Category Archives: 1972-73

Happy Birthday Alan Oakes (Interview Feature)

Happy birthday Alan Oakes, born on this day (7 September) in 1942. Alan has made more appearances for Manchester City than any other player but more significantly he’s an absolute gent. Here to commemorate his birthday is an interview I did with Alan.

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.

Manchester City’s European Tours

These days pre-season tours are an expected part of a football club’s activities but that’s not always been the case. Pre-1939 it was highly unusual for English teams to travel for friendlies before a season, but some clubs did enjoy post-season tours. The idea was that a trip to mainland Europe was a reward for first team players after an arduous season. Here for subscribers to my site is a brief overview of some of Manchester City’s European tour firsts.

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The Mighty Wyn

Sorry to hear the news of the death of former Bolton, City, United and Stockport forward Wyn Davies. At Bolton he had a good attacking partnership with Francis Lee and it was Lee who suggested to Malcolm Allison (first and then manager Joe Mercer) to sign the player for City in 1971. Coincidentally it was this week in 1971 when Newcastle (Davies’ club at the time) agreed a fee with City.

Screenshot

Davies made his City debut on 14 August 1971 at Maine Rd v Leeds. His last City game on 9 September the following year, shortly before he became one of a relatively small group of players to transfer directly between the Manchester clubs.

At City and, presumably his other clubs, the chant ‘you ain’t seen nothing like the mighty Wyn’ was frequently sung. Years later the same chant was resurrected for Niall ‘the mighty’ Quinn.

My thoughts are with Wyn’s family and friends.

Maine Road Now and Then

It’s worth comparing this image from recent years, showing the housing and school now built on Maine Road, with this 1940s image of the Maine Road site. The boundary lines are visible, demonstrating how the site changed usage.

This 1971 aerial image shows the stadium from another angle, looking west.

Maine Road aerial 1971 from Farewell To Maine Road

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:

Farewell To Maine Road – Part One
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Manchester City’s European Tours

These days pre-season tours are an expected part of a football club’s activities but that’s not always been the case. Pre-1939 it was highly unusual for English teams to travel for friendlies before a season, but some clubs did enjoy post-season tours. The idea was that a trip to mainland Europe was a reward for first team players after an arduous season. Here for subscribers to my site is a brief overview of some of Manchester City’s European tour firsts.

Subscribe to get access

If you would like to read this and all the in-depth articles on this site (including the entire Manchester A Football History book, my first book on MCFC and audio interviews with John Bond, Malcolm Allison etc. then 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.

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Remembering Tony Book

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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The 1970s: A Classic Kit and MCFC Win at Spurs

It wasn’t worn that often and was captured in photos/film even less, but here’s Manchester City winning away at Tottenham on this day (10 February) in 1973, wearing a classic kit. It was royal blue with red & white diagonal stripe. The game ended in a 3-2 City win at Spurs with goals from Rodney Marsh and Francis Lee (2). You can watch it here:

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Tony Book Interview

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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The 1960s: Significance of Tony Book

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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Tony Book

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.