Today (21 September) is the anniversary of Ferran Torres’ first League game from Manchester City AND the anniversary of his last game for City. Considering he played more than one game this is quite a coincidence. His first League appearance was on 21 September 2020 against Wolves and his last was exactly one year later on 21 September 2021 against Wycombe in the League Cup.
The Wolves game ended in a 3-1 City victory. Highlights here:
I thoroughly enjoyed last night’s (19 September 2023) game in the Champions League between the reigning European champions Manchester City (and treble winners – will we ever get tired of remembering that?) and Red Star Belgrade. The Blues won 3-1 and, to be frank, could have scored a lot more had it not been for the heroics of Omri Glazer in the opposition goal (and a few weird finishes but it was a miserably wet night too!).
Summerbee brings in the Champions League trophy
Despite being a goal behind at half time it felt as if the Blues had enough to win the match from the outset and the the second half commenced in style when Julian Alvarez met an Erling Haaland throughball, rounded the keeper and prodded home the equaliser. This was about 73 seconds into the second half. Many Blues missed the goal as they were still returning from the toilets and the bars!
Alvarez opening goal celebration, 19 September 2023 Champions League MCFC v Red Star Belgrade
Alvarez netted a second when his free-kick from the left flew past ‘keeper Glazer after about 1 hour. Then after 73 minutes Rodri did what Rodri does best when he sent a curling strike into the net. It was another classic, just like the final in Istanbul. You can read what Istanbul (and relive that night) meant here:
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During my Maine Road 100 series of free articles commemorating the centenary of Manchester City’s former stadium I had hoped to post this image showing players playing head tennis on the directors’ car park with the Platt Lane Stand in the background. I couldn’t find my scan until this week sadly, so here it is now.
As a kid I used to sit in the Platt Lane and sometimes, if we didn’t walk through the corner tunnel, we’d climb those steps up to the back of the stand. You can see elsewhere (follow links below) stories about the old stand explaining how it was expanded, its age and so on, but the relevant bit for me today is the stair case(s). Back in the 70s they used to scare me. Climbing up or down I felt they were rickety and you could see through the gaps. I much preferred going down the tunnel.
Do you have memories of the old Platt Lane? Feel free to post them as comments here. Thanks.
Manchester City dominated the Manchester derby played on this day (19 September) in 1959. That day the Blues defeated the Reds 3-0 with an outstanding performance from Joe Hayes. Enjoy the match report here:
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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.
For the second time I’ve asked Mark McCarthy to write a guest blog on his football shirt collection and, specifically, I’ve asked him to tell us about his new book. This book is the second book he has written on his collection. It is packed with lots of great images and stories. Mark tells all below:
It was never my intention to do this follow up book to 101 Manchester City Match Worn Shirts which was released in 2021, but as a passionate City match shirt collector it’s a pleasure to be able to share another part of my collection and some stories regarding the shirts and the seasons’ memories that they may bring.
My collection has grown considerably over the past few years, as has the hobby in general. You only have to scroll through the many social media channels to see the number of accounts now dedicated to collecting not only match worn shirts but football shirts in general. I can’t speak for other collectors, but I can safely say they may well agree with me when I do say the feeling never get’s old of adding a new shirt or unearthing a real holy grail of a shirt into collection. This was the case for me during the first lockdown when after many years of trying to trace the unusual yellow away shirt that was only ever worn once by City at Arsenal on 14 October 1989 (with just one set of shirts produced it has become a real holy grail of City shirts for any collection) I tracked one down. The kit was hastily given away by then City director Freddie Pye, following our 4-0 defeat, with Chairman Peter Swales demanding that the kit was never to been seen again. Well it was actually seen numerous times across Manchester’s Saturday and Sunday leagues when it was used by local team MMS who were managed at the time by Liam Hall.
The kit was used well into the 1990s before the side broke up, a lot of players got to keep the shirts but the majority have long been since sold on. A few have surfaced more recently but were quickly snapped up by a dealer who then sold them for huge profits. After many online requests for the shirt, convinced that there will be one still out there I was put onto a fellow blue called Billy Bell, who had found one just stored in a bag of old City shirts, just waiting to be discovered. A deal was quickly arranged with Billy, who in fairness could have sold the shirt on for much high profits but, as a man of his word, he kept to our deal which I’ll be forever grateful. A courier was quickly arranged to be sent to collect the shirt which I’m thrilled to have in the collection as there certainly aren’t too many, if anymore out there.
Manchester City have played, and still do to this day, a huge part of my life. As many football fans will tell you, our clubs were our first real love, the ones we can forgive no matter what they throw our way. City have certainly tested that unconditional love over the 40 years I have supported the club, although the past 15 years or so have been pretty incredible to say the least.
In February 2023 I was kindly invited by the club to take part in the 2023/24 season kit launch where I spent the day in and around the first team while featuring in the official home fans and players photo shoot along with the likes of Jack Grealish, Erling Haaland, Riyad Mahrez and former City goalkeeper Alex Williams. I also spent time with our current kit manufacturers Puma talking about kit designs and ideas while showing them a collection of match shirts we have worn over the years. The day was topped off when I was introduced to legendary Oasis singer Noal Gallagher who was filming a piece using my shirts, another honour for me and I was delighted to be able to present him with a copy of my first book. For the record Noel’s favourite City shirt is the 86-88 black & red chess board chequered style. A big thank you to Paul Mulholland and City for making a brilliant day of memories to be treasured.
With just over 600 shirts now in the collection I hope the book will spark some memories of days gone by, some you may want to forget and some you will never forget.
You can order a copy direct from Mark which can include a signed dedicated message of choice which will make a perfect birthday or Christmas gift for any blue. EMAIL MARK: mmmac@hotmail.co.uk
Images from 102 years ago today (17 September 1921) when Manchester City met Arsenal. The game ended 1-0 with Horace Barnes scoring for the Blues. These photos both show City attacker Tommy Johnson.
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On this day (17 September) in 1910 Old Trafford staged its first Manchester derby and City were even awarded a penalty there too! The penalty was saved and the game ended in a 2-1 United win in front of a crowd estimated to be about 60,000. Here’s a brief match report from that day. Note also the preview for City’s next game at Hyde Road:
This is a rarely seen photo of Stan Bowles celebrating on his Manchester City debut on this day (16 September) in 1967. Bowles scored two that day. I posted the cover from the match programme here last year:
We will be unveiling a blue plaque to the Manchester Corinthians on 6 October. The club toured the globe representing England and promoting female endeavour, football and Manchester and now, over 70 years after they were established, their achievements have helped generate significant improvements to a park and helped foster a great community spirit. Through the dedicated work of a group of volunteers, especially the Friends of Fog Lane Park, a blue plaque, two murals and other tributes telling the Corinthians story will be erected and revealed on Friday 6 October at noon.
We all know how our public parks, particularly in cities, often suffer vandalism and other anti social activity and through the Corinthians’ story he Friends of Fog Lane Park have changed the look of a vandalised building and have built on the good work they had already performed to make Fog Lane Park, Didsbury a safe, well used and popular park.
There’s so much to say but both the Friends of Fog Lane Park and the Corinthians deserve significant praise. In total over £6000 was raised for these tributes and this came from a large number of individuals as well as the FA, Manchester Council and the Corinthians’ old friends (and on the pitch rivals) Dick, Kerr Ladies (see below for names of those who made donations).
The Corinthians won major tournaments in Germany, Venezuela, France and elsewhere. They were the link team between the world renowned Dick, Kerr Ladies and the modern era, playing a significant role in football’s development. Often they played as England in these tournaments too, adding a bit of international significance in the days when formal England teams did not exist.
Another major achievement was that at formation of the Women’s Football Association not only was Gladys Aikin, the Corinthians’ manager, playing a key role but the club joined the WFA as two clubs – Corinthians and Nomads. This demonstrated their commitment to the long term development of the sport.
A year or so ago Will McTaggart, who hosted a number of football film shows with me in the years before Covid, alerted me to a clip that’s been found by the BBC of the Manchester Corinthians women’s team of the 1960s. This clip is from March 1965. You can watch it here:
As a reminder here’s more on the story to erect the plaque:
In 2019 I wrote an article for the Manchester Evening News on the women’s achievements and hoping for FA recognition and had meetings with a variety of local organisations about promoting the Corinthians further. Covid slowed everything down but then in 2021 I publicly announced for the first time the desire to have a plaque erected to the pioneering Manchester Corinthians. This was at a celebration evening at Hebden Bridge organised with Geoff Matthews. Our guests included several former Corinthians players and the mood of the audience was encouraging and supporting, which then led on to rekindling discussions with Manchester based bodies.
Support came from Manchester City Council and we discussed erecting a plaque at Fog Lane Park, the initial home of the Corinthians. In fact the women were based there for over twenty years. Via the council the Friends of Fog Lane Park came on board and we set up an appeal under their name, as custodians of the park. I wrote to contacts at the FA and elsewhere and within next to no time donations came flooding in from a variety of former players, family, friends, journalists and the Dick, Kerr Ladies Foundation via Gail Newsham. It was gratifying to see so much support (a full list of those who donated appears below – thanks to you all!).
My discussions with the FA eventually resulted in them agreeing to fund the plaque, the unveiling and to support other tributes. This meant we’d reached our goal. The plaque is a reality and will be unveiled soon.
The Friends of Fog Lane Park managed to get matching funds from Manchester City Council too and so now, as well as the plaque and a lectern providing a Corinthians’ timeline, there will be two impressive murals painted by artist Gavin Renshaw.
On October 6 at noon the blue plaque will be unveiled with over twenty of the Manchester Corinthians present.
The club became Woodley Ladies in the 1980s before it ceased operation around 1989. A later club, founded by a former Corinthian, used the Corinthians name from formation, playing in Tameside.
If you appear on the following photos then please get in touch or if you played for the Corinthians at any point between 1949 and 1982 we’d love to hear from you. I’m also keen to track down more photographs and items of memorabilia associated with the team. Please email me at gary@GJFootballArchive.com or contact via this page: https://gjfootballarchive.com/contact/
Over the next few weeks I’ll be posting further stories about the Corinthians. Recently I was fortunate to interview a 90+ year old who played for the Corinthians from formation in 1949.
Those who have donated to the appeal to erect permanent tributes to the Corinthians include:
Pam Barnes, Dan Mooney, Adam Turgoose, ‘Ben’, ‘Jean J’, Jonathan Kaye, Megan Riley, Helena Byrne, Dawn Burrows, Clare Wilkins, Linda Foley, Debbie Enever, John Carrier, Jacqui McAssey, Michael Cottam, Karen Ohanco, David Hoyle, Daniel Rubin, Heidi James, Gary James and the Dick, Kerr Ladies Foundation. There were also a small number of anonymous donations – thanks to all of you too. Everyone has contributed to this appeal. Please come along to the unveiling if you can.
Here’s a report and film of Manchester City beating Juventus in their first competitive meeting on this day (15 September) in 1976. That day Brian Kidd scored the only goal (a header) and you can see that goal here:
The match report expresses the disappointment City felt at only taking a 1-0 lead to Italy for the 2nd leg.
Here’s a photo from the game. Notice anything odd? Follow the link after the photo for the story.
Gary James' Football Archive 