Category Archives: Players

Remembering Bobby Kennedy

Sorry to hear the news that Manchester City’s Scottish defender Bobby Kennedy has died. To remember his footballing life, here’s an interview I did with him in 2005 (as it was published at the time):

Defender Bobby Kennedy proved to be a popular player after joining the Blues in 1961.  He went on to make 251 (plus 3 as sub) appearances for City over a seven year period and was a key member of City’s mid sixties side.  In April 2005 Gary James caught up with him at the stadium.

Let’s start with your childhood in Motherwell.  How important was football to you as a boy?

We all played football and I was a Motherwell fan.  I used to go all over Scotland watching them and as I got older my school used to go to Motherwell to train, so all of that was very important and made a big impression of course.  But football in Scotland wasn’t as professional as in England, so I never thought about it as a career.  I wanted to progress, but I didn’t think it would pay my wage.  I ended up working as an engineer, co-incidentally with Ian St. John, and then I joined Kilmarnock and he signed for Motherwell.  I’d also played for a village team and Joe Baker played for the same team.

At Kilmarnock you played in the Scottish Cup Final, that must have been a great experience?

Yes it was, and we also played in the Scottish League Cup Final, but each time we faced Rangers, so there was only ever going to be one winner unfortunately!  I had a great time at Kilmarnock and I never really thought about leaving, and I suppose I never really thought about English football.  It was never at the forefront of our minds, and then we went on a tour to the States and we played Burnley and we beat them.  Now Burnley were one of the top English clubs back then and so this was a real test for us, but that day everything went well and I remember that playing Burnley was regarded by us as a major event.  I’d never played against a strong English side, and so that made me think a little.

Not long after that City made their approach, was that the first time you’d heard of any interest in you from England?

Oh Aye.  I never heard of any interest, but then I never thought in that way.  When City got in touch with Kilmarnock, money was tight and I think they needed to sell someone, so it was good for them.  Plus the maximum wage had just been abolished in English football and so when the offer came I was astounded with the wage they were offering.  I was on £22 and City offered £38 I think.  These figures will seem like peanuts today but believe me this was a major increase.  Having said that I still thought long and hard about the move.  

How did you find Manchester when you arrived in 1961?

I was fortunate that Jackie Plenderleith was at City because he looked after me and helped me settle, but it felt like an entirely different way of life.  At first Jackie would take me and my wife to the pubs and clubs – I guess he wanted to show the different areas and help us get accustomed to the place – but I remember we felt a bit homesick and me and my wife started to talking and, even though she had worked in Glasgow, it felt alien to some extent and we stuck out a little.  We knew that once we’d found a house and made it our home we wouldn’t be going out so much, so that became our priority and we eventually settled.  David Shawcross and a few others also helped us settle.

On the pitch I couldn’t have had a better start.  We beat Leicester 3-1 in my first game and I even scored against the great Gordon Banks.  The fans loved that and I think they supported me from the beginning, although it was a little tough at first.  Denis Law, who was a great hero to the fans, had been sold, and Ken Barnes, another hero, had also moved on, and their replacements were me and Peter Dobing.  For a lot of fans – and I can totally understand this – we were not an improvement.  Usually when you bring players in you try to improve the side, but when we joined I don’t think anyone believed the side had improved.  Nevertheless the fans took to me and I think they recognised that I always gave 100% – City fans rightly demand that and they will often overlook a player’s weaknesses so long as he shows the same commitment to the Club as they do.  

You were an everpresent in your first season, then in November 1962 you were awarded the captaincy.  How did that feel?

I was very happy with that because I suppose my 100% commitment had helped, but I have to say it didn’t change a great deal.  I shook hands with the opposition captain, tossed the coin, selected the end, but apart from that I continued to do what I’d always done.  Every member of the side should act like a captain, so when you do get the captaincy it shouldn’t change too much.  Obviously, I tried to lead by example and tried to help younger players or anyone struggling, but I’d expect every player to do that anyway.

The 1962-3 season ended in relegation, then City seemed to lack direction for the next couple of seasons, how did this period feel to you?

It was worrying of course, and I guess the game we all talk about is that match with Swindon when there were only 8,000 at Maine Road.  That was a miserable day.  My strongest recollection is that our groundsman Stan Gibson would put grass seed out at the start of spring to try and get the pitch going for the next season.  Growing a pitch then was much more difficult.  Anyway, Stand had sown seeds prior to the Swindon game, and during the match the atmosphere was very poor.  Pigeons came on to the turf and sat eating the seed in the middle of the pitch.  We had to play around them!  

After the game there was a bit of a demonstration and one or two bricks were thrown – that was a major disturbance at the time because general disorder was not known – and little Albert Alexander went out to face the fans.  It was a brave thing to do but Albert was an absolute Blue and felt the pain of the day himself.  I think, after listening to Albert, the fans all just packed up and went home, but in the dressing room some of the players were saying they’d had enough.  They wanted to leave…  saw no future etc.  I didn’t feel like that because, even in City’s darkest hour, I still couldn’t see anywhere better to go.  It had been the worst day of my footballing life, but I loved Maine Road, loved the support, and I saw Manchester City as the best club in the world.  Why move?

Talking of Albert Alexander, I must ask you about the story from 1968 of ‘Bobby Kennedy’s shooting’?

This is a pretty famous one.  The story goes that while we were in the States on tour Bobby Kennedy, John F Kennedy’s brother, was shot.  Joe Mercer heard the news from his hotel bed and immediately ‘phoned Albert’s room and said:  “Have you heard, Bobby Kennedy’s been shot?” and Albert replied: “What’s he doing out at this time?”  Some people have tried to make out that Albert was perhaps the type of director who didn’t have his finger on the pulse, but in truth Albert was such an obsessed City man that nothing but Manchester City really mattered.  So as far as he was concerned on that night there was only one Bobby Kennedy worth thinking of.  I know this has since appeared in a book – I won’t say which one – as the author’s own story but the truth is that its Joe and Albert’s story and that Albert was such a passionate Blue that even a member of the famous Kennedy family was not as important as a City man.

It wasn’t long before Joe Mercer came.  How did you view the managerial changes and appointments during this period?

I started under Les McDowall who was very much an old school manager – shirt & tie, office type.  You rarely saw him but when you did it was usual when he was unveiling one of his new tactical plans.  Everyone knows about the Revie Plan, that was before my time, but McDowall was still creating plans during his final seasons.  We had one where we played with 5 at the back and I had a number 7 shirt on.  It’s difficult to explain but he basically mixed everything up.  Anyway, we played a friendly against Burnley in Dublin (12/10/62) and tried it out.  It worked like a dream and McDowall thought it was the Bees Knees.  We came back to England, played it against Birmingham and we were awful.  It was soon scrapped.

Actually McDowall would probably have excelled in today’s game because he was absolutely driven with tactical formations.  After he left pipe smoking George Poyser took over.  That wasn’t a dynamic period at all and I guess that’s when the rot really set in, although we still had some very good players – Alex Harley, Matt Gray and the rest.  Poyser was sacked and for the last part of the 1964-65 season Freddie Tilson took over.  In the close season I returned to Scotland for a few weeks as we always did and by the time I came back Joe and Malcolm were here.

How different was life under Mercer & Allison?

At first it was a bit strange.  I’d ended the 1964-5 season playing at centre-half and I think they were led to believe that was my position.  When the new season started I wasn’t included and they played Dave Bacuzzi at right back instead.  They weren’t really happy with that and then Johnny Hart suggested putting me into the number 2 shirt.  I stayed there for the rest of the season other than one game.

In terms of training, Malcolm allowed us to train with the ball.  That was new – our training under the others had consisted of a few laps of the pitch and a run up Princess Parkway.  Malcolm actually allowed us to practice ball skills.  Ironically, after promotion he then got us running again – much harder than before of course!  

Did you see much of Joe?

Joe was great of course, but we also knew that he’d been ill and so it was clear that he wasn’t going to be on the training pitch with us.  Joe did an awful lot of work at the Club, but it was only really at the end of the week that he’d be talking with you at training.  In fact what usually happened was that Joe would come down, take me for a walk around the pitch with his arm around me, and tell me that I wasn’t playing.  That I’d not been selected.  By the time we returned to the tunnel area, I’d be thanking him for not picking me!  

By the time of the 1967-8 Championship you were more a squad member than first team regular, how did that feel?

The spirit and atmosphere at the Club was so great that I still had no interest in leaving.  This was still the greatest club and I always reasoned that I’d be mad to leave it.  Funnily enough the peak moment as far as the Club was concerned during my spell here has to be the Newcastle title decider in May 1968.  If you look at the records, I’m the unused substitute for that day.  I was desperate to get on, but I knew there was no way they’d disrupt the team.  After we’d won the title I appeared on all the photos, lifting the trophy and the rest, but in truth I knew it wasn’t my success, although I had appeared in half a dozen of the games.  I was still delighted though.  

A couple of years earlier when Mercer first arrived another Scot Ralph Brand was his first signing, his career didn’t really succeed at City, do you have a view on why?

At that time Ralph had been a big star in Scotland and was an international player but, I guess, so much was expected of him that it may have put too much pressure.  It’s difficult to say but he and Mike Summerbee arrived more or less at the same time and Mike succeeded from the start.  It was a dream for me to play behind him because he made my life so easy.  All I had to do was get the ball and give it to Mike.  With Ralph there was a lot of competition for his place – Neil Young and Dave Connor really leaped above him once Malcolm started working with them.  I was fortunate when I arrived that there wasn’t too much competition but, as time progressed, Tony Book was signed and opportunities became limited for me.

In March 1969 you moved to Grimsby as player-manager, had you decided it was time to move into management?

To some extent yes.  I knew I was nearing the end of my playing career and decided to look at other options.  Joe told me there might be a coaching role coming up and that did interest me, but then Grimsby made an approach – Matt Busby had suggested me to them – and the chance came to continue playing as well as move into management.  I took the chance, but I now realise that I might have been better moving into a coaching role first to gain experience.  At Grimsby there were 14 directors who each had to vote on every issue. You couldn’t get anything done and I was unable to move forward.  The fans took to me and the last few months of the season everything clicked on the pitch and we had a terrific record, but the directors and I could never work together in the end and that was that.  I was asked to do some coaching work at Bradford City, and then I became manager when Bryan Edwards left.

It was a good club to be at and the directors worked hard, so that all helped.  We got to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, losing to Southampton, so it was all good.  We beat John Bond’s Norwich in a tie, and he went mad, saying that we shouldn’t be in the League etc.  We got promoted, I was given a two year contract then three months later I was sacked! 

Jim Iley then gave me a coaching job at Blackburn, but he was sacked shortly afterwards, and I knew it was only a matter of time before a new manager would bring his own staff in.  When I was asked to leave I thought it was time to call it a day.  I gave up on a football career and, through a friend in Manchester, I was asked to get involved with the clothing business and, at the age of 67 it’s something I still do.  A great new career.

Finally, it’s fair to say football still plays a major part in your life.  Your son’s coaching young goalkeepers at Bradford, and your daughter has represented Scotland at Women’s football.  How does this feel?

It’s great to know that they are still finding enjoyment out of the game.  I watch my grandchildren play, and of course I did go and support my daughter when she was playing for Scotland and Bradford.  I think ladies football is great and I’ve seen some very talented players.  It’s a great sport to play.

As well as that I try to come to watch City whenever I can.  There’s still something about this club that is special.   

Colin Bell Tribute

Four years ago today (5 January 2021) the great Colin Bell MBE died. I did an interview for the Blue Moon Podcast the day after Colin passed away. It was an emotional morning of course. The guys at the podcast have made the entire interview free to listen to here:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/gary-james-pays-45924408

There are plenty of articles about Colin on my website. Follow the link below to see those tagged ‘Colin Bell’:

https://gjfootballarchive.com/tag/colin-bell/

Frank Swift’s Birth

On this day in 1913: Frank Swift was born. Here for subscribers is a detailed article I wrote on Swift a few years back:

Swift, Frank Victor (1913-1958), footballer and journalist was born in Blackpool, Lancashire on 26 December 1913, the second son of five children.  From his earliest memories, he was always obsessed with the game of football, playing at every opportunity with his brothers, one of whom, Fred, became first team goalkeeper for a variety of clubs, most notably Blackpool, Oldham Athletic and Bolton Wanderers.

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Roy Cheetham

Roy Cheetham was born in Manchester on this day Manchester born (21 December) in 1939. He joined Manchester City from school in 1956 and went on to become a loyal clubman over a 12 year Maine Road career. In total he made 138 (plus five as sub) League and cup appearances, but he also made a staggering 218 Reserves games for the Blues.  Sadly, Roy passed away on 8 December 2019. I met up with him at City’s stadium shortly before Christmas 2004 for an interview. Here for subscribers is that interview. He talks about his City career, moving to Detroit to play in the American soccer league of the time and more:

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Peter Doherty Leaves Manchester City

On this day (6 December) in 1945 the legendary Manchester City forward Peter Doherty (described as the greatest Irish footballer of all time into the 1970s) was transferred to Derby County. A few years back I wrote this profile of him.

Subscribers to my site can read the article below:

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Franny Lee Scored 2 v West Ham

This day (21 November) in 1970 saw England international Francis Lee score twice as Manchester City defeated West Ham United 2-0 at Maine Road. Franny was a wonderful, attacking player and a statue of him alongside Colin Bell and Mike Summerbee has been erected at the Etihad Stadium. I met Francis a lot over the years and interviewed him frequently. So, if you’ve not seen this before, here’s an interview I did with him at his home in February 2010. This was published in the City match programme back then and you can read Franny’s views on his career here as published at the time. Enjoy!

In a glittering career Francis won two League Championships, the ECWC, League Cup and the FA Cup.

Francis, let’s begin with your early career at Bolton.  Is it true you started on the groundstaff?

That’s right.  I set myself a target that I had to get into the first team by the time I was 17 or 18.  If I didn’t I was going to go back to college and train as a draughtsman.  That was my plan, but I managed to get into the first team at 16 and I made my debut against City (5/11/60).  We won 3-1 and I scored a header at 3.15 against Bert Trautmann – I think Bert must have thought he was getting over the hill for me to score a header past him! 

I had about a dozen games over two seasons, then in 1962-63 I was top scorer with 12 goals from 23 League games.

You topped the goalscoring charts each season at Bolton from 1962 until you left.  You were playing on the wing.  Was that your preferred position?

I think my best position was as support striker to a big fella.  I only played in that role twice really – at Bolton with Wyn Davies when I scored 23 League goals one season and then at City with Wyn again when I scored 33 League goals in 1971-72.  A lot of my career was spent at centre-forward which is a bit of a difficult position to play if you’re only 5ft 7.  When I played for England I was support to Geoff Hurst and that suited me.  At centre-forward I had my back to the ball but when I was support striker – the free player – that suited me fine.  I could pick up the ball going forward and that was great.

At Bolton you scored 106 goals in 210 appearances.  A great record, but when you left the club the stories were that you were in dispute.  Is that true?

Well, what happened is that we were relegated in 1964 and, despite a near-miss in 1965 when we finished third, it didn’t feel as if we were going forward.  My ambition was still to see how far I could develop in the game and in the back of my mind I had the ambition to play for England, but I wasn’t even selected for the under 23s.  The story was going around that I was difficult to handle – which is funny because Joe Mercer said that I was the easiest player to handle at one point.

Were you difficult to handle at Bolton?

I was opinionated and ambitious, but not difficult.  I think that message was going around because I was on a weekly contract at that time.  The club knew that it would be difficult for them to stop me moving on if another club came in.  So any player with a reputation for being difficult would not be on anyone else’s shopping list, would they?  Bolton offered me a new contract worth something like £150 a week but my wage was only £35.  That actually upset me and I said: “if you now think I’m worth £150 a week what about all those years you’ve been underpaying me?”  It wasn’t the money that was an issue it was the way they handled it.  What they were doing was trying to get me on that contract and then my value would increase if someone came in to buy me.   Once they saw how dissatisfied I was with the way they were handling it, they said that it’d be best if we made a clean break, and so I said I’d pack the game in.  I had my business by then and so I said:  “give me my employment cards and I’ll pack it in.”  They thought I was bluffing. 

It’d been a decent season – I’d scored 9 goals in 11 games including when we beat the great Liverpool side in the League Cup – but then it ended in September 1967.  They gave me my cards and that was it.

Were you absolutely certain you’d pack it all in at that point?

I kept myself fit but I was working on my business.  I was driving my lorry around, collecting the waste paper and so on.  The business was growing and I felt that if I wasn’t wanted then I’d concentrate on that.  It was always my fallback. 

I know how stories can get exaggerated over the years, but is it true that in between games you were going around collecting the waste paper?

I used to drive my lorry during the week and even on the Thursday or Friday before a game I’d be collecting waste paper.  I used to put on a flat cap and muffler so that nobody would recognise me!  In the end I was driving articulated lorries and it was getting to be a very good business.  My last pick up was the day before I signed for City!  I roped and sheeted about 15 ton of paper and cardboard from a spinning mill in Bolton.  Took it to the Sun Paper Mill in Blackburn and when I got back about 5pm I got a call from Joe Mercer.  He didn’t give his name at first but I recognised him.  “Who is that?”  He said:  “Tom Jones.”  I said: “It doesn’t sound like Tom Jones, sounds more like a man called Mercer!” and he asked:  “Where’ve you been?”  I told him I’d been playing golf – I couldn’t play the game at all then but I couldn’t tell him what I had been doing! 

This is Your Life Joe Mercer 1970 MCFC squad

Did you immediately want to sign for City?

Other teams had shown interest in signing me.  Liverpool offered £100,000 I understand but then when I wasn’t playing it affected my price.  In later years Shanks often used to grab me and say in that strong Scottish accent:  “Son, I should’ve signed ya the night I saw ya!”

City was just right of course.  It meant the business could carry on.  I don’t know if Bolton had told Joe about my contract or the £150 offer but the first thing he said to me before we talked it through was:  “I’ll be honest with you son.  We’ve no money.  We’re skint!”  I said:  “It doesn’t matter.  I’ll just be delighted to start playing again.”  I meant it as well.

I signed for City for £60 a week – remember I’d turned down £150 at Bolton!  But it was well worth it.  The way the team developed and, of course, when I realised my ambition and played for England.

I left a lot of friends of mine at Bolton – Freddie Hill, Tommy Banks, Roy Hartle, Gordon Taylor – and we had some great times.  Those of us who had come through the ranks were poorly paid for the job we were doing at the time, but we enjoyed ourselves.  I never had any argument with the players, fans or people at Bolton, it was just those that ran it.  I loved my time at Bolton.

When you joined City the Blues were ninth in Division One after losing 5 of the 11 games played.  But the side was transformed from the moment you came.  Unbeaten in your first 11 League games.  Were you the difference?

The team just clicked and I was only part of a good group of players.  We had that great run up to Christmas, then a bit of a blip, but in the New Year we just rattled on.  It was a terrific period.  Mike Summerbee was playing at centre-forward and our culture at the time was to play with five forwards.  It was very unusual for the time.  The only system we played was that we all played – we had ten players who went up together, and ten who defended together.  When we won the League at Newcastle at the end of the season it was wonderful and particularly special because none of us had ever won anything significant.  This was our first major success and that’s why the following season the ordeal of playing a European Cup tie was so tough.

Francis Lee after scoring at Newcastle

Was it just inexperience that caused City to lose the Fenerbahce European Cup tie 2-1 on aggregate?

None of us had played in Europe before.  Mike Summerbee had only made his England debut against Scotland in February 1968.  Colin Bell had played in two England friendlies, but apart from that none of us had any concept of what it could be like in Turkey.  Had we played the first leg in Istanbul and the second at Maine Road I think we’d have gone through, but the goalless 1st leg at Maine Road killed us really.  We worked hard in Istanbul and it was a creditable result over there but we were out and it was because we were inexperienced.  It was a culture shock.

Confidence was at a real low after that game.  We’d had a bad run and only had a small squad so we struggled.  But that was the way it was.  Back then the motivation for all of us was to be in the team and to keep your place. 

I think younger readers may be surprised to read that City tried to keep the same eleven players game after game, competition after competition.  Would you have enjoyed a squad rotation policy when you played?

The aim of a footballer is to play.  Why would anyone want to be rested?  If a manager had said to me ten minutes before full time that he wanted to bring me off even though I was playing well, I’d have told him “no way!  I’m enjoying myself.  This is what you bought me for, now let me do it!”  It wouldn’t matter what the manager says I’d want to stay on.  That’s what the game is about – enjoyment!  Every player wanted to play.  None of us wanted to be on the bench. 

People talk about the number of games played today but in 1969-70, ignoring friendlies, you played 72 competitive games for England and City.  Would squad rotation have helped?

No. Playing is always better than being on the training pitch and I used to love playing, so I tried not to miss a game.  It didn’t matter whether it was an England friendly, Anglo-Italian cup or whatever, I wanted to play and represent my club and my country.  I think it’s best for all players.  Look at Tevez.  He’s improved his fitness and form by playing, and I think a lot of players are like that.  He needs to play, and that’s what I always wanted. 

Francis Lee v Schalke 15 April 1970

Some of the other players from the 1969-70 season have talked about Franny’s Grand Slam.  Your aim to win four trophies in one season inspired them.  What do you remember of that?

Well, we wanted to win every game so it seemed natural to me that we should go for all four.  We won the League Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup, so that wasn’t bad.  In the FA Cup we ended up suffering a rare defeat at United.  We were doing okay in the League then we had a few injuries – Mike, Colin Bell and Neil Young were injured at key times – otherwise I think we would have won three trophies.  But the thing about the ‘Grand Slam’ was that it was the ambition of the place.  I remember we were going to London on the train and could see Wembley, and I shouted to the lads to take a look because two of our ‘Grand Slam’ games would be played there!

1970 ECWC

Moving forward a couple of years, we missed the title by a point in 1972.  Why?

Rodney Marsh has told you himself that his signing affected the 1971-72 season.  Malcolm played Rodney and disrupted a team that I’m convinced would have won the League that year.  I don’t blame Rodney.  There was one game near the end where we should have had a couple of penalties for hand ball but, because this was the season when we got that record number of penalties, they weren’t given.  That season our luck changed and everything went against us. 

A lot has been made about you ‘diving’ but the factual evidence is that the majority of those penalties were given for things like handball or fouls on other players.  Nevertheless, the myths survive.  So, big question, did you ever dive?

I couldn’t say that I always stayed on my feet unless I was absolutely knocked down.  In those days you used to get some horrendous treatment by the defenders, but I will tell you that the season before those penalties we only had a couple, and before that I think it was one.  The reason we got so many in 1971-72 is that they had changed the law, plus we were going for the title so we were putting sides under a lot of pressure and they reacted.  I was fouled only 5 times out of the 13 league penalties we got.

When I was attacking I used to play the odds.  If a defender was coming towards me I’d carry on, or I’d run towards the defender because there were only three things that could happen – he pulls me down, he gets the ball off me – well done, or I get a cracking shot at goal.  So the odds were in my favour.  You have to play them.

I think the reason people go on about penalties with me is because I was the one taking them.  It didn’t seem to matter what they were given for, the headlines were that I had scored from a penalty.  The season after I think we only got one penalty.  I would say that for every dubious penalty that was awarded there were another twenty that we should have had.

Francis Lee’s first penalty for City January 1968 v Sheffield United

Was the move to Derby something you really wanted?

By that time my business was substantial so going to Derby was going to cause problems.  Derby offered City more than anyone else and that was that.  We won the title in my first season – I’d only signed a contract for a year – and they were a very good side, so I stayed with them for another season.  The pitch was awful – even Maine Road’s pitch was better – but I felt we could have won the European Cup that second season.  We beat Real Madrid 4-1 but I missed the return game because I’d been sent off in the Hunter incident against Leeds.  We lost 5-1.

They actually changed the rule after that saying it was unfair to automatically ban a player from a European game after a domestic match when the player had yet to be proved to be guilty.  There wasn’t much chance of me being ‘not guilty’ – the footage was there for everyone to see!

People often suggest that City sold you too soon and that had you stayed a couple of seasons longer we might have won the title again.  Do you hold this view?

I think if I’d have stayed and Mike Summerbee – remember he was sold a year after me – then I do think we’d have mounted a serious challenge for the title.  Mike had plenty to offer and should not have been sold.

You came back to Maine Road and scored for Derby (28/12/74).  I was in Platt Lane that day and I remember a surreal moment when City fans cheered your goal.  Did that actually happen?

Yes, it did.  Then I think they thought:  “What have we done, he’s playing for them!”

I enjoyed my football and I loved scoring.  I loved that goal.  I picked it up with my back to the line, went through two people and on to score the goal.  The film shows me smiling because I’d scored what I thought was a good goal.  It had nothing to do with City or revenge or anything like that.  I think I enjoyed about 95% of every game I ever played.  It was fun.  A great way to earn a living, so on that day I was happy.

Why did you retire in 1976 only a few weeks after your 32nd birthday?

My business was taking over.  I had about 110 people working for me and was travelling all over the country.  Had I been playing closer to Bolton then I may have carried on.  Derby wanted me to stay on, and I made a promise to Dave Mackay that if I was to play again then I’d do it for him.  Tommy Docherty tried to persuade me to join United but I wouldn’t break my promise to Derby.

Your business and horse racing interests grew, but then in 1993 you were back, mounting a takeover of City.  Why?

I wasn’t looking to get back into the game at all during those years.  I had a successful career and was happy.  But City were in a desperate state and I genuinely felt that I could not let a club I cared passionately for struggle like that.

When we finally gained control there were so many issues.  So many skeletons coming out of the cupboards.  The financial state of the club was appalling.  I should have known then that it wouldn’t work! 

The biggest problem at the start was having to build the new Kippax Stand –there really wasn’t a workable plan in place before we arrived and yet the stand had to be replaced within months of us arriving.  We ended up spending about £16m in the end – even removing the waste from underneath the old terracing cost £1.8m because it was contaminated.  I thought then that my luck had changed.  Everything we tried to do became an issue and the Kippax was a millstone.  

1994-95 the new Kippax takes shape

It’s extraordinary when you think that prior to us, Blackburn and Everton, no one ever put money into a football club.  People bought shares but never invested, we did invest. 

Off the pitch things did improve significantly, but on the pitch we struggled.  What’s your view?

People like John Dunkerley worked very hard during that spell and the training facilities were improved and so on.  Then, just when we finished the Kippax, Manchester Council started to talk to me about becoming tenants of the new stadium – now that turned out to be the best thing that happened to City during the decade that followed.  We spent a lot of time working with them and talking with various people to make it happen.  Full marks must go to the Council for having the foresight and it became very important for City to become anchor tenants.  I think I had a lot of bad luck as Chairman and things certainly didn’t work on the pitch, but I do think that was one thing that the club got right.

Finally, thinking of your time as a player, many people claim the 1970 League Cup Final was your greatest City game, do you feel that?

I don’t think of individual games in that way.  You have to look at the club during your time there and see what that club won and what you contributed to the overall success of the club, not necessarily individual games. 

1970 League Cup final. Francis Lee facing ball and Glyn Pardoe

My role was to make things happen, and if I was making things happen, especially if it was causing some aggravation for the opposition, then I was happy.  When you hear the opposition players shouting things like: “don’t let him turn!” that’s a real pat on the back.  You know you’re getting to them.

In terms of individual games or goals…  I think one of the goals I scored at West Ham (18/11/67) was the best goal I’ve ever scored.  I was playing against Bobby Moore and I think I had a fantastic game.

I always think that a top class player should go on to the pitch and have enough confidence in his own ability to know that it is very rare for him to have a bad game.  It’s not arrogance or anything, but it is the mark of a top class player.  If you go onto the pitch feeling that then more often than not you will have a good game.  The next step is to take it up the levels until you walk on to the pitch believing you’ll have a great game and score a couple of goals. 

At City most of us developed that confidence and on some days, when the entire team was at that level, we had some tremendous games.  There are signs that the current side are heading in that same direction.

You can read more on Francis throughout the website. Use the Francis Lee tab lower down on this page or search using his name. As an example, here’s a detailed profile of him I wrote a few years back:

On This Day: City Signed Francis Lee

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IN SEARCH OF THE BLUES – Joe Corrigan (interviewed in November 2004)

Back in November twenty years ago I interviewed the former England international goalkeeper Joe Corrigan. He made 592 League, Cup and European appearances with Manchester City between 1967 and 1983.  I caught up with him at Stockport’s training ground in November 2004 and this article was first published that month. Enjoy!

Let’s start with your school days.  I believe you went to a rugby playing school?

I went to Sale Grammar School and there was no football at all.  I played rugby union for the school and for Cheshire, and I guess that helped my ball control, catching ability etc.  Despite this, I always wanted to be a ‘keeper and I played football at any opportunity really.  When I started as an apprentice at AEI in Trafford Park the chance came to play for the works side and I played at centre-half.  I had no choice about that – I wanted to play ‘keeper.  I guess my size made me a defender.  

Then one day I had to go in nets at half time and I suppose I must have looked all right because I was encouraged to go for a trial.  Both City and United were contacted, and a reply came from Maine Road within a fortnight.  After the trial Harry Godwin, City’s Chief Scout, asked me to sign and I joined a youth set up that included Tommy Booth and Ray Hatton – Boxer Ricky Hatton’s dad.

United offered me a trial as well, but once City showed the interest they did I turned them down.  I wanted to be loyal and City had faith in me.  That mattered a great deal.

You mentioned you’d always wanted to be a ‘keeper, who were your early heroes?

There were two – Harry Gregg and Bert Trautmann.  I was fortunate enough to go on loan to Shrewsbury when Gregg was there and he taught me so much.  He really helped.  Trautmann of course was a phenomenal ‘keeper and a wonderful man.  Being a City legend he was the type of ‘keeper I aspired to.  He offered me good advice as well.

I remember one day after West Ham had beaten us 5-1 – it was Jimmy Greaves’ debut (21/3/70) – I felt awful.  It was my first proper season and I felt I’d ruined my chance.  This was the game when my clearance went straight to Ronnie Boyce and he sent it straight back over my head.  When something like that happens, being a goalkeeper is the loneliest job in the world.

Anyway, I was told that Bert was at the game.  He took me to one side and told me not to worry about that result or that goal.  He pointed out that these things can happen to any ‘keeper and that he’d had some awful individual moments.  I felt much better after that and, I guess, because he had said it, it meant more than if the manager or anyone else had said it.  Bert had been one of football’s greatest ‘keepers and so he knew more than most about how I was feeling.  Mind you, it didn’t stop the BBC showing the goal whenever they had the opportunity!

One of my strongest early City memories is of you watching Bert play in Johnny Hart’s testimonial in 1974.  How did that feel?

Bert was such a great player that I thought it’d be good to crouch on the touchline and just watch.  Even at that age – he must have been 51 – he was fit and agile and someone you could learn from.  The only problem was that I had to tell him he was coming off!  I went over to him and a bloke in the stand shouted, “leave him in nets, he’s still better than you!”  

Thinking about your early City days, you made a couple of League Cup appearances in 1967/8 and then 1969/70 saw you make your League debut.  You made 34 League appearances and also played in the ECWC Cup run.  Did winning the ECWC make you feel as if you’d ‘made it’ as a player?

Never!  I never felt that.  Even when I was playing for England I didn’t take anything for granted.  Playing in the ECWC final was awesome.  It was a terribly wet night and the crowd was low, but that didn’t detract from the importance at all.  To play in such a great side and at that level is a tremendous feeling but you have to keep your feet on the ground.  I’m glad I did, because it wasn’t long before it looked as if my City career was over.

You remained first choice for most of the period up to the signing of Keith MacRae in October 1973, did his arrival feel like the end for you?

Definitely!  They paid an incredible amount – I think it was a world record fee for a ‘keeper – so you know that he has to be first choice. You don’t pay that and leave him in the reserves.  Plus he was a great ‘keeper.  No question.

I was on my way out and this was a very difficult time.  The Club was also going through a few managerial changes, so it wasn’t easy. Then in 1975 Keith was injured shortly before the transfer deadline.  I thought I’d get back in, but I bought the Evening News and saw photos and names of a whole host of ‘keepers that the Club were supposed to be interested in.  It seemed to me at the time that anybody but Corrigan would do.  This was a tormenting time.  I couldn’t bear it.  Every night it was the same.

Fortunately for me transfer day came and went and no one was bought.  I don’t know if time ran out or what, but I know I was relieved.  

You got back into the side and retained your place when MacRae was fit.  What was the turning point?

I’d been working hard when I was in the Reserves.  I’d tried to develop and I was determined not to lose whatever opportunity came my way.  Having said that, we had mixed results and I was worried.  Then we played at Wolves and they were all over us.  I remember Dougan and Richards both came up for a cross and I was whacked.  The ball ended up in the net and I felt awful.  Then the ref blew for a foul on me and from that moment on the luck was on my side.  I truly believe that a lot of football is about luck and opportunity and that day everything switched to my favour.  We beat Chelsea and Burnley in the weeks that followed and I only missed 1 League game in the following 5 seasons. 

You became a major hero over those seasons, how do you think the fans treated you throughout your City career?

There were two definite spells.  The early years when received a lot of criticism – I accept that because if you pay your money you are entitled to say what you think, but it was difficult to take at times.  Then there were the later years when I had matured and developed, and the fans gave me incredible support.  I loved going to events like the Junior Blues and meeting real fans.  I think we had it drummed into us when we first arrived at the Club by Joe Mercer that supporters are the most important people – they pay your wages and you must never forget that!  Once the Junior Blues were created it was stressed that these children would in the future pay your wages.  They are not simply here for a party, they are here because you are an important part of their lives.  Every player should always make the effort.

I had it drummed into me by Mercer that you should visit hospitals and kids homes and the like.  It’s all great PR for the Club and the player.  Actually, when I was playing in the States at Seattle a local policeman was shot.  I was appalled and told the team I was going to see him in hospital.  They all thought I was out of my mind.  “Why do it?  What is he to you?”  I went to see him, invited him to a game, and he loved it, but I was stunned to find that I made the news.  The headlines read “Do Gooder Joe Corrigan” – they made out I was a saint, but all I was doing was the PR that was the norm at City.

Thinking of fans, Helen Turner (the lady with the bell) must hold special memories for you?

She always sat behind me in the North Stand and before every game she would give me a sprig of heather for good luck.  At away games she wasn’t always near me, so sometimes it was difficult for her to get the heather to me.  If I hadn’t received it by kick off time I’d be worried.  Partly I’d wonder if she was all right, but I also used to worry about my luck.  If ever we lost and I’d not seen Helen I’d believe that was the reason.  She’s a marvellous, devoted fan, and I know she’s done a tremendous amount of work for good causes.

Your career spanned several managerial reigns, is there one manager who stands out as the best for you?

Because the goalkeeper’s role is so specialised, I gained most from other goalies such as Trautmann and Gregg, but Joe Mercer was the greatest City manager of all time.  He was such a warm, nice man.  He knew how to tell you off as well, of course, but his enthusiasm and love of football was clear.  Malcolm Allison, as coach, was tremendous.  He was doing stuff in 1969 that coaches are only just introducing now and often they claim it’s a new idea!  He tried to make sure the ‘keepers received their own coaching and specialist time, and when Tony Book became manager he tried to ensure this developed further.  Coaches Bill Taylor and Ian McFarlane worked hard with me and I used to come in on the morning of a game to do additional training.  The view was that I would get used to the actual conditions of the day and this definitely worked.

If we were playing away I’d train in the hotel grounds, or in a park.  On the morning of the 1981 FA Cup final I was training in a public park.

Thinking of the 1981 final, one of my key memories is of you immediately going over to Tommy Hutchison when he scored the own goal.  You lifted him up, patted him on the back and whispered something to him.  What encouragement did you give?

My view was that we still had a few minutes left.  We’d still 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.  Personally, I believe the game should have been played to a conclusion on that night.  The FA Cup is all about the Saturday and I know we would have won had it gone to a conclusion.  I never liked facing penalties – I think I only saved two – but that night we’d have won.  No question.  The Saturday was our day, after that it all switched.  

Tottenham had no travelling to do; their fans could buy tickets from either Spurs or directly from Wembley’s allocation; and our fans were simply outnumbered in the replay even though we were by far a better supported team.

Despite our eventual defeat, you were made ‘man of the final’ for your performance.  That must have felt like a great achievement.

Obviously, it does mean a lot to me, but I’d rather have won the final.  After the second match I was presented with it by the Spurs manager Keith Burkenshaw.  I remember thanking him and then saying something like “Good luck in Europe next season” and at that very moment it hit home to me what had happened.  I suddenly realised that we’d lost and that we wouldn’t be playing in Europe.  I was devastated.  It was an awful feeling.  I missed out in another way because the game went to a replay.  England were playing Brazil at Wembley on the Wednesday after the final and, although there was nothing official, I understand I was due to play, but the replay (played the following night) meant I couldn’t play.

You played during many great seasons, what were your own highlights?

There were two great sides – the one I joined in the 60s that had already achieved so much and the mid to late 70s.  Both sides were tremendous and the players really knew how to entertain.  Colin Bell was a truly great player and I’m certain he would have gone on to captain England had it not been for that horrific injury.  Losing him was the biggest blow this club has had to face.  He bridged the two great sides and had he been fully fit he would have helped that late 70s side achieve the League title.  People often forget how good that late 70s side was – Dave Watson, Dennis Tueart, Joe Royle, Willie Donachie and the rest.  

The John Bond transformation was great as well.  Steve Mackenzie’s goal in the 81 replay has to be one of the greatest Cup Final goals of all time.  The problem with that replay was that Hutchison and Gow had given so much in the first game that they must have been drained for the second match.  They still did well, but they didn’t have enough time to recover in between games. Kevin Reeves was injured early on and that was a major blow – he is one of City’s most underrated players.  Reeves was a very, very good player.

Let’s talk about England.  You were unfortunate to play when there were so many great English ‘keepers.  Do you ever wish you’d played at another time?

No.  I enjoyed playing when I did.  It was good that there were so many great ‘keepers around because that pushed you more.  Sadly, for me it meant I’d have to try and reach a level above Shilton, Clemence, Parkes, and Rimmer.  If I’d been an outfield player, it may have been easier because with a goalie there is only one place to fill.  When I did play for England it meant more than anything else – in football playing for the national side is the highest honour you can have.  One of my favourite performances was when I played against Brazil – the best team in the world at the time by a long way – and we managed a 1-1 draw.  I was under pressure the whole time and remember a couple of saves I am particularly proud of.

Did you enjoy being under pressure more than trouble free games?

Sometimes ‘trouble-free’ games are the worst because you have to be more alert.  It would be easy to sit back and focus on other things, but then if you’re tested you could fail.  I remember one game I had no saves to make at all, but I acme off the pitch totally drained.  Everyone said ‘what’s up with you, you’ve done nothing?’  I would much have preferred to be under pressure for 90 minutes. 

Eventually you left City.  First for Seattle Sounders and later for Brighton, why did you move on?

I think I should have left a little earlier.  I love City but it got to the stage where I knew I wasn’t really wanted here.  The fans were marvellous; the players were great; but maybe it wasn’t really my time any more.  I was approached by Spurs, shortly after the Cup Final, and then Liverpool after we’d beat them 3-1 (Boxing Day 1981) but both moves were blocked, so that made it clear someone still wanted me, but then when Seattle made their approach in 1983 I was told I could go.  Something had changed.

At Seattle I had a great time and the pressures were completely different.  It was a wonderful time.  Sadly, City were relegated while I was away and I felt awful.  It really hit me.  I know I wouldn’t have changed things – Alex Williams did an excellent job – but I felt the same pain I would have felt had I been here.  I worried about the fans.  Funnily enough when I was in the States I played a game at New York and I wasn’t happy with our performance and tactics and I shouted a bit of abuse at the bench.  My own supporters started booing me and telling me I shouldn’t swear at a football match – in my early days at City I was given abuse for being too quiet!  It was all so different.

You eventually moved into coaching – something you still do today.  Presumably, you enjoy putting something back in to the game. 

That day when Bert Trautmann came to offer advice and reassure me in 1969 meant so much to me that I guess I’ve always felt I should do the same.  Bert and the other ‘keepers taught me more than other coaches could because they had been there.  They had experience what I was experiencing, and I feel that I need to do the same.  I’ve coached all over the UK and, at one point, I was flying to Scotland, driving to Yorkshire and the north-east the next day… every day I was on the road.  Then I had ten very enjoyable years at Liverpool, and now there’s Stockport and Chester as well.  It’s great to put something back.

Finally, you were one of the inaugural entrants in to City’s Hall Of Fame.  You received the 3rd highest number of votes after Trautmann and then Bell.  How does it feel to still be remembered by fans in this way?

The Hall of Fame is such a wonderful honour.  On the night I had no idea.  I was interviewed by TV and thought I was making up the numbers but then I was the first one up.  I was choked, truly choked, and couldn’t get the right words in to my head.  Can I take this opportunity to pass on my thoughts to Norah Mercer – Joe Mercer was a fantastic man and he made such a big impression on me when I was first starting out.  Also, I’d like to thank all the players who have worked with me, and of course the supporters.  I was deeply touched by the award.  

Joe Corrigan after an amazing save at Arsenal 6 February 1971

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A Shock Transfer From Spurs

Today (5 November) marks the anniversary of a shock transfer of an England international from Tottenham to Manchester City only a few days before an England game. The player even travelled on the Tottenham coach to Manchester as the two teams were about to play each other. You can read the story and match reports here:

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Billy McAdams

On 13 October in 2002 Fifties goalscoring star Billy McAdams died. During his Manchester City career he made 134 first team appearances and scored 65 goals. He had joined City on 6 December 1953 and on 2 January 1954 McAdams, signed from Distillery, made his debut. It was a memorable one as he scored an equaliser in the 49th minute against Sunderland at Maine Road.  The game was played in poor, foggy conditions but City won.

A week after the Sunderland game, McAdams scored a hat-trick in City’s 5-2 Cup win at Bradford.  He followed that with an equaliser in the 56th League derby match at Old Trafford.  His arrival and goalscoring streak was viewed as refreshing that season..

Woo Gordon Davies

On this day (10 October) in 1985 Chelsea forward Gordon Davies joined Manchester City (the team he supported; his hero was Colin Bell). Davies made 3 Welsh international appearances while at City. There was a chant connected with him which was, err, well, typical 1980s. It was based on the ‘Woo Gary Davies, woo Gary Davies, woo Gary Davies on the ra-di-o’ jingle used by Radio One DJ Gary Davies (of course). The chant (I’m sure you can guess) went ‘Woo Gordon Davies, woo Gordon Davies, woo Gordon Davies in the ar-e-a’ (meaning penalty area of course!). Those were the days, hey?

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Enjoying this website? Fancy supporting my research into Manchester football history? 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.

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