Category Archives: 2003-04

Eyal Berkovic’s Last

Today (22 November) in 2003 Eyal Berkovic played his last game for Manchester City. He’d joined City in 2001 and made his debut against Watford in August that year. His final match saw City defeated 3-0 at Newcastle. Here are his City statistics:

Appearances

League48 (8)
FA Cup3 (1)
League Cup3 (2)
European2 (0)
Other0 (0)
Total56 (11)

Goals

League7
FA Cup1
League Cup1
European0
Other0
Total9

If you’d like to read more on the 2003-04 season as experienced by City, then why not read the following 4,200 word article on it. This was City’s first at the City of Manchester Stadium (now Etihad of course).

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Stadium Opener

On this day (14 August) in 2003 the City of Manchester Stadium (now Etihad Stadium) staged its first competitive game as City defeated TNS 5-0 in the UEFA Cup. Relive that night (and Granada TV!) with this video of the game:

The report above talks of the UEFA Cup draw with TNS.

Manchester City v TNS in Wrexham?

On 20 June 2003 following the UEFA Cup draw, which had seen Manchester City drawn against Welsh Club TNS, discussions were being taken as to where the Welsh leg of the game could be played. Initially reports like this one suggested Wrexham but ultimately the game was moved to Cardiff. With the City leg played at the new City of Manchester Stadium (now Etihad) this meant both legs were played in the two newest major stadia in the UK.

This cutting has some interesting quotes on the European status of the two clubs at the time.

The 2000s: Wanchope Double

On 15 May 2004 Paulo Wanchope netted twice as Manchester City defeated Everton 5-1 on the last day of the 2003-04 season. The other goals were netted by Antoine Sibierski and Shaun Wright-Phillips.

If you want to read all about that season then here’s a 4,200 word article on it (below). This was City’s first at the City of Manchester Stadium (now Etihad).

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Fowler and Wanchope

On this day twenty years ago (1 November 2003) Robbie Fowler and Paulo Wanchope both scored as City won 2-0 at Southampton and moved into 5th place in the Premier League. The attendance was 31,952.

First Victory

Today (14 September) in 2003 Manchester City won their first competitive League game at the City of Manchester Stadium (now Etihad). It was also a day that saw Steve McManaman make his League debut for the Blues. The game was a PayPerView TV match. You can watch highlights of the game here:

This is how the match was previewed in the Sunday Times:

BBC & MCFC Interviews

Busy day today talking about the history of Manchester City, in particular the story of City’s stadia. It’s 100 years on Friday since Maine Road’s first game and we’ve just had the 20th anniversary of the Etihad’s (then known as City of Manchester Stadium) first game. Time flies!

The interviews today started with Mike Sweeney interviewing me about Maine Rd and the Etihad for BBC Radio Manchester – that will be played on Friday assuming all is okay – and then it was off to Manchester City for the next set of interviews about the club’s grounds and other stuff.

Later I’m chatting elsewhere about football, sorry soccer, in the USA. A busy day.

Mediacity BBC

Maine Road 100 – Day 39

It’s day 39 of my posts counting down to the centenary of Maine Road’s opening game and today’s feature follows on from yesterday’s. It’s the demolition of the Platt Lane Stand during 2003-04.

Here are some images of that end at other times. This was the 1935 version of the stand:

The Main Stand’s benches with the Platt Lane Stand’s maroon and yellow benches in the background
The Platt Lane Stand, 1991

Here’s the 1930s stand during demolition in 1992:

I went with club photographer Ed Garvey and secretary Bernard Halford to have a look at the old place in 2004 as it was being demolished. It was a sad sight.

During the 2022-23 season I did a feature on Maine Road for the match programme at City and included a photo of Bernard Halford from our visit.

For those unfamiliar with Maine Road this photo may help locate the Platt Lane Stand. The 1930s stand is number 4 & 5 on this image taken in 1971.

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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Maine Road 100 – Day 38

It’s day 38 of my posts counting down to the centenary of Maine Road’s opening game and today’s feature is of a sad scene: The demolition of the Main Stand during 2003-04. Apologies but it had to be shown one day.

I went with club photographer Ed Garvey and secretary Bernard Halford to have a look at the old place in 2004 as it was being demolished. It was a sad sight.

Ed Garvey photograph
The directors’ box during demolition 2004. Ed Garvey photograph

During the 2022-23 season I did a feature on Maine Road for the match programme at City and included a photo of Bernard Halford from our visit.

Ed Garvey photograph
Ed Garvey photograph

Warning: tomorrow I’ll post another demolition image.

For those unfamiliar with Maine Road this photo may help locate the Main Stand. It’s number 1 on this image taken in 1971.

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

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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The 2000s: This Week 2003-04

Continuing the weekly series on Manchester City’s seasons from 1999-2000 through to 2008-09. Each week I’ll be publishing here the story of a different season of that remarkable ten-year period. Today we have a 4,200 word article on the 2003-04 season (below) which was City’s first at the City of Manchester Stadium (now Etihad of course).

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