Category Archives: FA Cup

The 1950s: Film of a FA Cup Tie in 1952

Here’s film of a FA Cup tie between Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers from this day (12 January) in 1952: https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/52898/ The game ended in a 2-2 draw at Maine Road before 54,497. The City scorers were Jimmy Meadows and Don Revie (penalty).

The series on the 1950s includes some free articles and some subscriber only features. If you’d like to know more on this period then why not subscriber and enjoy the following article on the 1951-52 season.

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Manchester City V Brighton – The Story And Film Of The First Ever Meeting

Tonight (7 January 2026) Manchester City and Brighton meet in the Premier League. The first game between the two clubs came over 100 years ago in 1924. This game was a newsworthy FA Cup tie due to the return of a legend to the City team. In fact it was so newsworthy that a movie company sent their camera (you’ll see from the footage it never moved!) to Brighton’s Goldstone Ground to capture the return of a true Blue hero.

Here’s film of that game, though sadly we don’t see Meredith or the goal. City are the dark shirted team (actually the club’s ‘Lucky Scarlet’!):

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-football-the-cup-action-from-the-third-round-of-the-fa-cup-653-1

Subscribers can also read an article about that day here:

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The 1950s: Film of WBA v Manchester City

Here’s film from this day (4 January) in 1958 when Manchester City visited West Bromwich Albion for a FA Cup tie. The game, played at the Hawthorns, was watched by 49,669. Joe Hayes scored for City… I won’t mention the result but it’s well worth watching these rare images of a game from that season.

https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/186752/

To find out more on this period in football then why not read my series on Manchester City in the 1950s. Here’s a 2,200 word article on the 1957-58 season. Enjoy!

This is a subscriber article and you can read it by subscribing below.

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From My Collection: The Radio Times

Here’s a nice cover from the Radio Times featuring Manchester City’s 1969 FA Cup winners. They defeated Leicester 1-0 thanks to a goal from prolific City scorer Neil Young.

Manchester City v Exeter – The First Time

Today’s (8 December 2025) FA Cup third round draw has resulted in Manchester City and Exeter being drawn against each for what will be the first competitive fixture ever between the clubs. It’s always satisfying when the FA Cup throws up a unique occasion like this. Looking forward to it.

Amazing Comebacks?

I’ve been asked if Manchester City have ever thrown away a four goal lead… I’ve not started searching but there is a game in 1957 that saw City throw away a 3-0 lead in the first 30 minutes. The game ended in a 5-4 defeat and here’s the story of that match as told in my book Manchester The City Years (with contemporary match reports for subscribers below too):

In the FA Cup third round tie at struggling Newcastle (January 1957), a crowd of 57,890 were entertained with a performance from both sides that had many pondering why the League was such an issue.  The game ended 1-1 at a rain soaked St. James Park, although Bill McAdams missed a relatively simple chance towards the end thanks to the poor conditions.

The following Wednesday 46,988 watched a match that was acclaimed the “game of the year.”  Playing again in heavy conditions, the Blues were leading 3-0 within thirty minutes thanks to a Bob Stokeo own goal, an excellent header from the reliable Bobby Johnstone, and a minute later a Paddy Fagan effort from a fine through pass by McAdams.  Newcastle appeared dead and buried, but the game was far from over.

Three minutes into the second half Newcastle fought back with a penalty from Tommy Casey.  Sixteen minutes from time Alex Tait brought Newcastle’s tally to two, then with the pressure on City’s goal increasing the Geordies seemed destined to find the equaliser.  Sure enough, with only five minutes remaining, Newcastle levelled via a Bill Curry header.  According to Newcastle based reporters even the City fans applauded!

City had now lost the initiative.  The match went into extra time and the Newcastle supporters began singing the “Blaydon Races.”  The game appeared to be Newcastle’s, but with typical City unpredictability the Blues took the lead again.  Bobby Johnstone netting his second of the game and third of the tie.

Despite the goal, Newcastle managed to regain control and Len White scored twice to end City’s hopes of a decent cup run.  For Newcastle this has been recorded as “arguably the club’s most thrilling encounter.”  The Big Book Of Football Champions even claimed that this “stirring battle of the giants” ensured the FA Cup remained “the greatest sporting competition in the world.”\

You can watch highlights here:

https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/61312/

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Were You One of These MCFC Fans in 1969?

Spotted this image from 1969 of Manchester City fans at Trafalgar Square for the FA Cup Final. I wonder if there’s anyone reading who is on this photo? Feel free to let me know if you are on it.

You can find out all about Manchester City during the 1968-69 season by reading the following subscriber article. If you’d like to read this 6,000 word article , plus all other articles on the site, then please subscribe (see below).

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City Fans Accused of Stealing Ball!

Here’s a brief flashback piece published in the Halifax Evening Courier in January 1990 remembering a story from ten years earlier. It claims Manchester City fans in a car stole a football and references the famous 1980 FA Cup tie which City lost at Halifax as part of its story.

If you’d like a reminder of what had happened at Halifax Town in the FA Cup in January 1980 then why not read this 4,220 word article on the entire 1979-80 season – a season which saw heroes leave and spending get ridiculous!). My article, like the other indepth pieces, contains material from interviews I have performed with many of the key figures – chairman, managers, players and others. This is available to subscribers below. Enjoy!

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A Magazine Advert from 1978

Here’s a magazine advert from November 1978 which gives mention to Manchester City. The brewery involved had no connection to City at the time, so it may seem remarkable to some but back then the fact City had won the FA Cup in the same year as a canned beer was launched in the UK was too good for an ad agency to miss. They could have picked the 1956 League champions (Manchester United) but maybe their spell in the Second Division (promoted in 1975) or the stories of crowd disorder that had dogged United during this era may have given more of a negative angle for the beer.

If you’d like to find out more about Manchester City in the 1970s then take a look at the following 5,700 word article on the entire 1978-79 season – a season which saw City mount a UEFA Cup challenge and a former hero return (if only he hadn’t!). My article, like most of my other indepth pieces, contains material from interviews I have performed with many of the key figures – chairman, managers, players and others. You can read this below.

The article is available to subscribers below. Enjoy!

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The 1920s: Peter Hodge

Continuing the series on Manchester City in the 1920s here’s a brief post on 1920s City manager Peter Hodge. Enjoy!

Peter Hodge

City Manager between: 26 April 1926 – 12 March 1932

Previously:  Former Leicester City manager.

Took Over From: Committee led by vice-chairman Albert Alexander snr.

Inherited: Sam Cowan, Tommy Johnson & Frank Roberts.

Players Brought In: Eric Brook & Fred Tilson.

Youngster Gave Debut To: Matt Busby

Players He Let Go/Sold:  Tommy Johnson in 1930, leading to widespread demonstrations and a boycott (crowds dropped by around 8,000 following the move). 

First Game: City 2 Leeds Utd 0 (City scorers Austin & Johnson), 27 April 1926, Division One, attendance 43,475 

Lows: Relegation five days and 2 games after taking over in 1926.

Last Game: Arsenal 1 City 0, 12 March 1932, FA Cup semi final at Villa Park,  attendance 50,337.  

Unusual Start:  It was agreed Hodge would become City manager in 1926 but would only take up the post after his current club Leicester ended their own season.  Their last game was on 24th April 1926 and he became City’s manager with 2 League games left the following Monday.  The Blues looked safe from relegation, but defeat at Newcastle saw City demoted (a point would have kept them up).

Similar End:  Hodge’s City career ended with defeat by a solitary goal in the dying seconds of the FA Cup semi-final with Arsenal in 1932.  The manager had already agreed to return to his previous club Leicester once City’s FA Cup campaign ended.

Season By Season Record:

League

1925-26 P 2 W 1      D 0      L 1      GF 4               GA 4   Pts 2

1926-27 P 42 W 22 D 10    L 10    GF 108          GA 61 Pts 54

1927-28 P 42 W 25 D 9      L 8      GF 100           GA 59 Pts 59

1928-29 P 42 W 18 D 9      L 15    GF 95             GA 86 Pts 45

1929-30 P 42 W 19 D 9      L 14    GF 91             GA 81 Pts 47

1930-31 P 42 W 18 D 10    L 14    GF 75             GA 70 Pts 46

1931-32 P 32 W 11 D 10    L 11    GF 70             GA 59 Pts 32

2 points for a win

FA Cup

1925-26 City competed in the FA Cup Final 2 days before he took over.

1926-27 P 1 W 0      D 0      L 1      GF 1   GA 4   Reached 3rd round

1927-28 P 3 W 2      D 0      L 1      GF 3   GA 2   Reached 5th round

1928-29 P 1 W 0      D 0      L 1      GF 1   GA 3   Reached 3rd round

1929-30 P 5 W 2      D 2      L 1      GF 18 GA 7   Reached 5th round

1930-31 P 1 W 0      D 0      L 1      GF 0   GA 3   Reached 3rd round

1931-32 P 5 W 4      D 0      L 1      GF 16 GA 7   Reached semi-final

TOTAL (League & cup fixtures)

P260   W122  D59     L79     GF  582         GA 446

Trophies Won: Second Division title 1927-28, the season after missing out on promotion by the tightest margin in the history of the game.

Followed By: City secretary Wilf Wild who went on to become a truly successful manager.

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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