Post 79 of my Maine Rd 100 countdown is this image of fans demonstrating against chairman Peter Swales and his supporting board of directors.
Those were the days! This image was from 1983 but protests began in 1979 and continued until 1993-94. Here’s a photo of John Bond stood in front of the Main Entrance in 1983. The ‘cage’ protecting the entrance would often get locked to prevent fans forcing their way in during demonstrations.
John Bond, 1983
Here’s a 1995 image of Maine Road showing the forecourt in front of the Main Stand where most demonstrations occurred:
For post 78 of my Maine Road 100 countdown I want to post this reminder of a classic Manchester City v Tottenham gam. It was played on 9 December 1967 became known as the Ballet On Ice. Manchester United supporter Bobby Greenroyd watched the game on Match of the Day and wrote to City afterwards: “I am a regular Manchester United fan, but after Saturday’s game your next home gate will be increased by one.” High praise, particularly as United themselves were on the verge of European Cup glory.
Why and how did this happen and which leading MCFC figure sneaked out to buy a bag of chips while the club celebrated its 1968 League title success? Here for subscribers is an article that explains all….
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The snowy image looks towards the Platt Lane Stand (number 5 in this 1971 ground image) from the Scoreboard End goal (number 10 is the Scoreboard End replacement the North Stand).
Maine Road aerial 1971 from Farewell To Maine Road
For post 77 in my Maine Rd 100 countdown a reminder of a record City have held for almost a century! This image is of a day in 1924 when City attracted the highest crowd on a club ground. The drawing is looking from the Main Stand towards the Popular Side, later Kippax. It’s no longer the record attendance because it was beaten by another record crowd at Maine Rd a decade later. Want to know more? The read on…
1925 Aerial photo of Maine Road and Platt Fields Park
A record Manchester City have held for 99 years was set on 8 March in 1924 – the record is the highest attendance on a club ground! The record set in 1924 saw 76,166 attend City v Cardiff. City had moved to their new Maine Road stadium in August 1923. The capacity of the venue was estimated at around 90,000 but was actually approximately 83,000 when the stadium opened (it was enlarged in 1931 and 1935).
In its first season the capacity was tested and, on that day (8 March) in 1924 the largest attendance for any footballing fixture (including three FA Cup Finals) in Manchester gathered to watch the Blues. This was also, at the time, the record crowd for any game played on an English club ground. It was beaten ten years later when 84,569 watched City v Stoke. You can read about the remarkable day in 1924 below:
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For post 76 of my Maine Rd 100 countdown a reminder of a day when over 74,000 watched managerless Manchester City at Maine Road. The image is of Frank Roberts, a City star that day. That day (30 January 1926) City faced Huddersfield Town in a FA Cup tie at Maine Road, watched by 74,799.
The following article, for subscribers to GJFootballArchive.com, provides the background story to the tie and film of the game.
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For post 75 of my Maine Road 100 countdown I’ve posted this image of entertainer Norman Wisdom doing some prematch stuff at Maine Rd in the 90s. That day many of us stood on the Kippax saw the elderly entertainer take to the field but didn’t recognise him at first. In fact many of us thought it was Peter Reid wearing a flat cap!
There were lots of odd prematch activities over the decades and you can read about them in this 2000 word article on the history of pre-match entertainment at Manchester City. There are mentions of the St Joseph’s Industrial School and Beswick Prize Bands, various DJs, athletic challenges, Norman Wisdom, Frank Sidebottom & more. Enjoy:
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For post 74 of my Maine Rd 100 countdown I’m posting this image of the original Scoreboard End being built at the old ground. The Scoreboard End lasted from 1923 until 1970 when it was demolished and replaced by the North Stand. Here’s an aerial photo from almost 40 years later showing the Scoreboard End as the last remaining uncovered stand.
A couple of years ago (and going on for the following 35 weeks) I posted the Scoreboard End being built image as part of my Name That Historic Ground series. Every Monday I challenged readers to see if they could recognise a different ground each week from an old photo. Some were easy, others not so. If you missed them you can now go through each week’s ground and the answers. You can start here:
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For post 73 of my Maine Rd 100 countdown I’ve posted this great newspaper cutting from a significant Manchester derby. The game was on 29th January in 1955 and goals from Joe Hayes and Don Revie gave Manchester City a 2-0 victory over Manchester United in the FAC in front of 74,723. I’ve posted it partly because of the game’s significance but mostly because I just love the way newspapers would try to explain everything via images and text like this.
If you’d like to know the story of the game and see some great footage of it too then please subscribe (see below).
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For post 72 in my Maine Road 100 countdown and today I wanted to show this image of the old ground photographed during the summer of 1982 when the Main Stand roof was being replaced. The white barrelled roof was about to be erected but first the old roof, part of which was the original 1923 structure, had to be removed.
This 1971 image shows the roof being removed (number 1) and the new roof would then stretch over the uncovered section (2).
Maine Road aerial 1971 from Farewell To Maine Road
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It’s post 71 of my Maine Rd 100 countdown. Today I want to show this programme cover for what was perceived as a decisive Manchester derby. Of course the derby that followed this one was more decisive but it’s worth pausing to reflect on the significance and drama of this Maine Rd derby.
MCFC v MUFC 13 March 1974,Score 0-0, Attendance 51,331 Maine Road
The Old Trafford derby of 1974 is usually quoted as a decisive derby, however the Maine Road match was viewed at the time as being vital to United’s survival. In fact in the programme Red manager Tommy Docherty claimed: “Tonight’s game is one which decides our fate. City’s League Cup defeat is a big anti-climax for them and could help our fight for First Division survival.” Here for subscribers to this site is the story of that game – a highly controversial one that was almost abandoned due to player indiscipline!
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Here’s post 70 in my Maine Road 100 countdown. Today I’m talking about the old stadium’s final Manchester City victory. During 2002-03 the focus for many City fans was Maine Road’s final season, especially the final month or so of the season. With every game at the stadium a sell-out – only the size of the away support varied – supporters were desperate for the final season to see the old venue at its best. They also wanted a few memorable results in those final weeks.
Ultimately, the best Maine Road match of the final weeks came on April 21 2003 when a goal from Robbie Fowler and two from Marc-Vivien Foe brought a 3-0 win over Sunderland. The game became significant as it was to be the last City victory at the old stadium and Foe’s 80th minute goal was the last scored there by a City man. Sadly, Foe was also to die a few weeks later, adding to the poignancy of this day.
Pre-match Sunderland presented the Blues with a rose bowl commemorating their final visit to the stadium. Significantly, the time span between their first appearance at Maine Road and their last was greater than any other visiting club. Co-incidentally City’s last victory at Hyde Road was also against Sunderland in April. You can read about that game here:
Gary James' Football Archive 