it’s one of the oldest fixtures either club has with a rich history stretching back to the 1890s. Both sides have found major success with City’s first major trophy coming in 1904 and Arsenal’s arriving 26 years later. As you’d expect with such a long history there are plenty of articles on my website about both clubs. Here’s a link to all those tagged Arsenal:
Category Archives: Free
The First Manchester Derby at the Etihad
The first Manchester derby at Manchester City’s new stadium (then called the City of Manchester Stadium, now the Etihad) occurred on this date (14 March) in 2004. For pride’s sake it was important Kevin Keegan’s side did not lose that fixture, but with United some 13 places above the Blues pre-match Ferguson’s side were clear favourites. It was time for City to upset the form book.
On a wonderful day, perhaps the best the stadium had enjoyed in its inaugural year, a terrific atmosphere helped Keegan’s side achieve a memorable victory. Fowler opened the scoring in the third minute and Macken made it 2-0 after 32 minutes. Scholes made it 2-1 three minutes later.
In the second half goals from Mancunian Trevor Sinclair (73) and Shaun Wright-Phillips made it 4-1 to the Blues. You can hear my interview with Trevor Sinclair about this game here:
Trevor Sinclair Interview
Matt Dickinson (The Times): “Humiliated by Manchester City last season, Sir Alex Ferguson and his men used the pain to fuel their drive to the title. Humiliated again yesterday, they are condemned to live with the despair for months – perhaps even years.”
Keegan felt the win was thoroughly deserved: “We had played better against Chelsea and lost. But against United we got that important early goal which gave us something to hang on to. We had personnel problems because we had players doing jobs that don’t come naturally to them and also had to make two enforced changes at the interval.”
Chris Bailey explained the significance of the match in the Manchester Evening News: “Maine Road saw some pulsating derbies in its time but few could have matched this first-ever neighbourly spat at Eastlands. And how satisfying that Kevin Keegan’s side should choose this day of all days to win their first home game since October 18 and banish all thoughts of the drop.”
In 2012 Dennis Tueart, who was a director at the time of the stadium move, told me his memories of that derby match, believing it was an important moment in the stadium’s inaugural season: “When we moved to the stadium Kevin Keegan worried about whether the atmosphere would be the same and I told him that fans would take a bit of time getting used to it because they were no longer sat with the people they’d been with for years. The dynamics were different. He felt we should try and get fans in the ground earlier, but I said that performance on the pitch would be the most significant factor.
“When we beat United 4-1 in the first derby at the stadium the atmosphere was incredible. Kevin came to me afterwards and said ‘I see what you mean’. That then set the tone of the place. The place was rocking – people were singing as they walked down the spirals at the end of the match and the atmosphere was absolutely superb.”
If you would like to read about other Manchester derbies then check out this:
https://gjfootballarchive.com/category/manchester-derbies/
Subscribe to get access to the entire site
This was a brief taste of the material on http://www.GJFootballArchive.com If you would like to read all the in-depth articles (including the entire Manchester A Football History book and the audio interview with John Bond) then please subscribe. It works out about £1.67 a month if you take out an annual subscription (£20 per year) or £3 a month if you’d like to sign up for a month at a time. Each subscriber gets full access to everything posted so far and everything scheduled to be posted during your subscription.
Remembering #WEuro2022 Project
Four years ago I worked on a project for the Women’s Euros capturing the stories of women who played football in the Trafford area. This included several Corinthians and other women who played in local football. Even if you’re not particularly interested in Trafford it’d be worth having a look at this to get a feel for the stories of these players and clubs.
I worked on a temporary basis with Trafford to capture the stories of women, teams & more, while also staging a few events and researching the history of women’s football within Trafford. My time with the project was a great experience. I managed to interview women who played football either for Trafford based clubs or women who are from Trafford who played for teams outside the borough. There were also interviews with women who played significant games in Trafford and those videod are free to view via the name tabs to the right on the following website. This website was set up to tell the stories and we’ve posted a few of those covering teams, games & players. Take a look here at the ones posted:
https://exploringtraffordsheritage.omeka.net/exhibits/show/traffordwomensfootball
Audio interviews were performed with a variety of former players of teams such as Sale United, Trafford Ladies, Manchester Corinthians, Manchester United, Manchester City, FC Redstar, England and the Merseyside club Leasowe Pacific who won the FA Cup in 1989 at Old Trafford.
We also held a session where young girls from Sale United met with former Corinthians, City & United players to talk about their careers and compare experiences.
I staged a talk at the National Football Museum on the History of Women’s Football with particular emphasis on the experiences and landmark moments of Trafford & Manchester’s women footballers. Jan Lyons of Manchester Corinthians & Juventus and Lesley Wright of Manchester Corinthians & Manchester City participated in a panel discussion too with some great questions from the audience.
An exhibition, including objects such as a 1958 Manchester Corinthians shirt and boots signed by Steph Houghton, was staged at the archives centre at Sale.
Displays around Old Trafford were also set up with the national history of women’s football appearing alongside Trafford bespoke monoliths close to Hotel Football and the Old Trafford Stadium.
There were also postboxes decorated with knitted women footballers that were produced by the local knitting groups as part of the project.
Finally, I’m still capturing the stories of women’s football in Manchester as a whole and last week I did my latest interview with a Corinthian. Over 50 were interviewed for the Authorised History book and I continue to record and document their story using interviews, archival material and other research to capture the facts not the fiction of their existence.
My aim, as always, is to ensure stories of Manchester’s football history is captured for future generations.
Glyn Pardoe and the 1970 League Cup Final
On this day (March 7) in 1970 Manchester City defeated West Bromwich Albion 2-1 in the League Cup final. City’s goalscorers were both grandfathers of modern day player Tommy Doyle (currently on loan to Birmingham from Wolves). They were Glyn Pardoe and Mike Doyle. Sadly both men have since passed away. As you can see below I interviewed Glyn a few times over the years, including one of my first ever interviews back in the early 1990s (it was for my biography of Joe Mercer and Glyn was a wonderful, welcoming man).
This photo is of Glyn with Janice Monk and Steve Mackenzie at one of my book launches. Back in January 2004 I interview Glyn for my then regular Manchester City match programme series In Search of the Blues. Here is that interview as it was written up for the programme:
Glyn Pardoe holds the record for the youngest player to make his debut with the Blues. At the age of 15 years and 314 days he played in City’s 11th April 1962 meeting with Birmingham City. He went on to play throughout City’s glorious late sixties period and made a total of 374 (plus 2 as substitute) appearances.
Gary James, author of Farewell To Maine Road, caught up with Glyn to discuss his playing career and his present day activities.
Let’s start with your role today, I’m sure many of our readers will have heard you on local radio this season. Can you explain your role?
I work with Ian Cheeseman, Jimmy Wagg and the others at GMR to provide my views on what’s happening on the pitch. Part of that is actually sat next to Ian summarising, and part of it is after the match when I am one of the guys talking to callers and generally talking about City. It’s a great role and I love chatting to fans. Ian and Jimmy are nice lads as well, and the great thing for me is that I enjoy it. I love listening to supporters giving their views and I like to stress that the game is still all about opinions. It doesn’t matter what else changes, football is a great game to talk about.
How did it all come about?
You have to go back to the eighties when I was still working for the Club. Back then Ian Cheeseman was doing the Club videos of each game, while I was working with the Reserves and the Youth teams. I was asked to give my opinions of each first team game for the Club videos, and so I’d work with the Reserves in the morning, then head off up to the old commentary gantry at Maine Road for the first team.
Eventually that stopped of course, but then a few months ago I got a call from Ian. Totally out of the blue really… I didn’t ever consider I could do the same thing on radio. Ian asked if I could help for one game, so I did, then afterwards they kept asking me back.
Did you find it difficult?
At first it was hard, although I don’t think any of that came across. Unlike the old days of working on the video, I was not too familiar with every one of the first team squad, so it took some time to work out the characteristics of each player. I also have a day job of course – it’s security reception work – so that had to be taken in to consideration. Nevertheless, it has been a great experience and I do enjoy doing it.
Going back to your early career, making your debut at such an early age must have been a shock?
Well you’d think so, and I’m sure it was, but I did actually get to find out a few days before, so that helped. If I’d have found out on the morning I don’t know how I’d have coped. I don’t think I ever thought about my age. I’m sure others did, but to me it was just a great opportunity.
Your debut came against Birmingham in 1962. Do you remember much about the game?
Not really, except we lost 4-1 at home and I was up against a tough centre-half called Trevor Smith. I wore the number nine shirt for that game – I later played in almost every position! I don’t think I did a great deal, but I know I kept my place for the next 3 games.
These were not particularly good days as far as fans were concerned, but how did it feel to be a player during those first few years of your career?
The great side of the 1950s had disintegrated really. We still had a few of the players in the side like Trautmann and Hayes, but the rest of the side was mainly youngsters finding their feet. It was difficult because there was a general air of despondency. We’d go to places like Blackburn and expect to win. We’d take the lead, but end up losing 4-1 (1st May 1963) and I think that said it all. We didn’t know how to win matches. At the time I knew nothing else really, but when you do start to find success you suddenly realise how bleak the atmosphere inside the Club had been just a couple of seasons earlier.
Because you made your debut at such an early age did you think ‘this is it, I’ve made it’?
Not a chance! They’d never have allowed me to think like that anyway. I remember playing on the Saturday, and then walking up to the ground on the Monday and having to knock to be allowed in. As far as everybody was concerned I was a Reserve – or even a youth player I suppose – not a first teamer. You never actually ‘made it’ until you were a first team regular and even then you could never be complacent. Even when we were winning all the trophies there was a very real fear that your contract would not be renewed. I remember worrying each summer, thinking that I’d be forced to move on.
In those days the Club had total control and as a player you were simply glad to be there. We’ve gone to the other extreme now, but for me I don’t think I ever felt I’d made it. Even when we were the most successful side in the Country.
How do you feel the mid-sixties transformation of the Club’s fortunes came about?
Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison came in. That’s it really. I remember when the Club was at its lowest and we had no hope, ambition, or direction and as a player you really worried about where we were heading and who the new guy might be. I was still only about 18 and had no idea how it would all pan out of course. Then Joe arrived, followed by Malcolm, and everything started to improve. Training improved considerably and so you started to realise how football could be improved and enjoyed.
What were your first impressions of Mercer & Allison?
Joe was a very respectable figure. We knew what he’d achieved as a player and he had a great approach. He was quiet but very supportive. A real calming influence. Lovely.
My first impression of Malcolm – remember I was still only a lad – was that he was very loud. He liked to shout a lot! Naturally, I got used to that, but at first it was a bit of a shock. Malcolm was a terrific coach and we all learnt so much from him. He was fantastic once you got to know him, and together they both turned us into a great side.
In the 1965-6 promotion season I only missed the opening game, so it was their arrival which made me a regular first teamer. I’d had good runs before that of course, but once they arrived I hardly missed a match, and enjoyed the successes.
The 1970 League Cup Final saw you score the winning goal 12 minutes into extra-time – presumably a great moment?
Fantastic! It’s always a great feeling when you score, but when you score in a cup final it’s tremendous. A truly great memory.
Not too long after that you suffered with a serious leg injury sustained in the Manchester derby. Did you realise how bad it was at the time?
I knew very little at the time. It was the December 1970 game at Old Trafford and there was a collision between me and George Best. Apparently I broke my leg and an artery was trapped, but I have no memory of what followed. I’ve been told that I was within twenty minutes of losing my leg. They had decided that removing my leg would save my life, but fortunately the operation they eventually did meant that my leg was saved as well. I was in a daze for at least four or five hours and really have no idea of the worry my family and friends went through.
You were only 24 when the injury occurred, and it was a long struggle back to fitness after that wasn’t it?
I missed the rest of that season, all the next, and didn’t play again in the first team until November 1972. Even then my appearances were limited. I managed 32 League appearances during 1973-4 and played in the League Cup Final with Wolves, but my career was really over.
Even now I still haven’t got full movement back, but I do feel fortunate that I am still alive and I still have my leg.
Personally, considering your age at the time I feel the blow you suffered was equal if not greater than the tragedy suffered by Paul Lake and by Colin Bell. Presumably you regard it as your worst moment?
I don’t like thinking about worst moments. Football was all about enjoyment to me. I feel very lucky to have been in such a successful side, and to play during a great period. Not many people are given the opportunity in the first place, so it all has to be great.
Which players were you closest with during your career?
Alan Oakes is my cousin of course, so I’d been playing with him since I was very young. The two of us, plus Mike Doyle and Colin Bell were known as the Big Four because we were always together. We played golf a lot and so were always seen together, but the whole of the playing staff was close in those days. We had a great team spirit.
After your playing days finished you continued to work with the Club. Did you enjoy that period?
I worked with the youth sides, and winning the Youth Cup against United in 1986 was a great moment. The lads had so much enthusiasm – Paul Moulden, Paul Lake, Steve Redmond, Andy Hinchcliffe, Ian Brightwell and the others. That gave me great satisfaction but people forget that we came close to winning it again three years later. Watford beat us in the final, but that side contained players like Neil Lennon, Ged Taggart and Ashley Ward. To think that so many of the players from those two sides went on to play international football or make a name for themselves at other clubs makes you appreciate the quality we had at the time. Those kids had ability, and it brought me and the others a lot of satisfaction.
Finally, how did the fans treat you during your time at the Club?
Always great. They were very supportive – even when we were struggling at the start of my career. They gave me fantastic treatment throughout my career, and I still enjoy meeting and talking with them today.
Here’s film of that 1970 final:
A reminder that you can still watch my 1 hour plus talk on Manchester City crowds, support, chants and Maine Road here. It’s free to watch:
I’m keen to hear thoughts on the idea of doing other talks like this for subscribers to my site. If you’re interested then please get in touch and let me know what you’d like me to talk on. I have quite a few ideas I’m keen to do and am also open to suggestions. Thanks.
If you enjoy the talk then please subscribe to my site. I am a self employed historian and spend all my working week writing, researching and publishing my work. I am not an employee of any organisation (I know some think I’m employed by a football club but I’m not an employee of any club). I am independent of any organisation and care passionately about the quality and accuracy of my work.
A limited amount of content will always be free for anyone to read but those subscribing will have access to everything on this site for as long as they subscribe. For subscribers I guarantee to post a minimum of 4 articles alongside adding material from my archives each month (in practice it’s been much more than this!). To subscribe costs £3 a month or £20 a year (a reminder that the 2010 edition of Manchester A Football History cost £24.95 when published and is now out of print but available to subscribers as a downloadable pdf as part of their subscription.).
If you’re uncertain whether to subscribe or not then why not subscribe for a month at £3 and see if you’re getting value for money. The £20 annual subscription works out about £1.67 a month for a guaranteed 4 new articles per month and access to everything else posted in the archive.
You can subscribe here:
Subscribe to get access
Read everything on this website when you subscribe today.
80 Years Ago Today: Colin Bell Was Born
Eighty years ago today (26 February 1946) Colin Bell was born. The above photo comes from Peter Barnes’ collection and was taken at Champneys where City were staying prior to the League Cup final in 1976. It was, of course, Colin’s 30th birthday. My thoughts and best wishes are with Colin’s family today.
Sadly Colin, recognised by most Manchester City fans as the greatest ever player for the club, passed away in January 2021.
I’ve interviewed Colin and written a lot about him over the years. A few posts are available (free to read) here for anyone who wants to learn more about Colin or remember some of his incredible achievements:
Colin Bell Interview/Tribute
1977-78 Colin Bell’s Contribution To The Central League Title
Colin Bell 1946-2021
The 1920s: Billy Meredith’s Last Goal
For today’s feature I’ve decided to look back to a remarkable day in 1924 when Manchester City and Brighton met in their first competitive game. This ‘first’ also became significant as a ‘last’ moment for one of City’s greatest ever players. That day the legendary Billy Meredith scored his last competitive goal. Remarkably, he was 49 and his return to City’s first team brought significant media coverage.
The first ever meeting between City and Brighton was on this day (23 February) in 1924 and this photo is of Meredith during that game. It was a FA Cup tie at Brighton and newspapers were full of Meredith stories. His return was big news. The Manchester Evening News explained: ‘To all intents and purposes, Meredith ceased to be an active member of the first team two seasons ago. Two things have combined to bring him within range of the rather sensational choice now made – sentiment and his own indomitable will to fret his hold on the football stage a little longer… The chief argument in his favour is that from one of his classic centres any match might be won, just as it was when he scored the goal that served to bring the English Cup to Hyde Road twenty years ago next month.’
Meredith had not played in a League game all season – in fact he’d only played one game the previous season! – and he was aged 49. However, he remained the biggest name in football and had captained City to FA Cup success in 1904, scoring the winning goal in the final.
A record crowd of 24,734 packed into Brighton’s Goldstone Ground and Meredith’s inclusion inspired the rest of the team. City defeated Brighton 5-1 and there was even a sentimental moment when a minute into the second half Meredith scored. The Daily Mail described the goal: ‘[Meredith’s] old inimitable ball magic along the touch line remains… Those bow legs still mesmerise the ball, and that great right foot still placed the ball perfectly in the mouth of goal. In this way Meredith got his goal. Hayes grasped the ball, but it spun out of his hands into the net.’
This was to be Meredith’s last-ever first team goal.
This season City reached the FA Cup semi-final, establishing attendance records along the way. Meredith’s inclusion was a masterstroke. The chance of Meredith reaching the FA Cup final had been the nation’s footballing dream, but it could not be fulfilled. In the semi-final City were defeated by Newcastle and the Welshman’s career came to an end. You can read about that game here:
Billy Meredith stopped playing more than 100 years ago but his name remains one all Blues should know. He was our first truly great player and was the game’s biggest star. He joined City in 1894 and, despite a spell at Manchester United, remained a City fan all his life, attending every FA Cup final the Blues played in until his death in 1958.
In 2004 I chatted with his then 98-year-old daughter Winifred, and she said that his heart was always with City: ‘He felt at home at City. I know he had great success at United, but I don’t think they ever really appreciated him in the way City did. I think United were not paying him properly after the war and, because of his age, they probably didn’t value him. But City did, and it’s clear they still love him today. City was always his team and meant more to him than United ever could.’
Other images from the game:
One-Time
Monthly
Yearly
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.
Make a monthly donation
Make a yearly donation
Choose an amount
£3.50
£5.00
£7.50
£5.00
£15.00
£100.00
£5.00
£15.00
£100.00
Or enter a custom amount
£
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlyMCFC Away v. NUFC at Maine Rd
Manchester City have drawn Newcastle away in the FA Cup this year and this reminds me of 4 January 1975 when City played ‘away’ at Maine Road against Newcastle United in the FA Cup. The tie should have been played at Newcastle but the FA ordered that the match be played at Maine Road following crowd disorder at St. James’ Park the previous season. City lost the match 2-0.
Were you at this match? If so why not leave your memory as a comment or email it to me for possible future use on this website?
You can read a 1500 article on the 1974-75 season here:
The Story of 1974-75
Tottenham v City
It’s Tottenham v City today, so an appropriate time to look back at other meetings. The two clubs first met in a FA Cup tie in January 1909 with the first League game coming at White Hart Lane on 27 December 1910. City’s first scorer in a League match with Spurs was John Smith, who netted in that first League game (a 1-1 draw). Smith played in only 18 League games (scoring 6) for City.
There are plenty of articles on my website concerning games between City and Tottenham, and here’s a link to the heatwave game played on 27 September 1913:
There’s also the Ballet on Ice here:
Here’s a link to all other features tagged Tottenham:
The 1950s: A Manchester Derby
Here’s film of the FA Cup 4th round tie from this day (29 January) in 1955 when Manchester City defeated Manchester United 2-0. Joe Hayes and Don Revie were the City scorers. Enjoy: https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/59278/
This series on Manchester City in the 1950s includes free items and items only available to subscribers. If you’d like to find out more on the 1954-55 season then subscribe and read the following 3,400 word article on it. It’s a season when City reached the FA Cup final and Don Revie was FWA Footballer of the Year.
This is a subscriber article and you can read it by subscribing below.
Subscribe to get access
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month or you can subscriber for the discounted annual rate of £20 per year. Each subscriber gets access to everything posted so far, including PDFs of a couple of my books.
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.
This is a subscriber article and you can read it by subscribing below.
Subscribe to get access
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month or you can subscriber for the discounted annual rate of £20 per year. Each subscriber gets access to everything posted so far, including PDFs of a couple of my books.
Gary James' Football Archive 