This press release from MCFC has just arrived (great news)… Ruben Dias wins Football Writers’ Player of the Year award
• Ruben Dias has been named Football Writers’ Player of the Year for 2020-21. • The 24-year old becomes the first defender to win the award since Steve Nicol in 1989. • Dias also becomes one of only three players ever to win the award in their first season at a club, following Jurgen Klinsmann (1995) and Gianfranco Zola (1997). Ruben Dias has been named Player of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association. The centre-half topped the poll of a 400-strong FWA membership, following in the illustrious footsteps of team-mate Raheem Sterling who won the award in 2019.
Only the third player ever to win the prestigious honour in his first season at a club, following Jurgen Klinsmann and Gianfranco Zola, Dias has quickly established himself in the heart of a defence that has conceded fewer goals than any other in this season’s Premier League [32].
Joining from Benfica only last September, the 24-year-old has made 48 appearances for City across all competitions and played an instrumental role in the club securing the Premier League title, lifting the League Cup and in reaching a first ever UEFA Champions League final. The Portuguese international becomes the first defender to win the award since Steve Nicol, over three decades ago.
Ruben Dias said: “It’s a huge privilege. I’m very, very happy. It’s the same as always: obviously, I could not have done it without the success of the team – everyone in the team being able to deserve this award. Only by that was I – as a defender – able to be here to receive this prize.
“It means something special because normally, the ones who finish the plays are the ones getting the spotlight but me receiving this prize is a major example of our team and the way we work – the way we build our game. It reflects all the togetherness we have on the pitch, the spirit in the team and how we perform.
“With these players, for me to be receiving this award, it shows how we play like a family.”
It’s the 40th anniversary of the 1981 FA Cup final today (May 9) and ten years ago, as we looked forward to Manchester City appearing in the 2011 FA Cup final, I was asked by the Manchester Evening News to write profiles of the eleven players who started the 1981 final.
For the last few days I have been posting these profiles, one a day, free to read here. These will only be free to view until May 16, so please take time to dig them out and read them while you can. Thanks.
Here’s the last of the eleven (appearing here as it was written in 2011)…
As we look forward to the 2011 FA Cup final, Gary James takes a look at the eleven players who made the starting line-up for City’s last FA Cup final in 1981. Today, goalscorer Tommy Hutchison.
33 year old Scottish international Tommy Hutchison became a cult hero for the Blues. A dedicated, consistent and skilful professional, he was also superbly fit.
Earlier he played for Alloa and Blackpool before signing for Coventry in 1972. It was an inspired purchase by former City boss Joe Mercer, who had been a fan of the player’s for some time, shortly after he had left Maine Road. Hutchison was later voted the greatest Coventry player of all time.
John Bond also recognised the player’s strengths, signing him for City eight years later: “I said I’ll give you £400 a week, which wasn’t the best wage in the world. His attitude was good and he signed without making a demand.”
Hutchison’s arrival helped City enormously. Bond: “There isn’t a City supporter anywhere who says anything but good about Tommy Hutchison. He was absolutely tremendous, and became a real star. He made everything happen. He was a revelation. I know people say this kind of thing a lot but he was a different class. I always enjoyed having him in my side.”
Hutchison of course played his part throughout the Cup campaign. In fact frustration had seen Everton’s Kevin Ratcliffe sent off for head-butting the City man in the 85th minute of the quarter-final. In the subsequent replay Hutchison created two goals within the space of three minutes.
In the 29th minute of the Wembley final, Hutchison dived to head a centre by Ranson. The diving header flew past Aleksic’s left hand from some distance out. It was the 150th goal scored in Wembley F.A. Cup finals.
As the game progressed City looked certain winners, then ten minutes from full-time Spurs had a free-kick. Ardiles tapped the ball to Hoddle, who curled it around City’s defensive wall. Corrigan was certain he had the shot covered but Hutchison, who had dropped back behind the wall for the free kick, somehow got in the way. The ball hit his shoulder and was diverted across goal for the Spurs equaliser.
Goalkeeper Joe Corrigan walked to a disconsolate Hutchison, lifted him up, patted him on the back and tried to encourage him: “My view was that we still had a few minutes left. We’d been on top for most of the game. We could still win. I also knew that what had happened to him could have happened to any one of us. So I just told him to “get up, get on with it. It’s only 1-1 and we are still going to win!” He was devastated to be fair, but we did almost win it in the dying minutes.”
That own goal guaranteed Hutchison a place in Wembley history as the first player to score for both sides in a FA Cup final – it even became a question in the Board game Trivial Pursuit – but it never changed how fans viewed him. He remains one of the Club’s biggest heroes, even though his time at City was ultimately too short. Hutchison was one of the biggest reasons why the Blues had reached Wembley, and the goal was simply an unfortunate incident, albeit a very important one.
A year after Wembley, Hutchison’s role as a stabilising force was over and he was transferred to Bulova (Hong Kong).
At the age of 43 he received a special merit award from the PFA to mark being the oldest player in League football while appearing for Swansea.
In 2011, Hutchison heads up Bristol City’s Football In The Community Scheme. It’s a role he has enjoyed for over a decade: “The great thing is seeing some young kids, who I first met 8 years ago when they were trouble waiting to happen, change. One even pulled a knife on me once. It’s great to see that our work has really made a difference.”
My biography of Peter Barnes is now available to subscribe to. Order by May 15 and you will receive a copy signed by me & Peter, the book posted to your home address before it appears in any shop AND your name printed in the book. Order (and more details) here:
It’s the 40th anniversary of the 1981 FA Cup final on May 9 and ten years ago, as we looked forward to Manchester City appearing in the 2011 FA Cup final, I was asked by the Manchester Evening News to write profiles of the eleven players who started the 1981 final.
For the next few days I will post those profiles, one a day, free to read here. These will only be free to view until May 16, so please read them while you can. Thanks.
Here’s the latest (appearing here as it was written in 2011)…
As we look forward to the 2011 FA Cup final, Gary James takes a look at the eleven players who made the starting line-up for City’s last FA Cup final in 1981. Today, centre-back Tommy Caton.
Together with Nicky Reid (aged 20), 18 year old Tommy Caton made history by forming the youngest pair of centre-backs ever seen in the FA Cup final when they played at Wembley in 1981. Despite their age both had been playing first team football for a couple of seasons with Caton managing 12 first team appearances before his 17th birthday.
Caton was actually the fourth ever youngest City player when he made his debut on the opening day of the 1979-80 season. The media and most supporters thought pre-match that this was one of Malcolm Allison’s more off-the-wall selections. In fact Allison had wanted to play the defender in the first team the previous season, but claimed he had been prevented from doing so by the school authorities because of Caton’s age.
All suggestions that the 16 year old’s debut was an Allison-gimmick were soon proved false. Caton helped City keep a clean sheet and his assured performance proved he thoroughly deserved the chance. The defender retained his place for the rest of the season and, together with Joe Corrigan, Caton was an ever-present in all competitions that season.
Shortly after his 17th birthday, Caton gave his view of his career to date: “I came to City in March 1978, signing on associate schoolboy forms and then started a full time apprenticeship in July, this year. It was a bit strange to say the least when I played in my first few games. I think the biggest tests have been against Arsenal, at Highbury, facing Stapleton and Sunderland. Plus the match against Forest when it was Woodcock and Birtles.”
He struggled with injury a little during 1980-81 – a chipped ankle bone caused him to miss a period of what became a crucial season – yet he recovered in time to play a major part in John Bond’s Wembley bound side.
Although the Daily Mail described Caton as “City’s inspiring young defender” in their match report of the cup final replay, the positive aspects of his contribution were soon overlooked as Ricky Villa’s goal became the media’s defining incident. On his way to goal the Spurs player passed the 18 year old Caton twice, as well as others, and the media proclaimed it as a truly great goal. City Manager John Bond was not impressed: “I bet if Keith Burkinshaw [Spurs] had been in my place he wouldn’t have said it was a good goal. He seemed to beat six or seven people in the space of four yards or so.”
It is worth recalling that Caton had an unusual claim to fame by becoming the first man to be booked twice in one final – he was booked in both the first game and the replay.
In March 1982 he created another record when he became the youngest player ever to appear in 100 League games for any club. He was also, by this point, regularly tipped to become a full England international, but City’s relegation in 1983 suggested Caton needed to move to progress his career.
In November 1983 he was sold to Arsenal after rumours that he stood little chance of playing for England while playing for a northern Second Division side. Worth noting though that the Blues desperately needed the £500,000 fee they received, and so he was encouraged to make that move.
Caton’s move south was not the success everybody hoped. After only 95 League and Cup appearances with the Gunners – a developing Tony Adams was challenging him – he became Oxford’s captain.
Early in 1993 he was forced to announce his retirement after a serious foot injury while playing for Charlton required repeated surgery. That April he died suddenly at the age of 30 of a heart-attack.
Of all the players who appeared in the 1981 final, Caton was the one expected to have the greatest footballing career ahead of him. Sadly, the potential was never really fulfilled. Caton should however always be remembered as a highly talented defender who, by the age of 17 was easily able to outperform some of the game’s biggest names.
Caton had enormous talent and ability, but ultimately so little time.
NOTE: Tommy Caton’s son Andy made 13 appearances for Swindon Town between 2004-2007 before damaging his skull in a car accident. A spell at Bath and Weymouth (in 2009) followed.
My biography of Peter Barnes is now available to subscribe to. Order by May 15 and you will receive a copy signed by me & Peter, the book posted to your home address before it appears in any shop AND your name printed in the book. Order (and more details) here:
It’s the 40th anniversary of the 1981 FA Cup final on May 9 and ten years ago, as we looked forward to Manchester City appearing in the 2011 FA Cup final, I was asked by the Manchester Evening News to write profiles of the eleven players who started the 1981 final.
For the next few days I will post those profiles, one a day, free to read here. These will only be free to view until May 16, so please read them while you can. Thanks.
Here’s the latest (appearing here as it was written in 2011)…
As we look forward to the 2011 FA Cup final, Gary James takes a look at the eleven players who made the starting line-up for City’s last FA Cup final in 1981. Today,midfielder Steve Mackenzie
Malcolm Allison’s signing of Steve Mackenzie stunned the football world. The 17 year old signed from Crystal Palace for an incredible £250,000 in July 1979. The fee alone was huge – six months earlier the transfer record stood at £516,000 – but the fact that Mackenzie hadn’t even appeared in the League and was now the costliest teenager ever was astounding.
Inevitably, great pressure followed. Mackenzie appeared in the opening 14 League games of 1979-80 but spent more time playing reserve football. However, by the spring of 1981 Mackenzie was a permanent fixture in the side, delivering game after game. Captain Paul Power said at the time: “We look a different team when Steve is playing. He has fought his way back and proved to the boss that we can’t afford to be without him. He adds stability to our midfield.”
Mackenzie, as well as general play, contributed some significant goals such as the spectacular 25 yarder in the 4thround tie against Norwich, and the solitary goal in the February ’81 Manchester derby – “Mac The Knife” read the MEN headline.
It was Mackenzie who rolled a free kick to Power – a move they had worked on in training – that brought the only goal of the semi-final.
In the 58th minute of the final with the Blues leading 1-0, Mackenzie came close to scoring. John Bond remembered: “Reeves and Mackenzie played this magnificent 1-2. Mackenzie got behind the defence, went around the goalkeeper, went to slot the ball into the net and it hit the post and went wide. They’d have been dead and buried!”
Three minutes after Spurs had taken an 8th minute lead in the replay, Mackenzie equalised with one of the greatest cup final goals of all time. A Ranson free kick was met by a half clearance allowing Mackenzie to volley home from about 20 yards. It was a tremendous goal and the type of effort that should have won the cup. Paul Power: “I still believe Steve Mackenzie’s strike was just as impressive as Villa’s second goal. If that goal had been the match winner it’s possible that would have been voted the best goal of all time.” Bond agreed: “Steve Mackenzie’s volley was unbelievable!”
As we all know, Spurs went on to win the replay. Mackenzie played in one further City game but was sold – to raise money for the purchase of Trevor Francis – for £600,000 to West Bromwich Albion the following August. Considering his age and performances during 1981 it was a disappointing departure.
Spells at Charlton and John Bond’s Shrewsbury followed. Once his playing career came to an end Mackenzie pursued his interest in computers to gain a BA Hons degree in Interactive Multimedia Communication in 1998. With a strong interest in teaching and learning Mackenzie gained further qualifications in teaching and e-learning.
He also obtained the Advanced Level FA Football Coaching award and coached at West Brom’s Academy until 2000. He also had an enjoyable two year stint in non-league management at Atherstone United.
Since 2003 he has worked full time in Higher Education at De Montfort University primarily as a designer and developer of distance learning courses.
In 2004 at the age of 42 he made one appearance – and scored – for Gresley Rovers. Today he keeps in touch with the game, reporting for the Press Association, and takes a keen informal interest in football coaching and player development.
Looking back in 2011, Mackenzie’s strongest recollections from 1981 focus on his side’s endeavours: “pride in fighting so hard to win the cup, knowing if we had to lose we could not have done much more.” The highlight remains, of course, his goal: “the exhilaration of scoring a spectacular goal to get us back in the game – I think my beaming smile said it all.”
Janice Monk (former City Store), Glyn Pardoe and Steve Mackenzie at the launch of Manchester The City Years in 2012
My biography of Peter Barnes is now available to subscribe to. Order by May 15 and you will receive a copy signed by me & Peter, the book posted to your home address before it appears in any shop AND your name printed in the book. Order (and more details) here:
It’s the 40th anniversary of the 1981 FA Cup final on May 9 and ten years ago, as we looked forward to Manchester City appearing in the 2011 FA Cup final, I was asked by the Manchester Evening News to write profiles of the eleven players who started the 1981 final.
For the next few days I will post those profiles, one a day, free to read here. These will only be free to view until May 16, so please read them while you can. Thanks.
Here’s the latest (appearing here as it was written in 2011)…
As we look forward to the 2011 FA Cup final, Gary James takes a look at the eleven players who made the starting line-up for City’s last FA Cup final in 1981. Today, 1981’s number two Ray Ranson.
Despite being only twenty at the time of the 1981 FA Cup Final, England under-21 right back Ray Ranson had been a member of City’s first team for over two years. After making a name with both the Merseyside and England schoolboy sides, Ranson signed as an apprentice for the Blues in July 1976. Other sides, including Liverpool, Leeds and Arsenal, had shown interest in him, but once he arrived at Maine Road his love of the Blues developed at a pace. The right back later admitted that he became ‘City daft’ from the moment he arrived.
Ranson’s first team opportunity came when he was 18 following injury to Kenny Clements. He made his debut against Nottingham Forest on 23 December 1978 and the following season, after several impressive performances both for club and at Under-21 level for England, he established himself as the Blues’ regular right-back. This meant that he was already a very experienced defender, despite his age, when the 1981 final was staged.
The match programme for the 1981 final described him as a “player of high potential” and it is true that much was expected of him at Wembley. In the 29th minute of the first game, Ranson didn’t disappoint as he played a huge part in ensuring the Blues took the lead. An exciting exchange of passes between Dave Bennett and Kevin Reeves near the right corner led to a great centre by Ranson. Tommy Hutchison dived spectacularly to head the opening goal.
Ultimately, the final went to a replay. In the seventh minute Spurs took the lead. Three minutes later it was Ranson’s free-kick that led to City’s equaliser. His kick was met by a half clearance which allowed Steve Mackenzie to volley home from 20 yards – a goal that was worthy of winning any cup final. Sadly, Spurs went on to win the final with a goal that has become one of the most repeated in television history and one that must pain Ranson every time he sees it. During an amazing weaving run Ricky Villa seemed to pass a dozen players but he actually passed Tommy Caton twice, Ranson and then Joe Corrigan. Ranson will forever be reminded of this. It’s an absolute certainty that at some point on Cup Final day this year the right-back will be forced to relive the nightmare moment once again.
After Wembley Ranson remained a City regular during a difficult period for the Blues. Then in November 1984 the St. Helens’ born player moved to Birmingham City. At the time it was reported he had fallen out with manager Billy McNeill. The fee City received was a bargain £15,000 – desperately low for a FA Cup finalist who was still only 24. At St. Andrew’s he won promotion alongside City in 1985.
Ranson later played for Newcastle – under Kevin Keegan for a spell – and then returned to Maine Road initially on loan under Peter Reid in January 1993.
A move to Reading came in the summer of 1993, but a serious Achilles injury in February 1994 prematurely ended his time there. Ranson eventually became player-manager of Witton Albion, before becoming involved with the finance industry.
Shortly after City’s move to the new stadium, media reports suggested Ranson was interested in buying into the Blues, then similar stories appeared linking him with a potential takeover of Aston Villa. Later in the decade stories suggested he had come close to taking over City, but ultimately he fronted a takeover of Coventry City. Ray Ranson became chairman of the ‘other’ Sky Blues in December 2007 but stood down at the end of March this year (2011) taking on a football consultancy role saying: “I am more than happy to assist the new Chairman and Board as well as the football management team to get our results back on track.”
Ranson’s City career saw him make a total of 234 (plus 2 as substitute) appearances but interestingly Ranson’s spell with the Blues in 1993 meant that he was the only member of City’s 1981 FA Cup final team to appear for the Blues in the Premier League.
My biography of Peter Barnes is now available to subscribe to. Order by May 15 and you will receive a copy signed by me & Peter, the book posted to your home address before it appears in any shop AND your name printed in the book. Order (and more details) here:
In 2019 I wrote this profile of Peter Doherty – a man who well into the 1970s was described as the greatest Manchester City player of all time. Of course, views change and other heroes have come and sadly gone since then, but it is clear that Doherty was the leading player of his generation.
Subscribers to my site can read the article below:
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If you would like to read this and all the in-depth articles on this site (including the entire Manchester A Football History book and my audio interview with John Bond) then please subscribe. It works out about £1.67 a month if you take out an annual subscription (£20 per year) or £3 a month if you’d like to sign up for a month at a time. Each subscriber gets full access to the 250+ articles posted so far and the hundreds scheduled to be posted in the coming weeks.
On this day (25th March) in 1998 Manchester City cult hero Ian Bishop returned to the club. Here subscribers can read an interview I did with the former Bournemouth, West Ham and City player in 2015.
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To read this and all the other content on this site please subscribe. It works out about £1.67 a month if you take out an annual subscription (£20 per year) or £3 a month if you’d like to sign up for a month at a time. Each subscriber gets full access to the 280+ articles posted so far and the hundreds scheduled to be posted in the coming weeks.
The first Manchester derby at Manchester City’s new stadium occurred on this date (14th March) in 2004. To mark this anniversary I’ve interviewed former City winger Trevor Sinclair. Trevor scored in that game, which the Blues won 4-1. Here he talks about being a City fan; signing for City; scoring the first competitive goal at the City Of Manchester Stadium (now Etihad); and the 4-1 derby. He also talks about the 3-1 victory over Manchester United in 2006 (again he scored); present day City and other memories.
Here’s the audio from our chat (it lasts about 26 minutes so get yourself a brew and settle down to listen):
While you’re here I’d like to thank you for taking the time and trouble to visit my website. I have been researching and writing about Manchester football for a long time (no wonder I’m going grey!) with my first book published in 1989. I am not employed by anyone and no one pays me to do research or interviews like the one posted here. I do not have sponsorship either. I’ve set up this website to help share my 32 years plus writing and research.
From Wednesday, for subscribers I’ll be posting the entire hour long plus interview I did with Malcolm Allison about his first period at Manchester City. Here’s a brief clip from the interview (he’s talking about his relationship with Joe Mercer):
The intention is to develop the archive and to provide access to as much of my material as possible over the coming weeks, months & years. Subscribers can already access over 280 articles/posts including the entire Manchester A Football History book and an audio interview with former City boss John Bond I performed in 1995. My interview with Allison will also be available from Wednesday.
If you’d like to support my research and writing while benefitting from accessing all the content on here then it costs £20 a year (it works out £1.67 a month) or £3 if you’d like to sign up a month at a time (you get full access for as long as you subscribe).
If you enjoyed the interview posted here then please subscribe (see below) to access all the content and, over time, I’ll add other interviews too. Thanks for the support and interest in my work, Gary.
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Each subscriber gets full access to the 280+ articles posted so far and the hundreds scheduled to be posted in the coming months.
I have been informed by Matthew Phoenix that his father, Ron Phoenix died on 9th March from vascular dementia. Ron was on the books of both Manchester City and Manchester United, as well as Rochdale, Altrincham and Hyde. My thoughts are with Matthew and the rest of Ron’s family and friends. Here’s a brief summary of Ron’s career:
Ron Phoenix came from a footballing family. One brother, Eric, played for Knutsford, Hastings United, Gillingham and Exeter, while another brother, Jack, was a pre-WW2 amateur with Manchester United.
Prior to joining Manchester City in 1949 Ron had been a member of Matt Busby’s youth set up at Manchester United. The approach United took back then set the groundwork for youth systems in the decade that followed.
Ron made his City reserve debut as an amateur on Boxing Day 1949 at home to Huddersfield and he signed as a professional on 11th March 1950. At the time of his League debut (26th January 1952) he was playing as an inside-forward and he scored in the 2-2 draw at Arsenal. He kept his place for a prestigious friendly against River Plate FC from South America, this time at wing-half, and the following programme congratulated the youngster on two great displays against strong opposition.
Ron broke a leg against Newcastle in February 1953 having scored one of City’s goals in a 2-1 victory, and this injury sidelined him until the following season when he played mainly in the A team.
Despite the injury and other setbacks he did remain with the Blues until 1960, his most successful run of first team appearances as a wing-half coming in the latter half of the 1958-59 season. Sadly, family tragedy struck when in 1959 he tragically lost two children through illness.
Ron later moved on to Rochdale where he made 64 League appearances. At City he had made 52 League appearances (2 goals) & 2 FA Cup appearances. He’d also played 190 appearances in the reserves, scoring 15 goals.
I’ve been working with Peter Barnes since 2019 on his biography. This will cover his life & career and will be illustrated throughout. Personal items, such as Peter’s own artwork from school lessons (and earliest attempts at writing his autograph!), will appear in the book.
Written to a similar standard as my biography of Joe Mercer (Football With A Smile, first published in 1993, reprinted in 1994 and updated in 2010), this includes quotes from Peter throughout, alongside the views of players and managers.
This will, hopefully, prove to be a must have book for fans of Manchester City & United, West Bromwich Albion, Leeds United, Real Betis and the other clubs Peter played for.
Details will be revealed here later this year, but it is anticipated the book will be available before the end of the current football season (assuming Covid does not add any further delays). There will be the opportunity to subscribe to the book before publication (and get your name included in the subscriber section at the back of the book).
