Author Archives: garyjamesfootballarchive

City Women: The First Game

Today (27 November) is the anniversary of the women’s team’s first game. It was payed at Boundary Park and saw Oldham Athletic Ladies face Manchester City Ladies. I was there as my girlfriend, now wife, was playing. She scored two goals in the club’s 4-1 victory. Subscribers can read a 2,200 word long read on this historic first game. 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

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Mikheil Kavelashvili For President?

I’ve been told that the governing Georgian Dream Party in Georgia has nominated the former Manchester City player Mikheil Kavelashvili to be its candidate for the country’s presidency. Already former City player George Weah has been president of Liberia – maybe being at Maine Road made everyone political?

Interesting times. As far as I’m aware neither Keir Starmer nor Donald Trump ever played at Maine Road!

Kavelashvili made his debut v Manchester United (h) 6 April 1996 (scored one) and made a total of 29 appearance (most as sub), scoring three goals.

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.

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Crowd Issues At Birmingham

On this day (27 November) in 1976 a goalless game at Birmingham caused Manchester City to drop to fifth place but, with only two defeats coming in the side’s opening 15 games (and conceding only one goal in 6 games), there was still a great deal of optimism about the place.  In fact consistency was perhaps the side’s greatest strength.

On the pitch there had been few changes with Corrigan (1), Donachie (3), Doyle (4), Watson (5), Royle (9), Hartford (10), and Tueart (11) being everpresents at this stage in the season in every competition – League, UEFA Cup, and League Cup.

Off the pitch, the mid 70s was a difficult one for supporter behaviour nationally.  Although the Blues took the lead with their great work with young fans and supporters clubs, nationally hooliganism was strong.  The 1975-76 season had seen British Rail cancel all soccer specials following a number of high profile acts of hooliganism, although City’s supporters’ club took a lead in keeping fans on the move during 1976-77 as they managed to keep rail specials for members of the City travel club going.  In fact they continued to run rail specials until the 1990s.

Supporter behaviour was a major issue and there was the first call, by the Daily Mail, to introduce ID cards for fans.  The previous season the supporters of Manchester United and Chelsea had rioted in an attempt to get games in which they were losing abandoned and so City’s great work with the Junior Blues and Supporters’ Club was trying to buck the trend.  Throughout the 1976-77 season the Blues devoted a two page feature (out of 24) each programme to a different supporters branch.

Sadly, there were still instances of trouble at City games and the Birmingham match was no exception.  Young supporter Ian Hodgkinson (aged 16) was particularly upset at the situation at St. Andrew’s:  “The City fans in the Tilton Road End were attacked by Birmingham supporters.  This caused the City fans to run to the entrance.  The Birmingham police then informed us that it was safe to return, but when we got back, the police vanished and once more we were attacked.  Two of my mates had their scarves stolen and were punched many times.”

Ian’s comments were typical of many that were sent to City and the local media, but sadly despite the strength of City’s relationship with supporters at this time, there was little being done elsewhere in football, other than caging fans in (something the Blues tried to avoid at Maine Road). 

Results

27 Nov 1976 Birmingham City (A) 0-0, Attendance 29,722

Subscribers can read a 2,100 word article on the entire 1976-77 season below – a season which saw City come close to League success. You can read this below. Enjoy!

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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.

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How To Subscribe

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.

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Happy 75th Dennis Tueart

Today (27 November 2024) is former Sunderland, Manchester City, New York Cosmos and England forward Dennis Tueart’s 75th birthday. You can watch a video interview I did with Dennis last year elsewhere on this site, or enjoy the following MCFC profile of him I wrote a while back.

Forward, 5ft 8in, 11st. 4lbs, b. Newcastle-on-Tyne, 27 November 1949

Signed from Sunderland, 11 March 1974 (£275,000)

Transferred: New York Cosmos, 13 February 1978 (£250,000)

Signed from New York Cosmos, 31 January 1980 (£150,000)

Transferred: Stoke City, 9 July 1983 (free)

Career: Manor Park Technical Grammar School, Welbeck Juniors, Sunderland, City, New York Cosmos, City, Stoke City, Burnley, Derry City.

Debut v Manchester United, 13 March 1974

Debut v Norwich City, 1 March 1980

Appearances: League: 216+8 apps. 86 gls; FA Cup: 13+2 apps. 3 gls; League Cup: 27, 18 gls; UEFA Cup: 3 aps, 0 gls; AS Cup: 3 apps, 0 gls; TC Cup: 2 apps, 2 gls; T Cup: 3 apps, 2 gls; Total: 267+10 apps, 111 gls

Remembered often for his spectacular overhead goal at Wembley in the 1976 League Cup final, Dennis Tueart was always a hero with City fans.  Earlier in his career he was a popular member of Sunderland’s 1973 FA Cup winning side, alongside Dave Watson, and he joined City in March 1974.

Often described by supporters as an entertaining, exciting, determined player, Tueart constantly delivered during a period when City challenged for the title in addition to the League Cup success, however in 1977-78 he became a little disenchanted and decided to move to the States to play for the New York Cosmos.  He became the first ‘current’ England international to transfer to the USA, and played alongside players such as Beckenbauer.

He remained in America for a couple of seasons before re-joining City in 1980.  He netted five goals during 11 games that season but a wrist injury during a 2-1 defeat at Stoke the following September caused Tueart to miss significant games against Manchester United, Liverpool, and Leeds.  During that period the Blues struggled and the management team of Allison & Book were dismissed.  New manager John Bond transformed the club, but Tueart was not given much opportunity to impress.  Then, in the 1981 FA Cup final replay Tueart was brought on as substitute for Bobby McDonald.  This brief appearance led to him appearing in 15 of the opening 18 matches of 1981-2, scoring 9 goals in the process.  It was a great period for him personally, but he damaged his Achilles tendon against his former team Sunderland in December and missed the rest of the season.

In 1982-3 he made 36 appearances but relegation on the final day led to Tueart being transferred to Stoke.  After his playing career finished Tueart concentrated on his sports promotions company and became a director at City in the mid 1990s, contributing significantly to first the period of resurrection (1998 to 2003) and then stability at the new stadium.

#NWFA2024 Award Success: Manchester Corinthians

Here’s film from the North West Football Awards when our efforts to recognise the Manchester Corinthians reached a new high. Watch as they receive the Special Recognition Award for Services to Women’s Football.

https://gjfootballarchive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/img_7529.mov

This is a wonderful honour and thoroughly deserved. It’s been difficult keeping the secret for so long. Thanks to all connected to the awards for this wonderful recognition.

If all goes to plan we’ll take the award to next week’s Manchester Corinthians reunion where we have over 80 people, the majority are former Corinthian players, in attendance.

If you’re wondering who the Manchester Corinthians are then you can check out various stories on this website. In addition, Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History is in production. This book will be published in December and you can order a copy to be posted out on publication.

Here’s a reminder of details of price, availability and publication…

The purchase price is £25 and the book will be posted to you before it is sent to any retailer. In addition, any order via this website will be signed by author Gary James.

Those with a delivery address in the UK can order here (outside UK please contact for additional postage costs):

UK ONLY – Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History

The story of a pioneering women’s club as told to Gary James by those who were there. This will be published in mid December 2024. This is UK only at £25 (incl UK postage and packaging). Outside UK contact for additional postage costs.

£25.00

40 Years Ago Today: Steve Redmond

Steve Redmond signed professional forms for Manchester City on this day (26 November) in 1984. You can find several articles that mention Steve throughout this website. Start looking here:

https://gjfootballarchive.com/tag/steve-redmond/

Award Success: Manchester Corinthians

I’m delighted to say that at tonight’s North West Football Awards the Manchester Corinthians have been recognised with a Special Recognition Award for Services to Women’s Football. That’s wonderful news and I’m here with several Corinthians. Players from 1950s to 1970s are here at Old Trafford Cricket Ground and they have collected the award.

This is a wonderful honour and thoroughly deserved. It’s been difficult keeping the secret for so long. Thanks to all connected to the awards for this wonderful recognition.

If all goes to plan we’ll take the award to next week’s Manchester Corinthians reunion where we have over 80 people, the majority are former Corinthian players, in attendance.

If you’re wondering who the Manchester Corinthians are then you can check out various stories on this website. In addition, Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History is in production. This book will be published in December and you can order a copy to be posted out on publication.

Here’s a reminder of details of price, availability and publication…

The purchase price is £25 and the book will be posted to you before it is sent to any retailer. In addition, any order via this website will be signed by author Gary James.

Those with a delivery address in the UK can order here (outside UK please contact for additional postage costs):

UK ONLY – Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History

The story of a pioneering women’s club as told to Gary James by those who were there. This will be published in mid December 2024. This is UK only at £25 (incl UK postage and packaging). Outside UK contact for additional postage costs.

£25.00

The New Kippax

On this day (25 November) in 1995 Manchester City’s legendary goalkeeper Bert Trautmann officially opened the new Kippax Stand at Maine Road. You can see the new stand at the top of this photo, with the Manchester City lettering on it. If you’re interested, you can now read more on City’s 1995-96 season below. This was a hugely significant season and this article is almost 5,500 words long.

Yes, I know but we can look back and remember from a position of relative comfortability now!

1994-95 the new Kippax takes shape

It’s available to subscribers, so why not subscribe and relive this extraordinary season? As with many of these subscriber features it contains material from interviews I’ve performed with key figures from that time.

Here’s the 5500 word article on that season:

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Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month or £20 a year 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.

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If you want to know more on this incredible decade for Manchester City Football Club then why not subscribe and read all the other articles? If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see:

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Ron Saunders Arrives

Today (24 November) in 1973 new Manchester City chairman Peter Swales appointed Ron Saunders as the club’s new manager. He didn’t last the season! You can read about both the appointment and the sacking in this 1,700 word article on the 1973-74 season – a season which included a Wembley final, multiple managerial changes and a controversial Manchester Derby at Old Trafford! You can read this below. Enjoy!

Subscribe to get access

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month or £20 a year to access everything. The site was created in December 2020. This special annual rate works out about £1.67 a week and gives access to everything posted, including PDFs of 3 of my books.

Subscribe

If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see:

How To Subscribe

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.

Choose an amount

£2.50
£5.00
£7.50

Or enter a custom amount

£

Your contribution is appreciated.

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Manchester City v Spurs

It’s a murky night in Manchester today. Getting ready for City v Spurs. If you want something to do before the game why not check out some of the features on the two clubs on this site. Here’s a link to everything tagged Tottenham:

https://gjfootballarchive.com/tag/tottenham/