Category Archives: Etihad/CityOfManchester Stadium

The 1990s: Manchester’s 1996 Olympic Bid Plans

On this day (14 March) in 1990 the Manchester Evening News featured Bob Scott’s plans for Manchester’s 1996 Olympic Bid (remember this was not the first bid by the city either – there was an attempted bid for the 1992 Games). These articles make interesting reading now. Note also the involvement of Rick Parry – a man well known in football circles then and now (he later was one of the key figures behind football’s league restructuring).

I’ve included this as part of my feature on Manchester City in the 1990s as ultimately these Olympic bids led to the building of the City of Manchester Stadium (present day Etihad). Back in 1990 though the preferred site for a new stadium was in Trafford and Manchester City had held discussions even then on moving to the new stadium even though it would have meant City moving out of the City of Manchester.

Notice how the footballing activities were to be shared between City, United, Everton and Liverpool. Also, the velodrome is mentioned as the Tameside Velodrome but it is of course the one build near the present day Etihad.

Click to access bl_0004985_19900314_070_0070.pdf

Click to access bl_0004985_19900314_071_0071.pdf

This feature is part of my series on Manchester City in the 1990s and you can read about the opening months of 1990 below. This series of articles and features will run throughout March with indepth articles some days and smaller ‘on this day’ style posts on others. There will be flashbacks to great games, players and more. Every day in March will offer something to enjoy.

Subscribers will get access to everything, while some on this day material will be free for all to view.

If you want to know more on this incredible decade for Manchester City Football Club then why not subscribe and read it all? The following 1,300 word article on the end of the 1989-90 season is available to subscribers below. Enjoy!

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The 1990s: A Stadium Move?

Here’s a 1990s reminder of how things can change. This cutting is from November 1998 – a time when Manchester City fans were still dismayed at how the club had ended up in the third tier of English football for the first time. Remember 6 years earlier City were challenging for a top four finish in the Premier League (ultimately finishing 5th for the second season). Despite being in their lowest ever position the fans were asked about the possibility of moving to a new 48,000 capacity stadium.

Overwhelmingly they said yes and, well, the rest is history. Without this commitment would any of the modern day success have happened?

COMPETITION WINNER: From Maine Road To The Etihad 100 Years Book

The winner of a copy of the new book on Maine Road and the Etihad has been drawn. It is Steve Doohan. Congratulations Steve. The publisher, Reach, will be posting it out soon.

The question was: Who was the architect of Maine Road when it was first built in 1923?

The answer was Charles Swain. We had dozens of correct answers so we’ll done to Steve.

As for the book…

I’m delighted to say I’m one of the co-authors on the new book which focuses on Maine Road and the Etihad stadia (the two most recent permanent homes of Manchester City).

I’ve contributed the Introduction, the story of Maine Road’s first game and the 100 Maine Memories of Maine Road. I tried to make sure the 100 Maine Memories cover both the great and the unusual so, inevitably, Colin Bell is featured but so is the wonky North Stand scoreboard! If you attended Maine Road it will all make sense and if you didn’t it’ll give you a great feel for what life was like at the old place.

Please enter the competition and good luck with it.

While you’re here, why not subscribe to the website and unlock all the articles on here? See:

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COMPETITION ENDS TONIGHT: From Maine Road To The Etihad 100 Years Book

Fancy winning a copy of the new book on Maine Road and the Etihad? The publisher, Reach, has offered to post out a copy of the book to the winner of a competition (Sadly, only UK postal addresses will be allowed). See below for details of how to enter…

The competition ends tonight (Sunday 1st October) at 9pm UK time and only one entry per person will be allowed. To enter simply send the answer to the following question, along with your name and location (not your address, just your nearest town/post town), via email to: comp@GJFootballArchive.com

The question is: Who was the architect of Maine Road when it was first built in 1923?

The answer does appear on my website in a variety of locations, so go search for it if you don’t know and then enter the competition. The winner will be selected at random from all the correct entries received on Monday 2nd October and will be informed later that day.

As for the book…

I’m delighted to say I’m one of the co-authors on the new book which focuses on Maine Road and the Etihad stadia (the two most recent permanent homes of Manchester City).

I’ve contributed the Introduction, the story of Maine Road’s first game and the 100 Maine Memories of Maine Road. I tried to make sure the 100 Maine Memories cover both the great and the unusual so, inevitably, Colin Bell is featured but so is the wonky North Stand scoreboard! If you attended Maine Road it will all make sense and if you didn’t it’ll give you a great feel for what life was like at the old place.

Please enter the competition and good luck with it.

While you’re here, why not subscribe to the website and unlock all the articles on here? See:

How To Subscribe

COMPETITION: From Maine Road To The Etihad 100 Years Book

Fancy winning a copy of the new book on Maine Road and the Etihad? The publisher, Reach, has offered to post out a copy of the book to the winner of a competition (Sadly, only UK postal addresses will be allowed). See below for details of how to enter…

The competition is open until Sunday 1st October at 9pm UK time and only one entry per person will be allowed. To enter simply send the answer to the following question, along with your name and location (not your address, just your nearest town/post town), via email to: comp@GJFootballArchive.com

The question is: Who was the architect of Maine Road when it was first built in 1923?

The answer does appear on my website in a variety of locations, so go search for it if you don’t know and then enter the competition. The winner will be selected at random from all the correct entries received on Monday 2nd October and will be informed later that day.

As for the book…

I’m delighted to say I’m one of the co-authors on the new book which focuses on Maine Road and the Etihad stadia (the two most recent permanent homes of Manchester City).

I’ve contributed the Introduction, the story of Maine Road’s first game and the 100 Maine Memories of Maine Road. I tried to make sure the 100 Maine Memories cover both the great and the unusual so, inevitably, Colin Bell is featured but so is the wonky North Stand scoreboard! If you attended Maine Road it will all make sense and if you didn’t it’ll give you a great feel for what life was like at the old place.

Please enter the competition and good luck with it.

While you’re here, why not subscribe to the website and unlock all the articles on here? See:

How To Subscribe

Our Home: From Maine Road To The Etihad 100 Years

I’m delighted to say I’m one of the co-authors on a new book on the stadia of Manchester City. I’ve contributed the Introduction, the story of Maine Road’s first game and the 100 Maine Memories of Maine Road. I tried to make sure the 100 Maine Memories cover both the great and the unusual so, inevitably, Colin Bell is featured but so is the wonky North Stand scoreboard! If you attended Maine Road it will all make sense and if you didn’t it’ll give you a great feel for what life was like at the old place.

First Victory

Today (14 September) in 2003 Manchester City won their first competitive League game at the City of Manchester Stadium (now Etihad). It was also a day that saw Steve McManaman make his League debut for the Blues. The game was a PayPerView TV match. You can watch highlights of the game here:

This is how the match was previewed in the Sunday Times:

City+ Podcast

I’ve recently been on the Manchester City Podcast with Rob Pollard and Nedum Onuoha. I was being interviewed about Maine Road, the Etihad and my writing. If you’re lucky enough to have City+ you can watch it here:

https://www.mancity.com/citytv/city-plus/manchester-city-podcast-in-conversation-with-dr-gary-james-63828580

As well as this I’ve also written an article on Maine Road’s first game for City too:

https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/maine-road-100-first-match-manchester-city-sheffield-united-63828549

Don’t forget I’ve also posted 100 days worth of free features on Maine Road on my website. Each one is titled Maine Road 100 followed by the day (Day One to Day 100 of course). Have a look through past posts or do a search/click the Maine Road tag below. Thanks

Maine Road interview on Radio Manchester

On Monday I recorded an interview with Mike Sweeney for BBC Radio Manchester about Maine Road and the Etihad. You can listen to it here (I’ve not listened but I’ve been told I’m about 90 minutes in):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0g4bc0m

The 2000s: This Week 2003-04

Continuing the weekly series on Manchester City’s seasons from 1999-2000 through to 2008-09. Each week I’ll be publishing here the story of a different season of that remarkable ten-year period. Today we have a 4,200 word article on the 2003-04 season (below) which was City’s first at the City of Manchester Stadium (now Etihad of course).

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