Category Archives: Colin Bell

On this day (31 January) in 1968 Manchester City defeated Reading 7-0 in a FA Cup replay. As the players left the field the Elm Park tannoy announcer claimed:  ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, you have just seen one of the greatest teams England has produced in a long time.’

Goalscorers were Mike Summerbee (3), Colin Bell, Tony Coleman, George Heslop and Neil Young. This photo is of the Bell, Lee & Summerbee statue at the Etihad today.

Dozens of letters arrived at Maine Road commenting on City’s performance.  Many Reading fans wrote in saying they could have watched the Blues all night.  Other letters arrived commenting on how well behaved the City supporters were, while fans themselves commented on the cheerfulness of the Reading police.  

These points may seem trivial today, but in 1968 football had already begun to enter its hooligan period.  Football supporters had started to be seen as trouble causers and incidents of violence, or of vandalism, soon found their way into national newspapers.  Although City supporters were never totally blameless, during the late 1960s Blues fans continued to gain commendations rather than condemnation.

You can read more on this remarkable, trophy winning season below. If you’d like to read this 7,600 word article (yes, 7,600 words on one season!), plus all other articles on the site, then please subscribe (see below). As with most of the other features in this series it includes words from interviews I have performed with those who were there.

Continuing the series of features on the 1960s, here’s a subscriber article on Manchester City during the 1967-68 season. A trophy winning season. If you’d like to read this 7,600 word article (yes, 7,600 words on one season!), plus all other articles on the site, then please subscribe (see below). As with most of the other features in this series it includes words from interviews I have performed with those who were there.