Category Archives: Free

Corinthians Radio & Events

There are a few events lined up where I’ll be talking about the Corinthians. These are free to attend (details below) and tonight (31 January) I’ll be on Lewis Connell’s sport show on Tameside Radio too. That’s on at 7pm (link below). Thanks to Lewis for the invite. He’s been a key supporter of the Corinthians project over the last few years.

https://www.notreallyheremedia.com/on-air/

The events planned are:

Wednesday 12 February 2pm at Tameside Library, Ashton under Lyne

Thursday 27 February (evening) at the West Yorkshire branch of the MCFC Supporters Club

Wednesday 5 March – 5.30pm (general) at Manchester Central Library

Watch this space for further details soon.

There will also be talks with schools and other groups soon. If you’d like me to talk at your library, group or school then please get in touch.

The book is now beginning to appear at bookshops. Amazon now say they have copies if you want to buy it from them. You can also buy copies direct from me.

The book consists of 356 pages. It is illustrated throughout and you can order it below for £25 (including UK postage and packaging).

If you live outside the UK then please contact for details of additional postage costs.

You do not need to have a PayPal account to order – use the ‘Pay with PayPal’ button above and it will give you the option to pay by credit/debit card without creating a PayPal account

UK ONLY – Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History

The story of a pioneering women’s club as told to Gary James by those who were there. This will be published in late December 2024. This is UK only at £25 (incl UK postage and packaging). Outside UK contact for additional postage costs.

£25.00

To get a feel for the Corinthians’ story and the book you can watch an 18 minute video put together by Imprint Films here:

https://www.imprintfilms.co.uk/oh-what-a-team

If you’ve issues watching the video there (youtube may ask you to sign in) you can also watch it here (click on the ‘Watch on Youtube’, bottom left if your link doesn’t work):

I’d like to say my heartfelt thanks to Manchester City for their help and for inviting the Corinthians. I’s also like to thank all at Imprint Films for doing the video. In the spirit of Percy Ashley himself, they have funded the production of this video themselves and have the desire to see the Corinthians story spread widely. This is, of course, something I totally believe in myself. We need to spread this story and let the entire world know about the Corinthians.

Please share the video and, while you’re at it, spread the news about the book too. Both are self funded and we need help to spread the word.

Save The Date: 5 March

I know there’s a chance of European men’s football taking place in Manchester that night but the event has been scheduled/timed to take that into account. On Wednesday 5 March at 5.30pm I’ll be doing a talk at Manchester Central Library. More information will follow nearer the time but for the moment see:

SAVE THE DATE! 5 March, 5.30pm: Celebrating the Manchester Corinthians

David Gaskell

I missed this yesterday but another Manchester footballing figure has died. Manchester United’s record-breaking former goalkeeper David Gaskell, has died aged 84. Gaskell was just 16 years and 19 days old when he came on for United, following an injury to first-choice keeper Ray Wood. The game was the first ever Manchester derby in the Charity Shield, played at Maine Rd in October 1956. He remains the record for the youngest player to make their debut for United.

He kept a clean sheet and United won the Shield match 1-0.

My thoughts are with Gaskell’s family and friends.

Here’s a report of the 1956 Charity Shield. Note they say Gaskell is 15 not his actual age, but he made history that day not just as United’s youngest player. He was also the first substitute in a Manchester derby. Substitutions were not allowed in competitive football but as this was a charity game and Wood could not continue in nets both teams agreed.

MCFC v Chelsea Today

For those lucky enough to get the match programme for today’s game at the Etihad my programme feature focuses on Tony Book and Denis Law. It’s not extensive as I’m sure they’ll also be featured elsewhere, but I wanted to make sure I made mention of them in my piece too.

City v Chelsea has been an important fixture over the decades with European semi finals played between the sides over fifty years ago for example. Many of these are featured on this website, so why not have a search around. Here’s a link to all articles tagged Chelsea on here:

https://gjfootballarchive.com/tag/chelsea/

1971 ECWC v Chelsea. Tony Book and mascot Paul Todd. Photo by Alan Jubb

A Corinthian On This Day

On this day (24 January) in 1969 the Manchester Evening News did a piece on Gladys Aikin and her role as the manager of the Manchester Corinthians. It was a piece focusing on a woman being in charge of a football team and did include one or two comments about ‘offside rule’ but was important in the wider scheme of things. Gladys’ story is told in my new book of course and her daughter Carol talks about her mum (and also Carol’s own time with the club) in this video, filmed at the Corinthians reunion last month:

Over the coming weeks and months. I’ll be talking at some events about them – including this Monday (27 January) at the Reddish branch of the MCFC supporters club:

JANUARY BRANCH MEETING

It’s free to attend and copies of the book will be available on the night. If you can’t make it but do want to order the book then I will sign all copies ordered below.

The book consists of 356 pages. It is illustrated throughout and you can order it below for £25 (including UK postage and packaging).

If you live outside the UK then please contact for details of additional postage costs.

You do not need to have a PayPal account to order – use the ‘Pay with PayPal’ button above and it will give you the option to pay by credit/debit card without creating a PayPal account.

UK ONLY – Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History

The story of a pioneering women’s club as told to Gary James by those who were there. This will be published in late December 2024. This is UK only at £25 (incl UK postage and packaging). Outside UK contact for additional postage costs.

£25.00

The 1960s: Johnny Crossan

As part of the series on Manchester City in the 1960s I’m taking a look today at an Irish player who joined the club in January 1965 and went on to captain the team, Johnny Crossan. Here goes…

Johnny Crossan was born in Derry on 29th November 1938 and first came to the notice of English clubs when he was a youth.  Crossan:  “I had apparently been doing quite well as a youngster.  I had got into the Derry team when only aged 14 and Joe Mercer came over to have a look round and weigh up likely prospects.  Later, I learned he wanted to sign me for his club, which was then Sheffield United, and a fee of around £5,000 was discussed.  I never did find out what went wrong.  Perhaps Derry wanted more money.”

He moved on to Coleraine a little later, and then another proposed move to England collapsed when problems over a possible transfer to Bristol City resulted in a ‘life’ ban.  Crossan then moved to the continent, signing for Sparta Rotterdam, and then Standard Liege.  At Liege he played in the European Cup.  By October 1962 the English ban was lifted and he was transferred to Sunderland for £27,000.  

At Roker Park he managed to score 39 goals in 82 appearances, before George Poyser brought him to Maine Road as a last desperate act to save his own job.  

Johnny Crossan signs with City boss George Poyser, January 1965

Crossan made his debut in a 2-0 defeat at Derby County on 30 January 1965.

Although the Irishman did little to impress City’s support during Spring 1965, over time he did prove to be an excellent signing.  

When Mercer took over from Poyser he was delighted to find Crossan was already at the club.  He was determined to award him the captaincy and always admitted that Crossan was one of the main reasons City achieved success:  “We received tremendous help from one little fellow in the dressing room – Johnny Crossan.  In those early days this whimsical Irishman was a wonderful dressing room influence as we tried to mould players we hardly knew into a fighting unit.”

The promotion season was Crossan’s best at Maine Road and clearly demonstrated his playing ability, humour, and captaincy skills.  He seemed to be destined to play a major part in City’s future when tragedy struck.  At the age of 28 he was involved in a car crash close to Roker Park prior to the 1966-7 season.  He missed the opening game of the season and, despite managing to regain his place, his City career was nearing its end.  Foolishly he tried to disguise an injured knee and as a result gave the impression he just wasn’t trying.  In actual fact he was probably trying more than most, but he was simply unable to cope.  He also suffered from a grumbling appendix.

In August 1967 he was transferred to Middlesbrough for £32,000 – proving that he was still a player with much to offer.  At Middlesbrough he made a total of 56 appearances and scored 8 goals, but suffered with insomnia and was forced to endure several hospital visits.

Once his footballing career was over Crossan returned to Derry, and in later years played an active role in training local youngsters. 

In total Crossan made 24 international appearances for Northern Ireland (ten while with City), and proved to be a very popular player within the dressing room and, for most of his City career, on the terraces.  Without Crossan Mercer and Allison would have found it more difficult to lift the Blues out of the Second Division, and the transformation in City’s fortunes may have taken a while longer.  

Johnny Crossan

Born: Derry, 29th November 1938

Debut v Derby County (away) 30/1/1965

City Appearances:

FL: 94 apps. 24 goals.

FAC: 14 apps. 2 goals.

FLC: 2 apps. 2 goals.

TOTAL: 110 apps. 28 goals.

Middlesbrough Appearances: 

FL: 54+2 apps. 7 goals.

FAC: 5 apps. 1 goal.

FLC: 2 apps. 

TOTAL: 61+2 apps. 8 goals.

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Johnny Crossan and Joe Mercer celebrating City’s promotion in 1966

The 1960s: Denis Law Signs

Today’s article on the 1960s is free for anyone to read and tells the story of Manchester City signing Denis Law back on 15 March 1960. There’s also film here of his debut and a great colour film of City and Law that season (see below). City manager Les McDowall had been after signing Denis Law for many, many months before he finally signed the Scottish striker for a British record fee of £55,000 the day before the transfer deadline on 15 March 1960.  It had been a tense negotiation.  Law himself had expected to join Arsenal to link up with his Scottish colleague Tommy Docherty, however, Huddersfield were adamant that they could not sell Law for anything less than £55,000.  

Ken Barnes welcomes Denis Law to Maine Road, 1960

It all came to a head at Leeds Road where Arsenal had sent coach Ron Greenwood to negotiate a good deal.  At the same time City, represented by Les McDowall and Chairman Alan Douglas, were keen to sign the 20 year old Scotsman.  The Gunners had only given Greenwood power to offer £25,000 plus David Herd, making a total of £50,000, whereas McDowall and Douglas were able to discuss the pros and cons of offering more.  The discussions and negotiations went on while Law himself was playing Table Tennis in the games room.  When the young player was summoned he quickly realised that his move to Arsenal was off and, after less than ten minutes, he agreed to join the Blues at a cost that was said to be three times his weight in gold.

Denis Law’s Manchester City debut 1960

Law made his debut a memorable one by scoring in the 4-3 defeat at Leeds on 19th March 1960.  You can view Law’s first goal for City here:

I think the commentary was added some time after and that the commentary was done in a studio over the top. The commentator (is it Stuart Hall?) mentions City’s kit as being old gold and black but colour film of kit from that season shows City wearing yellow and maroon – as can be seen in this wonderful film from that same year which includes Tottenham v City from about 5 minutes in:

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-saturday-fever-1961-online

Eleven days after Law’s debut he scored again as City defeated West Ham 3-1. He made one other appearance, away at Chelsea, before the player became the subject of his first controversy at the Club.  Law was selected to play for Scotland at Hampden Park on 9th April – the date of the vital home game with West Bromwich Albion – and the City management took the view that playing for your country was more important than playing for your club.  This angered many supporters, who realised that a Law-less City would struggle and that relegation was still a strong possibility.  The Blues were only two points above the relegation zone.

The controversy heightened when other clubs took a different view and refused to release players.  The City Board then felt justified in asking the League for a postponement, but the League refused.  In the programme for the game, the Board outlined their views and explained how the circumstance had occurred.  The article ended by stressing that the situation of club V Country cannot be allowed to continue.  

As expected, without Law the Blues were defeated 1-0.

You can find out more on Manchester City in the 1959-60 season by reading the following article on the season. This is available to subscribers.

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The Corinthians as Guests of MCFC

Today a small group of Manchester Corinthians have been welcomed as guests of Manchester City to their WSL game with Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium. It was a great gesture by the club and followed the staging of a reunion of the Corinthians held at the stadium last month.

The group included a 90 year old former player and others in their 70s and 80s. All of them inevitably appear in my book, Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History (see below for details). Some of them also feature in this wonderfully produced video, filmed at the Corinthians reunion last month. For details of the video and to watch it see:

https://www.imprintfilms.co.uk/oh-what-a-team

If you’ve issues watching the video there (youtube may ask you to sign in) you can also watch it here (click on the ‘Watch on Youtube’, bottom left if your link doesn’t work):

I’d like to say my heartfelt thanks to Manchester City for their help and for inviting the Corinthians. I’s also like to thank all at Imprint Films for doing the video. In the spirit of Percy Ashley himself, they have funded the production of this video themselves and have the desire to see the Corinthians story spread widely. This is, of course, something I totally believe in myself. We need to spread this story and let the entire world know about the Corinthians.

Please share the video and, while you’re at it, spread the news about the book too. Both are self funded and we need help to spread the word.

Over the coming weeks and months. I’ll be talking at some events about them. There will also be articles and, hopefully, further book reviews. I know a certain online retailer is suggesting it takes months to receive the book but if you do want to order it I can sign copies and get them sent out same day.

The book consists of 356 pages. It is illustrated throughout and you can order it below for £25 (including UK postage and packaging).

If you live outside the UK then please contact for details of additional postage costs.

You do not need to have a PayPal account to order – use the ‘Pay with PayPal’ button above and it will give you the option to pay by credit/debit card without creating a PayPal account.

UK ONLY – Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History

The story of a pioneering women’s club as told to Gary James by those who were there. This will be published in late December 2024. This is UK only at £25 (incl UK postage and packaging). Outside UK contact for additional postage costs.

£25.00

40Years Ago: MCFC v Wimbledon

This will make you feel old! The first City-Wimbledon fixture shown on Match of the Day was the 3-0 City victory on 19th January 1985.  This was only the second fixture between the two sides and goals from Smith, Baker and Phillips made this a comfortable Second Division win. Highlights here:

More on that season here:

The 1980s: 1984-1985 Promotion

The Corinthians on Film

I told you the Manchester Corinthians would get some further media coverage and here’s the latest. It’s a wonderfully produced video filmed at the Corinthians reunion last month. For details of the video and to watch it see:

https://www.imprintfilms.co.uk/oh-what-a-team

If you’ve issues watching the video there (youtube may ask you to sign in) you can also watch it here (click on the ‘Watch on Youtube’, bottom left if your link doesn’t work):

I’d like to say my heartfelt thanks to all at Imprint Films for doing this. In the spirit of Percy Ashley himself, they have funded the production of this video themselves and have the desire to see the Corinthians story spread widely. This is, of course, something I totally believe in myself. We need to spread this story and let the entire world know about the Corinthians.

Please share the video and, while you’re at it, spread the news about the book too. Both are self funded and we need help to spread the word.

Over the coming weeks and months. I’ll be talking at some events about them and some of the players will be guests at a key football game coming soon. There will also be articles and, hopefully, further book reviews. I know a certain online retailer is suggesting it takes months to receive the book but if you do want to order it I can sign copies and get them sent out same day.

The book consists of 356 pages. It is illustrated throughout and you can order it below for £25 (including UK postage and packaging).

If you live outside the UK then please contact for details of additional postage costs.

You do not need to have a PayPal account to order – use the ‘Pay with PayPal’ button above and it will give you the option to pay by credit/debit card without creating a PayPal account.

UK ONLY – Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History

The story of a pioneering women’s club as told to Gary James by those who were there. This will be published in late December 2024. This is UK only at £25 (incl UK postage and packaging). Outside UK contact for additional postage costs.

£25.00