Back in the late 1960s there was a popular Manchester City chairman whose family had been involved with the club since the very beginning of the club. That was Albert Alexander. Here’s a profile I wrote in 2012 on him. It’s about 900 words long and is free to read. Enjoy!
Albert Alexander was the second generation of the Alexander family to play a prominent role in the development and history of Manchester City. His father, also Albert, had been involved with the Club from the 1890s and had held various positions including vice-chairman, and even manager for a spell in 1925-26.
Like his father, the younger Albert dedicated his life to the Blues. Inevitably, he spent most of his boyhood watching the Club develop and, as he grew, he became more involved with behind the scenes work at the Club’s first home Hyde Road. He was a member of the Ground Committee which performed crucial activities such as stewarding and ground maintenance.
Alexander also managed the Club’s A team and provided support in whatever way necessary to ensure the Blues succeeded. He was more than happy to work through the ranks and take on any duty necessary. His son Eric, who was Chairman in the early 1970s, remembers that his father had suffered during the First World War but that didn’t stop him from putting his energies into the Blues: “He was a very good footballer and cricketer but he was gassed in the Great War and had to give it up. It affected him throughout his life, although it’s fair to say he recovered enough to fulfil a happy normal life apart from playing of course.
“He took up golf, but his love for football was such that he started the ‘A’ team at City. He started it in 1921 and ran it through until 1963. He enjoyed working with the youngsters and developing them. He gained an awful lot of satisfaction from that, particularly when players like Matt Busby developed their skills and style as part of the ‘A’ team.”
Ultimately, after many years of loyal service Alexander became a City director. This came after the Blues became aware that Manchester United were hoping he would join their board. It is highly likely Alexander would have turned the Reds down, and it was appropriate that he became a director at Maine Road. It was an honour he deserved for years of dedication to the City cause.
While director he felt the passion all fans feel for the Blues and he also felt the pain and worries during the Club’s struggles in the early Sixties. He wanted better and, in 1965 as fans demonstrated following City’s lowest attended League game, he came out to face them and talk with them about his hopes and ambitions for the Club. He apologised for City’s appalling decline. It says much about his courage and the respect fans had for him that they dispersed. It is doubtful whether any other director would have been respected in this manner at such a low point.
Understandably, Alexander who was City’s Chairman by this point wanted to see his side successful and later that summer he appointed Joe Mercer as manager. It was a brave decision as Mercer had been out of work for a year and had suffered a stroke at Aston Villa. Other names, such as former City hero Peter Doherty and Liverpool manager Bill Shankly, had been expected to be appointed by the media, so this move could easily have been seen negatively.
Alexander guided City through the successful years of the Mercer-Allison period and was probably the first Chairman to be hugely popular with fans. Everyone seemed to love ‘Little Albert’ as Mercer dubbed him.
Many of City’s achievements during these years were dedicated to Alexander by Mercer, while journalist Bill Fryer commented in 1970: “He is highly revered in the game and by the public, and I have no doubt good deals have been done for City out of Albert’s friendships because in reality the whole of football is a ‘club’.”
Sadly, despite the Chairman’s popularity, his final years saw him suffer at the hands of the 1970 takeover battle. Alexander found out about the takeover when he received a knock on his door at breakfast one day. It was a complete shock to him.
The takeover destroyed much that was good about City at this point, including the Mercer-Allison partnership. However, it is rarely mentioned how the takeover affected Alexander, the man who had guided City with distinction through some dark days when no one else wanted to know. He had taken the Club from the lowest point it had experienced since joining the League, to a position of strength with trophies galore. Those bidding for control wanted the glory, Alexander’s motives were somewhat different – like all true fans he wanted City no matter what.
Alexander stood down as Chairman and was made Life President – an honour first given to Lawrence Furniss seven decades earlier, proving the significance of this recognition. Unfortunately, Alexander’s health was deteriorating by this point and he passed away soon after.
Manchester City owes a great deal to the dedication of Albert Alexander and the other members of his family. The Alexanders helped guide the Blues from the 1890s through to the reign of Peter Swales, and in some ways on via the continuing involvement of Eric Alexander (still a regular attendee until his death in 2019). Their contribution should never be forgotten.
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It’s Tony Book’s funeral today and, all being well, I intend being there. Tony was one of the most important figures in the entire history of Manchester City and deserves to be remembered for ever more. Please spare a moment today to think of him. Over the years I met and interviewed Tony on many occasions. I last spoke with him at the MCFC Former Players Dinner earlier this season. As a tribute to him I’m posting here an interview I did with him back in May 2015 (I’ve posted this before but think it’s an appropriate moment to post it again). It wasn’t the first interview I did with him (that was in 1992 about Joe Mercer), but it is a reflective piece with Tony talking about his career.
I always think it’s important when someone passes away to use their words where possible to talk about their career. You can read it below. I’ve posted this exactly as it was written and published in 2015 so, obviously, references are to that era and before.
TALKING CITY WITH GARY JAMES
Tony Book joined City in 1966 and went on to become manager, winning the League Cup in 1976.
Let’s start with your birth certificate and the story that this was altered to give the impression you were a bit younger when signing. Is this true?
Ah, it’s true, but I didn’t actually alter it. My birth certificate had been folded with a heavy crease down it, and I needed it when I was moving from Bath to join Plymouth where Malcolm Allison was the manager. He told them I was 28 but I was 30. Luckily, when I opened out my birth certificate the fold had meant that the final number in the year wasn’t clear, so they just took Malcolm’s word for it! When I came here in 1966 I was 32 – for real – and we never hid my age.
It’s a good job, otherwise you’d have been celebrating your 80th two years late! When you signed for City Malcolm had to persuade Joe Mercer to ignore your age didn’t he?
Yes. Joe was a similar age when he joined Arsenal, as you know Gary, and Malcolm said “look at what you did at Arsenal Joe” – he captained them to a couple of League titles and the FA Cup. Little did we realise that something similar would happen to me at City. I always wanted to be a full time professional footballer and Malcolm gave me the chance. I went playing in Toronto – it was the first time I’d trained in the day because I was a bricklayer by trade and had to train at night back home – before Plymouth and Malcolm came and talked with me after I’d played against a team of Italians over there. He told me how much he liked my play and, well, after that he signed me for Plymouth and then City. I was always grateful to Malcolm, but joining City was perfect. The club under Joe and Malcolm was about to take off and I recognised as soon as I got here that there was a good nucleus of young lads who were ready. Doyle, Pardoe, Oakes, Dowd, Young… the list goes on. I came in just after they’d got promoted and everything felt right. I made my debut at Southampton on 20 August 1966 and, although that match ended goalless, it was clear those lads were enjoying their football. Of course, Summerbee and Bell had been added and then Francis came in October 1967. That’s when we really took off.
Tony Book 1969
How did it feel to be made captain of this team?
When Johnny Crossan left I was made captain because of my experience in football, not because of experience at the highest level because I didn’t have that. But what I did know was football and the way a team operates. I came to professional football late, but back then non-league teams did have quite a few former League players. Some actually gave up League careers because, in the end, they could earn more in non-League and regular employment. I always felt I had something to offer the younger guys because of that experience.
Being totally honest, what did you feel you’d do at City? Did you think you’d be there for as long as you were?
I hoped I’d get a couple of years. That’s all I felt I could get and I would have been very happy with two years at Manchester City, of course. Back then City owned some club houses and I went in one – paying about £2.50 a week! Because of what happened and the way the success came in my second year, Gary, I felt I could go on again. Winning the League in 1968 was like a spark and I wanted to keep the flame going.
Thinking about the title winning season of 1967-68, there were quite a few standout games. What are your memories of those?
There was the Spurs game at Christmas when we sharpened our studs to keep a grip on the surface and we really played a graceful, stylish game. There was the derby at Old Trafford when I made a mistake. I was playing the sweeper role, I let the ball bounce, and George Best went through and stuck it right in the net in the first minute! I couldn’t believe it and the lads lifted me and, Gary, we went on to play a brilliant game. We won 3-1 and that set us on course, but we still had nine games to play. None of us had ever won a major trophy, but Malcolm and Joe were brilliant during that period. Malcolm was great at relaxing us and there was never a doubt in his mind, and then in our minds, that we wouldn’t win it. We believed in ourselves and with Colin Bell, Mike Summerbee and Francis Lee we knew we had that something special that champions need. I always felt that if we went behind one of those three would get us out of trouble. We had a great team throughout of course, and we complimented each other well across the park. We all knew our roles.
After winning the League you suffered an Achilles injury, did you think that was the end?
No, but I was desperate to get back. I tried everything. My leg was in plaster and as soon as they took it off I tried. I played in a reserve game and Sidney Rose, the doctor who was also a director, saw me struggle. I felt it go again. He stuck a needle in me and I had to rest. In the end I went to Christie’s, had a shot of radium, and that seemed to take the sting out of it all. I don’t know whether that was the right treatment or not, but I began training and came back to the first team in January.
Clearly, losing your influential captain for such a large period of the season had its effect on City in the League and in their first European Cup campaign, but once you returned you guided City to FA Cup success. Was this another fairytale season for you?
I guess it was because winning the FA Cup was amazing. It was important for us to keep our success going and the FA Cup was viewed as something special, but I have to tell you Gary, that now, when I look back, I realise that we were not consistent in our challenge for the League. We consistently challenged for trophies, but not in the League. Today, we have such a wonderful team that has been able to challenge for the League season after season, but back then we were more inconsistent. We had good days and bad days, but almost any team in the division could challenge back then. There were no easy games. In 1969 I also shared the FWA player of the year with Dave Mackay, so it was a good season. People had suggested I’d win it the year before because I’d played every game and we’d won the League. I was getting a lot of praise but George Best won it that year. So, the year I won it, it was a surprise. A great feeling and I remember being at the award dinner. For me though, it was an achievement for the entire team. You need a good team around you to win awards like these, and we certainly had a great team.
What are your memories of City in Europe during that time?
There was Malcolm’s boast about scaring Europe which set us up, but then in the ECWC 1969-70 we did. The final is the strongest memory but mostly because of the rain. We had a great following of fans, but few locals and Gornik fans were there, and they were all drenched. I felt so sorry for them. We won the cup, of course, and that season we’d also won the League Cup. I wanted to go on forever by that time. I was enjoying it and those two years became four and I was 36. I couldn’t wait for the next season. I was like an 18 year old who had just been given his chance.
1971 ECWC v Chelsea. Tony Book and mascot Paul Todd. Photo by Alan Jubb
Is there anything from your playing career that you would change if you could?
Ah, yes. I gave the referee an elbow at Ipswich! He’d disallowed a goal. At Ipswich, you had to go down a corridor as you went in at half time and as I turned I deliberately elbowed him. He went down. I was called to an FA disciplinary meeting and the first question they asked was “would you like your past record to be taken into consideration?” Well, I’d only been a pro for a couple of years so I said yes, thinking it’ll be great. They then brought out information going years back from my non-league days and it all worked against me!
When it came time to retire from playing, was that your choice?
No. Johnny Hart had been manager but was ill and Peter Swales asked me to take over on a temporary basis in October 1973. I managed the team for about five weeks until Ron Saunders came in and he had a chat with me suggesting I was needed more as a coach/assistant than a player. I wish now I’d said I wanted to finish playing at the end of the season because I think that would have helped him more. There were issues between him and some of the playing squad and I think I could have helped him, had I been a player. He was insistent though.
Ron Saunders, Peter Swales and Tony Book at Saunders appointment in November 1973
It’s a shame because we got to the League Cup final (1974) and with you in that team, maybe things would have gone differently. Saunders didn’t last as manager and was gone in April that year. How did you feel?
You see things happening but are unable to change it. It was tough. I ended up being given the manager’s job and it was a strange period because we’d had turmoil over that season. I also had to start looking at my pals, the players I had won trophies with, and explain that they needed to move on. I didn’t want to do that and I found it very hard. Awful!
As a manager I was proud that in the five years that followed we won the League Cup, finished runners up by a point to Liverpool, and we were in Europe for three consecutive seasons. I had some good players that came in – Dave Watson, Brian Kidd, Asa Hartford – and did an excellent job for me. I felt we were on our way.
From the moment you took on the job it was progress all the way through and, just before Malcolm returned as ‘coaching overlord’ in January 1979, we had reached the UEFA Cup quarter finals. What was it that made you a success in that role?
The players. It’s always about the players you manage to sign and what they do for you. I was more like Joe Mercer as a manager and had good coaches working with me. Bill Taylor was recommended to me by Don Revie and he was a great coach.
Tony Book, Peter Swales and Kaziu Deyna at Deyna’s signing for Manchester City
City may not have won many trophies during your spell as manager, but we came close, had some great players and, significantly, this was an exciting period to watch. Then Malcolm came back. Did you welcome the return?
Malcolm is such an important figure in my life that I cannot say anything but positives about him as a man. I will always be indebted to him. But I knew that it couldn’t work when he came back. I knew the chairman, I knew Malcolm, and I knew how they both worked. There was no way they would have been able to work together. It was as simple as that. That’s what the main difference was between the 60s and 1979. In the 60s we had Albert Alexander as chairman who worked wonderfully with Joe and Malcolm, but it was different in 1979. It was such a shame, because I thought we were going somewhere.
Silkman, Allison & Book after Peter Barnes scored v Tottenham 3 February 1979
On a day to day basis, what was it like working during that period?
It varied but there were players like Gary Owen and Peter Barnes who I felt had a lot to offer, but they were moved on. It’s difficult to go through it all, but as we know it failed and we were dismissed in October 1980. I stayed briefly and then became Cardiff manager. I missed Manchester but was delighted that under John Bond that season ended with the FA Cup final against Spurs. I got a phone call from John Bond asking me back to City to look after the youth team and I said I’d think about it. In the meantime there was the FA Cup final and as it was the 100th final they invited all surviving captains of cup winning sides. Myself, Roy Paul, and Joe Mercer (Arsenal) were on the pitch with the others and all of a sudden they announced my name and the City fans erupted into song. It really got to me, emotionally, and I knew I had to come back. It was one of the best feelings I ever had. Returning to City was the right thing and I had a wonderful time working with Ken Barnes, Glyn Pardoe and all those talented young lads. We won the Youth Cup in 1986 and it was a real pleasure being there at the start of so many careers.
This year I’ve interviewed quite a few of the players who had progressed through the youth team while you were there. Every one of them has talked with affection about your approach, driving them on. I think it’s amazing really that your influence has been there at City year after year since 1966. How does it make you feel to have had three great distinct careers at the club?
I love this club and am grateful to all those who brought me here and involved me for so long. Whenever I’ve been given a job to do I’ve always tried to give my best. When it all came to an end in the 90s it hit me hard and there were issues that were well documented, but since then Francis Lee and I have resolved our differences. Actually, I think it says something that so many of our former players come to games these days, and all of those players from that Mercer-Allison team are so proud of how this club is challenging once more. We’re enjoying the success and the consistency season after season. Having said that I loved my days as a player and would never swap them… I would have loved us to have these pitches though. They’re perfect. How great would the likes of Colin Bell have been on these surfaces?
If you enjoy all the free material on my website and would like to support my research and keep this website going (but don’t want to subscribe) then why not make a one-time donation (or buy me a coffee). All support for my research is valued and welcome. It allows me to keep some free material available for all. Thanks.
As part of the series on Manchester City in the 1960s I’m taking a look today at an Irish player who joined the club in January 1965 and went on to captain the team, Johnny Crossan. Here goes…
Johnny Crossan was born in Derry on 29th November 1938 and first came to the notice of English clubs when he was a youth. Crossan: “I had apparently been doing quite well as a youngster. I had got into the Derry team when only aged 14 and Joe Mercer came over to have a look round and weigh up likely prospects. Later, I learned he wanted to sign me for his club, which was then Sheffield United, and a fee of around £5,000 was discussed. I never did find out what went wrong. Perhaps Derry wanted more money.”
He moved on to Coleraine a little later, and then another proposed move to England collapsed when problems over a possible transfer to Bristol City resulted in a ‘life’ ban. Crossan then moved to the continent, signing for Sparta Rotterdam, and then Standard Liege. At Liege he played in the European Cup. By October 1962 the English ban was lifted and he was transferred to Sunderland for £27,000.
At Roker Park he managed to score 39 goals in 82 appearances, before George Poyser brought him to Maine Road as a last desperate act to save his own job.
Johnny Crossan signs with City boss George Poyser, January 1965
Crossan made his debut in a 2-0 defeat at Derby County on 30 January 1965.
Although the Irishman did little to impress City’s support during Spring 1965, over time he did prove to be an excellent signing.
When Mercer took over from Poyser he was delighted to find Crossan was already at the club. He was determined to award him the captaincy and always admitted that Crossan was one of the main reasons City achieved success: “We received tremendous help from one little fellow in the dressing room – Johnny Crossan. In those early days this whimsical Irishman was a wonderful dressing room influence as we tried to mould players we hardly knew into a fighting unit.”
The promotion season was Crossan’s best at Maine Road and clearly demonstrated his playing ability, humour, and captaincy skills. He seemed to be destined to play a major part in City’s future when tragedy struck. At the age of 28 he was involved in a car crash close to Roker Park prior to the 1966-7 season. He missed the opening game of the season and, despite managing to regain his place, his City career was nearing its end. Foolishly he tried to disguise an injured knee and as a result gave the impression he just wasn’t trying. In actual fact he was probably trying more than most, but he was simply unable to cope. He also suffered from a grumbling appendix.
In August 1967 he was transferred to Middlesbrough for £32,000 – proving that he was still a player with much to offer. At Middlesbrough he made a total of 56 appearances and scored 8 goals, but suffered with insomnia and was forced to endure several hospital visits.
Once his footballing career was over Crossan returned to Derry, and in later years played an active role in training local youngsters.
In total Crossan made 24 international appearances for Northern Ireland (ten while with City), and proved to be a very popular player within the dressing room and, for most of his City career, on the terraces. Without Crossan Mercer and Allison would have found it more difficult to lift the Blues out of the Second Division, and the transformation in City’s fortunes may have taken a while longer.
Johnny Crossan
Born: Derry, 29th November 1938
Debut v Derby County (away) 30/1/1965
City Appearances:
FL: 94 apps. 24 goals.
FAC: 14 apps. 2 goals.
FLC: 2 apps. 2 goals.
TOTAL: 110 apps. 28 goals.
Middlesbrough Appearances:
FL: 54+2 apps. 7 goals.
FAC: 5 apps. 1 goal.
FLC: 2 apps.
TOTAL: 61+2 apps. 8 goals.
If you enjoy all the free material on my website and would like to support my research and keep this website going (but don’t want to subscribe) then why not make a one-time donation (or buy me a coffee). All support for my research is valued and welcome. It allows me to keep some free material available for all. Thanks.
Over the years I met and interviewed Tony Book on many occasions. I last spoke with him at the MCFC Former Players Dinner earlier this season. As a tribute to him I’m posting here an interview I did with him back in May 2015. It wasn’t the first interview I did with him (that was in 1992 about Joe Mercer), but it is a reflective piece with Tony talking about his career. I always think it’s important when someone passes away to use their words where possible to talk about their career. You can read it below.
I’ve posted this exactly as it was written and published in 2015 so, obviously, references are to that era and before.
TALKING CITY WITH GARY JAMES
Tony Book joined City in 1966 and went on to become manager, winning the League Cup in 1976.
Let’s start with your birth certificate and the story that this was altered to give the impression you were a bit younger when signing. Is this true?
Ah, it’s true, but I didn’t actually alter it. My birth certificate had been folded with a heavy crease down it, and I needed it when I was moving from Bath to join Plymouth where Malcolm Allison was the manager. He told them I was 28 but I was 30. Luckily, when I opened out my birth certificate the fold had meant that the final number in the year wasn’t clear, so they just took Malcolm’s word for it! When I came here in 1966 I was 32 – for real – and we never hid my age.
It’s a good job, otherwise you’d have been celebrating your 80th two years late! When you signed for City Malcolm had to persuade Joe Mercer to ignore your age didn’t he?
Yes. Joe was a similar age when he joined Arsenal, as you know Gary, and Malcolm said “look at what you did at Arsenal Joe” – he captained them to a couple of League titles and the FA Cup. Little did we realise that something similar would happen to me at City. I always wanted to be a full time professional footballer and Malcolm gave me the chance. I went playing in Toronto – it was the first time I’d trained in the day because I was a bricklayer by trade and had to train at night back home – before Plymouth and Malcolm came and talked with me after I’d played against a team of Italians over there. He told me how much he liked my play and, well, after that he signed me for Plymouth and then City. I was always grateful to Malcolm, but joining City was perfect. The club under Joe and Malcolm was about to take off and I recognised as soon as I got here that there was a good nucleus of young lads who were ready. Doyle, Pardoe, Oakes, Dowd, Young… the list goes on. I came in just after they’d got promoted and everything felt right. I made my debut at Southampton on 20 August 1966 and, although that match ended goalless, it was clear those lads were enjoying their football. Of course, Summerbee and Bell had been added and then Francis came in October 1967. That’s when we really took off.
Tony Book 1969
How did it feel to be made captain of this team?
When Johnny Crossan left I was made captain because of my experience in football, not because of experience at the highest level because I didn’t have that. But what I did know was football and the way a team operates. I came to professional football late, but back then non-league teams did have quite a few former League players. Some actually gave up League careers because, in the end, they could earn more in non-League and regular employment. I always felt I had something to offer the younger guys because of that experience.
Being totally honest, what did you feel you’d do at City? Did you think you’d be there for as long as you were?
I hoped I’d get a couple of years. That’s all I felt I could get and I would have been very happy with two years at Manchester City, of course. Back then City owned some club houses and I went in one – paying about £2.50 a week! Because of what happened and the way the success came in my second year, Gary, I felt I could go on again. Winning the League in 1968 was like a spark and I wanted to keep the flame going.
Thinking about the title winning season of 1967-68, there were quite a few standout games. What are your memories of those?
There was the Spurs game at Christmas when we sharpened our studs to keep a grip on the surface and we really played a graceful, stylish game. There was the derby at Old Trafford when I made a mistake. I was playing the sweeper role, I let the ball bounce, and George Best went through and stuck it right in the net in the first minute! I couldn’t believe it and the lads lifted me and, Gary, we went on to play a brilliant game. We won 3-1 and that set us on course, but we still had nine games to play. None of us had ever won a major trophy, but Malcolm and Joe were brilliant during that period. Malcolm was great at relaxing us and there was never a doubt in his mind, and then in our minds, that we wouldn’t win it. We believed in ourselves and with Colin Bell, Mike Summerbee and Francis Lee we knew we had that something special that champions need. I always felt that if we went behind one of those three would get us out of trouble. We had a great team throughout of course, and we complimented each other well across the park. We all knew our roles.
After winning the League you suffered an Achilles injury, did you think that was the end?
No, but I was desperate to get back. I tried everything. My leg was in plaster and as soon as they took it off I tried. I played in a reserve game and Sidney Rose, the doctor who was also a director, saw me struggle. I felt it go again. He stuck a needle in me and I had to rest. In the end I went to Christie’s, had a shot of radium, and that seemed to take the sting out of it all. I don’t know whether that was the right treatment or not, but I began training and came back to the first team in January.
Clearly, losing your influential captain for such a large period of the season had its effect on City in the League and in their first European Cup campaign, but once you returned you guided City to FA Cup success. Was this another fairytale season for you?
I guess it was because winning the FA Cup was amazing. It was important for us to keep our success going and the FA Cup was viewed as something special, but I have to tell you Gary, that now, when I look back, I realise that we were not consistent in our challenge for the League. We consistently challenged for trophies, but not in the League. Today, we have such a wonderful team that has been able to challenge for the League season after season, but back then we were more inconsistent. We had good days and bad days, but almost any team in the division could challenge back then. There were no easy games. In 1969 I also shared the FWA player of the year with Dave Mackay, so it was a good season. People had suggested I’d win it the year before because I’d played every game and we’d won the League. I was getting a lot of praise but George Best won it that year. So, the year I won it, it was a surprise. A great feeling and I remember being at the award dinner. For me though, it was an achievement for the entire team. You need a good team around you to win awards like these, and we certainly had a great team.
What are your memories of City in Europe during that time?
There was Malcolm’s boast about scaring Europe which set us up, but then in the ECWC 1969-70 we did. The final is the strongest memory but mostly because of the rain. We had a great following of fans, but few locals and Gornik fans were there, and they were all drenched. I felt so sorry for them. We won the cup, of course, and that season we’d also won the League Cup. I wanted to go on forever by that time. I was enjoying it and those two years became four and I was 36. I couldn’t wait for the next season. I was like an 18 year old who had just been given his chance.
1971 ECWC v Chelsea. Tony Book and mascot Paul Todd. Photo by Alan Jubb
Is there anything from your playing career that you would change if you could?
Ah, yes. I gave the referee an elbow at Ipswich! He’d disallowed a goal. At Ipswich, you had to go down a corridor as you went in at half time and as I turned I deliberately elbowed him. He went down. I was called to an FA disciplinary meeting and the first question they asked was “would you like your past record to be taken into consideration?” Well, I’d only been a pro for a couple of years so I said yes, thinking it’ll be great. They then brought out information going years back from my non-league days and it all worked against me!
When it came time to retire from playing, was that your choice?
No. Johnny Hart had been manager but was ill and Peter Swales asked me to take over on a temporary basis in October 1973. I managed the team for about five weeks until Ron Saunders came in and he had a chat with me suggesting I was needed more as a coach/assistant than a player. I wish now I’d said I wanted to finish playing at the end of the season because I think that would have helped him more. There were issues between him and some of the playing squad and I think I could have helped him, had I been a player. He was insistent though.
Ron Saunders, Peter Swales and Tony Book at Saunders appointment in November 1973
It’s a shame because we got to the League Cup final (1974) and with you in that team, maybe things would have gone differently. Saunders didn’t last as manager and was gone in April that year. How did you feel?
You see things happening but are unable to change it. It was tough. I ended up being given the manager’s job and it was a strange period because we’d had turmoil over that season. I also had to start looking at my pals, the players I had won trophies with, and explain that they needed to move on. I didn’t want to do that and I found it very hard. Awful!
As a manager I was proud that in the five years that followed we won the League Cup, finished runners up by a point to Liverpool, and we were in Europe for three consecutive seasons. I had some good players that came in – Dave Watson, Brian Kidd, Asa Hartford – and did an excellent job for me. I felt we were on our way.
From the moment you took on the job it was progress all the way through and, just before Malcolm returned as ‘coaching overlord’ in January 1979, we had reached the UEFA Cup quarter finals. What was it that made you a success in that role?
The players. It’s always about the players you manage to sign and what they do for you. I was more like Joe Mercer as a manager and had good coaches working with me. Bill Taylor was recommended to me by Don Revie and he was a great coach.
Tony Book, Peter Swales and Kaziu Deyna at Deyna’s signing for Manchester City
City may not have won many trophies during your spell as manager, but we came close, had some great players and, significantly, this was an exciting period to watch. Then Malcolm came back. Did you welcome the return?
Malcolm is such an important figure in my life that I cannot say anything but positives about him as a man. I will always be indebted to him. But I knew that it couldn’t work when he came back. I knew the chairman, I knew Malcolm, and I knew how they both worked. There was no way they would have been able to work together. It was as simple as that. That’s what the main difference was between the 60s and 1979. In the 60s we had Albert Alexander as chairman who worked wonderfully with Joe and Malcolm, but it was different in 1979. It was such a shame, because I thought we were going somewhere.
Silkman, Allison & Book after Peter Barnes scored v Tottenham 3 February 1979
On a day to day basis, what was it like working during that period?
It varied but there were players like Gary Owen and Peter Barnes who I felt had a lot to offer, but they were moved on. It’s difficult to go through it all, but as we know it failed and we were dismissed in October 1980. I stayed briefly and then became Cardiff manager. I missed Manchester but was delighted that under John Bond that season ended with the FA Cup final against Spurs. I got a phone call from John Bond asking me back to City to look after the youth team and I said I’d think about it. In the meantime there was the FA Cup final and as it was the 100th final they invited all surviving captains of cup winning sides. Myself, Roy Paul, and Joe Mercer (Arsenal) were on the pitch with the others and all of a sudden they announced my name and the City fans erupted into song. It really got to me, emotionally, and I knew I had to come back. It was one of the best feelings I ever had. Returning to City was the right thing and I had a wonderful time working with Ken Barnes, Glyn Pardoe and all those talented young lads. We won the Youth Cup in 1986 and it was a real pleasure being there at the start of so many careers.
This year I’ve interviewed quite a few of the players who had progressed through the youth team while you were there. Every one of them has talked with affection about your approach, driving them on. I think it’s amazing really that your influence has been there at City year after year since 1966. How does it make you feel to have had three great distinct careers at the club?
I love this club and am grateful to all those who brought me here and involved me for so long. Whenever I’ve been given a job to do I’ve always tried to give my best. When it all came to an end in the 90s it hit me hard and there were issues that were well documented, but since then Francis Lee and I have resolved our differences. Actually, I think it says something that so many of our former players come to games these days, and all of those players from that Mercer-Allison team are so proud of how this club is challenging once more. We’re enjoying the success and the consistency season after season. Having said that I loved my days as a player and would never swap them… I would have loved us to have these pitches though. They’re perfect. How great would the likes of Colin Bell have been on these surfaces?
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It seems appropriate in the week that Tony Book died that I write an article highlighting how significant Tony was as a player.
As a player Tony was a hugely successful captain with Manchester City during the Mercer-Allison period. He was undoubtedly a key figure in each of City’s trophy successes during the seasons 1967 to 1970, and was regarded by many at the time as the greatest ever captain to have appeared for the Blues. Certainly his record of trophy success placed him some way ahead of all earlier captains. His trophy record has been eclipsed of course but do not let that downplay anything of what he achieved. Few in the game had ever achieved what he had. It’s even more remarkable when you consider his age when he arrived at Maine Road.
Book joined the Blues in July 1966 for £17,000 after a relatively brief League career with Plymouth Argyle. The transfer was one that saw Malcolm Allison use all his skills to persuade City boss Joe Mercer to take a gamble.
Allison had been a fan of Book’s ever since their days together at Bath City and the City coach explained the player’s strengths to Mercer. It should be remembered that Book had only made his League debut a month before his 30th birthday. Mercer, remembering how his own career had been given a new lease of life at a similar age, backed Allison’s judgement, and the Tony Book fairy tale began.
Within weeks, Book was considered to be one of the driving forces on the pitch at City. The following cutting is from the end of August 1966 and mentions him:
Inevitably, Book played a major part in each City trophy success following his arrival at Maine Road, but he was also voted FWA Footballer of the Year (held jointly with Derby’s Dave Mackay) in 1969. It was a fitting award and said much about what made Manchester City tick – potentially he should have been awarded it in 1968 but there are several stories about that season’s award which we’ll save for another day.
Alan Jubb’s photo of Tony Book with League Championship trophy, 1968
Had the FWA award been given to one of City’s more familiar names – Bell, Lee or Summerbee – then that would of course have been a great honour, but going to Book proved that the side was more about teamwork than about individuality. Book was City’s influential captain. He did more than most to bring glory to the Blues.
People often overlook what happened when he was missing from the team. After winning the title in 1968 Book was injured during the close season and ended up missing the opening 25 League games, plus City’s first European Cup tie. It is significant that during his absence City struggled to find consistency both in the league and the other competitions. Once he returned to the side the Blues powered their way to FA Cup glory. It makes me wonder what would have happened that season had he been fit from the start. He ended that season after playing only 21 League and FA Cup games – and was still judged FWA Footballer of the Year! What an achievement.
1969 MCFC
Tony eventually moved into coaching and, once his playing days came to an end, he developed a new career as an inspirational coach and manager. I’ll talk about that another day.
It cannot be stressed highly enough that Tony Book’s position in City’s history is a significant one. He was a tremendous player, inspiring coach, and a loyal club servant. His time as a player was one of significant achievement, with him taking the lead for most of his playing days. His time as manager was also, without doubt, one of the most exciting periods in the club’s history. He brought major success and allowed City to challenge the near-dominant Liverpool. It wasn’t until the arrival of Roberto Mancini that a City manager found major trophy success again.
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I’ve just heard the news that Manchester City’s legendary captain and manager Tony Book has died. I’ve met Tony many times over the decades and it’s difficult to put into words how significant he remains in City’s history. My thoughts are with his family and close friends. I last saw Tony at the former players dinner a few months back. To commemorate his life here’s a profile of him I wrote only a few months ago.
Tony was of course a major footballing star of the 60s and early 70s. It seems appropriate today to highlight some of his achievements with quotes here from interviews I’ve performed over the years.
Tony arrived at Maine Road in 1966 and captained Manchester City to phenomenal success. When he arrived at City Book he was in his thirties: “I hoped I’d get a couple of years and I would have been very happy with two years at City, of course. Because of what happened and the way the success came in my second year, I felt I could go on again. Winning the League in 1968 was like a spark and I wanted to keep the flame going.”
Book lifted more trophies as captain than any other Blue, until the incredible success experienced during Vincent Kompany’s time. Back in 2015-16 as Kompany was nearing Book’s record, Book told me: “Next time he lifts a major trophy he’ll have matched my record as captain. I hope that success comes soon, and that he then goes on to pass my record this season.”
His time as captain and player was incredible and this was a golden era for City. What is often overlooked though is Tony’s contribution as a manager. In 1973-74 he became manager of City for the final month of the season – a spell that was noteworthy for the infamous Manchester derby when Denis Law netted against United in the Reds’ relegation match. In the years that followed, Book developed a squad of real talent, blending well-regarded internationals with enthusiastic youth to create a flamboyant and entertaining team.
Book’s second full season saw his team of entertainers annihilate United 4-0 in the 4th round of the League Cup – on a night remembered more for the devastating injury to Colin Bell – and progress to the competition’s final where they defeated Newcastle 2-1. The victory meant Book was the first man to win the trophy as a player and as a manager. He said at the time: “Two weeks ago I met Gordon Lee (Newcastle manager) and we agreed that whoever won, it was more important for us to provide a good final. I think we have done that. This was my greatest moment. It was a tremendous final and Tueart’s goal was something special… quite out of this world.”
Looking back on 1976 Book believes the key to the success lay in City’s preparation: “We wanted everything to be low key and travelled down early in the week. We did simple training and tried to build an environment around us that was positive. It worked well and by the day of the final we were ready.”
City were missing Kenny Clements, and Colin Bell was still out of action, causing Book to bring youngster Ged Keegan in. There had been media talk that Keegan and another youngster, Peter Barnes, would feel the pressure but Book felt differently: “I had total faith in my lads. Barnes scored the first – in a move that we’d worked on in training – and Keegan more than justified his place. I never had a doubt.”
Book managed City through one of the club’s most exciting periods: “As a manager I was proud that in five years we won the League Cup; finished runners up by a point to Liverpool; we were in Europe for three consecutive seasons; and we reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup. I had some good players that came in – Dave Watson, Brian Kidd, Joe Royle, Asa Hartford – and did an excellent job for me.”
City fans loved what he had brought the club and at the 1976 League Cup homecoming they chanted ‘Tony, Tony’ repeatedly for some time. At various film shows over the last decade I’ve shown (together with Will McTaggart from the North West Film Archive) a rediscovered film of the homecoming parade which shows exactly what the success meant to the City boss: “I wanted to win the League Cup for them and I remember looking out over the crowd in Albert Square. They were celebrating and singing. Everything we did was for the fans. These fans have been so loyal over the years and they had made me so welcome when I arrived in 1966. Such a special club and wonderful fans. They deserved that success – and so many more for the way they stood by this club during the painful years that came later.”
Almost sixty years after he first arrived at City, Tony Book remained a regular and popular presence around the club: “I love this club and am grateful to all those who brought me here and involved me for so long. Whenever I’ve been given a job to do I’ve always tried to give my best.”
Book certainly represents all that is good about football and he is a powerful reminder of the successes Manchester City achieved during his captaincy and as manager.
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.
A new series of features on the 1960s starts tomorrow. It will focus predominantly on Manchester City during that decade. There will be a mixture of free articles and subscriber features. If you’d like to read everything then please subscribe (see below).
The series starts tomorrow with a 1200 word article on the 1959-60 season.
On this day (24 December) in 1948 the great maverick Mancunian footballer Stan Bowles was born. Here’s a profile of him…
Bowles joined City as an amateur on 27 July 1965, becoming an apprentice on 1 October 1965 and then professional on 29 December 1966.
Then in 1967 things really began to happen and Bowles’ first game was as a substitute in a League Cup tie at home to Leicester City. He scored two goals in the second half and the following Saturday he made his League debut another memorable one. He scored two again!
Lots of stories have circulated over the years about his time at City. Like Mario Balotelli many years later some are truthful; others are exaggerations and some are completely make up.
The stories go that Bowles once missed a flight to Amsterdam where City were to play against Ajax, and that Bowles’ interest in the horses led to Joe Mercer saying: ‘If Stan could pass a betting shop like he can pass a ball, he’d be a world beater.’ Suspensions and other issues led to Stan refusing to sign a new contract and he asked to leave. That in itself led to him being suspended for 14 days on the advice of the Football League.
Inevitably Bowles moved on, first to Bury (July 1970) and then to Crewe (September 1970).
A spell at Carlisle followed and then in September 1972 a bid of £110,000 took him to Loftus Road where he won five England caps as a QPR player.
Seven years later Nottingham Forest’s Brian Clough bought him for £210,000 but sold him again less than a year later after further issues. Further spells were reported at Orient, Brentford, Hounslow and Epping.
In 2015 it was announced he was suffering with Alzheimer’s Disease, like his former boss Joe Mercer. Bowles died on 24 February 2024.
At City Bowles made a total of 20 first team appearances, scoring 4 goals, but he remains recognised as a hugely talented player.
There are articles on this site mentioning Bowles. Here’s a selection:
If you enjoy all the free material on my website and would like to support my research and keep this website going (but don’t want to subscribe) then why not make a one-time donation (or buy me a coffee). All support for my research is valued and welcome. It allows me to keep some free material available for all. Thanks.
On 12 November 1966 a solitary goal from Mike Summerbee gave Manchester City victory over Stoke City at Maine Road. Defender George Heslop performed well that day but injury forced him to miss the next game. You can read an interview I did with Mike some time ago here:
Gary James' Football Archive 