Category Archives: Hyde Road

The First Top Flight Manchester Derby

On this day (1 December) in 1906 the first Manchester derby in Division One was played at City’s Hyde Road ground. This photo shows the crowd management scenes for what was described as Manchester’s biggest football day at the time. There had been derbies between City and Newton Heath in the Second Division, before City were promoted in 1899. There was no opportunity for the Blues and the Heathens to meet in the top flight. In 1902 financial difficulties at Newton Heath meant that club was being wound up. A new club called Manchester United was established in 1902 (as with (like Ardwick’s final days and the new club Manchester City, it’s more complicated than simply a name change) and they played in Division Two, until they earned promotion in 1906.

City won this derby 3-0 with goals from George Stewart (2) and Billy Lot Jones.

Crowd scenes on 1 December 1906 at Hyde Road. The first Manchester Derby in Division One (top flight)

If you want to know more about this season then here’s a 3900 word article telling the story of 1906-07 when the FA ban continued to affect Manchester’s Blues (you can read about that elsewhere on this site). This story continues to be one of skullduggery (by other teams too!) and powerful figures seeking to limit opposition.

All of this sound familiar? Well, get a brew and start reading below if you’re a subscriber. Maybe read the 1903-04, 1904-05 & 1905-06 features first?

If you’re not a subscriber then why not sign up for a month and see what you think?

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Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) or sign up a year at a time for the discounted annual fee of £20. This gives access to everything on the site, including PDFs of 3 of my books and various other articles, interviews and audio material. Each subscriber has access to all content posted during their subscription period too. Why not sign up for a month and see what you think?

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More on the 1900s tomorrow. Why not subscribe and read this and all the other subscriber features?

Newcastle v Manchester City: The Story So Far

City v Newcastle is one of the most enduring fixtures in English football. There have been cup finals, title deciders, dramatic games, shared heroes and so much more. The two clubs first met in the League in October 1893 (Ardwick/MCFC’s 2nd season in the League) and City’s record is:

CompetitionPlayedWonDrawnLost
League174713865
FA Cup12426
League Cup6312
European0000
Other0000

There have been lots of significant games in the League, FA Cup and League Cup. A League Cup final in 1976 saw them meet at Wembley when Peter Barnes and Dennis Tueart both scoring for the Blues.

MCFC 20TH CENTURY CHRONICLE SEASON 1975-76

Anyone remember being at Maine Road on the day City played away against Newcastle at Maine Road? That was in 1975. See:

Maine Road 100 – Day 87

101 years ago there was the last meeting at City’s famous old Hyde Road ground:

Maine Road 100 – Bonus Article!

In 2012 a Newcastle v City game was crucial in the Blues’ title charge:

The Title Race Moves To Newcastle

Elano’s wonder goal in 2007:

On This Day: Elano Wonder Goal

In 2021-22 there was a memorable City victory:

Newcastle 0 Manchester City 4

Most Blues of my age and above will remember where they were when our King returned to action on Boxing Day 1977. Here’s an interview I did with him a few years back when we talked about that special day:

IN SEARCH OF THE BLUES – Colin Bell MBE (interviewed in January 2005)
On This Day in 1977: Colin Bell’s Emotional Return

When I was a teenager there was a second tier meeting that attracted a significant crowd for the period:

Manchester City v Newcastle United 1984

My Dad’s generation will remember the 1955 FA Cup final:

The 1955 FA Cup Final
IN SEARCH OF THE BLUES – 1955 FAC Team (first published May 2005)

During 1956-57 there was a ‘game of the season’ in the FA Cup between the clubs:

Game of the Season 1956-1957: Manchester City V Newcastle United

My grandad’s generation would’ve remembered Billy Meredith’s last game:

Billy Meredith’s Last Game: 1924 FA Cup Semi

Who remembers the title decider at Newcastle? Details:

Manchester City Win The League

There was a really odd thing a while back where a Newcastle paper claimed that their local team had first worn bar scarves at games. A few simple searches soon proved there were much earlier bar scarfs:

Showing Your Colours

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Game One For Manchester City v Bradford City

The first League game between Manchester City and Bradford City was a no score draw on this day (12 September) in 1908 at a newly improved Valley Parade – the Bantams had spent almost £10,000 on improving the ground including the construction of the Main Stand (later destroyed in the 1985 fire).  The City match was Bradford’s first home game in Division One, following promotion as Division Two champions the previous season.

The return match ended 4-3 in City’s favour at Hyde Road.  Tom Holford scored a hat-trick for City that day.

The Birth of a Manchester City Chant

Manchester City meeting Ipswich this weekend is a nice reminder that a fixture between the two almost 50 years ago made an enormous contribution to the birth of a City chant. That chant is still sung today and is known as either the Viking Call or ‘The Best Team In The Land…’

Chanting at football games is rarely documented correctly with many myths, rumours and stories developing over the years. Te following feature is designed to give a potted overview of the development of singing at City and tells the story and part Ipswich played in it:

Now, for subscribers is an 1800 word article on the history and development of chants at Manchester City:

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The 1900s: 1906-1907 Newbould’s New Boys

Continuing the series of features on Manchester City in the early 1900s! Today it’s a 3900 word article telling the story of 1906-07 when the FA ban continued to affect Manchester’s Blues. This story continues to be one of skullduggery (by other teams too!) and powerful figures seeking to limit opposition.

All of this sound familiar? Well, get a brew and start reading below if you’re a subscriber. Maybe read the last few days’ features first?

If you’re not a subscriber then why not sign up for a month and see what you think?

Subscribe to get access

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) or sign up a year at a time for the discounted annual fee of £20. This gives access to everything on the site, including PDFs of 3 of my books and various other articles, interviews and audio material. Each subscriber has access to all content posted during their subscription period too. Why not sign up for a month and see what you think?

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More on the 1900s tomorrow. Why not subscribe and read this and all the other subscriber features?

The 1900s: 1905-1906 An Unjust Ban

Continuing the series of features on Manchester City in the early 1900s! Today it’s a 2200 word article telling the story of 1905-06 when the FA ban almost destroyed Manchester’s Blues. This story is one of skullduggery (by other teams too!) and powerful figures seeking to limit opposition.

All of this sound familiar? Well, get a brew and start reading below if you’re a subscriber. Maybe read yesterday’s feature first?

If you’re not a subscriber then why not sign up for a month and see what you think?

Subscribe to get access

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) or sign up a year at a time for the discounted annual fee of £20. This gives access to everything on the site, including PDFs of 3 of my books and various other articles, interviews and audio material. Each subscriber has access to all content posted during their subscription period too. Why not sign up for a month and see what you think?

Subscribe

More on the 1900s tomorrow. Why not subscribe and read this and all the other subscriber features?

The 1900s: 1904-1905 Villains

Continuing the series of features on Manchester City in the early 1900s! Today it’s a 3000 word article telling the story of 1904-05 when the FA Cup holders and League runners-up were suddenly under scrutiny from the FA. Viewed as a nouveau riche club, the feeling was that City couldn’t possibly have found major success so quickly. Remember they only became MCFC in 1904. This story is one of skullduggery (by other teams too!) and powerful figures seeking to limit opposition.

All of this sound familiar? Well, get a brew and start reading below if you’re a subscriber. If not then why not sign up for a month and see what you think?

Subscribe to get access

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) or sign up a year at a time for the discounted annual fee of £20. This gives access to everything on the site, including PDFs of 3 of my books and various other articles, interviews and audio material. Each subscriber has access to all content posted during their subscription period too. Why not sign up for a month and see what you think?

Subscribe

More on the 1900s tomorrow. Why not subscribe and read this and all the other subscriber features?

The 1890s: City’s Last Goal of the 1800s

The series of features on Manchester City in the 1890s continues today with this match report from the last first team competitive game of the 19th century for the Blues. City drew the match with Blackburn Rovers 1-1 with Billy Gillespie netting City’s equaliser.

Another report I have highlights that the match also say Billy Meredith appeal that Howarth, a Blackburn player, had handled in the penalty area which led to a lengthy conversation between the referee and linesman as to whether a penalty should be awarded. After much consideration they decided not to away a penalty – much to Meredith’s annoyance (if only they’d had VAR in operation… all problems like this would be easily resolved. Hmm!).

This series covers the final years of Ardwick, the birth of Manchester City and the Club’s first national success. Why not subscribe and read every feature like this 1800 article below on Manchester City in the final months of 1899?

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Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) or sign up a year at a time for the discounted annual fee of £20. This gives access to everything on the site, including PDFs of 3 of my books and various other articles, interviews and audio material. Each subscriber has access to all content posted during their subscription period too. Why not sign up for a month and see what you think?

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The 1890s: 1899 First Division

The series of features on Manchester City in the 1890s continues today with a 1800 article on Manchester City in the final months of 1899.

This series covers the final years of Ardwick, the birth of Manchester City and the Club’s first national success.

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Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) or sign up a year at a time for the discounted annual fee of £20. This gives access to everything on the site, including PDFs of 3 of my books and various other articles, interviews and audio material. Each subscriber has access to all content posted during their subscription period too. Why not sign up for a month and see what you think?

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More on the 1890s tomorrow. Why not subscribe and read this and all the other subscriber features?

The 1890s: 1898-1899 Manchester’s First National Success

The series of features on Manchester City in the 1890s continues today with a 1900 word article on Manchester City in 1898-99 – the first season that any of the Manchester teams had achieved a national trophy success. Want to know more about this thrilling and landmark season? Then why not subscribe?

This series covers the final years of Ardwick, the birth of Manchester City and the Club’s first national success.

Subscribe to get access

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) or sign up a year at a time for the discounted annual fee of £20. This gives access to everything on the site, including PDFs of 3 of my books and various other articles, interviews and audio material. Each subscriber has access to all content posted during their subscription period too. Why not sign up for a month and see what you think?

Subscribe

More on the 1890s tomorrow. Why not subscribe and read this and all the other subscriber features?