Author Archives: garyjamesfootballarchive

Oxford’s First and Last

On this day (24 April) in 1948 goalkeeper Ken Oxford made his first appearance for Manchester City’s first team when the Blues faced Arsenal in the League. Oxford kept a clean sheet as City drew with the eventual champions. Sadly, for Oxford his opportunity to play in City’s first team was limited due to the incredible exploits of England captain Frank Swift – displacing Swift was an impossibility!

The Oldham born player never got chance again to appear in City’s first team and at the end of December that year he moved to Derby County after making just 1 first team appearance at Maine Road. He had appeared in reserve games too of course.

His career saw him make 128 League appearances for Norwich and 151 for Derby amongst other clubs. This newspaper cutting from October 1977 is an interview with him and Swift inevitably gets a mention.

The 1930s: The League Championship Arrives

On this day (24 April 24) in 1937 Manchester City won the Football League for the first time. Here, for subscribers, is the story of that game and the way the club celebrated…

Subscribe to get access

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel any time) or sign up for a year at the discounted rate of £20 (works out about £1.67 per month). If you’re wondering what you can access then why not sign up for a month and see what you think? More details via the link below.

Subscribe
How To Subscribe

The 1900s: Manchester’s First Major Trophy Success

On this day in 1904 (23 April) Manchester City won its first major trophy a mere decade after being established as MCFC. The captain and goalscorer was, of course, the great Billy Meredith.

A few years back, following the purchase of the oldest surviving FA Cup by Sheikh Mansour (to loan to the National Football Museum) I helped Manchester City with the story of the cup and its significance to Manchester. They’ve produced a video telling the story and it can be viewed here:

https://www.mancity.com/citytv/mens/manchesters-first-trophy-1904-fa-cup-documentary-63745781

City chairman John Chapman used City’s success as part of his political campaign.

For more on the significance of this FA Cup trophy check out the category 1903-04 in the drop down list below.

The 1890s: Manchester’s First National Success

On this day (April 22) in 1899 Manchester City became the first side to gain automatic promotion when they won the Second Division title after a 4-1 victory over Blackpool. Goals from Meredith (2), Gillespie and Ross gave the Blues the win.

A series of test matches, similar to play offs, had been utilised in previous seasons. The Blues were also the first of the Manchester teams ever to earn promotion and the football season ended with Manchester City as comfortable champions of the Second Division. This meant they were the first Manchester team to win a national League competition too. 

Near neighbours Glossop were also promoted that day. Here’s the final table:

Subscribers can read about the final game and other information from that season below:

Subscribe to get access

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £20 a year (here) to access everything since December 2020 or for £3 per month (below) you can access everything from 1 October 2020.

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £20 a year (above) to access everything since December 2020 or for £3 per month (here) you can access everything from 1 October 2020. Why not join for a month and see what you think?

Subscribe

Foe Scored in Maine Road’s last MCFC victory

On this day (April 21) in 2003 a goal from Robbie Fowler and two from Marc-Vivien Foe brought a 3-0 Manchester City win over Sunderland.  The game became significant as it was to be the last City victory at the old stadium and Foe’s 80th minute goal was the last scored there by a City man. 

Understandably, during 2002-03 the focus for many Manchester City fans was Maine Road’s final season, especially the final month or so of the season. With every game at the stadium a sell-out – only the size of the away support varied – supporters were desperate for the final season to see the old venue at its best.  They also wanted a few memorable results in those final weeks.  

Ultimately, the Sunderland game was the best Maine Road match of the final weeks.

Pre-match Sunderland presented the Blues with a rose bowl commemorating their final visit to the stadium.  Significantly, the time span between their first appearance at Maine Road and their last was greater than any other visiting club. Co-incidentally City’s last victory at Hyde Road was also against Sunderland in April. You can read about that game elsewhere on my website.

21/4/2003 MCFC 3 Sunderland 0, Attendance 34,357

The 1980s: Clements & Tolmie

On this day (20 April) in 1985 – Kenny Clements and Jim Tolmie helped Manchester City to a 2-0 home victory over Sheffield United in Division Two.  That victory kept the promotion challenge alive, although a few nerve-wracking moments came during the final weeks of the season.

You can read more on that 1984-85 season in this 2,600 word feature. Enjoy!

Subscribe to get access – Monthly

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 or there’s a special annual rate below which gives greater access and works out much cheaper.

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access – Annual

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.

Subscribe

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

How To Subscribe

Tomorrow’s feature is on the 1985-86 season. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald

The 1980s: Victory Over Bristol City

On this day (19 April) in 1980 Kaziu Deyna, Michael Robinson, and Dennis Tueart all scored form Manchester City as Bristol City were defeated 3-1 in this top flight game. You can watch film of the City goals here:

Subscribers can access everything on this website, so if you want to know more on this season for Manchester City Football Club then why not subscribe and read it all? You could even subscribe for a month and see what you think. The following 4,220 word article is on the 1979-80 season and is available to subscribers below. Enjoy!

Subscribe to get access – Monthly

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 or there’s a special annual rate below which gives greater access and works out much cheaper.

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access – Annual

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.

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.

Donate

Bury’s FA Cup Anniversary

On this day (18 April) in 1903 Bury Football Club won the FA Cup by defeating Derby County by a record 6-0 scoreline (this was equalled by Manchester City’s FAC final victory over Watford in 2019). It may surprise some to know that Bury was the first team in the wider Manchester region to find major trophy success and that this was their second FA Cup. They had first won the competition in 1900, defeating Southampton 4-0 in the final. This means they’d won the FA Cup twice before either Manchester City or Manchester United (and many other modern day giants) had got to a final.

Subscribers can read about Bury’s successes in this article:

Subscribe to get access – Annual

Read more of this content and everything else in the archive when you subscribe today. £20 per year (about £1.67 a month) or sign up for a month at a time at £3 (below). You get to see all content for as long as you subscribe, including the entire Manchester A Football History book and all the articles/interviews/audio recordings posted so far and throughout your subscription. Thanks Gary

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access – Monthly

It costs £3 per month to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 and everything throughout your subscription. Annual subscribers access everything since December 2020.

Subscribe

Manchester Home To A League First & Myth Busting

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.

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

I’m delighted to say that my latest biographical piece for the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography has been published. It’s on the life of Tommy Docherty, the former Preston & Scotland footballer and manager with a whole host of clubs including Manchester United of course. Details of all the people featured by the dictionary this year can be viewed here:

https://www.oxforddnb.com/newsitem/811/whats-new-april-2024

I’ve written several articles for the dictionary in recent years, including biographical pieces on footballers Jimmy Armfield, Ray Wilkins and Frank Swift. It’s a prestigious publication, recording the achievements of the nation’s most important figures. Anyone included within the book has achieved something remarkable, or perceived as an iconic figure in some way.

Hopefully, in the future I’ll be able to contribute biographical pieces on other important figures. Various panels decide who is to be included but I would be interested to know who you think should be covered in future editions. The important aspect to remember is that these figures must now be deceased and have contributed something remarkable or iconic. Those who died in 2021 or the years that have followed will be eligible to be considered for future editions. Sadly, I won’t decide but I have previously been asked my thoughts and have provided names.