Here’s an odd item from my collection. It’s a compliment slip by a Star Press (the ‘champion printers’) which lists the players in Manchester City’s 1967-68 title winning team. There are a couple of spelling mistakes. See if you can spot them. One side of the compliments slip shows the League Champions and the other side looks like this:
I’m not certain if there was a close connection between Manchester City and Star Press at this time.
You can find out more about the 1967-68 season by reading the following subscriber article. If you’d like to read this 7,600 word article (yes, 7,600 words on one season!), plus all other articles on the site, then please subscribe (see below). As with most of the other seasonal features it includes words from interviews I have performed with those who were there.
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Here’s a photo from this day (9 December) in 1967 and it shows Tony Coleman scoring City’s third goal in a remarkable game that took place at Maine Road. It became known as the Ballet On Ice. Manchester United supporter Bobby Greenroyd watched the game on Match of the Day and wrote to City afterwards: ‘I am a regular Manchester United fan, but after Saturday’s game your next home gate will be increased by one.’ High praise, particularly as United themselves were on the verge of European Cup glory.
Why and how did this happen and which leading MCFC figure sneaked out to buy a bag of chips while the club celebrated its 1968 League title success? Here for subscribers is an article that explains all….
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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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On this day (23 March) in 1968 came a game between two title challenging teams – Leeds Utd and Manchester City. The view was that this game could knock City out of the title race if it went Leeds’ way. So what happened? Here’s film of the game:
You can find out more aboutthe potential impact of this game by reading this subscriber article on Manchester City during the 1967-68 season. If you’d like to read this 7,600 word article (yes, 7,600 words on one season!), plus all other articles on the site, then please subscribe (see below). As with most of the other features in this series it includes words from interviews I have performed with those who were there.
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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?
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On this day (31 January) in 1968 Manchester City defeated Reading 7-0 in a FA Cup replay. As the players left the field the Elm Park tannoy announcer claimed: ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, you have just seen one of the greatest teams England has produced in a long time.’
Goalscorers were Mike Summerbee (3), Colin Bell, Tony Coleman, George Heslop and Neil Young. This photo is of the Bell, Lee & Summerbee statue at the Etihad today.
Dozens of letters arrived at Maine Road commenting on City’s performance. Many Reading fans wrote in saying they could have watched the Blues all night. Other letters arrived commenting on how well behaved the City supporters were, while fans themselves commented on the cheerfulness of the Reading police.
These points may seem trivial today, but in 1968 football had already begun to enter its hooligan period. Football supporters had started to be seen as trouble causers and incidents of violence, or of vandalism, soon found their way into national newspapers. Although City supporters were never totally blameless, during the late 1960s Blues fans continued to gain commendations rather than condemnation.
You can read more on this remarkable, trophy winning season below. If you’d like to read this 7,600 word article (yes, 7,600 words on one season!), plus all other articles on the site, then please subscribe (see below). As with most of the other features in this series it includes words from interviews I have performed with those who were there.
Subscribe to get access
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) or sign up for a year at the discounted price of £20 per year (works out £1.67 per month). Subscribers access the 1000+ articles posted so far and the others scheduled during the life of your subscription.
On this day (27 January) in 1968 40,343 watched as Manchester City and Reading played out a goalless draw in the FA Cup at Maine Road. City had missed a penalty too! The Manchester Evening News reporter Peter Gardner was not impressed with City (see below report). A nice reminder that even the greatest of teams can have off days!
Peter Gardner’s summary of MCFC V Reading, FAC January 1968
The tie went to a replay and you can find out what happened next in the following 7,600 word article (yes, 7,600 words on one season!) on the 1967-68 season. This is available to subscribers, who also have access to all other articles on the site. As with most of the other features in my series on the 1960s it includes words from interviews I have performed with those who were there.
Subscribe to get access
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) or sign up for a year at the discounted price of £20 per year (works out £1.67 per month). Subscribers access the 1000+ articles posted so far and the others scheduled during the life of your subscription.
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.
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.
Gary James' Football Archive 