Category Archives: Free

Tomorrow’s Football History Talk at Manchester Central library

A reminder that tomorrow’s free talk at Manchester Central Library starts at 5.30pm and tickets can be booked here: https://librarylive.co.uk/event/celebrating-the-manchester-corinthians/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIbRTdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHRQfPeIdE9_j9BUHAvvOU_Wot0QkejJpWxzzyHdZXBkfvoSJcKsE4ocSvQ_aem_OQ52G2GB6w2hytp4uiGAJw Note Also that I’ll have copies of Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History available on the night for the discounted price of £20 (RRP £25). So why not come along to this free talk and then grab a bargain too? It’ll be great to see so many interested in the history of women’s football in Manchester.

The talk is on the pioneering Manchester Corinthians. The library blurb for the talk:

Celebrating the Manchester Corinthians

The pioneering Manchester Corinthians women’s football team was established during 1948-49. They toured the globe promoting the sport, Manchester and female endeavour at a time when women’s football was banned by the Football Association.

Experiencing tours to Portugal, Germany, South America, North Africa, Italy, France and Spain during the 1950s to 1970s, the Corinthians also played a significant role in overturning the FA ban, establishing the Women’s FA and creating regular competition domestically and internationally.

Gary James will be discussing their history, talking of the challenges they faced and the club’s achievements during a 40+ year existence. In 2019 Gary established a campaign to erect permanent tributes to the players and his authorised history of the club was published in January 2025. He has been attending and researching women’s football since the 1980s.

Gary has captured the stories of women who played for the Corinthians throughout its history, including three women in their 90s who were there at the start in 1948-49. A couple of the Corinthians are anticipated to be present at the talk.

Copies of Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History will be available on the day at a discounted price of £20 (RRP £25)

Steve Fleet

I’ve just heard the sad

news that the former Manchester City and Stockport County goalkeeper Steve Fleet has passed way. So sad to hear this news. Steve was a wonderful man. He was also the man who had to break the news of Eddie Colman’s death to Eddie’s parents after Munich. I’ll post stuff on Steve in next few days.

The photo is one Ed Garvey took of Steve on a day when I interviewed Steve at the old MCFC museum, the Manchester City Experience.

The 1950s: Starting Tomorrow!

Starting tomorrow I’ll be posting a series of articles on Manchester City in the 1950s. It will be similar to the series I’ve posted on the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s etc. The series will start with a subscriber article on the 1949-50 season – a season that saw Bert Trautmann make his City debut.

United’s Bank Street and City’s Etihad Then and Now

I’m not certain how many match going fans realise how close the site of Manchester City’s is to the site of Manchester United’s old Bank Street ground. The Reds moved back in 1910 to Old Trafford and the site is now the home of the BMX indoor centre. You can see the old ground on the right of the old map below (c.1910), while City’s current Etihad Stadium can be seen in the middle of the newer map. A few other things to look out for:

  • Rowsley Street still exists (this is the road that cars turn on to just before the main access road which heads towards the main entrance of the Etihad.
  • Philips Park, the river, the railway, canal and main roads remain.
  • Part of the Electricity works complex still survives, near the Velodrome. As does part of the gas works, north west of the Etihad.
  • Present day Alan Turing Way is a slightly modified Mill Street/Grey Mare Lane. Forge Lane is now within the car parking area, east of the stadium, but the Forge Lane bridge over the canal still exists between the Co-op Live arena and the car parks (to the east of Joe Mercer Way’s more modern bridge).

Move the arrows in the photo to compare maps.

Haaland Five v Luton

On this day (27 February) in 2024 Erling Haaland scored five against Luton Town in the FA Cup. On a night when memories of Denis Law scoring six in the FA Cup against Luton (and then getting them all wiped from the records as the game was abandoned) it was a wonderful performance, coming in Manchester City’s 6-2 victory.

When asked about the goals afterwards City manager Pep Guardiola discussed both Haaland’s scoring and the influence of Kevin De Bruyne too: ‘Erling is on fire and Kevin… the connection was perfect… Kevin needs players like Erling and Erling needs players like Kevin. Erling needs a guy with the vision, the quality, the generosity. Kevin is the less selfish player in front of goal. Kevin needs the movement from Erling. We know how aggressive they are.’

By this time De Bruyne had made nine assists in his previous five FA Cup games for De Bruyne. Surprisingly, one more than he managed in his first 23 appearances for City in the competition but he’d been waiting for a player like Haaland to come along for some time. De Bruyne was making similar moves and passes but the end product had not been there consistently prior to Haaland’s arrival.

Talking of De Bruyne, Haaland commented: ‘Kevin De Bruyne is massive. He is doing what he is best at. It’s a pleasure playing with him. We know what we both want from each other. It clicks well. He is a smart player and I like to play with him.’

Haaland became the 3rd Manchester City player to score 5 in a men’s FA Cup (and it still stands) game. Earlier players who achieved this feat are Frank Roberts & Bobby Marshall. Here’s Roberts’ game (there’s film of that match in 1926 via the link):

Managerless City in 15 Goal Thriller

Of course Haaland had scored five before:

https://gjfootballarchive.com/?p=8883

For Haaland there were a few records/points to note:

  • He became the first player to score five or more in the FA Cup (1st round onwards) since Duane Darby scored 6 for Hull v Whitby in 1996-97.
  • He was the first to score five or more for a top-flight club in the FA Cup since George Best scored 6 for United v Northampton in 1970.
  • This was the second time Haaland has scored five goals in a game in his senior career, previously doing so for City against RB Leipzig in the Champions League in March 2023.
  • Since his debut for City in July 2022, Haaland had scored 79 goals in 83 games in all comps, 30 more than any other Premier League player in the that time (Salah 49) after that Luton game.
  • He became the first to score five against Luton for City since Denis Law in 1961 when Law scored 6 but all were wiped from the records as the game was abandoned. See:
FAC Draw a Reminder! Law’s Expunged Six

Tottenham v Manchester City

Tonight’s it’s Tottenham v City. The two teams 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:

Heatwave at Tottenham

Here’s a link to all other features tagged Tottenham:

https://gjfootballarchive.com/tag/tottenham/

Colin Bell

To mark the anniversary of Colin Bell’s birth (26 February 1946) it’s well worth reminding ourselves of something he viewed as one of his greatest successes. It may surprise some fans… When I interviewed Colin quite a few years ago we talked about his many successes and triumphs as a player. He was as humble as ever. Then he told me something which surprised me a little and that was about Manchester City’s 1977-78 Central League title.

City’s reserve team played in the Central League back then and, due to his devastating injury, Colin played reserve games throughout that season as he pushed for full fitness. He started 22 of these games and scored five goals.

When I interviewed Colin he told me he was as pleased with this Central League success as he was with all his other medals. To him that season saw a return to competitive football and it was irrelevant whether it was a reserve league or the Football League. It mattered enormously.

Most posts on Colin won’t talk about the 1977-78 Central League title but, as he was so keen to ensure he mentioned it to me all those years ago, I feel it’s appropriate to give it a little focus.

His first Central League appearance of the 1977-78 season attracted almost 5,000 as many of us were determined to be there when he returned to action. For the record that game was v Huddersfield on 17th September 1977, attendance 4,921.

Colin was a wonderful player and man. Those of us who saw him play know what a great player he was; those of us who were privileged to meet him met a truly humble & wonderful human being. He was the King of our Kippax but was truly a legend of football at Bury, City and England. His name will always be remembered.

This image of my ledger for 1977-78 shows Colin in City’s Central League match records.

More on that season here of course:

The 1970s: 1977-1978 Bell’s Return

Manchester Corinthians Talk at Central Library for International Women’s Day

Next Wednesday (5 March) I’ll be doing a talk at Manchester Central Library as part of the events leading up to International Women’s Day. The talk is on the Manchester Corinthians women’s football team that toured the globe between 1948 and 1992 and is based on a decade of research into the team. It’s free to attend but tickets should be booked in advance here:

Celebrating the Manchester Corinthians

The talk takes place between 5.30pm and 7pm at Manchester Central Library and will focus on the history of the club, based on the 50+ interviews I have performed with former players, coaches and their families. I’ll also have copies of Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History available at the discounted price of £20 (normally £25) for those who wish to buy the book that evening.

Why not come along and learn all about these remarkable women. In advance why not watch this 18 minute documentary put together by Imprint Films on the Corinthians? It includes brief interviews with a small group of the women I interviewed, plus I help to explain why they are so significant. The free Library talk will of course go into much more detail (as does the book):

If you can’t make it to the talk then watch out for others. You can also find out about the book here:

Manchester Corinthians

Thursday at Morley CC

On Thursday (27 February) evening I’ll be talking at the West Yorkshire branch of the Manchester City Supporters Club (8pm; Morley Cricket Club, Scatcherd Lane Morley, Leeds LS27 0JJ) about the Manchester Corinthians women’s team and, of course, I’ll also discuss Manchester City’s history too. I’ll have copies of the Manchester Corinthians book with me, as well as copies of my Peter Barnes biography if anybody wants one.

You can find out more on the Corinthians book here:

Manchester Corinthians

You can find out more on the Barnes book here:

The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – Available Here!

Bobby Johnstone Double

On this day (25 February) in 1956 Bobby Johnstone scored twice as Manchester City defeated Preston 3-0. Joe Hayes scored the other goal.

I’m contemplating writing a series of features on the 1950s as this decade is beginning to slip from living memory. We’ve lost almost all the players who played during that decade for City and maybe it’s time to post some of the interviews I did with the likes of Fagan, Barnes, Clarke, Little? What do you think? I’m always keen to hear from readers/subscribers to the site.