The series of features covering the 1980s for Manchester City continues with an article from this day (11 December) in 1989 when City chairman Peter Swales was profiled. Back then profiles like this on the chairman appeared fairly regularly, usually after he’d just sacked a manager. It all makes interesting reading today.
If you want to know more about this period and the entire 1989-90 season then become a subscriber and read the following 8,000 word article on that season. Enjoy!
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The series of features covering the 1980s for Manchester City continues with a reminder of a day when City lost at Southampton (9 December) in 1989 BUT this short video is worth watching for a few reason. New manager Howard Kendall had flown down to Southampton to watch his new team and this clip begins with him signing autographs. But have a look who is stooding to the left as we watch – it’s Helen ‘the Bell’ Turner. A dedicated Blue who was part of City’s folklore for decades.
Other reasons to watch: There’s a Clive Allen goal (Allen was City’s first £1m player since Trevor Francis in 1981) and you can catch a glimpse of part of the away fans celebrating. City fans were in pens and there were at least a couple full behind the goal and to the left of the pitch as viewed from the camera.
The photo that heads this page is of Clive Allen on the cover on the City-Southampton game at Maine Road earlier in the season. If you want to know more about the entire 1989-90 season then become a subscriber and read the following 8,000 word article on that season. Enjoy!
Subscribe to get access – Monthly
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 or there’s a special annual rate below which gives greater access and works out much cheaper.
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (above) or £20 a year (here) to access everything posted since the site was created in December 2020. This special rate works out about £1.67 a week and gives access to everything posted, including PDFs of 3 of my books.
The series of features covering the 1980s for Manchester City continues with a reminder of a day when City chairman Peter Swales made a huge mistake. This cutting is from this day (2 December) in 1989 and refers to the Blues’ attempts to appoint Joe Royle as manager. However, by the time this article was published Swales had already messed things up.
He’d appeared on Granada TV’s Kick Off programme on the Friday night saying how he wanted Oldham boss Royle to replace Mel Machin. Unfortunately, Oldham had a game that night and Swales’ comments on TV helped inspire a series of emotional pleas and chants for Joe Royle not to leave Boundary Park. Their game basically became a Joe Royle tribute night and the emption of that night meant City did not get their man. At the time City fans would call days like this ‘Typical City!’ as cock-ups by the chairman and his supporting directors dogged the club’s development.
Note the comment about Tony Book in the image. These were the days when he often was dragged into managing the team on a temporary basis.
If you want to know more about that weekend and the entire 1989-90 season then become a subscriber and read the following 8,000 word article on that season. Enjoy!
Subscribe to get access – Monthly
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 or there’s a special annual rate below which gives greater access and works out much cheaper.
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (above) or £20 a year (here) to access everything posted since the site was created in December 2020. This special rate works out about £1.67 a week and gives access to everything posted, including PDFs of 3 of my books.
A new daily series of articles for subscribers started earlier this month covering the 1980s. This is a seasonal journey through a truly important decade in the history of Manchester City Football Club. Today’s article is a 8,000 word long read on the 1989-90 season. Enjoy!
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Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 or there’s a special annual rate below which gives greater access and works out much cheaper.
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (above) or £20 a year (here) to access everything posted since the site was created in December 2020. This special rate works out about £1.67 a week and gives access to everything posted, including PDFs of 3 of my books.
On this day (30 September) in 1989 Manchester City goalkeeper Paul Cooper saved the 56th penalty of his career in City’s 3-1 victory over Luton at Maine Road. Subscribers can see that penalty save and read a profile of him below:
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This brief comment says everything you need to know about the 23 September 1989 Manchester derby. This was how the New York Post reported on Manchester City’s bargain basement Blues defeated United’s expensive Reds.
Subscribers can read about the 1989-90 season here:
For the second time I’ve asked Mark McCarthy to write a guest blog on his football shirt collection and, specifically, I’ve asked him to tell us about his new book. This book is the second book he has written on his collection. It is packed with lots of great images and stories. Mark tells all below:
It was never my intention to do this follow up book to 101 Manchester City Match Worn Shirts which was released in 2021, but as a passionate City match shirt collector it’s a pleasure to be able to share another part of my collection and some stories regarding the shirts and the seasons’ memories that they may bring.
My collection has grown considerably over the past few years, as has the hobby in general. You only have to scroll through the many social media channels to see the number of accounts now dedicated to collecting not only match worn shirts but football shirts in general. I can’t speak for other collectors, but I can safely say they may well agree with me when I do say the feeling never get’s old of adding a new shirt or unearthing a real holy grail of a shirt into collection. This was the case for me during the first lockdown when after many years of trying to trace the unusual yellow away shirt that was only ever worn once by City at Arsenal on 14 October 1989 (with just one set of shirts produced it has become a real holy grail of City shirts for any collection) I tracked one down. The kit was hastily given away by then City director Freddie Pye, following our 4-0 defeat, with Chairman Peter Swales demanding that the kit was never to been seen again. Well it was actually seen numerous times across Manchester’s Saturday and Sunday leagues when it was used by local team MMS who were managed at the time by Liam Hall.
The kit was used well into the 1990s before the side broke up, a lot of players got to keep the shirts but the majority have long been since sold on. A few have surfaced more recently but were quickly snapped up by a dealer who then sold them for huge profits. After many online requests for the shirt, convinced that there will be one still out there I was put onto a fellow blue called Billy Bell, who had found one just stored in a bag of old City shirts, just waiting to be discovered. A deal was quickly arranged with Billy, who in fairness could have sold the shirt on for much high profits but, as a man of his word, he kept to our deal which I’ll be forever grateful. A courier was quickly arranged to be sent to collect the shirt which I’m thrilled to have in the collection as there certainly aren’t too many, if anymore out there.
Manchester City have played, and still do to this day, a huge part of my life. As many football fans will tell you, our clubs were our first real love, the ones we can forgive no matter what they throw our way. City have certainly tested that unconditional love over the 40 years I have supported the club, although the past 15 years or so have been pretty incredible to say the least.
In February 2023 I was kindly invited by the club to take part in the 2023/24 season kit launch where I spent the day in and around the first team while featuring in the official home fans and players photo shoot along with the likes of Jack Grealish, Erling Haaland, Riyad Mahrez and former City goalkeeper Alex Williams. I also spent time with our current kit manufacturers Puma talking about kit designs and ideas while showing them a collection of match shirts we have worn over the years. The day was topped off when I was introduced to legendary Oasis singer Noal Gallagher who was filming a piece using my shirts, another honour for me and I was delighted to be able to present him with a copy of my first book. For the record Noel’s favourite City shirt is the 86-88 black & red chess board chequered style. A big thank you to Paul Mulholland and City for making a brilliant day of memories to be treasured.
With just over 600 shirts now in the collection I hope the book will spark some memories of days gone by, some you may want to forget and some you will never forget.
You can order a copy direct from Mark which can include a signed dedicated message of choice which will make a perfect birthday or Christmas gift for any blue. EMAIL MARK: mmmac@hotmail.co.uk
It’s day 29 of my posts counting down to the centenary of Maine Road’s opening game. Today – it’s a simple photo of the floodlights being dismantled in 1990.
Crosland Ward senior just happened to have his camera with him while at Maine Road one day and caught sight of the floodlights being dismantled. He took several photos that day (I’m sure I have others somewhere) and asked the men dismantling the lights if they were okay with him taking the photos. This was in 1990.
These were the second set of lights at the ground and these were the ones that could be seen for miles around. I remember getting on the 53 at Belle Vue and seeing the lights from the top deck straight away.
The lights were replaced roof roof lights on the Main Stand and Kippax roofs. You can see a couple of the floodlights on these images from the late 1970s/early 1980s.
1981 City v United Maine RoadThe Main Stand’s benches with the Platt Lane Stand’s maroon and yellow benches in the background1990 Floodlight being dismantled behind the North Stand. Photo by Crosland Ward senior.
The floodlight being dismantled is the one that stood in between the North Stand and Kippax on this 1971 photo (near number 9) and the men are dismantling it behind the North Stand (number 10).
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:
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On this day (8 January) in 1990 forward Wayne Clarke was signed by Manchester City from Leicester City while David Oldfield travelled in the opposite direction as part of the deal.
Whereas Oldfield had gained a place in City’s history as one of the goalscorers in City’s memorable 5-1 victory over Manchester United in September 1989, Clarke struggled to carve out a place in the side. He left Maine Road for a variety of loan spells the following October after making only 7 (plus 14 as substitute) first team appearances.
Do you have memories of either Oldfield or Clarke at City? If you do why not leave your memory as a comment or email it to me for possible future use on this website? Keep it respectable of course.
On this day (November 25) in 1989 Brian Gayle played his last League match for City. The game ended in a 1-1 draw (Clive Allen scored) and Chairman Peter Swales decided the time was right to dismiss manager Mel Machin. Machin, who had guided the side to promotion the previous May, was dismissed that weekend and not replaced until 8th December.
You can read more about this era of Manchester City’s history here:
Gary James' Football Archive 