garyjamesfootballarchive

Game One For Manchester City v Bradford City

The first League game between Manchester City and Bradford City was a no score draw on this day (12 September) in 1908 at a newly improved Valley Parade – the Bantams had spent almost £10,000 on improving the ground including the construction of the Main Stand (later destroyed in the 1985 fire). The City match was Bradford’s first home game in Division One, following promotion as Division Two champions the previous season.

The return match ended 4-3 in City’s favour at Hyde Road. Tom Holford scored a hat-trick for City that day.

First League Cup Game

The first League Cup game between Manchester City and Ipswich was on 11 September 1961 at Portman Road. The crowd of 14,926 watched City lose 4-2 to an Ipswich side destined to win the League Championship that season.

50 Years Ago Today: Colin Bell

On this day (10 September) in 1974 the great Manchester City star Colin Bell scored three goals as his City team defeated Scunthorpe 6-0 in the League Cup. The Blues had been League Cup finalists the previous season.

Subscribers to this site can read a 1,600 word article on the entire 1974-75 season – a season which saw Denis Law score for City (he definitely had not retired following the previous season’s Manchester derby!) and Tony Book guide the club for his first full season as manager. You can read this below.

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1920s Manchester Derby Day Rivals

Here’s an interesting clip from this day (9 September) in 1977 featuring two Manchester football fans. This was shown on the BBC north west regional news programme on the eve of the Manchester Derby and originally would’ve included a voiceover which, sadly, has not survived.

The BBC’s David Davies talks with Nellie Walker, a supporter of Manchester City since the mid 1920s and Charlie Swinchatt, who had supported Manchester United since that time too.

https://bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/61d8676881037f0022f61528?q=Manchesteru0026amp;size=30

The derby the following day ended in a 3-1 City win with Brian Kidd netting a couple. You can view highlights here:

Trautmann Sent Off and MCFC Demonstrations!

It was a miserable day all round as Manchester City’s Bert Trautmann was sent off for booting the ball at the referee on this day (8 September) in 1962. City lost the game with West Ham 6-1 with Trautmann’s dismissal coming after the fifth goal.

After he had booted the ball at the ref, the official took out his notebook and ordered Trautmann off. The German goalkeeper immediately took his shirt off and headed down the tunnel and straight out of the ground and into his car.

Here are Trautmann’s views, as told to a journalist the following day:

The view from West Ham was that their team was not particularly worth the 6-1 victory. This London report makes interesting reading:

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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Demonstrations followed the game expressing anger towards the manager Les McDowall but Trautmann managed to escape fan criticism.

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Manchester Corinthians Latest

We’re getting closer to publication of my latest book Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History and this is possibly the last chance I’ll get to do an appeal for names of women who played for the Corinthians or any of its sister clubs (yes, there were multiple sister clubs over the years, something often overlooked). So far I have over 300 names of women who played but I know there are many more, so if you played or have a relative who played then please get in touch with details.

Also, I’m compiling a list of every game I can find so if you have a match programme, ticket, report, photo or anything else of a game that I may have missed then please let me know. Thanks again.

The book has been delayed a little due to a family bereavement & health issues, but it will be published this year. It will be the most comprehensive history ever produced on the club and it will dispel myths, correct wrongs and add significant new information to our knowledge of this pioneering Manchester women’s football club, including even the formation date and the club’s end date! Yes, myths have often been repeated about both of those (and still get repeated).

There will be a fantastic array of photographs and stories included within the book. Due to the delay there is still an opportunity to order the book in advance and get your own name published within a special roll of honour. Details via link below:

Order: Manchester Corinthians Book

POSTPONED GAMES

The postponement of any game is rare. Obviously, the 2019-20 Covid hit season was different and in the days before undersoil heating icy conditions would often lead to postponements. However, Manchester City have suffered many postponements over the years. So for today’s feature I’m talking a look at some of them.

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More on the City-United 2009-10 postponed game here:

A Postponed Derby

City 2 Villa 1

On this day (5 September) in 1990 Manchester City defeated Aston Villa 2-1 with goals from Neil Pointon and Mark Ward. There was also a devastating injury for our young hero Paul Lake. You can watch highlights of the game and the drama here:

While you’re here why not find out more about the 1990-91 season when a shock managerial departure could have disrupted the club but ultimately they finished 5th, 3 points ahead of Manchester United. Here’s a 2,700 word article on that season: