Category Archives: Manchester City

The Origins Of Manchester City: The Early 1870s

Continuing here: the story of Manchester City’s origins. Today’s feature is on the early 1870s. Association football clubs were starting to develop in Manchester, although the clubs that led to the formation of Manchester City were still a few years off. Below is a 1000+ word article on that period and the latest part of a series looking at Manchester City’s origins prior to 1890.

Already there are seasonal articles on every season from 1890-91 (Ardwick) through to 2009-10 and now, throughout February, I’ll be adding the history of the Club prior to 1890. I’ll be telling via a series of articles the story of key individuals/origins/moments that contributed to the establishment of a football club. The series continues below with the second feature on the early 1870s.

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MCFC 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

The Origins Of Manchester City: The 1860s

Continuing here: the story of Manchester City’s origins. Today’s feature is on the 1860s. As I’ve mentioned previously, this was before association football clubs were in existence in East Manchester but steps were taken in the this decade that would ultimately lead to the establishment of teams in West Gorton. Below is a 1500+ word article on that period and the second part of a series looking at Manchester City’s origins prior to 1890.

Already there are seasonal articles on every season from 1890-91 (Ardwick) through to 2009-10 and now, throughout February, I’ll be adding the history of the Club prior to 1890. I’ll be telling via a series of articles the story of key individuals/origins/moments that contributed to the establishment of a football club. The series continues below with the second feature on the 1860s.

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These articles will be available to subscribers to this site. It costs £3 per month (cancel any time) or sign up for a year for the discounted price of £20 per year (works out about £1.67 a month to access every article on this site). To date in excess of 1,500 articles/features have been posted including interviews, talks and more.

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The Origins Of Manchester City: The 1850s

Starting here: the story of Manchester City’s origins, beginning with the 1850s. This was many years before association football clubs were in existence in East Manchester but steps were taken in the 1850s that would ultimately lead to the establishment of teams in West Gorton. Below is a 1000+ word article on that period and the first part of a series looking at Manchester City’s origins prior to 1890.

Already there are seasonal articles on every season from 1890-91 (Ardwick) through to 2009-10 and now, throughout February, I’ll be adding the history of the Club prior to 1890. I’ll be telling via a series of articles the story of key individuals/origins/moments that contributed to the establishment of a football club. The series starts below with the first feature on the 1850s.

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These articles will be available to subscribers to this site. It costs £3 per month (cancel any time) or sign up for a year for the discounted price of £20 per year (works out about £1.67 a month to access every article on this site). To date in excess of 1,500 articles/features have been posted including interviews, talks and more.

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Starting Tomorrow: The Origins Of Manchester City

Already this website tells the story of Manchester City with seasonal articles on every season from 1890-91 (Ardwick) through to 2009-10 and throughout February I’ll be adding the history of the Club prior to 1890. Starting with material from the 1850s and the establishment of an organisation that was to play a major part in the establishment of the Club, I’ll be telling via a series of articles the story of key individuals/origins/moments that contributed to the establishment of a football club. The series starts tomorrow with the first feature on the 1850s. Watch this space!

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These articles will be available to subscribers to this site. It costs £3 per month (cancel any time) or sign up for a year for the discounted price of £20 per year (works out about £1.67 a month to access every article on this site). To date in excess of 1,500 articles/features have been posted including interviews, talks and more.

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The 1970s: Could Colin Return For Wembley?

Fifty years ago today there was lots of discussion around Manchester of the prospect of Colin Bell returning to action for the League Cup final, planned for Saturday 28 February 1976. Much of the talk throughout February had been on who manager Tony Book would pick for the final with Newcastle. Injuries and suspensions had impacted City significantly throughout the season and reaching the final had been seen as the major achievement it was. Alongside this the Blues had maintained a challenge for the title, though there had been mixed results so far during January and February. A disappointing 2-1 defeat at Birmingham on 14 February had left City seventh, eight points behind leaders Liverpool. 

During the week that followed the Birmingham game Book decided to move a Reserve match in the Central League to Monday 23 February, five days before the League Cup final. He explained: ‘I had been hoping that my ideas on the [Cup Final] line-up would have taken firmer shape by now, but the recurring problem of getting our key midfield player Colin Bell fully fit for his first [first team] match action since early November and a doubt about the best defensive formation at my disposal, has left the situation uncertain until the last minute.’

The move of the Reserve game with Sheffield United meant that, in Book’s eyes, there were now two games to have a proper assessment of who would be in his Wembley team – a League match with Everton on 21 February and the reserve game two days later. The hope that Bell could return was greeted extremely positively by fans desperate to see their hero. He had started a Reserve game on 17 January but, in the days that followed, he had suffered a reaction. 

As City approached their League game with Everton Book admitted: ‘I will decide the team on Wednesday or Thursday of next week and part of those plans will be structured around the situation with Colin. I made it clear recently that I considered it important for our inside forward to get a couple of games under his belt to rate consideration, but whatever this weekend’s events I shall not dismiss his chances of returning until a final talk with Colin and the medical staff in midweek.’

As City fans looked forward to their League game with Everton some were already talking about attending the Reserve game with Sheffield United simply in the hope of seeing their hero.  Fifty years on, it’s difficult to stress how significant the prospect of Colin Bell returning to action was viewed. It seemed unlikely he’d play at Wembley, but everyone hoped he would pass Book’s final tests and make it. Sadly, things didn’t work out, but this week back in 1976 there was still hope.

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If you’d like to know more about this period in Manchester City’s history why not read the following 5,320 word article on the entire 1975-76 season – a season which saw Tony Book guide the club to major success. 

This article is available to subscribers below. Enjoy!

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60 Years Ago: Malcolm Allison Ban For Criticising Referees

This week in 1966 Manchester City assistant manager Malcolm Allison was in trouble for criticising refereeing decisions on the radio. He was irate at inconsistencies seen and suggested that referees were ‘homers’ (giving decisions to home teams rather than being fair to both sides). Inevitably, his comments brought censure from the FA but he did receive a lot of support from fans. Here’s a selection of the newspaper coverage as it appears in the 1965-66 scrapbook I have:

You can find out more on Manchester City during the 1965-66 season by reading the following 4100 word article. As with most of the other features in this series it includes words from interviews I have performed with those who were there. This is a subscriber article (see below).

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From The Archives: An Away Friendly At Bournemouth

Here’s an item from the collection from this day (12 February) in 1949 when Bournemouth staged a home friendly against Manchester City. This was City’s second away friendly of 1949 (after Coventry the previous month). The game ended in a 4-2 win for Manchester’s Blues and was watched by 15,046. City’s scorers were: Jack Oakes, Johnny Hart, George Smith and Andy Black. It’s not clear exactly who this letter was sent to but similar letters were sent to both the FA and the League for games like these.

If you’d like to find out more on the 1940s at City why not read the following article on the 1948-49 season. This article can be read by subscribing below.

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Were You There 60 Years Ago Today? Manchester City 2 Grimsby 0 FAC Tie

Today (12 February) in 1966 a goal from Mike Summerbee and an own goal brought City a 2-0 FA Cup win over Grimsby Town. The victory brought great praise City’s way. Were you at Maine Road that day? If you were please feel free to add your comments. Here for subscribers are match reports from this game:

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You can find out more on Manchester City during the 1965-66 season by reading the following 4100 word article. As with most of the other features in this series it includes words from interviews I have performed with those who were there. This is a subscriber article (see below).

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Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) or sign up for a year at the discounted price of £20 per year (works out £1.67 per month). Subscribers access the 1000+ articles posted so far and the others scheduled during the life of your subscription.

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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.

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The 2020s: Victory over Swansea

On this day (10 February) in 2021 Manchester City travelled to Swansea for a FA Cup tie. It was another record-breaking day for Pep Guadiola’s team.

City defeated Swansea 3-1 to progress to the quarter-finals but the victory set a record for successive domestic wins by an English top-flight club, surpassing the previous best of 14 achieved by Preston in 1891-92 and Arsenal in 1987-88. Talking about City’s 15th consecutive win Guardiola commented: ‘It shows how special these players are. And we think of the next one. I know we broke a record of all-time. To do what we have done so far is quite remarkable. The record will be broken for sure, because sports is like this, but it means a lot, to do what we have done in the winter time and Christmas time is quite remarkable. It is the toughest time, but what is important is the way we are still playing with our consistency.’

City’s goals were scored by Kyle Walker (30 mins), Raheem Sterling (47) and Gabriel Jesus (50), with Morgan Whittaker (77) scoring a late consolation goal for Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.

City have highlights here:

https://www.mancity.com/citytv/mens/swansea-city-v-manchester-city-63748586