Football writing, thoughts and more by Gary James
On this day (4 October) in 1981 Longserving Manchester City defender Tommy Booth moved to Preston North End. Tommy had made his City debut against Huddersfield Town (a) on 2 September 1968 in the League Cup with his League debut coming against Arsenal (h) on 9 October 1968. Joe Mercer once described the former Middleton Boys player as the ‘best footballing centre-half since Stan Cullis’ and Joe would know.
The image is of Tommy Booth scoring V Gornik in Copenhagen in 1971.
On this day (18 September) in 1968 Manchester City’s first European Cup fixture against Fenerbahce ended goalless at Maine Road. This was the first time two British clubs from the same city had competed in the European Cup. Here’s a match report of the City game:
Subscribers can read a feature about that game here:
This article is available to subscribers. It costs £3 per year (cancel anytime) to subscribe and monthly subscriver get full access to all the articles, interviews and books published since 1 October 2022. There’s also a special annual option (see below).
This article is available to subscribers. It costs £20 a year (£1.67 per month) to subscribe and for that you get full access to all the articles, interviews and books already published since the site was created in December 2020 and throughout your subscription.
It’s Day 94 of my Maine Road 100 countdown (not long to go now!) to the centenary of Maine Road’s first game. Recently I’ve been asked if I know who played most games at City’s old stadium and the answer is that Alan Oakes made more appearances in City’s first team at Maine Road than any other player. Alan made 340 plus one as sub appearances at Maine Road in a City first team shirt.
Alan is also City’s record appearance holder of course. He’s often overlooked these days when people talk about truly great City players but Alan was a model professional, loved by Blues, teammates and opponents alike. Here’s an interview I did with Alan a few years back.
This interview occurred in February 2005 and we discussed his life and career. This appears here as it was originally published.
Alan Oakes joined the Blues at the age of 15 in 1958 and made his first team debut in November 1959 when he was 17 years and 2 months. He stayed at Maine Road until July 1976 by which time he had made a staggering 564 League appearances. In February 2005 he was inducted into City’s Hall of Fame, and author Gary James met up with him to discuss his career.
To begin with let’s talk about your childhood, did you come from a sporting background?
We were all very sporty and my father and others played local football – nothing professional – and as a boy I’d play cricket in the summer and football in the winter. The usual sort of thing – coats as goalposts – and I loved playing. I progressed into the Mid-Cheshire Boys side and then one day I got the shock of my life when City’s scout Albert Kavanagh knocked on the door and asked me to join the groundstaff. He’d watched me play at Broughton, Salford, and seemed to like what he saw. I was astounded and delighted at the same time. This was a dream moment.
Coming from a Cheshire village like Winsford in the 50s to a big city like Manchester must have been a bit daunting, how did you and your family feel about the move?
It was an opportunity I couldn’t miss. Other teams showed interest but City meant so much to me. I’d been to Maine Road a few times – I stood on the old Kippax before it had a roof – and loved the Club. I wasn’t blinkered though because I also went to Maine Road to watch some of United’s first games in Europe. Remember they used City’s ground because they didn’t have floodlights and a lot of Blues went to watch the European sides.
Clearly, you saw a wealth of talent during this period, but who were your heroes?
Ken Barnes was a brilliant player and by far the best in his position, and Bobby Johnstone had an amazing footballing brain. They were great players to watch and later I was fortunate to play with Ken, but my boyhood hero was always Billy Wright from Wolves. There was something special about Wolves. They brought over several top European sides for friendlies – I guess they paved the way for the European Cup – and they won so many fans. They were a great, entertaining side and Billy Wright was their star. I was still a City fan, but I recognised the quality of Wright and Wolves.
Still only 17 you made your debut in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea, how did you feel about your performance?
I felt okay, but I gave away a penalty! Fortunately for me Bert Trautmann – the greatest ever keeper – was in nets and he saved the day. As a member of the groundstaff I’d clean Bert’s boots and even that felt like a great honour, so you can imagine how grateful I felt when he saved the penalty. The Chelsea game was a one off – I think Ken Barnes was injured – and so it was a few weeks before my chance came again. I felt a lot of satisfaction that I was in the reckoning though. When I arrived at City there were 55 professionals and about five teams to progress through to reach the first team.
How did you find the management and coaching staff in those days?
They were all ex-City players and so that was important. Fred Tilson and Laurie Barnett had played in the 30s finals and coached us, and manager Les McDowall had been a good player in his day. Clearly the coaching techniques they used were not a patch on Malcolm Allison, but they did what was right for the period. They also treated me well and looked after me. I found it difficult adjusting to life in a big city. I lived in digs for a while, and then moved back home and travelled by train and, eventually, car.
By 1963 you were a regular but City were entering a difficult period, did that come across to you?
We had a lot of quality in the side but seemed to be conceding too many goals. We knew we were struggling but we always gave it our best. After we were relegated in ’63 Derek Kevan and Jimmy Murray arrived. We were doing really well, then Jimmy did his cartilage in – that was a major blow – and we tailed off. We missed promotion (6th place) and we couldn’t get it going again until Joe and Malcolm arrived in ’65.
Although you were still relatively young, you were one of the more experienced players, how did the arrival of Mercer & Allison go down?
It was a great lift of course, but I know we were wary of Malcolm at first. He had all these ideas and it seemed so different to what we were used to, but within a week or so he’d won everybody over. The transformation by the two men was so fast – before we’d completed our pre-season games we were convinced we would win promotion. We couldn’t wait to get started. The confidence flowed and then Malcolm tackled our fitness. Of course we won promotion easily, and then held our own in 1966-7. Don’t forget we had faced a couple of big tests in those first two seasons – We took a strong Everton side to 2 replays in the FA Cup while we were still in Division Two and narrowly lost to Revie’s Leeds the following year. We lost 1-0 to Leeds with a Jack Charlton goal that should have been disallowed. So we came away from those games confident we could face any side. There was nothing for us to fear.
Of course, the Championship followed in ’68 and all the other successes of that great period, which one means most to you?
The Championship and European successes were both very important. This is a difficult one really, but because I was there during the dark days, I think the most important one had to be the promotion in 1966. My reason is that without that none of the rest would have followed. Joe and Malcolm didn’t just get us promoted, they first stopped the rot. We were going downhill fast and they stopped that, changed gear and pushed us forward quickly, and it wasn’t done with negative play. A lot of teams pack the defence and try to ensure they don’t lose, we always went out to win and never contemplated holding out for a point.
Throughout your City career people commented that you were a quiet, unassuming, perhaps shy player, was that fair?
I think I was a good professional. I used to simply get on with it. I was dedicated and tried to give everything for the Club. I believe I was a good, honest pro. If I was asked to do an interview, I’d do it, but I never sought the headlines. Media coverage was not as it is today, so it was easier in many ways, but I would do it when needed. More than anything I wanted to make sure my role on the pitch spoke for me.
By 1973 the Mercer-Allison partnership had ended and some of the other players started to move on, did you contemplate leaving?
Never. You were worried that you’d be dropped or the next one out, but I never thought about choosing to leave. Why would anyone want to leave the best club in the country? I remember thinking that somebody would take my place and that I had to keep performing at the highest level. In some ways I liked to push myself by thinking of all the people who could take my place, but I never, ever thought about leaving until after the League Cup final of 1976.
The team had changed significantly by 1976, and you were clearly one of the elder statesmen of the team, how did you find that period?
I enjoyed it all, and I remember playing a few games with Peter Barnes in front of me. I loved that. He was such a gifted player and it was great for me to play behind someone that exciting at that stage in my career and in his. I know this came a couple of years after I’d moved on, but it irritated me when Peter Barnes was sold because I believe he could have helped City to real success. He was the sort of player you built a team around.
While I’m thinking about this, I also believe Mike Summerbee and Francis Lee were sold far too early. Francis had so much more left in him – he proved that at Derby – and so the break up of the Mercer-Allison team came too rapid.
In July 1976 you moved to Chester, why did you make the move?
I’d had a great season. I’d played 39 League games and won the League Cup and so there was no pressure to leave, but I did think that I may have blocked some other gifted players coming through. I was also aware that I’d be 34 when the new season starts and that I may not be up to it in the way I would normally expect. Chester City were just up the road and for me it was a nice move. I do remember thinking ‘what have I done?’ because I’d gone from a First Division palace to play at Third Division grounds, but the move was a good one. Looking back though I was perhaps wrong to leave when I did. My advice to any player now is to remain playing at the highest level for as long as you physically can. Those days are precious and should not be cut short.
I also missed Maine Road a lot when I left and I miss it even more now. I regret the fact City have left that ground.
At Chester you moved into management, was this something you’d always wanted?
It was part of the attraction of joining Chester that I could become player-manager and I think in the six years I was there we had a great time. Success is different for a team like Chester, it’s all about survival and so I had to do a lot of work in the transfer market. I had another ex-City star, Cliff Sear, with me and we worked well together, and I loved every minute at Sealand Road. Often I’d be trying to negotiate good transfer fees and working hard to sell a couple of players to keep us afloat, and so I got satisfaction from that when it all came right. I still got a lot of satisfaction from playing as well, so it was a perfect role.
Ian Rush was one of your players. Is it true he almost came to City?
Yes it is. Whenever anybody with talent was due to leave Chester I would want them to move to a bigger, better club. I still love City and so I wanted Rushie to go to Maine Road. We were having a great cup run and Tony Book and Malcolm Allison came to watch him. Rush scored twice and I met up with Tony and Malcolm afterwards. Tony was keen to sign him but Malcolm didn’t rate him for some reason and it all collapsed. He later went to Liverpool and the rest is history, but I wanted him to go to Maine Road and I wish that deal had occurred. Of course, you never know how these things would have worked out.
Did you ever consider moving into a higher division as a manager?
Definitely – with City! It must have been 1983 because I know Billy McNeill was given the job in the end, but I applied for the City job. I desperately wanted the role because I loved the Club and because I believed I knew exactly what the Club needed. I’d also served what I thought was a good apprenticeship – six years at Chester taught me a great deal about survival and transfer negotiations. I knew City had financial problems and that someone with the right experience was needed – the last thing the Club could cope with was someone who needed to spend – and so I felt I was ideal for the role. Don’t forget what I’d experienced as a player at Maine Road as well. Most importantly, I understood the Club and all about Manchester football fans and their expectations and needs. This remains the greatest club in my eyes.
I got an interview at Peter Swales’ house. A few directors were there and I thought I gave a very good interview. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the job. I still wonder what might have happened.
Moving on to today, your son Michael has become a Premier League goalkeeper, is this something you’ve encouraged?
I didn’t push him but I did encourage him. It’s a great game to be a part of and I love the fact he’s involved. Joe Corrigan helped him a lot when he was young and so I’m grateful for that, and when he joined Aston Villa I was delighted. Now he’s at Wolves and I do try to watch him but I find it very difficult. I’m always in two minds as to whether I want the ball to be at his end of the field or not. If Wolves are attacking I know he’s safe, but I also know he can’t demonstrate his abilities. If Wolves are on the defensive I want him to have to make a great save but I’m also worried he’s going to be caught out. I think he’s doing really well though.
I once replaced Bert Trautmann in nets – it was against West Ham and he was sent off, so I deputised. I can’t remember much about it now, but I don’t think Michael would have learnt much if he’d seen it!
Finally, you have made a total of 672 first team appearances for City (including 3 Charity Shield games), how did you feel when you first broke Bert Trautmann’s appearance record?
I was a little bit sad that I took the record off Bert because to me there was no finer ‘keeper and player for the Club, but obviously I felt pleased to have the record. Personally, I’m looking forward to the day when the record’s beaten. I know it will take a lot to beat but I hope somebody does it, and if the person who beats it has the same sort of career and enjoyment at City that I have had then he will have had a fantastic career. This is a great club with terrific fans and I have enjoyed every minute of my time with the Club.
Congratulations Manchester City. So many thoughts, emotions and memories this weekend as the Blues won the Champions League for the first time. In one of those wonderful coincidences of fate it’s significant that City’s first ever European Cup away game was against a team from Istanbul (Fenerbahce) in 1968 and that the trophy was finally won there almost 55 years later.
If you’ve not seen it before have a look at City goalkeeper Harry Dowd’s cine film from 1968 and that first European Cup trip. Will McTaggart and I were grateful to Harry’s family when they loaned this to the North West Film Archive for preservation and copying. We were able to show some of it (and Harry’s other films) in our Boys in Blue film show a few years back. So many of the sites will be familiar but so much has changed too.
https://www.mancity.com/citytv/mens/istanbul-1968-harry-dowd-film-63821828
I was only a baby when City first competed in Istanbul but now, as a grown adult with adult children of my own, I was able to experience the final in the flesh. Nothing beats that!
It has been a wonderful journey over these decades. I was born at a time when Manchester City were a power. A major club with a significant trophy-winning pedigree and glamour. They were one of Europe’s finest and they won their first major European trophy in 1970 (the European Cup Winners’ Cup – at the time UEFA’s second most important competition).
In my life City have now won: 1 European Cup, 1 ECWC, 8 League titles, 4 FA Cups and 8 League Cups but it’s not been easy.
People will talk about investment and money and, like the majority of trophy-winning clubs, that has happened of course. But there’s also been considerable years of under-investment, of people benefiting from the club in terms of prestige, status and personal finance, and not putting anything back.
The City that was swashbuckling and winning trophies of my early childhood was cast aside by those running my club. They allowed others to seize the initiative – In the 1970s City won three times as many trophies as United; by the time I was 15 City had not spent any time during my life outside the top flight (United had) and remained the 3rd best supported club; When I was 25 City were still the last Manchester side to win the League… I could go on my club was downgraded by those in charge during the late 1970s & 1980s who placed a club that had been profitable into one that was in debt with a stadium that was needing investment. They treated some injured players, like Paul Lake, appallingly. Penny-pinching all the way while they had their ‘status’.
A shock relegation in 1983, exacerbated by the penny-pinching and debts being piled on (oh, and some directors then buying up large numbers of shares at low prices which they would later profit enormously from!), meant City were starting to fall behind.
Our chairman Peter Swales appeared on TV often saying things like: ‘You can’t plan in football. You take every game, every week and every season as it comes.’ How we all thought ‘you’re the top man, if you’ve got no plan – any plan – we’re doomed!’
Youth development helped City compete at the end of the 80s and early 90s, finishing 5th two years running and building for a positive future. Then our directors messed it all up with managerial changes and a takeover was launched by former hero Francis Lee. After a bitter battle, which also split our supporters club, Lee gained control but the club had been badly managed and was in a worse state than he’d expected. A new stand had to be built (the old board’s ‘plan’ was going to include some plastic seats being bolted on to the old Kippax terracing – that’s the kind of forward looking ‘plan’ those guys specialised in!) and the club’s merchandising set-up meant that individuals gained more than the club. There appeared to be lots of ‘dodgy’ contracts issued during the final weeks of the old board’s reign if the material Lee showed me several years back is correct.
Lee made a massive mistake – appointing Alan Ball as manager – and after that the playing side collapsed and the real fall from grace followed. The Swales days had robbed the club of its assets and then we fell. Thankfully, David Bernstein, Chris Bird, David Makin and John Wardle, plus supporting figures like Dennis Tueart and Alastair Mackintosh, saved the club and the rebirth happened. I would like to stress though that City were only out of the PL from 1996 to 2000 and then again 2001-02. Five years and only one of which was in the third tier, so when people talk about City as coming from the 3rd tier that’s true but it was not the club’s normal position – that was as a leading top flight team.
The years 1983 to 2002 were the ones out of character (in general) with the club’s 143 year history, not 2008 onwards – though these are now incredibly special times at a level not experienced before despite the success the club has previously enjoyed.
Since 2002 City have been a Premier League club once more and then of course there’s the investment from 2008 which has not only got City back to a period of strength within the game that it held when I was a toddler, but those in charge have planned and grown the club to a level never before seen. Their planning and direction – evidenced from day one – has taken City to a new height. People will talk about money but if it was just about money then why didn’t the club find League success 2 years after being purchased like Chelsea did? Or reach a CL final within 5 years like Chelsea did? This was never just about money. It was about planning and changing the way football clubs operate for the long term.
All these years after the investment City have finally found European success at the highest level and it’s incredible. It has been a long journey from Istanbul to Istanbul.
With the 2023 Champions League final looming (and a possible treble for Manchester City!), most City fans know that the Blues possess a great history but in recent years some of the club’s rivals have tended to play down City’s European heritage suggesting the Blues are relative newcomers to the continent’s biggest competitions. So in this article I thought I’d take the opportunity to spell out a few of City’s earliest connections with European competition:
If you would like to read the full article and other pieces like this then please subscribe below. It works out about £1.67 a month if you take out an annual subscription (£20 per year) or £3 a month if you’d like to sign up for a month at a time. Each subscriber gets full access to the 100+ articles posted so far and the hundreds scheduled to be posted in the coming weeks.
Read this article and all other content on GJFootballArchive when you subscribe today. It costs £20 a year or £3 per month (see below).
Read this article and all other content on GJFootballArchive when you subscribe today. It costs £20 a year or £3 per month (here; cancel any time). Why not try it for a month?
Day 12 of my posts counting down to the centenary of Maine Road’s opening game. Today is a simple photo of something that became lost after decades of proudly stating the club’s name – the central mosaic.
Created in 1923 for the new stadium the central mosaic was one of three created to proudly spell out the club’s name at their new home. I’ve written a lot about these and you can read more in the second chapter of Farewell To Maine Road (I talk about the people who made the mosaics there):
The central mosaic was proudly visible to all from 1923 through to the late 1970s when it was covered up by an advertising hoarding. I was told while researching the book that a refurbishment of the Main Stand saw an air conditioning unit get smashed through it, damaging it forever. You can see the advertising board in this photo:
I do know that during Maine Road’s demolition in 2004 part of the mosaic became visible briefly one day. How I wish we’d have been able to salvage it! If I get chance I’ll post that here, along with other demolition images, later in this series.
This image of it is from 1968 and for those unfamiliar with Maine Road he specific location of the mosaic was above the main entrance of the Main Stand (the Main Stand is number 1 on this image) facing Maine Road itself.
If you’d like to read more on the history of Maine Road, take a look at Farewell To Maine Road, which can be downloaded from this page:
Choose an amount
Or enter a custom amount
Your contribution is appreciated.
DonateOn this day (22 March) 1969 Manchester City and Everton met in the FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park. Here for subscribers is the story of that day, including material from interviews I have performed with some of the key people (such as Tommy Booth). Enjoy!
To read this and all the other in-depth articles please subscribe. It works out about £1.67 a month if you take out an annual subscription (£20 per year) or £3 a month if you’d like to sign up for a month at a time (see below). Annual subscribers get full access to everything posted since December 2020 and the hundreds scheduled to be posted during their subscription.
To read this and all the other in-depth articles please subscribe. It’s £3 a month (cancel anytime). Monthly subscribers get full access to everything posted since 1 October 2022 and everything scheduled to be posted during their subscription.
I’d like to thank you for taking the time and trouble to visit my website. I have been researching and writing about Manchester football since the 1980s. I am not employed by anyone and I do not have sponsorship either and so I’ve set up this website to help share my 32 years plus writing and research.
The intention is to develop the archive and to provide access to as much of my material as possible over the coming weeks, months & years. Subscribers can already access hundreds of articles/posts including PDFs of a couple of books and exclusive audio interviews, talks etc.
It costs £20 a year (it works out £1.67 a month) or £3 if you’d like to sign up a month at a time to get full access for as long as you subscribe. If you’d like to check whether it’s value for money, have a search through content before subscribing – or even subscribe for a month, access what you want and then cancel!
Thanks for the support, Gary.
Today (15 March) in 1969 goals from Francis Lee, Neil Young and substitute Ian Bowyer gave Manchester City a 3-1 victory over Queen’s Park Rangers at Maine Road.
Earlier this week the former Manchester City and England international Mike Summerbee was presented with an OBE by Prince William. This is excellent and well deserved news. Mike’s a great ambassador for football, City and Manchester (OBE & Windsor photos from Manchester City).
It seems appropriate to include here an interview I did with Mike several years ago. I’ve interviewed him often over the years and this one was a general piece, performed in April 2005. It was for the Manchester City match programme and we started by talking about one of his favourite topics ‘Escape to Victory’. Here is that interview as written up at the time. Enjoy!
Mike Summerbee was the second player, after Ralph Brand to join Joe Mercer’s City in 1965. Over the following decade he became a major star and played a significant role throughout the Mercer-Allison glory years. Always the entertainer, Mike featured in the classic footballing wartime adventure film “Escape To Victory” and today assists the Club’s commercial activities. In April 2005 Gary James caught up with him at the Manchester City Experience.
Let’s start with “Escape To Victory”. How did you get involved in the filming of that movie?
It was Bobby Moore who got me involved. We’d known each other since I was 16, and we both had a similar outlook. The makers of the film had got several Ipswich Town players involved, plus Pele and of course Bobby. They needed another familiar British player and Bobby suggested me. He called me and said: “How do you fancy being in a movie with Michael Caine?” And that was it. Within three weeks I was on my way to Budapest for filming. I had no idea at the time that this would become one of those films still being shown and talked about twenty odd years later, but it has become a cult movie with websites dedicated to it. It’s the sort of film that many other people would have wanted to be in. I know for a fact that Rod Stewart wanted to be in it.
Why do you think the film is remembered so affectionately?
I don’t want to give too much away – everyone should come to our special showing and see the movie and hear my reasons then – but the film is like a Boys’ Own adventure. It’s got drama, excitement, and is a traditional film. It doesn’t rely on bad language, sex, or extreme violence, and it really does appeal to everyone. Don’t forget it also contains some great actors – everyone remembers Stallone and Caine but look at the other cast members as well – and then there are some very well known footballers including Pele.
I loved making the film and one of the great aspects for me was that when we came to the football scenes we were told to go out and play the game. John Huston – a great director – wanted it to look as realistic as possible and so we played a real game. Inevitably we had spells concentrating on tackling or shooting but much of the game came from real play. Pele’s wonderful overhead kick goal was natural and was done only once. We didn’t take ages setting up, re-shooting etc. It was done for real and only in one take. John Huston had cameras everywhere and tried to make sure everything that took place on the pitch was filmed from every angle. That makes it so much more real.
You have a speaking part in the film, did you know about that before you accepted?
We were told to let the actors act and they were told to let the footballers play. That way we all did what we were good at. Then when it came to the dressing room scenes Michael Caine said to Huston that it didn’t feel right for only the actors to talk and he said that a couple of us should speak. When it came to half time, I congratulated a couple of players on their play – that was natural not planned – and that stayed in, and then other lines were given to us. It felt strange, but when you watch the film it makes much more sense to have us speaking. I loved making the film and there are so many different aspects to talk about, but we’ll save that for the 5th May event.
Moving back to your playing career, we all know that you came from a footballing family, but did that mean it was something you had to do?
My dad played professionally and so from an early age it seemed natural to play. All boys loved playing back then anyway, so there was nothing strange about that, but I suppose when you are young whatever your father does has a greater importance. My brother was a better player than I, although he stopped playing when my Dad died, and we used to play whenever and wherever we could. I’d get to school as early as possible – not for the lessons, I was a dunce! – but for the kickabout. We’d have a tennis ball and play until we had to go in. I also played cricket, athletics and other sports, but football was my best.
Your progression into professional football seems rapid – you were a key feature of the Swindon team in your teens – were there any setbacks?
I’d had a spell at Bristol City when I was 15, but I was so homesick I had to give up on it. My mother worried about me and suggested I kept out of the game. She knew about the problems and difficulties a footballer could have because of my father’s career, and then the opportunity came with Swindon and everything started going right for me. I joined them at a time when they were ready to give youth a chance and I made my debut at 17.
Was life relatively easy for you then?
The life of a footballer was not as glamorous or financially rewarding as it is today. I loved playing and I loved the camaraderie of it all, but we all had to have other jobs to keep us going outside of the season. I used to end up working for the Corporation cutting grass, painting, oddjobs, and digging graves! It kept you in touch with the fans – both the living and the dead! – and I actually loved all of that time. We didn’t have flash cars or anything then. In fact Ernie Hunt and I had a tandem, and we used to cycle together on our tandem to the ground. It was a great, fun time, and I have very fond memories of it all.
One of the significant angles is that Joe Mercer was interested in signing you from fairly early in your career, were you aware of his interest?
To some extent yes. Joe had played with my father at Aldershot, and then Swindon played Joe’s Aston Villa in a testimonial game. We won and I scored a couple, and Joe even played wing-half for Villa. After that I was told he wanted to sign me for Villa and that he’d made a bid but nothing further happened. I don’t know if it was problems at Villa or what but some time after that Joe moved on, and then in 1965 he got the City job. I was in Torquay and I gave him a call – I thought it was time to make the move and chance my arm a little. Joe said he’d be in touch. Then serious interest came from City and I was off.
Did City mean much to you as a boy?
Because of where I lived I’d travel to Birmingham to watch games and whenever City played Villa I used to enjoy seeing Bobby Johnstone, Ken Barnes, Bert Trautmann and the rest. They were such a great and in many ways glamorous side to watch, and the pale blue shirt – a colour I still don’t believe we’ve managed to recreate properly – was so memorable. No other side could match that colour and City were unique. All of those great memories were in my head and I was desperate to play for City when Joe came here. Although they were in Division Two when I arrived they were a major, major side with a great stadium. I loved Swindon, but City were something else.
Everyone talks about the atmosphere around the place, how did you find it?
Joe lifted the spirits of everybody, that was clear, and Malcolm Allison was so ahead of his time and knew all about psychology. He knew what players needed, and he always knew the best way of getting more out of me was by winding me up. I think I was a consistent player, and at half time in one game we’d had a bit of a bad spell. I’d played well, but one or two players had struggled and we all knew it, but in the dressing room Mal went up to the two players and told them they were doing well and that they just had to keep plugging away. He was boosting their confidence I guess and they certainly were more confident in the second half. When he came to me he said I was playing the worst game ever and that I was letting everybody down! It wound me up so much I had a go back at him, and then when we got on the pitch I pushed and fought for everything to prove how wrong he was and I gave 120% – his trick had worked!
During your first year at City (1965-66) England manager Alf Ramsey came to watch you play, and eventually you became the first City man since Don Revie in 1956 to play for England. Were you aware of the attention?
When Ramsey came to watch me the attention was good and, considering Alf concentrated on his ‘wingless wonders’, it was great for me a winger to be considered. I’d been included in the squad from almost immediately after the World Cup win, then I made my England debut against Scotland at Hampden (February 1968) in front of about 150,000, alongside the likes of Moore & Charlton. I was very nervous but they helped to calm me and at half time both Bobbys told me I was doing well, so that helped. In the end every one of my England appearances came at centre-forward, so I guess the style of play limited my opportunities, but I loved playing for England.
What was Alf Ramsey like as a manager?
He was definitely a ‘player’s manager’. He handled us well, and I believe that he was, in the end, treated appallingly be the FA. He treated us exceptionally well and he was a great man to play for – I don’t believe that England have ever managed to find a permanent manager who can match him. He had the same sort of authority as Joe Mercer, but they were different characters. Joe was wonderful with the media and the public, while Alf was primarily a players’ man. There was one time, we’d lost 2-0 at Katowice (1973) and I’d been on the bench. We were pretty down. Alf knew how low we were but because we were playing in Moscow a couple of days later he told everybody to get to bed early, no drinking or anything.
We all sneaked into Bobby Moore’s room and had a few gins. Sir Alf caught us and we thought he was going to have a go. He said: “I thought I’d told you not to drink! But in the circumstances I’ll have a large gin and tonic please.”
Throughout the Sixties and Seventies, City never seemed to fear any opposition, is that something that came from the players?
Obviously, Joe and Malcolm bred a certain atmosphere which boosted confidence. Whenever we played United we’d get to Trafford at 12.30 simply to soak up the atmosphere and to be ready. Mal would swagger to the Stretford End before the game to tell them how many we’d win by, and we’d go out there and match his score, although we used to encourage him to keep the expectation down a little! For us it didn’t matter whether we played Shankly’s Liverpool, Busby’s United, or any other team because we knew we were more than a match for any of them. Some of these teams possessed better individual players but, particularly at Old Trafford, we were always the better side. We had a great team spirit. People always talk about Lee, Bell and Summerbee like Charlton, Law and Best, but our side wasn’t about three players, it was about the whole team. Oakes, Pardoe, Young…. You know all the players. Unfortunately the 3 player line is a good one for the media to focus on, but for the players it was always about the team. I always think it’s wrong to talk about Lee, Bell, & Summerbee. We were part of a great, strong side and, although the 3 of us were well known, we needed that entire side to bring City success.
Finally, you’ve always been known as an entertainer, and always had a great rapport with fans and the media, presumably this is a very important aspect to your life?
As a player I used to meet the fans as often as possible – we all would. We’d have lunch in the old Social Club all mixed together, we’d attend supporters & Junior Blues meetings; take part in the pantomime every year; and generally be out and about. We also used to get on well with the media. The journalists were always good honest judges back then – people like Frank McGhee and Richard Bott always talked truthfully about your performance. If they said I’d had a bad game, I knew I had. They weren’t out to knock you, or to build you up. They spoke honestly and so I enjoyed talking with them.
For me football is entertainment and the game itself is sometimes less important than everything that surrounds it. I don’t miss playing, but I do miss the camaraderie we had. I miss the team spirit we had with City, England, and even during the filming of Escape To Victory. It’s the same camaraderie fans feel on the terraces. That’s why I enjoy my involvement with the Club today because it’s all about the fans, the City spirit, and the wonderful life that surrounds the game.
Choose an amount
Or enter a custom amount
Your contribution is appreciated.
Donate
On this day (1 March) in 1969 Manchester City faced Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup quarter-final at Maine Road. The Blues showed their determination from the very first minute, although Spurs were equally determined. Jimmy Greaves and Alan Gilzean attacked the Blues like no other in the competition so far and City felt the pressure, while defensively the Londoners were determined to stop the Blues no matter what. Johnson was booked for tipping up Bell near the penalty area, then Knowles found the referee taking his name after the player sent Coleman crashing heavily to the ground in another dangerous tackle.
It was a tough match all round but the in the 64th minute City found an opening. A lofted ball from Coleman, out deep on the left, stretched across the penalty area where Bell headed it back untroubled into the middle. Doyle forced his way forward for the ball, then Summerbee turned it forward to Lee. From approximately eight yards out Lee sent the ball scraping in from the inside of the post, with Jennings unable to reach it. Despite pressure from Greaves & Co. City held on and entered the draw for the semi-final alongside Everton, Leicester, and Cup holders West Bromwich Albion. In the end the draw paired City with Everton at Villa Park.
You can read more on the 1968-69 season for Manchester City here:
Gary James' Football Archive 