For a few years now I’ve been posting a ‘name that ground’ quiz during the close season, but instead of focusing on modern images, perhaps at an unusual angle, I’ve been posting images from the past. Typically, my images of grounds have been from the 1920s to 1950s.
Now, for the first time on www.GJFootballArchive.com I’m posting them here. Each week for the next few weeks I’ll post an image of a football ground taken in the past and you can see if you can recognise the ground. Some will be easy (believe it or not there are some grounds that have not changed much in all those decades!), others not so. You’ll be able to post your view in comments at the bottom of each page.
The following Friday I’ll post the answer. So here goes….
Can you name the ground featured in the image above?
It’s a nice easy one to start with. Bonus points (though I’m not really keeping score!) for anyone who can tell me what the specific event was. Leave your comments below.
From World War Two up to and including 2011 Manchester City won every FA Cup semi-final they played with a 1-0 scoreline. That’s five games. In 2013 I caught up with two of the goalscorers – Tommy Booth (1969) and Paul Power (1981) – to discuss their memories of those games. Here for subscribers is what they said:
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Earlier today I asked ‘Can you name the ground featured in the image above?’ Well, the answer is…
Manchester City’s Maine Rd stadium being built in 1922. This end was the Scoreboard End/later North Stand original terracing being constructed, looking towards Maine Road itself. Note the church in the top right corner – that was replaced by the MCFC Social club and shop in 1966.
Starting Monday for the next few weeks I’ll be posting one image of a football ground taken in the past each week. Some will be easy (believe it or not there are some grounds that have not changed much in all those decades!), others not so. You’ll be able to post your view in comments at the bottom of each page.
The following Friday I’ll post the answer.
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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Read more of this content when you subscribe today.
Starting Monday for the next few weeks I’ll be 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 (believe it or not there are some grounds that have not changed much in all those decades!), others not so. You’ll be able to post your view in comments at the bottom of each page.
The following Friday I’ll post the answer. So as a bit of a preview…
Can you name the ground featured in the image above?
I think it’s a nice easy one to start with. Leave your comments below.
I’ll post the answer tonight a few minutes before the England-Scotland game.
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.
25 years ago today (June 15 1996) I was in Manchester Central Library doing some research for my book Manchester The Greatest City when a terrorist bomb went off close to M&S and the Arndale Centre. The explosion was felt across the city and in the library flecks of white paint floated down moments later, creating a surreal site. It looked like it was snowing.
I’ve written about the day before and maybe, when the time feels right, I’ll post more about it here but for the time being it’s worth pointing out that though no one died hundreds were injured. Many of these were seriously injured and it has affected them since.
In addition some lost there homes – there were houses on top of the Arndale centre back then – and businesses suffered too. Many closed down for good (a major loss was the old Corn Exchange – the building survived and was ‘gentrified’ but the small businesses that had operated in there mostly disappeared for ever).
I know we all talk positively of the changes to the city since the bomb but we should also remember those who suffered and the trauma faced.
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography is currently being printed and is anticipated to be available from July 1st 2021. If you haven’t managed to order it yet you can do so now and, if ordered before July 1st, your copy will be signed by Peter and myself and posted before it appears in the shops.
This 372 page, colour paperback book is £16.95 (including UK postage).
United Kingdom
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – UNITED KINGDOM
Order today for £16.95 (incl UK Postage and Packaging).
£16.95
The ONLY way to guarantee your copy is from this site by using the order button above or those for non-UK below. 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.
Copies ordered by July 1st will be despatched BEFORE the book appears in any shops. Certain online retailers are advertising the book but, so far, none of these have actually ordered a supply. You can get yours before they do by ordering below (non UK see further down this page):
Here are the contents pages:
This long awaited authorised biography, written by Gary James with the memories and stories of Peter’s career throughout, tells the story of Peter’s life from his childhood in Manchester and Wrexham through to the modern day. With particular focus on his footballing career with Manchester City, West Bromwich Albion, Leeds United, Real Betis, Coventry City, Manchester United, Tampa Bay Rowdies and, of course, England.
Those living in the European Union can now order the book for £28 including postage to an address within the EU and those in the USA for £40 including postage to the States. If you’re in Malaysia it’s £35. Sadly, we have no control over those additional postage costs (we have used the Royal Mail international standard rate).
Outside the UK, EU, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and USA please contact for confirmation of postage costs.
Here’s the order button:
European Union
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – EUROPEAN UNION
Order today for £28 (incl postage and packaging within the EU).
£28.00
United States of America
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – USA
Order today for £40 (incl postage and packaging to the United States).
£40.00
Malaysia
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – MALAYSIA
Order today for £35 (incl postage and packaging to Malaysia).
£35.00
Australia and New Zealand
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
Order today for £38.95 (incl postage and packaging to Australia or New Zealand).
£38.95
If you run a book shop and would like to know more about the book please email: accounts@manchesterfootball.org
The ISBN is 978-1-9168852-0-2 and stocks should be available for book shops after it has been distributed to all subscribers and others who have ordered it here. This is anticipated to be in early July 2021.
You can listen to Peter in conversation with myself about the book here:
I’m always keen to find links between today’s Manchester City and the key players of the past and so I set myself the task of trying to find connections from the club’s first competitive game in 1890 through to the Premier League successes of today.
The idea was to see how few players I could find to form a chain through the decades. Subscribers can read the result of my efforts below:
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Read more of this content and all the other 370+ articles posted so far when you subscribe today.
Here for subscribers is a flashback piece to the 1998-99 season and, in particular, the games with Wigan Athletic which included the last competitive match at Springfield Park. Enjoy!
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Read more of this content when you subscribe today. Subscribers also access everything else on the site for as long as they subscribe. This includes the entire Manchester A Football History book and various exlusive audio interviews and over 350 articles.
This season has seen Manchester City players win several prominent player of the year awards with Kevin De Bruyne winning the PFA player of the year award; Phil Foden the PFA young player of the year and Lauren Hemp won the women’s PFA young player of the year award. There was also Ruben Dias won the FWA footballer of the year award and the Premier League player of the year award.
This is an incredible array of awards. The following subscriber post details all the Manchester City winners of these awards since their formation:
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Read more of this content when you subscribe today.
The opportunity to subscribe to The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography has now passed. However, you can still order the book before publication and your copy will be signed by both Peter and myself.
This is the only way to guarantee your copy of book.
Publication is anticipated to be June 30 and copies will be despatched in July BEFORE the book appears in any shops. Certain online retailers are advertising the book but, so far, none of these have actually ordered a supply. You can get yours before they do by ordering below (non UK see further down this page):
United Kingdom
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – Subscriber Offer UNITED KINGDOM
Order today for £16.95 (incl UK Postage and Packaging).
£16.95
The ONLY way to guarantee your copy is from this site by using the order button above or those for non-UK below.
This long awaited authorised biography, written by Gary James with the memories and stories of Peter’s career throughout, tells the story of Peter’s life from his childhood in Manchester and Wrexham through to the modern day. With particular focus on his footballing career with Manchester City, West Bromwich Albion, Leeds United, Real Betis, Coventry City, Manchester United, Tampa Bay Rowdies and, of course, England.
There are quotes from people connected with Peter throughout his career plus archive material too.
Pre-publication you can order the 360+ page, colour paperback book for £16.95 (including UK postage). Those living in the European Union can now order the book for £28 including postage to an address within the EU and those in the USA for £40 including postage to the States. If you’re in Malaysia it’s £35. Sadly, we have no control over those additional postage costs (we have used the Royal Mail international standard rate).
Outside the UK, EU, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and USA please contact for confirmation of postage costs.
Here’s the order button:
European Union
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – Subscriber Offer EUROPEAN UNION
Order today for £28 (incl postage and packaging within the EU).
£28.00
United States of America
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – Subscriber Offer USA
Order today for £40 (incl postage and packaging to the United States).
£40.00
Malaysia
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – Subscriber Offer MALAYSIA
Order today for £35 (incl postage and packaging to Malaysia).
£35.00
Australia and New Zealand
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – Subscriber Offer AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
Order today for £38.95 (incl postage and packaging to Australia or New Zealand).
£38.95
If you run a book shop and would like to know more about the book please email: accounts@manchesterfootball.org
The ISBN is 978-1-9168852-0-2 and stocks should be available for book shops after it has been distributed to all subscribers and others who have ordered it here. This is anticipated to be in early July 2021.
You can listen to Peter in conversation with myself about the book here:
Gary James' Football Archive 