Here’s an image I’ve rediscovered in my collection of Manchester City manager Billy McNeill and his assistant Jimmy Frizzell. McNeill was City boss from 1983 until 1986 and was followed by Frizzell, who then remained at Maine Road in one capacity or another for many, many years. I liked Billy McNeill but was devastated when he chose to leave City for Aston Villa in 1986. Years later when I interviewed him he told me it had been a big mistake leaving Maine Road. He was right! Both City and Villa were relegated at the end of the 1986-87 season and I can’t help thinking Billy would have found success at City had he stayed.
Category Archives: 1984-85
Manchester City v Wimbledon: The First Time
The first League meeting between Manchester City and Wimbledon occurred on this day (25 August) in 1984 was an altogether new experience for City. Relegation in May 1983 had brought many changes to the club, including the arrival of manager Billy McNeill and his assistant Jimmy Frizzell. Their first season in charge had seen the Blues finish fourth behind Chelsea, Newcastle, and Sheffield Wednesday, and much was expected from their second campaign.
The opening fixture of the 1984-5 season saw City take to the field against Wimbledon for the first time. It should have been an easy victory for McNeill’s men, particularly as the Blues viewed themselves as championship contenders whereas Dave Bassett’s Wimbledon had risen from Division Four in two consecutive seasons. It seemed at the time as if everyone in football doubted that Wimbledon would be able to handle life in Division Two.
The match commenced with City hopeful, but within fifteen minutes of the start Wimbledon were 2-0 up thanks to goals from Stewart Evans and Glyn Hodges. City just didn’t know what had hit them.
By half-time, however the Blues had pulled a goal back and by full-time had equalised. Gordon Smith and Derek Parlane had provided the crucial City goals, but the game was certainly one which made City realise promotion was not going to be as straightforward as some had suggested. Apart from a victory over Grimsby a few other worrying results followed, then McNeill’s men got their act together and moved up the division. Gradually they rose up the Division – although it’s fair to say there were a few heartstopping moments along the way!. The Blues ended the season in the third automatic promotion spot, while Wimbledon ended the season in an encouraging 12th place – their best ever at the time.
Stats: Division Two 25th August 1984.
Wimbledon 2 City 2
Scorers – City: Smith, Parlane
Wimbledon: Evans, Hodges
City: Williams, Phillips, Power, Bond, McCarthy, Wilson, McNab, Baker, Cunningham, Smith (Tolmie), Parlane
Wimbledon: Beasant, Kay, Winterburn, Galliers (Gage), Smith, Morris, Evans, Ketteridge, Cork, O’Berg, Hodges
Attendance: 8,365
More on the 1984-5 season here:
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DonateCity’s Swedish Tour in Doubt
Back in June 1985 English football clubs planned tours and preseason games were in doubt after first UEFA, then FIFA instigated bans on English clubs playing outside of the UK. According to the Liverpool Echo Manchester City was to be the first team to challenge the ban (see below for details). The bans followed the awful, tragic scenes at the 1985 European Cup Final featuring Liverpool. That day was an absolutely disgraceful day that saw 39 people die – please find a way to read about the circumstances. It really was horrific.
The reason this became a story on 11 June in 1985 in the Liverpool Echo is that City’s planned trip to Sweden was in jeopardy and the newspaper wanted to raise awareness of the possibility that the ban could be lifted.
Ultimately, City did not get to Sweden in 1985 and they played in the Isle Of Man tournament in July and August instead.
40Years Ago: MCFC v Wimbledon
This will make you feel old! The first City-Wimbledon fixture shown on Match of the Day was the 3-0 City victory on 19th January 1985. This was only the second fixture between the two sides and goals from Smith, Baker and Phillips made this a comfortable Second Division win. Highlights here:
More on that season here:
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DonateProgramme Flashback City V Wolves 29 December 1984
On this day in 1984 Manchester City faced Wolves.
Here for subscribers is a flashback piece detailing what features were in the MCFC match programme that day:
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40 Years Ago Today: Steve Redmond
Steve Redmond signed professional forms for Manchester City on this day (26 November) in 1984. You can find several articles that mention Steve throughout this website. Start looking here:
Manchester City 1 Australia 3
40 years ago today (14 November 1984) Australia visited Maine Road for a friendly. It was part of a series of matches against British clubs. City announced that the Blues would field a team of senior players but in the end this was a mixed team, containing several youth/fringe players.
The game ended in an Australian win. Here’s how the match was previewed in the City programme:
More on the 1984-85 season here:
If you enjoy all the free material on my website and would like to support my research and keep this website going (but don’t want to subscribe) then why not make a one-time donation (or buy me a coffee). All support for my research is valued and welcome. It allows me to keep some free material available for all. Thanks.
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Donate40 Years Ago Today: Jim Melrose
Jim Melrose signed for Manchester City on this day (7 November) in 1984. You can find several articles that mention Jim throughout this website. Start looking here:
40 Years Ago Today: Darren Beckford
Darren Beckford signed professional forms for Manchester City on this day (1 August) in 1984. Darren had signed apprentice forms on 16 Apr 1984 and his brother Jason was also a City player.
40 Years Ago Today: David Phillips
David Phillips signed for Manchester City on this day (26 July) in 1984. You can find several articles that mention David throughout this website. Start looking here:
Gary James' Football Archive 