Category Archives: Players

80 Years Ago Today Manchester City’s And Norwich’s John Benson Was Born

On this day (23 December) in 1942 future Manchester City player and manager John Benson born at Arbroath. He joined the Blues at the age of 15 in July 1958 and went on to make 52 League and Cup appearances before being transferred to Torquay in 1964.  Spells at Bournemouth, Exeter and Norwich followed, before John moved into coaching.  In 1980 he returned to Manchester as assistant to manager John Bond.  Here’s an interview I did with him during October 2004.

Sadly, John died on October 30 2010 at the age of 67.

Here for subscribers is the interview from 2004.

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IN SEARCH OF THE BLUES – Roy Cheetham (interviewed December 2004)

Manchester born (21 December 1939) Roy Cheetham 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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MANCHESTER CITY – HALL OF FAME: Eric Brook

“There have been many, many great names associated with Manchester City Football Club.  Some of them are deservedly being honoured tonight, but sixty five years on Eric Brook remains the record goalscorer of all time for the Blues.  In addition, he was the only goalscorer in the cup game with Stoke when the attendance record of eight-four and a half thousand was set.  It’s a great honour for me to collect this award on behalf of such a wonderful player.” Kevin Parker from the Official Supporters Club, collecting the Hall of Fame award in January 2004

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MANCHESTER CITY – HALL OF FAME: Peter Doherty

“Thanks very much for this.  Peter truly loved the game of football.  And of all the clubs he played for and that he had the privilege to manage, there was always a special place in his heart for Manchester City, and that’s what makes it so special for all the family tonight.  If Peter was still alive today and able to collect this himself he would be very proud.  I know I certainly am.  This just leaves me to say on behalf of myself and my sister Sue, and my father who unfortunately couldn’t be with us today, and the rest of the Doherty family… Thank you.” Peter Doherty’s grandson Stephen collecting the Hall of Fame award in January 2004

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IN SEARCH OF THE BLUES – Ron Healey (interviewed November 2004)

Ron Healey made his goalkeeping debut for City in 1971 at the age of 18.  This was a mixed period for goalkeepers at City and Healey’s opportunities became limited.  He did manage to appear in 36 League, cup and European games for the Blues and gained a great deal of positive coverage, however he moved on to Cardiff City in 1974. Gary James met up with him at City’s museum in November 2004. Here’s that interview:

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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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MANCHESTER CITY – HALL OF FAME: Tommy Johnson

“I don’t know what to say, I know he’d be very proud.   I’m proud, and I know he was delighted to play with so many great footballers. When he won the record for most goals in a season, he never said it was his record because he felt it belonged to the entire team.  Whenever they talked about it he always said that it was shared between 25 blokes.  He said ‘they all helped me to score, I only finished it’.  I’m so pleased with this recognition for him.  Thank you.” Alan Johnson, son of Tommy receiving the Hall of Fame award in January 2004

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Read more of this content when you subscribe today. If you’d like to support my research then why not subscribe? Every subscription directly helps support my research and provides annual subscribers with access to everything posted on this site, including the entire Manchester A Football History and From Maine Men To Banana Citizens books, plus interviews, articles and more. I am not employed by anyone and all my research is self funded or comes from subscriptions to this site.

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Read more of this content when you subscribe today. You can subscribe at either £20 per year (above) or at £3 per month here (cancel any time). For those subscribing £3 per month you will be able to access all content from October 2022 onwards for as long as you are a subscriber. Those subscribing £20 a year have access to everything posted since December 2020.

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IN SEARCH OF THE BLUES – Frank Carrodus (interviewed September 2004)

Midfielder Frank Carrodus joined Manchester City in November 1969.  Over the course of the following five years Frank made a total of 37 appearances plus ten as substitute before joining Aston Villa in July 1974.  Gary James caught up with him at the City Social in September 2004 to discuss his career. Here for subscribers is that interview.

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Read more of this content when you subscribe today. If you’d like to support my research then why not subscribe? Every subscription directly helps support my research and provides annual subscribers with access to everything posted on this site, including the entire Manchester A Football History and From Maine Men To Banana Citizens books, plus interviews, articles and more. I am not employed by anyone and all my research is self funded or comes from subscriptions to this site.

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Leeds City Auction

On this day (17 October) 1919 defender Thomas Lamph was bought in an auction of Leeds City players by Manchester City. Leeds City had collapsed due to financial issues. A little over 6 years after joining City Lamph died in Leeds at the age of 33.

A Manchester City Death in 2002

On this day (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..

I’ll be writing a little bit more on McAdams in my article in the Manchester City match programme v Brighton next week.