Author Archives: garyjamesfootballarchive

The 1980s: 41,862 in 2nd Tier!

Continuing the series of articles covering Manchester City in the 1980s, here’s a reminder of a game played on this day (10 December) in 1983 when a crowd of 41,862 attended Maine Road for a game with Sheffield Wednesday. At the time this was perceived as a possible promotion showdown for two of Division Two’s biggest clubs. Ultimately, City lost their way and this game actually ended in a 2-1 defeat. City’s goal was scored by Kevin Bond and future Blue Imre Varadi netted both for Wednesday.

If you want to find out more about this season then why not subscribe and read my 2,500 article on the 1983-84 titled ‘Fish Supper’ (because manager Billy McNeill said City were so skint at the time that they could hardly buy a fish supper). Enjoy!

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Tomorrow’s feature is on the 1984-85 season. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald

The 1980s: Helen the Bell, Allen & Kendall

The series of features covering the 1980s for Manchester City continues with a reminder of a day when City lost at Southampton (9 December) in 1989 BUT this short video is worth watching for a few reason. New manager Howard Kendall had flown down to Southampton to watch his new team and this clip begins with him signing autographs. But have a look who is stooding to the left as we watch – it’s Helen ‘the Bell’ Turner. A dedicated Blue who was part of City’s folklore for decades.

Other reasons to watch: There’s a Clive Allen goal (Allen was City’s first £1m player since Trevor Francis in 1981) and you can catch a glimpse of part of the away fans celebrating. City fans were in pens and there were at least a couple full behind the goal and to the left of the pitch as viewed from the camera.

The photo that heads this page is of Clive Allen on the cover on the City-Southampton game at Maine Road earlier in the season. If you want to know more about the entire 1989-90 season then become a subscriber and read the following 8,000 word article on that season. Enjoy!

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Today’s feature was the last on the 1980s. I hope you’ve enjoyed them. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald

The 1980s: Alan Oakes to Play Again?

Continuing the series of articles on the 1980s and today it’s a newspaper article on a possible return to FA Cup action at the age of 40 for Alan Oakes. Oakes, the former Manchester City FA Cup winner, was expected to make his debut for Northwich Victoria. This report comes from this day (8 December) in 1982.

Oakes did indeed play one FA Cup game for Northwich and later still he played a League game for Port Vale.

You can read more on the 1982-83 seasonarticle is a 3,500 word feature on the 1982-83 season. Enjoy (well, if you know the outcome of this season you can enjoy this memory refresh while reflecting on the modern day successes of the Blues!).

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Tomorrow’s feature is on the 1983-84 season. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald

The 1980s: Corrigan and Daley Move?

Continuing the series of articles covering the 1980s. Today’s is an on this day (8 December) from 1980. It’s a newspaper story about Joe Corrigan and Steve Daley potentially moving from Maine Road to other clubs. Have a read of the piece. Ultimately Corrigan stayed but Daley never did play for Manchester City again. If you want to know more about the trials and tribulations of this period then why not subscribe and read the following ten thousand word long read on the 1980-81 season. Enjoy!

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Tomorrow’s feature is on the 1981-82 season.

The 1980s: Grealish Won’t Commit

Continuing the series of articles covering Manchester City in the 1980s. Today is this brief cutting from today (7 December) in 1986 and concerns City midfielder Tony Grealish. The brief newspaper article talks of the player’s travel plans each day and says that he’s continuing to do this as his contract is only short term. The journey was around 90 miles each way.

Grealish joined City on 23 October 1986 from West Bromwich Albion and did only stay with the Blues until the following close season. He moved to Rotherham in August 1987. His City debut was against Manchester United on 26 October 1986 and ultimately played 11 League and 1 FA Cup game for City (plus 14 reserves and 5 other apps).

This was a time when manager Jimmy Frizzell brought in several experienced players, including John Gidman, to help City’s 1986 FA Youth Cup winning squad develop. If you want to know more about this season then there is a 2,500 word feature below available to subscribers. Enjoy!

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Tomorrow’s feature is on the 1987-88 season. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald

The 1980s: Gow Goal

Continuing the series of articles covering the 1980s. Today’s is an on this day (6 December) from 1980. It’s a photo of tenacious Gerry Gow scoring for Manchester City against Bobby Robson’s Ipswich Town at Maine Road.

City were losing 1-0 and then in the 76th minute a scramble in the visitors penalty area saw Phil Boyer (centre of this photo) battling for the ball close to future City ‘keeper Paul Cooper. In the end it’s Gerry Gow, on the right being challenged by John Wark, who digs out the ball and sends it goalwards to make it 1-1.

This was a season of classic games against Ipswich, who were chasing a potential treble trophy success. You can read about the others if you’re a subscriber. Subscribers can read the following ten thousand word long read on the 1980-81 season. Enjoy!

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Tomorrow’s feature is on the 1981-82 season.

The 1980s: A Tueart Header v the Champions

Today’s feature in the series covering Manchester City in the 1980s is a reminder of the day when Dennis Tueart headed home to give City a home victory over champions Aston Villa. The game was played on this day (5 December) in 1981 and had lots of angles to it. One of which was the return of former City boss Ron Saunders. You can watch the highlights here:

If you want to find out more on this period then why not subscribe. As well as lots of other features, subscribers can read a 2,500 word feature on the 1981-82 season for the Blues below. Enjoy!

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Tomorrow’s feature is on the 1982-83 season. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald

The 1980s: Significant Praise from Stiles for ‘City Babes’

Continuing the series of articles covering Manchester City in the 1980s. Here’s a nice article from this day (5 December) in 1987. It was a piece praising Manchester city’s youth players with quotes from Nobby Stiles, the legendary Manchester United and England star. High praise indeed and these players deserved the focus.

Subscribers can find out more about the 1987-88 season by reading my 4,000 word feature on it below. Enjoy!

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Tomorrow’s feature is on the 1988-89 season. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald

The 1980s: Defender Caton Double Sinks Gunners

Continuing the series focusing on Manchester City in the 1980s here’s a brief reminder of Tommy Caton and a day (4 December) in 1982 when he scored twice to give City a 2-1 victory over his future club.

The photo shows central defender Caton sending a 52nd minute header past Arsenal ‘keeper George Wood, following an Asa Hartford corner. This gave City the lead at Maine Road but then five minutes from time the away team equalised. In the last minute another corner (this time from Paul Power) led to Caton leaping to send the ball home and give the Blues a 2-1 victory.

Two days later Caton was called up to the full England squad for a European Championship qualifier. Caton was a gifted defender who should have played regularly for England. Sadly, it was not to be.

If you want to know more about this period then why not subscribe? As well as all the other benefits you could read the following 3,500 word feature on the 1982-83 season. Enjoy (well, if you know the outcome of this season you can enjoy this memory refresh while reflecting on the modern day successes of the Blues!).

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Tomorrow’s feature is on the 1983-84 season. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald

The 1980s: The Horton Door Incident!

The series of articles covering Manchester City in the 1980s continues today with a reminder of the day Brian Horton damaged the Maine Road away team dressing room door. Future City boss Horton was then the manager of Oxford United. This article from this day (3 December) in 1988 explains how he was unhappy following his team’s dramatic 2-1 defeat the previous Saturday. City had been losing 1-0 with only a few minutes to go and then two dramatic late goals gave the Blues the victory. You can watch highlights here:

I think we can all understand Horton’s frustration. As part of his anger Horton left the door hanging on just one hinge! Rumours had suggested the Blues would make him pay for the damage but Peter Swales, the City chairman, said that there’d be no charge afterall.

It’s all a story about nothing really but is a nice reminder that in the days before social media these things still happened, they were just reported differently. Now this would be a major incident with apologies demanded and who knows what but back then it’s simply filling a space in the Manchester Evening News.

If you want to know more of the 1988-89 season for Manchester City Football Club then why not subscribe and read the following 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