2-1 defeat after two goals in three minutes from Leeds (McNiven 62nd minute & Harris 64th minute).
You can read more on the 1975-76 season with this 5,320 word article – a season which saw Tony Book guide the club to major success. 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 5,320 word article is on the 1975-76 season and is available to subscribers below. Enjoy!
Subscribe to get access – Monthly
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 enjoy all the free material on my website and would like to support my research and keep this website going (but don’t want to subscribe) then why not make a one-time donation (or buy me a coffee). All support for my research is valued and welcome. It allows me to keep some free material available for all. Thanks.
If you enjoy all the free material on my website and would like to support my research and keep this website going (but don’t want to subscribe) then why not make a one-time donation (or buy me a coffee). All support for my research is valued and welcome. It allows me to keep some free material available for all. Thanks.
Today (16 April) in 1966 Manchester City defeated Bolton 4-1 at Maine Road in the Second Division. The City scorers were Dave Connor, Johnny Crossan, Bobby Kennedy and Cliff Sear. Future PFA chief Gordon Taylor scored for Bolton. Subscribers can read some contemporary match reports from this game below. Were you there that day? If you were please feel free to add your comments.
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You can find out more on Manchester City during the 1965-66 season by reading the following 4100 word article. As with most of the other features in this series it includes words from interviews I have performed with those who were there. This is a subscriber article (see below).
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If you enjoy all the free material on my website and would like to support my research and keep this website going (but don’t want to subscribe) then why not make a one-time donation (or buy me a coffee). All support for my research is valued and welcome. It allows me to keep some free material available for all. Thanks.
On 16 April 2011 Manchester City faced Manchester United in the FA Cup semi final. Five years ago I produced Restored 2011: The All-Manchester FA Cup Semi Final and I think it’s well worth listening to today to get a feel for how significant this game actually was. This special 1 hour audio recording looked at the game and the years between City’s 1976 League Cup success and the FA Cup glory of 2011. The 2011 semi-final was a crucial step in City’s journey since the 2008 takeover and I felt it was vital to do a special marking this.
So what’s in this special recording? Well, I’ve included exclusive material from interviews and recordings I’ve done over the years with Garry Cook, Brian Marwood, Roberto Mancini, Peter Barnes and Peter Swales. Why Swales? Well, have a listen and you’ll hear why. Basically though I’m trying to set the tone for why the 2011 FA Cup semi final victory and overcoming Manchester United was so significant.
On Mancini… I include a few words from him recorded in 2011 and at one point he talks about the view that was then being expressed that City were ‘trying’ to buy success (now they say City ‘have’ bought success!). His words are a reminder that City have been having that particular criticism thrown at them for over a decade! Oh well, I wonder how long those criticisms were laid at other clubs who had seen major investment which propelled them forward?
Anyway, get yourself a brew and be prepared to be transported back in time. Here’s the recording:
If you enjoy the recording then please let me know, comment or subscribe to the site. If it’s of interest then, over the coming months and years, I’ll produce others like this highlighting key points in Manchester City – and Manchester’s – footballing history. It costs £20 a year to subscribe (it works out £1.67 a month) or £3 if you’d like to sign up a month at a time to get full access for as long as you subscribe (you can always try it for a month). It’s worth bearing in mind that the 2010 Manchester A Football History cost £24.95 and all subscribers will be able to access all of that for as long as they are a subscriber (plus all the other stuff of course). You can subscribe below.
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On this day (15 April) in 1964 Maine Road staged a remarkable testimonial for legendary goalkeeper Bert Trautmann. You can read about this incredible night, which set an attendance record for testimonials, below.
This article is for subscribers to the site.
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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 of £20 which gives access to everything posted since the site was set up in December 2020.
If you enjoy all the free material on my website and would like to support my research and keep this website going (but don’t want to subscribe) then why not make a one-time donation (or buy me a coffee). All support for my research is valued and welcome. It allows me to keep some free material available for all. Thanks.
After a surprising defeat in the League at home to Leeds (who were down to ten men throughout the second half) Manchester City’s return leg with Borussia Dortmund on this day (14 April) in 2021, ended with the same result as the first – 2-1. Dortmund had scored first on the night via Jude Bellingham, but the tie ended 4-2 on aggregate. This was a truly impressive victory.
City’s goals coming from Riyad Mahrez (penalty) and Foden. After Foden scored a screamer, he raced towards the manager and the two embraced knowing that City were through to the semi-finals. Afterwards Pep Guardiola told journalists what he experienced at that moment: ‘[Foden] found me. He ran [past] everyone and found me. That’s for all the club, all the people that work so hard to achieve what we have achieved so far. I said, “Well done, good shot, we go”.’
Pep highlighted the task now facing City: ‘We need three wins to win the Premier League. We are in the semi-finals of the Champions League. We are in semi-finals of the FA Cup and the final of the Carabao Cup. It is incredible what we have done. I am incredibly happy for this club, for this chairman and for the fans. Everyone.’
This was shaping up to be a great season.
If you enjoy all the free material on my website and would like to support my research and keep this website going (but don’t want to subscribe) then why not make a one-time donation (or buy me a coffee). All support for my research is valued and welcome. It allows me to keep some free material available for all. Thanks.
On this day (April 13) in 2014 Manchester City’s women’s team played its first competitive game after the relaunch. It was a FA Cup tie against Reading played at the Regional Athletics Arena.
Here for subscribers is a section of Manchester City Women: An Oral History discussing that opening game:
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‘History Tradition Class’ is often used on Arsenal banners (particularly when they play City it seems; there was one at Wembley) and with the two sides meeting on Sunday (19 April 2026) it seems like the same lines will be trotted out again. So for today’s feature I’ve decided to have a look at the history of the two clubs to compare successes. It seems to me that if a club claims that their club has something that another does not then it’s only fair to test that idea. Anyway here goes….
What do we mean by history? Is it success? Is it a ‘first’ that predates the rest. Is it more trophies? Is it longevity? Is it just nonsense? (probably!). So here are a few comparisons of achievements just to get the ball rolling:
Major trophies won or achievements made:
Trophy/Achievement
Year & team
Other Team
Joined the League
1892 (City as Ardwick AFC)
1893 (Woolwich Arsenal)
Promotion
1899 (City)
1904 (Arsenal)
Second Division Champions
1899 (City)
Never
Major Trophy
1904 (City)
1930 (Arsenal)
FA Cup
1904 (City)
1930 (Arsenal)
League
1931 (Arsenal)
1937 (City)
League Cup
1970 (City)
1987 (Arsenal)
ECWC
1970 (City)
1994 (Arsenal)
Fairs Cup
1970 (Arsenal)
Never
Domestic Treble
2019 (City)
Never
Traditional Treble
2023 (City)
Never
European Cup
2023 (City)
Never
Super Cup
2023 (City)
Never
Club World Cup
2023 (City)
Never
Community Shield
1930 (Arsenal)
1937 (City)
I’ll show more comparisons on success in a moment but first how about attendance comparisons?
The highest home attendance by either club is: 84,569 (City). Arsenal’s record attendance is over 10,000 lower at 73,707, achieved at a European game at Wembley.
Record League attendance: 79,491 (City); 73,295 (Arsenal).
The first time either side were the best supported team in the League: 1910-11 (City). Arsenal first achieved this feat almost 20 years later in 1929-30.
Okay, what about first and most recent successes? Here’s a list of the major trophies won by these sides listed with the first time one of the team’s achieved that success and the most recent time:
Trophy/Achievement
First
Team
Most Recent
Team
Major Trophy
1904
City
2026
City
FA Cup
1904
City
2023
City
League
1931
Arsenal
2024
City
League Cup
1970
City
2026
City
ECWC
1970
City
1994
Arsenal
Fairs Cup
1970
Arsenal
1970
Arsenal
European Cup
2023
City
2023
City
Super Cup
2023
City
2023
City
Club World Cup
2023
City
2023
City
Community Shield
1930
Arsenal
2024
City
Domnestic Treble
2019
City
2019
City
Traditional Treble
2023
City
2023
City
Interesting stats but what about most trophies won? Surely there’s a big difference? Err, well not really:
MOST TROPHIES WON
Trophy
Number & Team
Other Team
FA Cup
14 (Arsenal)
7 (City)
League
13 (Arsenal)
10 (City)
League Cup
9 (City)
2 (Arsenal)
Club World Cup
1 (City)
Super Cup
1 (City)
European Cup
1 (City)
ECWC
1 (both City & Arsenal)
Fairs Cup
1 (Arsenal)
Total
31 (Arsenal)
30 (City)
I’m sure someone will say ‘but take the Super Cup off as it’s like the Community Shield’. Okay but that still means that after all these decades there are only 2 major trophies separating City and Arsenal. Also, there are some sports historians who would say ‘remove the Fairs Cup’ as that wasn’t a UEFA tournament and the rules of entry meant that often teams finishing in a position that should allow entry couldn’t enter as only one team per city could enter. In 1969 Everton finished above Arsenal and were denied entry into the Fairs Cup because Liverpool had already qualified. Similarly Chelsea, Spurs and West Ham were denied entry due to Arsenal qualifying. The same was true across Europe. In earlier years ‘London’ had entered the competition.
I’m not going to say that Manchester City’s history is greater than any other club, nor should any other person say that about their club. Each club has its own successes and failures; reasons to be proud and moments to forget. However, when a club or its fans try to claim superiority over another because of their ‘history’ or ‘tradition’ or ‘class’ (maybe I’ll do that another day) then it’s only fair to highlight the history and tradition of success other clubs have enjoyed.
How time flies? On this day (April 11) in 2019 I staged an event at the Dancehouse in central Manchester to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Manchester City. We had a packed audience for the event and I intended to stage at least one event like this every year (then Covid happened!).
In 2019 I managed three special events at the Dancehouse connected with Manchester City’s history. In June there was the most recent showing of The Boys In Blue (my collaboration with the North West Film Archive at Manchester Metropolitan University) which provided exclusive films of the club from 1905 through to the modern era.
In September there was the launch of Manchester City Women: An Oral History (you can buy that book here: https://gjfootballarchive.com/shop/ ). This was a celebration of the history of the women’s club with guests from every era of the club’s history including many founding players and also England international Karen Bardsley.
I had hoped to stage events in 2020 and 2021 but back in April 2019 there was the commemoration of the 125th anniversary of the club’s birth as Manchester City. The talk of course went back further and discussed the 1870s and 1880s where I hoped to kill off a few myths. I’m still trying to kill off some of these myths. See:
The 2019 presentation didn’t just dwell on the formative years of the club as I covered stories connected with Maine Road, fans and more. The following images are slides from that day and give an indication of what was covered.
I’d love to do further shows like these and perhaps resurrect the idea of doing at least one a year but I’d need a venue and would also need to find a way to cover costs. Any ideas welcome.
Gary James' Football Archive 