Category Archives: Manchester City

Manchester’s Support

Here’s a map I published in my book Manchester A Football History. It shows the spread of support for both City and United across Manchester as recorded in an academic study back in 2002 (using data from 2001). Basically this was based on season ticket holders in each postcode area of Manchester and shows whether a postcode area was Red or Blue at that time. You can see that back then City had more season ticket holders in almost every district of the city centre and east Manchester while United tended to have more in western districts. However, this was based on the number of season ticket holders in 2001. Since then of course the numbers attending games at both clubs have increased significantly.

In my chapter I made a comment about how this analysis might change:

Screenshot

Manchester Trophy Success

As it’s the Manchester Derby this weekend some always seem to want to compare the records of the clubs. Back in 1991 I wrote (together with Steve Cawley) the Pride of Manchester (the history of the Manchester Derby with forewords by Matt Busby & Joe Mercer). We included in that lots of statistical stuff including a First & Last table showing all major trophies and listing Manchester’s first and most recent successes. So I thought I’d update that table today. Here goes…

Manchester Firsts and Lasts

CompetitionFirst SuccessTeamMost Recent SuccessTeam
FA Cup1904City2024United
League1908United2024City
European Cup/CL1968United2023City
League Cup1970City2021City
European CWC1970City1991United
UEFA Super Cup1991United2023City
FIFA Club World Cup2008United2023City
Europa League2017United2017United
Domestic Treble (League, FAC & LC)2019City *Only club ever to achieve this2019City
Treble (League, FAC & EC/CL)1999United2023City

Individually here are the firsts and lasts for each club:

City’s Success

CompetitionFirst SuccessMost Recent Success
FA Cup19042023
League19372024
Major European Trophy19702023
League Cup19702021

United’s Success

CompetitionFirst SuccessMost Recent Success
FA Cup 19092024
League19082013
Major European Trophy19682017
League Cup19922023

The 1910s: 1915-1916 Wartime Champions

The new series of features on Manchester City in the 1910s continues today with an article on the 1915-16 season. People often claim men’s football stopped in the war but it did not. Regional leagues were established and there was regular competition across the Manchester region. City found trophy success too! If you’re a subscriber you can read all about this season below. If you’re not a subscriber then why not sign up for a month and see what you think?

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Scored in Consecutive Games for Manchester City

I’ve received separate queries from two major national media outlets today asking whether a record will be set if Semenyo scores in his third consecutive game. They wondered if any player had scored on his debut and in his next two games. Hopefully he’ll play (and score!) against United on Saturday (17 January 2026) but, incredibly, that won’t in itself be a City record as there’s definitely one City player who scored in his debut and the three games that followed (4 consecutive games). There are also others who have netted on their debut and the two games that followed (three consecutive matches). Here are the facts…

One of the media companies mentioned Adebayor and the fact he scored on his debut and in the two League games that followed, making three consecutive scoring League games. That’s true he did, but there was a League Cup tie in between the 2nd and 3rd Premier League games and he didn’t score (he did play). That makes two consecutive games.

There are many City players who have scored in 2 consecutive games such as David Cross in 1982; Stan Bowles in 1967 etc. but there are a couple of players who scored in 3 successive games (regardless of competition) and there’s even a player who scored in 4 consecutive league games (no other game breaks his sequence).

The players/sequences are:

4 consecutive games – (all ‘old’ Div 2/2nd tier): Jimmy Ross – 4/3/1899 (2 goals v Barnsley) & 18/3/1899 (v Walsall) & 25/3/1899 (2 goals v Burton Swifts) & 31/3/1899 (v Gainsborough)

3 consecutive games – Billy McAdams – 2/1/54 (v Sunderland, top flight) & 9/1/54 (FAC, 3 goals v Bradford Park Avenue) & 16/1/54 (top flight v MUFC, so a potential parallel with Semenyo if he scores)

3 consecutive games (all top flight) – Jack Dyson – 8/10/55 (v Sheffield United) & 22/10/55 (penalty v Birmingham City) & 3/12/55 (v Burnley).

There was a big gap between Dyson’s 2nd and 3rd appearances. He’d got his first chance due to injury to striker Bobby Johnstone, then returned to the reserves. His next chance came when he was selected ahead of the great Don Revie (who was having issues behind the scenes with City’s management). Dyson then kept his place for most of the season.

I have to stress I don’t have a comprehensive list of players who scored on their debut and then went on to have a sequence of scoring but I do feel the above are worthy of mention. Jimmy Ross is an interesting figure – he was one of the Preston Invincibles in 1888-89 and scored 7 (occasionally reported as 8) v Hyde in Preston’s 26-0 victory over Hyde in the FA Cup. Ross was a teammate of the brilliant Billy Meredith at City and Meredith often claimed his success back then was down to Ross. Sadly Ross died in 1902 while still a City player.

You can read more on Jimmy Ross here:

Preston and City Great: The Death Of Jimmy Ross

60 Years Ago Today: Manchester City in Unusual Kit at Home

On this day (15 January) in 1966 Manchester City drew 0-0 with Preston at Maine Road but look at the kit City are wearing. This photo shows George Heslop (5) and Alan Oakes (6) in unusual colours for Maine Road. Subscribers can find out more about this kit and day below, plus read several contemporary match reports:

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The 1910s: 1914-1915 Uncertain Times

The new series of features on Manchester City in the 1910s continues today with an article on the 1914-15 season – a season that was completed despite the outbreak of war. City and Oldham mounted title challenges too! If you’re a subscriber you can read all about this season below. 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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City’s First League Cup Semi

As tonight sees Manchester City face Newcastle United in the League Cup semi-final here’s a reminder of the first ever League Cup semi played by the Blues. That came in 1964 and was a two-legged, often forgotten, tie. The first leg ended in a 2-0 defeat to Stoke in January 1964 and then on 5 February City defeated Stoke 1-0 in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final. The goalscorer was Derek Kevan. This was the first time City had reached the semi final stage but the competition was not particularly welcome at this time in football history. Here’s a report of the game:

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Attendances across football were low in this competition. This Maine Road tie with Stoke was watched by 16,894. The first leg, on 15 January, had seen City suffer a 2-0 loss at Stoke.

Were you at either of these games? Please post your comments if you were. I’m keen to understand how fans felt about the semi final back in 1964.

The 1910s: 1913-1914 Regaining Control

The new series of features on Manchester City in the 1910s continues today with an article on the 1913-14 season. If you’re a subscriber you can read all about this season below. 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 1910s soon. Why not subscribe and read this and all the other subscriber features?

The 1950s: Film of a FA Cup Tie in 1952

Here’s film of a FA Cup tie between Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers from this day (12 January) in 1952: https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/52898/ The game ended in a 2-2 draw at Maine Road before 54,497. The City scorers were Jimmy Meadows and Don Revie (penalty).

The series on the 1950s includes some free articles and some subscriber only features. If you’d like to know more on this period then why not subscriber and enjoy the following article on the 1951-52 season.

This is a subscriber article and you can read it by subscribing below.

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60 Years Ago Today: Manchester City 3 Rotherham Utd 1

On this day (12 January) in 1966 Manchester City defeated Rotherham 3-1 with goals from Mike Doyle (2) and Johnny Crossan (a penalty). Subscribers can read a contemporary match report of that important game in City’s quest to earn promotion from the second tier. What also made the day special was that City ended the day level on points with the Second Division leaders Huddersfield Town.

Here for subscribers is a contemporary match report of City v Rotherham:

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