Maine Road – Page 3 – Gary James' Football Archive

Sunderland’s Last

The 1990-1 season was Sunderland’s first in the top flight since 1985, although it was far from successful. By the last match, on this day (11 May) in 1991, of the season the Wearsiders needed a win to avoid relegation, while Manchester City were enjoying their best League season since they finished 4^th in 1978.

A large away following of around 9,000 filled the Kippax corner terracing and the Platt Lane Stand. In fact this was the last great crowd housed in the old Platt Lane Stand which was demolished a year later, after being designated for away fans only since the mid-80s. The result brought the Wearsiders nothing but disappointment as the Blues won 3-2 thanks to goals from future Sunderland star Niall Quinn (2) and David White.

Little did Quinn and City manager Peter Reid realise that within a few seasons they would be helping to resurrect the fortunes of Sunderland and its passionate supporters. Despite the result in 1991, Reid and Quinn must have been impressed by the positive support given by the Wearsiders.

City ended the season in fifth place behind Arsenal, Liverpool, Crystal Palace, and Leeds, while Quinn was voted City player of the year.

Stats: League Division One. 11^th May 1991.

City 3 Sunderland 2

Scorers – City: Quinn 2 White

Sunderland: Gabbiadini, Bennett.

City: Margetson, Hill, Pointon, Heath, Hendry, Redmond, White, Brennan, Quinn, Harper, Clarke (Beckford).

Sunderland: Norman, Owers, Hardyman (Brady), Bennett, Ord, Pascoe, Bracewell, Hawke (Hauser), Davenport, Gabbiadini, Kay.

Attendance: 39,194 (the highest Maine Road crowd since 23/9/1989)

While you’re here why not subscribe and read a series of articles covering Manchester City in the 1990s (and other decades too)? Here’s an article on the 1990-91 season when a shock managerial departure could have disrupted the club but ultimately they finished 5th, 3 points ahead of Manchester United: (it’s a 2,700 word article available to subscribers):

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Goal Crazy

On this day (7 May) in 1927 Manchester City went goal crazy and defeated Bradford City 8-0 in their bid for promotion from Division Two. In the end the Blues missed promotion by the narrowest goal average margin ever. City’s stood at 1.7705 while promoted Portsmouth’s was 1.7755. Portsmouth had achieved the better goal average after a 5-1 defeat of Preston, in a game that kicked off fifteen minutes after City’s. At both Maine Road and Fratton Park the fans celebrated with City not realising their failure until the directors were informed via ticker-tape of events on the south coast. Portsmouth’s four goal hero, Willie Haines, left the Fratton Park pitch to celebratory chants of “Farmer’s Boy”.

Amazingly, Bradford’s ‘keeper Leonard Boot – playing the last of only 7 appearances for the club – was acclaimed man of the match after pulling off a string of fine saves. The 8-0 defeat didn’t do Bradford much good as it relegated them to Division Three (North) for the first time.

The 1940s: MCFC Backs Down

Here’s an interesting cutting from July 1948. Manchester City had upset a few fans by deciding that only some seats in the ground would be numbered. Why appears to be lost (though I’m still searching for a definitive story on this) but it appears that fans were concerned that only the more expensive seats would be numbered. This suggests that all other seating was going to be unreserved. Fans were not happy and, as this article shows, the club backed down under pressure from supporters. This was the main news on the day players returned for training it seems.

You can read about the following 1948-49 season below.. This article can be read by subscribing.

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The 1940s: A Wartime Manchester Derby

This is the cover of the wartime Manchester derby match programme for today (27 April) in 1940. The game was actually a League War Cup tie second leg and ended in a 2-0 United victory at Maine Road. The first leg had ended 1-0 to City. Wartime crowds were restricted by the Government and accurate attendance figures are often difficult to find but I do know that this Maine Road game attracted a restricted crowd of 21,596. You can read more on this wartime season below. It’s a 1,400 word article on Manchester City’s 1939-40 season. The season started as any other but then world events intervened!