Author Archives: garyjamesfootballarchive

Most League Wins In A Season

On this day (21 April) in 2002 Manchester City defeated Portsmouth 3-1 to record their 31st League win of the season. At the time this was a new record for the club and also marked the 19th home League win of the season (which equalled the record established in 1920-21).

Since 2002 the most wins record has been beaten and it currently stands at 32 which was achieved both in 2017–18 and 2018–19. This is a national record too and was achieved in a 38 game League season. A remarkable achievement.

Subscribers can read more on the City-Portsmouth game of 2002 below:

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Niall Quinn Wears The Gloves

Today (20 April) in 1991 Niall Quinn scored and went into the nets. It was a remarkable game and day and you can read all about it here:

City 2 Derby County 1

Football League Division One

20 April 1991

Goalscorers: White, Quinn

City Team: Coton, Hill, Pointon, Heath, Hendry, Redmond, White, Brennan, Quinn, Harper, Ward (Reid)

Attendance 24,037

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40 Years Ago: Warnock Managerial Trophy Success At Maine Rd

On this day (19 April) in 1983 Neil Warnock managed Burton Albion to Northern Premier League’s Challenge Cup success at Maine Road. His team defeated Macclesfield Town 2-1 before 2,538 in the final at neutral Maine Rd.

Manchester City 2 Newcastle Utd 0

Fifty years ago today (18 April 1973) City defeated Newcastle 2-0 with goals from Tommy Booth (a header) and a brilliant effort from Rodney Marsh (in 69th minute). City’s boss at the time was Johnny Hart. You can read his frank views (from an interview I did with him several years ago) here:

IN SEARCH OF THE BLUES – Johnny Hart (interviewed December 2004)

The 2000s: This Week 2000-01

Continuing the new weekly series on Manchester City’s seasons from 1999-2000 through to 2008-09. Each week I’ll be publishing here the story of a different season of that remarkable ten-year period. Today it’s an article on 2000-01 (below) which became a season of struggle.

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A League is Born

On this day (17 April) in 1888 the first meeting of the Football League was held in Manchester. The following report names the clubs accepted and the others who wanted to join the League. It has often been written in Manchester United related books that Newton Heath applied to join the League in 1888 but didn’t receive enough votes to be accepted. That is completely untrue as no one actually had to apply nor was a vote taken. Clubs were asked and some tried to push to get included but Newton Heath were neither asked nor were they pushing for acceptance either. Nor were Ardwick or Manchester Asoociation who, to be frank would’ve been the most famous Manchester club at this time.

Bolton Wanderers were the only team from present day Greater Manchester to be asked/selected for the first League season.

Manchester Courier, 18 April 1888

The plaque is positioned on the corner of Mosley Street and Market Street/Piccadilly in Manchester.

Companies House Register MCFC

Today (16 April) in 1894 Companies House formally registered Manchester City FC as a new company. If you look carefully at the original Memorandum of Association you can see the registration date on the right of the image (just to the right of the word ‘SHARES’) below.

MCFC Memorandum of association signed 13 April 1894

If you want to know the facts not the fiction, plus my own interpretation of the events then in March 2023 I performed a one hour talk on 1894 etc. Subscribers can view that here:

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A European Semi Final Victory

Today (15 April) in 1970 German side Schalke 04 were defeated 5-1 in the ECWC semi-final second leg at Maine Road by Manchester City. You can read the story of that game (and watch video highlights) below.

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Keeper Scores

On this day (14 April) in 1900 Manchester City’s goalkeeper Charlie Williams scored against Sunderland. It was a remarkable first and subscribers can read the story of that day here:

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Death: Struck by Ball

On this day (13 April) in 1894 the Manchester coroner heard the tragic story of John Nuttall who had been struck by a ball at a game on the Hyde Road football ground. Nuttall fell against the post and was knocked unconscious. He died that evening.

Nuttall had been at the ground selling sweets to the crowd and this was a terrible tragedy during the final days of the Ardwick AFC.