Category Archives: Maine Road

Farewell To Maine Road – Part Five

Here for subscribers is the fifth part of Farewell To Maine Road as planned. Subscribers to my website are able to download PDFs of the first four sections of my Farewell To Maine Road book (which retailed at £25) here. So if you’ve not yet had chance, take a look now. Enjoy!

Subscribe to get access – Monthly

If you would like to read the book and download a PDF of it then you can subscribe now at £3 per month or £20 a year. Monthly subscribers access everything posted to the site since 1 October 2022. All subscribers get everything else posted during their subscription too. You could always try a monthly subscription to see what you think (cancel any time).

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Subscribe to get access – Annual

As well as Farewell To Maine Road annual subscribers get access to everything posted since the site was created in December 2020 (that’s 100s of articles, videos, history talks and PDFs of two other books: Manchester A Football History and my first book From Maine Men To Banana Citizens).

Subscribe

Next week I’ll be posting the next section of this 320 page, fully illustrated & detailed book for subscribers to enjoy.

You can see the contents pages to see what’s included in this book, published in 2003, and read the Introduction here:

Click to access ftmr-contents-free-sample.pdf

The book has been out of print since 2004 with every copy sold within about six months of publication. Since then I’ve been keen to bring it up to date with stories about the site and the Etihad but that’s not been possible as no publisher has been prepared to invest in the way that Polar Publishing did to ensure it was the right quality.

Copies occasionally appear in second hand book shops or at online retailers but these often sell for ridiculous sums of money. The last time I checked there was one for about £100 here:

When it was published in 2003 apparently, I commented (though I can’t remember saying this, mind you it was 20 years ago): ‘On 320 beautifully illustrated A4 size pages this book tells the story of Maine Road from conception, right through to its final days as a sporting venue. With excellent photographs – including rare illustrations of the stadium during construction never previously published and images from every era – this has been a very interesting book to research, write and compile. I’ve also tried to ensure the views of ordinary fans are included, and some of the most powerful Maine Road moments are captured by the fans who saw them happen.’

In a review, Hugh Ryden wrote in King of the Kippax: ‘The architecture, the moving memories, the reproduction of rare photos and memorabilia and its extensive quotations, make FTMR a must.’

Another King of the Kippax regular Steve Worthington wrote: ‘Following on in the winning formula of his epic “Manchester The Greatest City”, the highly acclaimed author and Manchester City Football Club Historian Gary James has rolled up his sleeves once more and has produced yet another fabulous football book for all to treasure and enjoy. “Farewell to Maine Road” is not only a must for all Manchester City supporters, it is also an essential for all football fans who possess a genuine interest and passion for the history of our great British past time. It catalogues the birth, evolution and ultimate decline of what was once England’s premier and revolutionary provincial football stadium; Maine Road, Moss Side, Manchester M14. Soon to be demolished into oblivion, Maine Road is vividly remembered in all its former glory in this classic portal to the past. Beautifully written with the knowledge and passion you would expect from a lifelong Moss Side Pilgrim, the book provides a definitive literate and graphic illustration of Maine Road’s long and varied history. It contains a rich tapestry of previously unpublished photographs, one of which, a unique atmospheric shot of the famous ‘Ballet on Ice’ (a famous Manchester City V Spurs clash in the late sixties), is arguably worth the cost of the book on it’s own. Having consumed and digested every morsel of information contained within, it is difficult for me to imagine how much painstaking work and dedication it must take to produce and compile a book of such quality. Whilst they continue to produce triumphs such as this, the marriage of Gary James and Polar Publishing is truly one made in a Sky Blue Heaven. This 320-page masterpiece has pushed the boundaries of football publications to a new and higher level and has already prompted tears of nostalgia in my eyes. But don’t take my word for it, sign up a copy and see for yourself, you’ll not be disappointed.’

The publicity blurb said: ‘The only officially approved history of Maine Road is the perfect book for any supporter of City; Maine Road attendee; or general football enthusiast. 

‘The book details the history of the stadium focussing on its development, and on the key games and events which have made Maine Road such a famous and important venue. Using first hand accounts, as told by supporters, players, administrators, and the media this book has been written and designed to the same high quality used in the highly acclaimed Manchester: The Greatest City. With special features on all the big City matches, international games, FA Cup semi-finals, League Cup finals, Rugby finals, concerts, religious meetings, and even on United’s use of the stadium during the forties and for European Cup games in the fifties. In addition both City’s former ground Hyde Road and future venue the City of Manchester Stadium have been covered to provide the complete history of City’s three homes. 

‘As with earlier works by Gary James & Polar Publishing this book is destined to be regarded as the definitive history of Maine Road & Manchester City’s other grounds.’

My publisher, Julian Baskcomb, commented: ‘Gary James is the appropriate man to write this work after a lifetime’s research on the club and its stadium. As a boy Gary was a regular in the Platt Lane Stand; then at the age of 16 he bought his own season ticket for the Kippax Stand and has been a season ticket holder ever since. He is also a respected journalist with articles for a wide range of publications including The Times and has recently managed the development of Manchester City’s new museum.’

Maine Road 100 – Day 31

It’s day 31 of my posts counting down to the centenary of Maine Road’s opening game. Today – An aerial view, but what’s the year?

I’ll give the answer tomorrow but a few clues:

  • The North Stand had yet to be built
  • The central part of the Main Stand roof is the original one
  • The original floodlights are in the corners
  • The Welcome To Maine Road sign has not yet been erected

Most of the above have been discussed on previous Maine Road 100 days so have a look back and see if you can work out the year. Comment below with your guesses. Answer tomorrow. Thanks

Here’s a view from 1971 to compare with the above.

Maine Road aerial 1971 from Farewell To Maine Road

If you’d like to read more on the history of Maine Road, take a look at Farewell To Maine Road, which can be downloaded from this page:

Farewell To Maine Road – Part One
How To Subscribe

Maine Road 100 – Day 30

It’s day 30 of my posts counting down to the centenary of Maine Road’s opening game. Today – The first time seats were installed on the Kippax. Anyone want to guess when this was? This was actually 62 years ago this week!

Maine Road staged one of the religious events where American evangelist Billy Graham came to preach to thousands in 1961. I cover the story in detail in Farewell To Maine Road but these images show that temporary seating was installed on the Kippax for the event, which took place between 29 May and 17 June 1961.

At this time there were no gates in the Kippax’ perimeter wall leading to the pitch and so special scaffolding steps were erected to allow attendees to climb over the wall and on to the pitch for blessings etc.

Were you at one of these religious events? If so leave your comments about the day below.

For those unfamiliar with Maine Road’s layout at the time, the photo was taken from about a third of the way up the Kippax between number & and 8 on this photo.

Maine Road aerial 1971 from Farewell To Maine Road

If you’d like to read more on the history of Maine Road, take a look at Farewell To Maine Road, which can be downloaded from this page:

Farewell To Maine Road – Part One
How To Subscribe

Maine Road 100 – Day 29

It’s day 29 of my posts counting down to the centenary of Maine Road’s opening game. Today – it’s a simple photo of the floodlights being dismantled in 1990.

Crosland Ward senior just happened to have his camera with him while at Maine Road one day and caught sight of the floodlights being dismantled. He took several photos that day (I’m sure I have others somewhere) and asked the men dismantling the lights if they were okay with him taking the photos. This was in 1990.

These were the second set of lights at the ground and these were the ones that could be seen for miles around. I remember getting on the 53 at Belle Vue and seeing the lights from the top deck straight away.

The lights were replaced roof roof lights on the Main Stand and Kippax roofs. You can see a couple of the floodlights on these images from the late 1970s/early 1980s.

1981 City v United Maine Road
The Main Stand’s benches with the Platt Lane Stand’s maroon and yellow benches in the background
1990 Floodlight being dismantled behind the North Stand. Photo by Crosland Ward senior.

The floodlight being dismantled is the one that stood in between the North Stand and Kippax on this 1971 photo (near number 9) and the men are dismantling it behind the North Stand (number 10).

Maine Road aerial 1971 from Farewell To Maine Road

If you’d like to read more on the history of Maine Road, take a look at Farewell To Maine Road, which can be downloaded from this page:

Farewell To Maine Road – Part One
How To Subscribe

Maine Road 100 – Day 28

It’s day 28 of my posts counting down to the centenary of Maine Road’s opening game. Today – that odd Main Stand roof replacement (no, not the white barrels, the earlier one!).

The original Main Stand rood was a traditional style roof with a central circular gable. Though it was huge (at the time of it’s construction it was claimed to be the largest roof at a club ground, it seemed quite pleasant. It wasn’t a cheap affair or particularly a problem but as the 1960s wore on the number of stanchions it had holding up the roof was seen as being an issue by the directors. They decided that they could no longer watch games with their view obstructed by stanchions and so they decided to replace the middle section with a new section that allowed the removal of the stanchions that blocked the directors’ views. They didn’t seem to care about the problems other fans may have experienced! You can read all about that and the other Main Stand roof developments in Farewell To Maine Road.

In the end only two stanchions were removed but the gable was lost forever and the strange raised section of the stand looked so odd. Here’s an image of the original roof from an aerial photo:

Note the Trumanns for Steel advert on the following image. Another iconic part of Maine Road. Also the floodlight in the Platt Lane corner.

The ‘second’ Main Stand roof appears on the following aerial photo from 1971. It’s numbered number 1 and you can see how odd it looks.

Maine Road aerial 1971 from Farewell To Maine Road

If you’d like to read more on the history of Maine Road, take a look at Farewell To Maine Road, which can be downloaded from this page:

Farewell To Maine Road – Part One
How To Subscribe

Maine Road 100 – Day 27

It’s day 27 of my posts counting down to the centenary of Maine Road’s opening game. Today – the wooden benches! Many a fan’s first experience of Maine Road was sitting on the benches in the old Platt Lane Stand.

These images may bring back a few memories. The Platt Lane benches were painted maroon and yellow for many years – I’m not certain if they were originally that colour. Older fans may know the answer but if they were maybe it was because they were installed at a time, the early 1960s, when those two colours had been used as City’s second choice kit?

Maroon is City’s traditional away colour but in 1959 a yellow shirt with maroon cuffs and V was used. If there was a link then that was not obvious by the time my Dad was taking me on to the Platt Lane as a young boy.

For me it seemed so odd, but then again the new North Stand had grey seats, and back in 1923 much of Maine Road was painted green. So I suppose there was never much logic around football grounds.

City used to paint on to the seats whether they were for season ticket holders, ‘invalids’ (obviously the wording back then, not today’s wording!) or if they were just numbered you could either sit there if it was an unreserved seating game or the number would match a ticket holder.

Platt Lane corner benches – note the wording on the seats. Some say season ticket; some ‘invalid’ and some are numbered/unreserved.

Most of the benches lasted about 40 years, but some were destroyed when Leeds United fans visited in November 1990 and were replaced for the stand’s final season or so with blue plastic seats. The stand was demolished in 1992.

November 1990: Jimmy Frizzell inspects the damage after Leeds fans smashed up some of the Platt Lane benches.

The Main Stand also had benches for much of its existence. These were painted blue and in some cases had arm rests. They had been part of the original build in 1923 and were replaced in phases during the 1970s and 1980s.

The Main Stand’s benches with the Platt Lane Stand’s maroon and yellow benches in the background

For those unfamiliar with Maine Road this photo may help. This shows the original Platt Lane Stand corner (number 3) where the maroon seating with ‘invalid’ wording image was taken. The benches damaged by Leeds fans were near the front of the stand under number 5. The Main Stand bench image is taken to the left of number 2 looking towards the floodlight near 5 and 6.

Maine Road aerial 1971 from Farewell To Maine Road

If you’d like to read more on the history of Maine Road, take a look at Farewell To Maine Road, which can be downloaded from this page:

Farewell To Maine Road – Part One
How To Subscribe

Maine Road 100 – Day 26

It’s day 26 of my posts counting down to the centenary of Maine Road’s opening game. Today – the Control Room. It’s something few ever went in but it was an important part of the stadium’s last couple of decades.

It was erected behind the block between the Main Stand and the North Stand. This was an uncovered section of seats until 1982.

The control room housed the screens monitoring crowd behaviour and the match commander would be sat in there with other staff, police etc. watching the crowd. These images show the control room as it looked during Maine Road’s final season. It had been expanded by then and these photos were taken by Ed Garvey, club photographer, for my book Farewell To Maine Road (though we didn’t use them all).

Photo by Ed Garvey

You’ll notice in the following photo that one of the temporary stands had been constructed behind the control box to cope with demand for tickets. This stand was erected on scaffolding and was squeezed in above the control box and next to the Maine Stand. I never sat in that temporary stand, though I was often in the block below the control room (when it was uncovered it was the cheapest seats in the stadium and I was there when Bobby McDonald went in nets in 1982.

Photo by Ed Garvey
Photo by Ed Garvey

For those unfamiliar with Maine Road this photo may help. This shows number 2, the uncovered section, before it was seated. The control room was roughly to the left of the North Stand roof.

Maine Road aerial 1971 from Farewell To Maine Road

If you’d like to read more on the history of Maine Road, take a look at Farewell To Maine Road, which can be downloaded from this page:

Farewell To Maine Road – Part One
How To Subscribe

Maine Road 100 – Day 25

It’s day 25 of my posts counting down to the centenary of Maine Road’s opening game. Today – the Maine Road cage!

For years the front of the Main Stand at Maine Road was a simple doorway above a set of stairs. There was nothing particularly remarkable about it, although there was a wonderful mosaic above the entrance. However, by the early 1970s vandalism was taking its toll and the doorway was perceived as being particularly vulnerable. Whether it was or not is open to debate but the decision was taken in the 1970s to solve the problem by erecting a cage around the main entrance. These images of John Bond and John Benson show the cage as it looked in 1983.

John Bond, 1983

The ‘Sponsor a Match’ sign covers the original central mosaic. You can read about that here:

Maine Road 100 – Day 12

When City fans demonstrated during the 1980s and beyond the cage doors would be closed and locked to prevent fans from getting in to the offices, though they didn’t always manage it in time as this image shows:

Mirrorpix photo

In this image below John Benson and John Bond are stood in front of the players’ entrance which, at this time, was not within the cage (a later development changed that). I find it remarkable that the door for the players to go through was seen as being less important and that the players would not be protected.

John Benson and john Bond, 1983

For those unfamiliar with Maine Road this photo may help. The main entrance was on the Maine Road side of the Main Stand, above number 1.

Maine Road aerial 1971 from Farewell To Maine Road

If you’d like to read more on the history of Maine Road, take a look at Farewell To Maine Road, which can be downloaded from this page:

Farewell To Maine Road – Part One
How To Subscribe

Farewell To Maine Road – Part Five

I’m sure most readers will understand that due to commitments surrounding Wembley last week and the Champions League final today I am unable to post the fifth part of Farewell To Maine Road as planned. Instead the next section will be published next Friday or Saturday depending on a few factors. Subscribers to my website are able to download PDFs of the first four sections of my Farewell To Maine Road book (which retailed at £25) here though. So if you’ve not yet had chance, take a look now as you prepare for the Champions League final. Enjoy!

Subscribe to get access – Monthly

If you would like to read the book and download a PDF of it then you can subscribe now at £3 per month or £20 a year. Monthly subscribers access everything posted to the site since 1 October 2022. All subscribers get everything else posted during their subscription too. You could always try a monthly subscription to see what you think (cancel any time).

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access – Annual

As well as Farewell To Maine Road annual subscribers get access to everything posted since the site was created in December 2020 (that’s 100s of articles, videos, history talks and PDFs of two other books: Manchester A Football History and my first book From Maine Men To Banana Citizens).

Subscribe

Next week I’ll be posting the fifth section of this 320 page, fully illustrated & detailed book for subscribers to enjoy.

You can see the contents pages to see what’s included in this book, published in 2003, and read the Introduction here:

Click to access ftmr-contents-free-sample.pdf

The book has been out of print since 2004 with every copy sold within about six months of publication. Since then I’ve been keen to bring it up to date with stories about the site and the Etihad but that’s not been possible as no publisher has been prepared to invest in the way that Polar Publishing did to ensure it was the right quality.

Copies occasionally appear in second hand book shops or at online retailers but these often sell for ridiculous sums of money. The last time I checked there was one for about £100 here:

When it was published in 2003 apparently, I commented (though I can’t remember saying this, mind you it was 20 years ago): ‘On 320 beautifully illustrated A4 size pages this book tells the story of Maine Road from conception, right through to its final days as a sporting venue. With excellent photographs – including rare illustrations of the stadium during construction never previously published and images from every era – this has been a very interesting book to research, write and compile. I’ve also tried to ensure the views of ordinary fans are included, and some of the most powerful Maine Road moments are captured by the fans who saw them happen.’

In a review, Hugh Ryden wrote in King of the Kippax: ‘The architecture, the moving memories, the reproduction of rare photos and memorabilia and its extensive quotations, make FTMR a must.’

Another King of the Kippax regular Steve Worthington wrote: ‘Following on in the winning formula of his epic “Manchester The Greatest City”, the highly acclaimed author and Manchester City Football Club Historian Gary James has rolled up his sleeves once more and has produced yet another fabulous football book for all to treasure and enjoy. “Farewell to Maine Road” is not only a must for all Manchester City supporters, it is also an essential for all football fans who possess a genuine interest and passion for the history of our great British past time. It catalogues the birth, evolution and ultimate decline of what was once England’s premier and revolutionary provincial football stadium; Maine Road, Moss Side, Manchester M14. Soon to be demolished into oblivion, Maine Road is vividly remembered in all its former glory in this classic portal to the past. Beautifully written with the knowledge and passion you would expect from a lifelong Moss Side Pilgrim, the book provides a definitive literate and graphic illustration of Maine Road’s long and varied history. It contains a rich tapestry of previously unpublished photographs, one of which, a unique atmospheric shot of the famous ‘Ballet on Ice’ (a famous Manchester City V Spurs clash in the late sixties), is arguably worth the cost of the book on it’s own. Having consumed and digested every morsel of information contained within, it is difficult for me to imagine how much painstaking work and dedication it must take to produce and compile a book of such quality. Whilst they continue to produce triumphs such as this, the marriage of Gary James and Polar Publishing is truly one made in a Sky Blue Heaven. This 320-page masterpiece has pushed the boundaries of football publications to a new and higher level and has already prompted tears of nostalgia in my eyes. But don’t take my word for it, sign up a copy and see for yourself, you’ll not be disappointed.’

The publicity blurb said: ‘The only officially approved history of Maine Road is the perfect book for any supporter of City; Maine Road attendee; or general football enthusiast. 

‘The book details the history of the stadium focussing on its development, and on the key games and events which have made Maine Road such a famous and important venue. Using first hand accounts, as told by supporters, players, administrators, and the media this book has been written and designed to the same high quality used in the highly acclaimed Manchester: The Greatest City. With special features on all the big City matches, international games, FA Cup semi-finals, League Cup finals, Rugby finals, concerts, religious meetings, and even on United’s use of the stadium during the forties and for European Cup games in the fifties. In addition both City’s former ground Hyde Road and future venue the City of Manchester Stadium have been covered to provide the complete history of City’s three homes. 

‘As with earlier works by Gary James & Polar Publishing this book is destined to be regarded as the definitive history of Maine Road & Manchester City’s other grounds.’

My publisher, Julian Baskcomb, commented: ‘Gary James is the appropriate man to write this work after a lifetime’s research on the club and its stadium. As a boy Gary was a regular in the Platt Lane Stand; then at the age of 16 he bought his own season ticket for the Kippax Stand and has been a season ticket holder ever since. He is also a respected journalist with articles for a wide range of publications including The Times and has recently managed the development of Manchester City’s new museum.’

Maine Road 100 – Day 24

It’s day 24 of my posts counting down to the centenary of Maine Road’s opening game. With many Manchester City fans currently in Istanbul getting ready for tonight’s final I thought I’d post another Maine Road image with a European theme. Today’s feature is on this image of City facing Juventus in 1976.

That night Brian Kidd scored the only goal in City’s 1-0 UEFA Cup victory, played on 15 September. But, look at the photo closely and you’ll see there are two balls! Why? Well, often in the days of black and white press photos newspapers wouldn’t quite get the shot they wanted. They’d sometime tippex on, or even cut and stick a ball on an action photo to create either a more dramatic image, or simply to ensure they could fit the image on the space available.

Modern technology has made it easier to ‘move’ the ball to a more convenient place, but it has also allowed photos to be taken quickly and in bursts. Also, once colour photography was used in national newspapers any cutting and pasting or tippexing seemed too obvious. Although this added ball definitely looks fake so I’m not certain any reader would have been fooled.

I’ve seen plenty of images like this over the years and I find them both fascinating and frustrating. I’d like the true image to be shown, but I also am intrigued as to how they felt they made the image better. For those wondering the City player is Dennis Tueart and the stand in the background is the Main Stand.

For those unfamiliar with Maine Road this photo may help. The roof shown is to the left of number 1 below – you can see the bit where it drops down to the next level. The tunnel is the one on the far left of the Main Stand below where the roof line changes. City were attacking the Platt Lane (stand is numbered 4 & 5) in the image.

Maine Road aerial 1971 from Farewell To Maine Road

If you’d like to read more on the history of Maine Road, take a look at Farewell To Maine Road, which can be downloaded from this page:

Farewell To Maine Road – Part One
How To Subscribe