Football writing, thoughts and more by Gary James
On this day twenty years ago (1 November 2004) Willo Flood netted the only League goal of his Manchester City career. It came from a strike on the edge of the area in a 1-1 draw with Norwich. He had previously scored in a League Cup tie, but this was the only League goal in 14 League games for the Irishman. You can see the goal below:
Flood’s goal was the City opener but Norwich equalised 12 seconds into the second half.
On 31 October 1998 an influential figure in MCFC history made his debut…
Manchester City’s first ever third tier season had been one of struggle so far prompting manager Joe Royle to search for changes. He brought in loan signings Michael Branch and Andy Morrison and they made impressive debuts at home to Colchester. The game had been goalless at half time – and City had been booed off! – but substitute Ian Bishop brought some drive to the team in the second half. In the 49th minute Horlock netted a penalty and four minutes later his corner was headed home by Morrison for a debut day goal. Colchester scored a consolation via Jason Dozzell but it was Morrison who ended the day the happiest. Royle: “Morrison was strong-willed and proved a good passer. And at least we have someone who talks at the back!” A week later the Blues made Morrison’s move a permanent one, signing him for £80,000.
Morrison continued to impress in the next game, a 3-0 victory over near neighbours Oldham. Kevin Horlock was actually the star man, scoring twice in the first half, with Morrison netting a volley for the third. Royle was happy with the win but not the specifics of the match: “We were nowhere near our best but we scored three terrific goals, had one disallowed, hit the bar and didn’t get a blatant penalty so I can’t be disappointed.”
The Blues were now up to fifth and there was a feeling that a corner had been turned – but the season had many twists to come yet!
Match stats: 31 Oct 1998 Colchester United (H) W 2-1 Horlock (pen), Morrison Attendance 24,820
On 30 October in 1973 The second round League Cup tie between Manchester City and Walsall went to a second replay. City won the game 4-0 with a hat-trick for Francis Lee, but a pitiful crowd of 13,646 witnessed the match at Old Trafford. City fans didn’t mind playing a 2nd replay, but they did object to it being played at United’s ground.
You can read more on the 1973-74 season here:
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DonateNew Manchester City manager John Bond’s first cup game was the fourth round tie against Second Division promotion hopefuls Notts County at Maine Road, played on 29 October in 1980 The game had the potential to end in defeat, especially as Bond would be unable to play any of his new signings (remember the struggles pre-Bond’s arrival earlier in the month and the impact he and his new arrivals Now, Hutchison and McDonald had?), nor would the expensive Steve Daley be able to play due to injury.
The match actually ended 5-1 to the Blues with Dave Bennett opening the scoring after 16 minutes. Dennis Tueart was in inspiring form that night scoring the other four City goals, but the result was prof that Bond’s whole approach had lifted the Club. Basically, Bond had taken Allison’s team and given them belief and confidence. Some of the younger players, like Bennett and Caton, may have been given their chance under Allison, but it was under Bond that they started to achieve their potential.
More on the 1980-81 season here:
If you’d like to support my research then why not subscribe? Every subscription directly helps support my research and provides annual subscribers with access to everything posted on this site, including the entire Manchester A Football History and From Maine Men To Banana Citizens books, plus interviews, articles and more. I am not employed by anyone and all my research is self funded or comes from subscriptions to this site.
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On 28 October in 1981 Manchester City faced their first competitive penalty shoot-out. The League Cup tie with Stoke ended 2-2 on aggregate but it took some considerable effort for either side to progress in the competition. With the penalty shoot-out reaching 8-8 goalkeeper Joe Corrigan saved. Norwegian Aage Hareide made it 9-8 for City and the Blues progressed. You can read what John Bond thought about penalties below.
More on the 1981-82 season here:
Today’s the day (27 October) in 1965 when Malcolm Allison won a significant bet with Pat Crerand about attendances at Manchester City. The Blues had drawn 0-0 with Norwich at Maine Road, ensuring City were top of Division Two and looking like promotional hopefuls. A crowd of 34,091 watched the match and Allison was delighted with that figure. The attendance had won him ten pounds off Manchester United’s Paddy Crerand who had told the City coach that City were a ‘dying club’ and bet him the Blues would never get a crowd above 30,000 at Maine Road again! Later that season 63,034 watched City play Everton – an attendance greater than any domestic crowd at Old Trafford that season. Allison had the last laugh of course!
If you’ve enjoyed this then why not subscribe? Every subscription directly helps support my research and provides each annual subscriber with access to everything posted on this site, including the entire Manchester A Football History and From Maine Men To Banana Citizens books, plus interviews, articles and more. I am not employed by anyone and all my research is self funded or comes from subscriptions to this site.
If you’re at the Manchester City game today and are lucky enough to read the match programme, my One Moment in Time feature includes a photo of the Kippax Stand taken about a hour before kick off of a City-Southampton match in November 1982. Here are highlights of that match for those who want to know more about the game:
You can read more on the 1982-83 season here:
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DonateIt’s City v Southampton today. My match programme feature remembers the Kippax Stand with a photo from a day when the two clubs met. I hope those who get to see it enjoy it. Also, there are plenty of stories connected with both clubs on my website and here’s a selection:
Others mentioning Southampton here:
Thirty years ago today (25 October 1994) Manchester City faced QPR in the League Cup in what was an incredible game that kept fans on the edge of their seats. The Blues had already disposed of Barnet 5-2 on aggregate in the second round and clearly expected to put in a good performance at Loftus Road. Sadly, within a minute they conceded a goal just as they had in the earlier League Cup match at Barnet and Brian Horton’s side suffered for a while. By the 37th minute they managed to get their act together a little and Summerbee equalised with a 20 yard volley. A minute later Rangers took the lead again.
Fortunately, in the 46th minute Keith Curle netted a penalty to bring City level once again, followed eight minutes later by a magnificent Beagrie volley which made it 3-2 and brought a series of somersaults from the popular ex-Evertonian. Five minutes later, the same player headed through to Lomas who made it 4-2.
In the 87th minute Rangers pulled a goal back (4-3) to keep City on their toes, but the referee’s whistle signalled the start of a party for the fans while their QPR equivalents began to demonstrate against their chairman. Apparently, some unhappy QPR fans were keen to listen to the advice of a few experienced Mancunian demonstrators!
You can watch highlights of the game here:
The victory gave City a home tie against Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle United.
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DonateAt last night’s (23 October 2024) MCFC v Sparta Prague Champions League game a young boy and his mum were sat next to me. It was the lad’s first game and he was so excited before kick off. His enthusiasm was great to see and when the players started warming up near us he couldn’t believe it. It was a great reminder, in these days when social media and even some football commentary, talk of the negatives that football remains something to get excited about.
The first goal was enough for the boy next to me. Sure it was scored at the opposite end and he could hardly see it but he got so giddy. He’d seen a goal (note: where I sit at the back of North Stand Level 1 is one of the few places in the stadium where you cannot see any of the video scoreboards and so never get chance to see the repeats of the goal). It didn’t matter to him whether players are ‘overpaid’ or any of the other complaints that are thrown their way. Nor was the boy bothered about Premier League governance or rules that may or may not have been adapted to limit a club’s success. What the boy was bothered about was seeing Foden, Haaland, Stones & Co.
While some on social media and elsewhere were moaning about missed opportunities or whatever at half time the boy was still jumping up and down with excitement. He couldn’t wait to see his team attack the goal near him. Obviously, he loved every minute of that second half – but he’d loved every minute of the first too. That excitement is great to see and a wonderful reminder that football isn’t about boardroom activity or anything else, it’s about a game where teams try to score.
At one point I heard the boy’s mum suggest they should leave a little early to avoid the crowds but the little lad was adamant he wanted to stay. He was rewarded with the penalty and the anticipation of what that would bring. Again, it’s a nice reminder of how the excitement builds when you see a penalty live in the flesh for the first time.
At the final whistle I left but the boy was still there with his mum no doubt staying to watch every moment until the players disappeared.
How I wish we could all just watch and enjoy football for what it is. Some games/halves may appear dull to some but for others it’s the greatest spectacle they have seen. That boy will remember that game and how he felt for a very long time and, years after most of us have gone, he’ll be telling future generations of his first game; his first heroes; Haaland’s goals and more.
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