Author Archives: garyjamesfootballarchive

Historic Name That Ground – Week 19

This is a tough one but can you name the latest ‘Historic Name That Ground’? If you’ve not seen this feature before then each week for the last 18 weeks I’ve been posting an image of a football ground taken in the past and you can see if you can recognise the ground. Some will be easy, others not so. You’ll be able to post your view in comments at the bottom of each page.

On Friday I’ll post the answer. So here goes….

Can you name the ground featured in the image above? You may need to be a fan of this club, or someone with a strong interest in the history of football grounds, to know of this ground. The image is from the early 1900s and this ground is not the current ground – in fact they’ve had 3 official grounds since this one! I know it’s a tough one. As always, answer on Friday.

While you’re here why not subscribe to my site and you can then access every article, interview, audio recording etc. already posted and those that will be posted during your subscription. It costs £20 per year (about £1.67 a month) or you can sign up on a monthly basis at £3 per month (you can cancel at any time, so you could sign sign up for a month, access everything you want and then cancel). You can subscribe below:

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I had planned to run ‘Historic Name That Ground’ only during the close season as in previous years, but it’s proving of interest so I’ll keep it going for a little while yet. If you have an old image of a ground that you think it’d be worth including in this weekly quiz then please get in touch. They don’t have to be from the 1900s to 1960s – even ground images from the 70s and 80s may prove a challenge to identify these days. You can email me at gary@GJFootballArchive.com Thanks.

Historic Name That Ground – Week 18 Answer

Here’s the answer to the latest ‘Historic Name That Ground’. On Monday, as usual, I asked: ‘Can you name the ground featured in the image above?’ I added: ‘I haven’t got a specific date but I think it’s about 1950. It’s certainly before 1953 (clue).’ The answer is:

Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane. This was taken in the days the ground was still a cricket venue. I said the image was before 1953 and I know a few people thought I was making some reference to the cricket, but I was actually refering to the fact that the ground had floodlights installed in 1953.

While you’re here why not subscribe to my site and you can then access every article, interview, audio recording etc. already posted and those that will be posted during your subscription. It costs £20 per year (about £1.67 a month) or you can sign up on a monthly basis at £3 per month (you can cancel at any time, so you could sign sign up for a month, access everything you want and then cancel). You can subscribe below:

Subscribe to get access

Read more of this content when you subscribe today.

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If you have an old image of a ground that you think it’d be worth including in this weekly quiz then please get in touch. They don’t have to be from the 1900s to 1960s – even ground images from the 70s and 80s may prove a challenge to identify these days. You can email me at gary@GJFootballArchive.com Thanks.

Historic Name That Ground – Week 18

The latest ‘Historic Name That Ground’… If you’ve not seen this feature before then each week for the last 17 weeks I’ve been posting an image of a football ground taken in the past and you can see if you can recognise the ground. Some will be easy, others not so. You’ll be able to post your view in comments at the bottom of each page.

On Friday I’ll post the answer. So here goes….

Can you name the ground featured in the image above? I haven’t got a specific date but I think it’s about 1950. It’s certainly before 1953 (clue).

While you’re here why not subscribe to my site and you can then access every article, interview, audio recording etc. already posted and those that will be posted during your subscription. It costs £20 per year (about £1.67 a month) or you can sign up on a monthly basis at £3 per month (you can cancel at any time, so you could sign sign up for a month, access everything you want and then cancel). You can subscribe below:

Subscribe to get access

Read more of this content when you subscribe today.

Subscribe

I had planned to run ‘Historic Name That Ground’ only during the close season as in previous years, but it’s proving of interest so I’ll keep it going for a little while yet. If you have an old image of a ground that you think it’d be worth including in this weekly quiz then please get in touch. They don’t have to be from the 1900s to 1960s – even ground images from the 70s and 80s may prove a challenge to identify these days. You can email me at gary@GJFootballArchive.com Thanks.

Historic Name That Ground – Week 17 Answer

Well, did you get the latest ‘Historic Name That Ground’… On Monday I asked ‘Can you name the ground featured in the image above? This was taken in the 1950s.’ The ground is…

Bolton Wanderers’ old Burnden Park Stadium, seen in 1952. Years later they build a Co-op store on part of that end and I remember standing there (on the terracing, not in the Co-op!) for the Nat Lofthouse Testimonial in August 1989. My first book had come out that year and as I was stood waiting for the game to start I heard a bloke in front of me say to his mate: ‘Have you seen that new book that’s come out on City?’

Immediately, my ears pricked up. This was the first time I’d overheard anyone talking about one of my books and couldn’t wait to hear what he said. His mate replied: ‘no, not seen it. I’ll have a look.’

First bloke replied: ‘I wouldn’t bother. It’s sh*t!’

Since then I’ve always been somewhat grounded about my writing and books!

While you’re here why not subscribe to my site and you can then access every article, interview, audio recording etc. already posted and those that will be posted during your subscription. It costs £20 per year (about £1.67 a month) or you can sign up on a monthly basis at £3 per month (you can cancel at any time, so you could sign sign up for a month, access everything you want and then cancel). You can subscribe below:

Subscribe to get access

Read more of this content when you subscribe today.

Subscribe

I had planned to run ‘Historic Name That Ground’ only during the close season as in previous years, but it’s proving of interest so I’ll keep it going for a little while yet. If you have an old image of a ground that you think it’d be worth including in this weekly quiz then please get in touch. They don’t have to be from the 1900s to 1960s – even ground images from the 70s and 80s may prove a challenge to identify these days. You can email me at gary@GJFootballArchive.com Thanks.

MCFC Attendances Sequences

Lots of people talk incorrectly of Manchester City’s support and so for today’s subscriber feature I’ve decided to focus on the growth in City’s average attendance from the club’s first season in the League through to recent years, alongside other crowd related statistics. Hopefully, this will help to answer any questions raised on the loyalty of City’s support (but somehow I doubt it!).

If you would like to subscribe and read this and all my other content posted to this site (over 400 articles/sound recordings/interviews including the entire Manchester A Football History) then please use the button below. It costs £20 a year (that’s about £1.67 a month) and you have access to everything for as long as you are a subscriber (you can even subscribe for a month at a time at £3, access everything and then cancel your subscription if you like!).

Here’s the article for subscribers…

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Historic Name That Ground – Week 17

The latest ‘Historic Name That Ground’… If you’ve not seen this feature before then each week for the last 16 weeks I’ve been posting an image of a football ground taken in the past and you can see if you can recognise the ground. Some will be easy, others not so. You’ll be able to post your view in comments at the bottom of each page.

On Friday I’ll post the answer. So here goes….

Can you name the ground featured in the image above? This was taken in the 1950s.

While you’re here why not subscribe to my site and you can then access every article, interview, audio recording etc. already posted and those that will be posted during your subscription. It costs £20 per year (about £1.67 a month) or you can sign up on a monthly basis at £3 per month (you can cancel at any time, so you could sign sign up for a month, access everything you want and then cancel). You can subscribe below:

Subscribe to get access

Read more of this content when you subscribe today.

Subscribe

I had planned to run ‘Historic Name That Ground’ only during the close season as in previous years, but it’s proving of interest so I’ll keep it going for a little while yet. If you have an old image of a ground that you think it’d be worth including in this weekly quiz then please get in touch. They don’t have to be from the 1900s to 1960s – even ground images from the 70s and 80s may prove a challenge to identify these days. You can email me at gary@GJFootballArchive.com Thanks.

Historic Name That Ground – Week 16 Answer

Well, did you get it? Last week I asked: ‘Can you name the ground featured in the image above? This was taken during the last 40 years.’ The answer is, of course:

Manchester City’s old ground, Maine Road. Photographed during the summer of 1982 when the Main Stand roof was being replaced.

While you’re here why not subscribe to my site and you can then access every article, interview, audio recording etc. already posted and those that will be posted during your subscription. It costs £20 per year (about £1.67 a month) or you can sign up on a monthly basis at £3 per month (you can cancel at any time, so you could sign sign up for a month, access everything you want and then cancel). You can subscribe below:

Subscribe to get access

Read more of this content when you subscribe today.

Subscribe

I had planned to run ‘Historic Name That Ground’ only during the close season as in previous years, but it’s proving of interest so I’ll keep it going for a little while yet. If you have an old image of a ground that you think it’d be worth including in this weekly quiz then please get in touch. They don’t have to be from the 1900s to 1960s – even ground images from the 70s and 80s may prove a challenge to identify these days. You can email me at gary@GJFootballArchive.com Thanks.

Review

Absolutely delighted with the review of the Peter Barnes Authorised Biography in the November issue of When Saturday Comes. the magazine is out this week and i love the review by Ian Farrell. Thanks to Ian, Andy and all at WSC. it really is appreciated.

Who Decides the Big Six?

Today I’m taking a look at the so-called current Premier League Big Six and the significance of football history. It frustrates me when people assume that any group of clubs have been the biggest throughout football history and so I’ve decided to post this article.

It considers the claims of the so-called Big Six and has some findings that may surprise fans of some of those Big Six clubs. This article is available to subscribers to my site. Subscribing costs £20 a year and subscribers have full access to everything posted on the site, including audio interviews with John Bond, Malcolm Allison, George Graham and others, plus the entire text of Manchester A Football History and a PDF of my first book From Maine Men to Banana Citizens. You can always try it out by subscribing £3 per month and cancel at any time. No matter whether you sign up for a year or a month at a time you get full access to everything for as long as you are a subscriber.

Anyway, here’s the article…

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Thanks Alex

The former Manchester City goalkeeper Alex Williams has been featured on BBC Radio Five Live recently and took time out to talk about my new biography of another Manchester City star Peter Barnes. You can hear what Alex had to say here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09wrmfw

While we’re talking about Barnes… Peter and I will be appearing at the Hazel Grove branch of the City Supporters Club tomorrow (5th October) at 8pm. We’ll have copies of the biography available at the discounted price of £15 (cash only) and, of course, Peter and I will be signing copies on the night. Why not come along and say hello.

I’m currently arranging visits to a number of supporters clubs over the coming months. Watch this space for details soon.

If you can’t attend any of the meetings but would like the book copies are available via all usual stockists. For example: