Category Archives: Manchester City

A Record Greater Manchester Club Attendance

On this day (11 December) in 2022 I was at the Etihad Stadium when a new record crowd for a women’s club game in Greater Manchester was established. 44,259 watched Manchester City’s women’s team draw 1-1 with Manchester United. The attendance best all home games by Greater Manchester’s clubs; WFA Cup finals played in the area and games played by Dick, Kerr Ladies and other prominent women’s clubs over the previous 140 years or so. For those wondering the top five highest club attendances as recorded in Greater Manchester by the end of December 2022 were:

  • 44,259 City v United, Etihad, December 2022
  • 43,615 United v City, Old Trafford, November 2023
  • 31,213 City V United, Etihad, September 2019
  • 31,000 (occasionally reported as 35,000) Dick, Kerr Ladies v Bath Ladies, Old Trafford, January 1921
  • 30,196 United V Aston Villa, Old Trafford, December 2022

You can read about the first competitive women’s Manchester Derby, which occurred in 1990, here:

The 1st and Latest Women’s Manchester Derby in the League

The 1980s: Swales Profile From 1989

The series of features covering the 1980s for Manchester City continues with an article from this day (11 December) in 1989 when City chairman Peter Swales was profiled. Back then profiles like this on the chairman appeared fairly regularly, usually after he’d just sacked a manager. It all makes interesting reading today.

If you want to know more about this period and the entire 1989-90 season then become a subscriber and read the following 8,000 word article on that season. Enjoy!

Subscribe to get access – Monthly

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 or there’s a special annual rate below which gives greater access and works out much cheaper.

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access – Annual

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (above) or £20 a year (here) to access everything posted since the site was created in December 2020. This special rate works out about £1.67 a week and gives access to everything posted, including PDFs of 3 of my books.

Subscribe

If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see:

How To Subscribe

Today’s feature was the last on the 1980s. I hope you’ve enjoyed them. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald

The 1980s: Brightwell & Moulden Doubles

Continuing the series of articles covering Manchester City in the 1980s. Here’s a photographic reminder of a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Bradford City at Maine Road on this day (10 December) in 1988. The game saw two goals each from youngsters Ian Brightwell and Paul Moulden. David White played his part to set up several key chances (and goals) too!

If you’d like to know more about City in 1988-89 or indeed any season then why not subscribe to this site? Subscribers can read a 4,100 word feature on the 1988-89 season below. Enjoy!

Subscribe to get access – Monthly

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 or there’s a special annual rate below which gives greater access and works out much cheaper.

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access – Annual

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (above) or £20 a year (here) to access everything posted since the site was created in December 2020. This special rate works out about £1.67 a week and gives access to everything posted, including PDFs of 3 of my books.

Subscribe

If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see:

How To Subscribe

Tomorrow’s feature is the last on the 1980s as we tell the story of the 1989-90 season. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald

The 1980s: 41,862 in 2nd Tier!

Continuing the series of articles covering Manchester City in the 1980s, here’s a reminder of a game played on this day (10 December) in 1983 when a crowd of 41,862 attended Maine Road for a game with Sheffield Wednesday. At the time this was perceived as a possible promotion showdown for two of Division Two’s biggest clubs. Ultimately, City lost their way and this game actually ended in a 2-1 defeat. City’s goal was scored by Kevin Bond and future Blue Imre Varadi netted both for Wednesday.

If you want to find out more about this season then why not subscribe and read my 2,500 article on the 1983-84 titled ‘Fish Supper’ (because manager Billy McNeill said City were so skint at the time that they could hardly buy a fish supper). Enjoy!

Subscribe to get access – Monthly

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 or there’s a special annual rate below which gives greater access and works out much cheaper.

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access – Annual

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (above) or £20 a year (here) to access everything posted since the site was created in December 2020. This special rate works out about £1.67 a week and gives access to everything posted, including PDFs of 3 of my books.

Subscribe

If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see:

How To Subscribe

Tomorrow’s feature is on the 1984-85 season. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald

The 1980s: Helen the Bell, Allen & Kendall

The series of features covering the 1980s for Manchester City continues with a reminder of a day when City lost at Southampton (9 December) in 1989 BUT this short video is worth watching for a few reason. New manager Howard Kendall had flown down to Southampton to watch his new team and this clip begins with him signing autographs. But have a look who is stooding to the left as we watch – it’s Helen ‘the Bell’ Turner. A dedicated Blue who was part of City’s folklore for decades.

Other reasons to watch: There’s a Clive Allen goal (Allen was City’s first £1m player since Trevor Francis in 1981) and you can catch a glimpse of part of the away fans celebrating. City fans were in pens and there were at least a couple full behind the goal and to the left of the pitch as viewed from the camera.

The photo that heads this page is of Clive Allen on the cover on the City-Southampton game at Maine Road earlier in the season. If you want to know more about the entire 1989-90 season then become a subscriber and read the following 8,000 word article on that season. Enjoy!

Subscribe to get access – Monthly

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 or there’s a special annual rate below which gives greater access and works out much cheaper.

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access – Annual

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (above) or £20 a year (here) to access everything posted since the site was created in December 2020. This special rate works out about £1.67 a week and gives access to everything posted, including PDFs of 3 of my books.

Subscribe

If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see:

How To Subscribe

Today’s feature was the last on the 1980s. I hope you’ve enjoyed them. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald

The 1980s: Corrigan and Daley Move?

Continuing the series of articles covering the 1980s. Today’s is an on this day (8 December) from 1980. It’s a newspaper story about Joe Corrigan and Steve Daley potentially moving from Maine Road to other clubs. Have a read of the piece. Ultimately Corrigan stayed but Daley never did play for Manchester City again. If you want to know more about the trials and tribulations of this period then why not subscribe and read the following ten thousand word long read on the 1980-81 season. Enjoy!

Subscribe to get access – Monthly

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 or there’s a special annual rate below which gives greater access and works out much cheaper.

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access – Annual

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (above) or £20 a year (here) to access everything posted since the site was created in December 2020. This special rate works out about £1.67 a week and gives access to everything posted, including PDFs of 3 of my books.

Subscribe

If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see:

How To Subscribe

Tomorrow’s feature is on the 1981-82 season.

The 1980s: Grealish Won’t Commit

Continuing the series of articles covering Manchester City in the 1980s. Today is this brief cutting from today (7 December) in 1986 and concerns City midfielder Tony Grealish. The brief newspaper article talks of the player’s travel plans each day and says that he’s continuing to do this as his contract is only short term. The journey was around 90 miles each way.

Grealish joined City on 23 October 1986 from West Bromwich Albion and did only stay with the Blues until the following close season. He moved to Rotherham in August 1987. His City debut was against Manchester United on 26 October 1986 and ultimately played 11 League and 1 FA Cup game for City (plus 14 reserves and 5 other apps).

This was a time when manager Jimmy Frizzell brought in several experienced players, including John Gidman, to help City’s 1986 FA Youth Cup winning squad develop. If you want to know more about this season then there is a 2,500 word feature below available to subscribers. Enjoy!

Subscribe to get access – Monthly

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 or there’s a special annual rate below which gives greater access and works out much cheaper.

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access – Annual

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (above) or £20 a year (here) to access everything posted since the site was created in December 2020. This special rate works out about £1.67 a week and gives access to everything posted, including PDFs of 3 of my books.

Subscribe

If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see:

How To Subscribe

Tomorrow’s feature is on the 1987-88 season. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald

The 1980s: Gow Goal

Continuing the series of articles covering the 1980s. Today’s is an on this day (6 December) from 1980. It’s a photo of tenacious Gerry Gow scoring for Manchester City against Bobby Robson’s Ipswich Town at Maine Road.

City were losing 1-0 and then in the 76th minute a scramble in the visitors penalty area saw Phil Boyer (centre of this photo) battling for the ball close to future City ‘keeper Paul Cooper. In the end it’s Gerry Gow, on the right being challenged by John Wark, who digs out the ball and sends it goalwards to make it 1-1.

This was a season of classic games against Ipswich, who were chasing a potential treble trophy success. You can read about the others if you’re a subscriber. Subscribers can read the following ten thousand word long read on the 1980-81 season. Enjoy!

Subscribe to get access – Monthly

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 or there’s a special annual rate below which gives greater access and works out much cheaper.

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access – Annual

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (above) or £20 a year (here) to access everything posted since the site was created in December 2020. This special rate works out about £1.67 a week and gives access to everything posted, including PDFs of 3 of my books.

Subscribe

If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see:

How To Subscribe

Tomorrow’s feature is on the 1981-82 season.

The 1980s: A Tueart Header v the Champions

Today’s feature in the series covering Manchester City in the 1980s is a reminder of the day when Dennis Tueart headed home to give City a home victory over champions Aston Villa. The game was played on this day (5 December) in 1981 and had lots of angles to it. One of which was the return of former City boss Ron Saunders. You can watch the highlights here:

If you want to find out more on this period then why not subscribe. As well as lots of other features, subscribers can read a 2,500 word feature on the 1981-82 season for the Blues below. Enjoy!

Subscribe to get access – Monthly

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 or there’s a special annual rate below which gives greater access and works out much cheaper.

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access – Annual

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (above) or £20 a year (here) to access everything posted since the site was created in December 2020. This special rate works out about £1.67 a week and gives access to everything posted, including PDFs of 3 of my books.

Subscribe

If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see:

How To Subscribe

Tomorrow’s feature is on the 1982-83 season. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald

The 1980s: Significant Praise from Stiles for ‘City Babes’

Continuing the series of articles covering Manchester City in the 1980s. Here’s a nice article from this day (5 December) in 1987. It was a piece praising Manchester city’s youth players with quotes from Nobby Stiles, the legendary Manchester United and England star. High praise indeed and these players deserved the focus.

Subscribers can find out more about the 1987-88 season by reading my 4,000 word feature on it below. Enjoy!

Subscribe to get access – Monthly

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 or there’s a special annual rate below which gives greater access and works out much cheaper.

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access – Annual

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (above) or £20 a year (here) to access everything posted since the site was created in December 2020. This special rate works out about £1.67 a week and gives access to everything posted, including PDFs of 3 of my books.

Subscribe

If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see:

How To Subscribe

Tomorrow’s feature is on the 1988-89 season. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald