Category Archives: 1936-37

A City Captain’s Death

On this day (8 December) in 1989 the captain of Manchester City’s 1936-37 League title success died. The captain was defender Sam Barkas, who had been born in December 1909. Here’s a profile of this legendary figure who also played for Bradford City and Workington.

SAMUEL BARKAS (1934-47)

Defender, 5ft 9in, 13st. 7lbs, b. Wardley, 29 December 1909, d. Shipley, W.Yorks, 8 December 1989

Signed from Bradford City, 20 April 1934 (£5,000)

Transferred: Workington player-manager, May 1947

Career: Middle Dock, Thorndale, Barnes Rovers, Bradford City, City, Workington Town

Debut v Liverpool, 2 May1934

Appearances: League: 175 apps. 1 gl; FA Cup: 20 apps. 0 gls; Charity: 1 apps, 0 gls Wartime (League & Cup): 75 apps. 3 gls;  Total:  271 apps, 4 gls.

Captain of the great 1936-37 Championship winning side, Barkas was a stylish left back who joined the Blues for £5,000 from Bradford City in April 1934 shortly before the FA Cup final.  Naturally, he was unable to play at Wembley but did manage to play in the final two League games that season.  In fact Barkas was to miss only one of the first 68 League games played after his arrival as he quickly proved his value with many outstanding performances. 

One of the first players to create positive play from defensive positions, Barkas became renowned for always trying to create attacking opportunities and even managed to score a goal himself – to bring a 1-1 draw on the opening day of the 1934-5 season at West Bromwich Albion.  

As the decade progressed Barkas became an England international and a major figure in Manchester.  Sadly, the war interrupted his career as he was in his prime – he was 29 when war broke out – and when football returned on a professional, national basis Barkas was almost 37.  Nevertheless he managed to guide the side to the Second Division title and appeared in 33 League matches during 1946-7.  His last appearance came on 14th June 1947 (City’s latest ever finish) when the Blues defeated Newport County 5-1 with all goes coming from George Smith.

He later became Workington Town manager and also had a spell on City’s scouting staff.

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.

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Fogged Off: Manchester City V Brentford

On this day (November 28) in 1936 Manchester City’s game with Brentford was abandoned due to fog. The two were rivals for the League title and the rearrangement of that game did ultimately have a bearing on the title. More on this for subscribers below…

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4-4 at Chelsea

On this day (12 November) in 2023 Manchester City drew 4-4 at Chelsea and this was heralded as a great game by the Sky TV pundits. As fans, these sort of games never feel like great games at the time but neutrals obviously love them. For fans of the teams involved they tend to feel like opportunities lost or maybe great comebacks depending on which side you support. Immediately after the game in 2023 I was asked when City’s previous 4-4 draw was and I spent a few minutes thinking ‘I’ve never seen one before involving City, or have I?’ So, I then started to scour the material in my collection and was somewhat surprised to find it was against Grimsby in September 1950! Certainly many, many years before I was born.

My favourite goal in last season’s match at Chelsea was the one Haaland scored with his er… um… er… shorts area. The City scorers were: Haaland (25 minutes pen, 47 minutes),  Akanji (45+1 minutes),  Rodri (86 minutes) and for Chelsea (including two City old boys): Thiago Silva (29 minutes),  Sterling (37 minutes),  Jackson (67 minutes),  Palmer (90+5minutes pen).

You can watch City’s highlights here:

https://www.mancity.com/citytv/mens/chelsea-4-4-man-city-extended-premier-league-highlights-63835413

Incredibly last season’s game wasn’t the first time City had drawn 4-4 at Chelsea and, coincidentally I’d tweeted about this before last year’s match. I never expected history to repeat itself. You can read about the earlier match via the link below. Incidentally, the game was in 1936-37 and City won the title that year – as they did in 2023-24!

Chelsea 4 Manchester City 4
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One Moment In Time

For those who haven’t seen Manchester City’s match programme yet this season I’d just like to take a few moments to talk about my article this season. This year I’m doing a two page feature called ‘One Moment in Time’ where I select an image from a game, usually connecting the two clubs playing that day, and provide some information or tell a story.

For Ipswich I selected a classic 1981 FA Cup semi final image of fans on the Holte End while for Brentford I dug out an old glass plate image of City at Brentford in 1937 when the two teams challenged for the title.

I’ve already selected the photos and written my articles for tonight’s game with Inter, as well as the Arsenal and Watford games. You’ll have to buy the programmes to see what they are but I’m sure most City fans could guess that the Inter Milan feature will come from a certain major game between the two clubs in recent seasons.

I’m looking for ideas for future games of course, so if there’s a memorable image that you are aware of from a game between City and their opponents throughout this season then get in touch and remind me. It may be an image I’ve forgotten about. I’m trying to ensure these are not always the standard images people have seen. Where possible I want to select photos that are either capturing a moment that typifies City’s long history and great players or is a rare incident that was caught on camera.

Read the City programme throughout the season to see if your favourite City images are there.

Title Rivals: Manchester City and Brentford

With City and Brentford meeting today here’s a nice reminder of a day when both teams mounted a challenge for the League. Here’s a feature on a meeting between the sides played on April 3 1937.

The early months of the season were difficult for City. Significant injuries to captain Sam Barkas, and attackers Alec Herd and Fred Tilson had hampered City’s progress during the opening months. By the end of November the Blues were 12th and somewhat off the pace. However, things were about to change for Manchester’s Blues with an incredible undefeated run that began with victory over Middlesbrough on Boxing Day.

Before the away game at Brentford on April 3, City had gone 15 consecutive League games without defeat.

Subscribers can read what happened next in this 1200 word article…

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4-4 at Chelsea X 2

It’s Manchester City at Chelsea this weekend. Last season that same fixture ended in a 4-4 draw and this was heralded as a great game by the Sky TV pundits. As fans, these sort of games never feel like great games at the time but neutrals obviously love them. For fans of the teams involved they tend to feel like opportunities lost or maybe great comebacks depending on which side you support. Immediately after the game last year I was asked when City’s previous 4-4 draw was and I spent a few minutes thinking ‘I’ve never seen one before involving City, or have I?’ So, I then started to scour the material in my collection and was somewhat surprised to find it was against Grimsby in September 1950! Certainly many, many years before I was born.

My favourite goal in last season’s match at Chelsea was the one Haaland scored with his er… um… er… shorts area. The City scorers were: Haaland (25 minutes pen, 47 minutes),  Akanji (45+1 minutes),  Rodri (86 minutes) and for Chelsea (including two City old boys): Thiago Silva (29 minutes),  Sterling (37 minutes),  Jackson (67 minutes),  Palmer (90+5minutes pen)

Incredibly last season’s game wasn’t the first time City had drawn 4-4 at Chelsea and, coincidentally I’d tweeted about this before last year’s match. I never expected history to repeat itself. You can read about the earlier match via the link below. Incidentally, the game was in 1936-37 and City won the title that year – as they did in 2023-24!

Chelsea 4 Manchester City 4
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Berlin Olympic Stadium’s First English Game

Tonight the Euros final will see England play in the Berlin Olympic Stadium. There have been many games involving English teams in that stadium over the decades but the first English game played there was a highly political match played on 19 May 1937. It doesn’t get mentioned as often as it should but I’ve talked about it often over the decades. The match saw League Champions Manchester City become the first English side to play in the Berlin Olympic stadium when they faced a German national 11 – club v country! 

The German national side beat “England’s greatest players” 3-2 in a propaganda led game.  According to the English players there that day, tHe Blues had a morale victory when they refused to perform the Nazi salute. You can read more on this game below.

I am not going to pretend that English football teams making tours of Continental countries do not have a very pleasant time, but at the same time these tours are not picnics.  You are there to play serious football, and you have to go about it in the ordinary businesslike way.”  Sam Barkas, City Captain, 27th May 1937

As Sam Barkas hinted, sometimes end of season football tours are not the fun experience a lot of fans think. Sometimes the tour takes on a whole different meaning.  This is certainly true for the May 1937 tour to Germany.

The Blues, as Champions of England, were invited to play a series of high profile matches across Germany and its neighbouring States.  Although this was a major honour for City it has to be stressed that the whole concept of the tour, as far as Germany’s Nazi rulers were concerned, was to promote Germany’s sporting prowess against the best England could offer.  

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Maine Road To Berlin

On 19 May 1937 League Champions Manchester City became the first English side to play in the Berlin Olympic stadium.  A German national side beat “England’s greatest players” 3-2 in a propaganda led game.  The Blues had a morale victory when they refused to perform the Nazi salute.

Subscribers can read more on this below.

I am not going to pretend that English football teams making tours of Continental countries do not have a very pleasant time, but at the same time these tours are not picnics.  You are there to play serious football, and you have to go about it in the ordinary businesslike way.”  Sam Barkas, City Captain, 27th May 1937

As Sam Barkas hinted, sometimes end of season football tours are not the fun experience a lot of fans think. Sometimes the tour takes on a whole different meaning.  This is certainly true for the May 1937 tour to Germany.

The Blues, as Champions of England, were invited to play a series of high profile matches across Germany and its neighbouring States.  Although this was a major honour for City it has to be stressed that the whole concept of the tour, as far as Germany’s Nazi rulers were concerned, was to promote Germany’s sporting prowess against the best England could offer.  

Subscribe to get access

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month or £20 per year and you then have full access to all items posted in the archive for as long as you subscribe.

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Subscribe to get access

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month or £20 per year and you then have full access to all items posted in the archive for as long as you subscribe.

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The 1930s: The League Championship Arrives

On this day (24 April 24) in 1937 Manchester City won the Football League for the first time. Here, for subscribers, is the story of that game and the way the club celebrated…

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