Category Archives: Seasons

A League is Born

On this day (17 April) in 1888 the first meeting of the Football League was held in Manchester. The following report names the clubs accepted and the others who wanted to join the League. It has often been written in Manchester United related books that Newton Heath applied to join the League in 1888 but didn’t receive enough votes to be accepted. That is completely untrue as no one actually had to apply nor was a vote taken. Clubs were asked and some tried to push to get included but Newton Heath were neither asked nor were they pushing for acceptance either. Nor were Ardwick or Manchester Asoociation who, to be frank would’ve been the most famous Manchester club at this time.

Bolton Wanderers were the only team from present day Greater Manchester to be asked/selected for the first League season.

Manchester Courier, 18 April 1888

The plaque is positioned on the corner of Mosley Street and Market Street/Piccadilly in Manchester.

Companies House Register MCFC

Today (16 April) in 1894 Companies House formally registered Manchester City FC as a new company. If you look carefully at the original Memorandum of Association you can see the registration date on the right of the image (just to the right of the word ‘SHARES’) below.

MCFC Memorandum of association signed 13 April 1894

If you want to know the facts not the fiction, plus my own interpretation of the events then in March 2023 I performed a one hour talk on 1894 etc. Subscribers can view that here:

Subscribe to get access – Annual

Annual subscribers can watch this and access everything else on the site. It costs £20 a year (about £1.67) and you’ll have full access to everything until your subscription ends. Alternatively there is a monthly offer below.

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access – Monthly

Monthly subscribers can watch this and access everything posted since 1 October 2022. It costs £3 per month (cancel any time).

Subscribe

A European Semi Final Victory

Today (15 April) in 1970 German side Schalke 04 were defeated 5-1 in the ECWC semi-final second leg at Maine Road by Manchester City. You can read the story of that game (and watch video highlights) below.

Subscribe to get access – Annual

Read more of this content and everything else on the site when you subscribe today. It costs £20 a year and for that you get access to everything posted since December 2020 – all the interviews, video talks, articles and also PDFs of Manchester A Football History and From Maine Men To Banana Citizens. There’s also a monthly option (see below) if you want to try for a month.

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access – Monthly

It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) and for that you get access to everything posted since 1 October 2022. Why not try it for a month and see what you think?

Subscribe

Keeper Scores

On this day (14 April) in 1900 Manchester City’s goalkeeper Charlie Williams scored against Sunderland. It was a remarkable first and subscribers can read the story of that day here:

Subscribe to get access – Annual

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £20 a year for full access to everything posted on the site since December 2020 (plus everything during your subscription) or £3 per month (see below).

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access – Monthly

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 a month for full access to everything posted on the site since 1st October 2022 (plus everything during your subscription) or £20 per year (see above). Monthly subscribers can cancel anytime so why not sign up for a month and see what you think?

Subscribe

Death: Struck by Ball

On this day (13 April) in 1894 the Manchester coroner heard the tragic story of John Nuttall who had been struck by a ball at a game on the Hyde Road football ground. Nuttall fell against the post and was knocked unconscious. He died that evening.

Nuttall had been at the ground selling sweets to the crowd and this was a terrible tragedy during the final days of the Ardwick AFC.

MCFC Documentation Signed

Today (13 April) in 1894 a Memorandum of Association was signed creating Manchester City FC.  The first aims of the Club were to promote football, cricket, lacrosse, lawn tennis, hockey, bicycle & tricycle riding, running, and jumping.

MCFC Memorandum of association signed 13 April 1894

If you want to know the facts not the fiction, plus my own interpretation of the events then in March 2023 I performed a one hour talk on 1894 etc. Subscribers can view that here:

Subscribe to get access – Annual

Annual subscribers can watch this and access everything else on the site. It costs £20 a year (about £1.67) and you’ll have full access to everything until your subscription ends. Alternatively there is a monthly offer below.

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access – Monthly

Monthly subscribers can watch this and access everything posted since 1 October 2022. It costs £3 per month (cancel any time).

Subscribe

MCFC Formation Meeting

A day after the Manchester FA had accepted Manchester City into their organisation, on condition of obtaining a ground, the new football club held its formation meeting. This was held on this day (12 April) in 1894. It’s worth noting that at that meeting City claimed they were going to lease the Hyde Road ground which, only the night before, Ardwick AFC claimed they still leased.

If you want to know the facts not the fiction, plus my own interpretation of the events then in March 2023 I performed a one hour talk on 1894 etc. Subscribers can view that here:

Subscribe to get access – Annual

Annual subscribers can watch this and access everything else on the site. It costs £20 a year (about £1.67) and you’ll have full access to everything until your subscription ends. Alternatively there is a monthly offer below.

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access – Monthly

Monthly subscribers can watch this and access everything posted since 1 October 2022. It costs £3 per month (cancel any time).

Subscribe

Temporary Cox

A 25th minute goal from Anelka helped City to their fourth successive draw under the temporary stewardship of Arthur Cox on this day (12 April) in 2004. Manager Kevin Keegan was absent due to instructions from his doctor to rest his bad back.  The game with Spurs ended 1-1 on Easter Monday.

The Sacking of Ron Saunders

On this day (April 11) in 1974, despite bold statements from new Manchester City Chairman Peter Swales at the time of his appointment, manager Ron Saunders was dismissed after less than five months in the role.  In March Saunders’ City had been defeated 2-1 in the League Cup final against Wolves. 

Here for subscribers are Peter Swales’ comments (from an interview I did with him shortly before he died) on the dismissal:

Subscribe to get access – Annual

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. £20 per year (access to everything on the site) or £3 per month (see below).

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access – Monthly

Read more of this content when you subscribe today. £20 per year (see above) or £3 per month to access everything posted from 1st October 2022 and cancel any time. Why not give it a try?

Subscribe

Manchester FA Accept MCFC

On this day (11 April) in 1894 the Manchester FA agreed to accept the newly established Manchester City FC into the Manchester FA so long as the new club could secure a ground. This was an important point as Ardwick AFC had been against the local FA accepting MCFC at this time as they were hoping to retain use of the Hyde Road ground and continue playing. Much of this time is incorrectly reported with many incorrectly assuming Ardwick to MCFC was a simple name change.

If you want to know the facts not the fiction, plus my own interpretation of the events then in March 2023 I performed a one hour talk on 1894 etc. Subscribers can view that here:

Subscribe to get access – Annual

Annual subscribers can watch this and access everything else on the site. It costs £20 a year (about £1.67) and you’ll have full access to everything until your subscription ends. Alternatively there is a monthly offer below.

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access – Monthly

Monthly subscribers can watch this and access everything posted since 1 October 2022. It costs £3 per month (cancel any time).

Subscribe