Category Archives: Seasons

The Story of Kaká to City!

On this day (13 January) in 2009 Garry Cook and others met with AC Milan supposedly about the possible purchase of goalkeeper Dida but in truth the Manchester City men wanted to talk about Kaká.  Here is the story of that day with exclusive quotes from interviews I have performed with some of those there.

Subscribe to get access

If you would like to read this 1200 word article and would like to support my research & writing then please subscribe. Annual subscribers (£20 per year, sign up here) get access to everything posted on the site including PDFs of 2 of my out of print books and archived content like my exclusive audio interviews with John Bond, Malcolm Allison etc. Not only that but you’ll be helping to support this site’s development.

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access

If you would like to read this 1200 word article and would like to support my research & writing then please subscribe. Monthly subscribers (£3 per month, cancel anytime and sign up here) get access to everything posted on the site since 1 October 2022. Not only that but you’ll be helping to support this site’s development.

Subscribe

Denis Law and Rodney Marsh Both Score

On this day (12 January) in 1974 Denis Law and Rodney Marsh provided the goals as Manchester City defeated Leicester City 2-0 in a thrilling game at Maine Road.  

City were in blistering form for this game and absolutely tore in to Leicester. Only the brilliance of England ‘keeper Peter Shilton kept the score down as the report shows.

I was six years old and sat in the ‘old’ Platt Lane Stand with my dad that day. Were you also at this match? If you were why not leave your memory as a comment or email it to me for possible future use on this website?

Film of the game here:

Subscribe to get access

Read more of this website when you subscribe today. It works out about £1.67 a month if you take out an annual subscription (£20 per year – you can access everything posted since December 2020 including PDFs of 2 out of print books and listen to audio interviews with John Bond and others) or £3 a month (access everything posted since 1 October 2022) if you’d like to sign up for a month at a time. Sign up for annual here and monthly below.

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access

Read more of this website when you subscribe today. It works out about £1.67 a month if you take out an annual subscription (£20 per year) or £3 a month (access everything posted since 1 October 2022) if you’d like to sign up for a month at a time. Sign up for annual above and monthly here.

Subscribe

Royle Goal

On this day (11 January) in 1977 Joe Royle ensured Manchester City progressed to face Newcastle United in the FA Cup by scoring the only goal of the Third Round replay at West Bromwich Albion.  The first game had ended in a 1-1 draw at Maine Road. You can read more about the 1976-77 season here:

Manchester City’s 1976-77 Season

Were you at this match? If you were why not leave your memory as a comment or email it to me for possible future use on this website?

John Gidman

On this day (10 January) in 1954 future Manchester United and Manchester City full-back John Gidman was born.  Gidman briefly became a cult hero at Maine Road by stating that City were the only side he would leave Old Trafford for at the time of his transfer in 1986. He went on to make 66 (plus 1 as substitute) appearances for the Blues.

Peter Barnes played a part in getting Gidman to Manchester City. The full story is in my biography of Peter which can be bought here:

Shop

Do you have memories of John Gidman 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?

Game of the Season 1956-1957: Manchester City V Newcastle United

On this day (9 January) in 1957 Manchester City and Newcastle United met in a game that was described as the game of the season and also Newcastle’s ‘most thrilling encounter.’ What was the game and why did they say this? Well here for subscribers is the story of that day and film of it too. Enjoy:

Subscribe to get access – Annual

Read this and all other content on this site when you subscribe today. It costs £20 a year (about £1.67 a month) or there’s a monthly option below.

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access – Monthly

Read this and all other content on this site when you subscribe today. It costs £3 a year (cancel anytime). Why not give it a try for a month?

Subscribe

I wasn’t born then so couldn’t be at the game but were you at this match? If you were why not leave your memory as a comment or email it to me for possible future use on this website?

Wayne Clarke and David Oldfield

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 in 1977: The Peter Swales Video Profile

On this day (7 January) in 1977 the BBC in the northwest showed this incredible profile. On several occasions over the last decade myself & Will McTaggart have included this video profile of MCFC chairman Peter Swales in our Boys In Blue film show. Each time those who missed it have asked if they could see a video of it. That wasn’t possible until a few months ago. You can see the Swales profile here…

I would urge all MCFC fans and others to watch this in all its glory. Some of you may wish to jump to the David Brent-esque clip at 3 mins 20. Others may want to see the Ian Niven roof plan that was thwarted by signing Dave Watson at 1 min 45 secs. Then there’s the scene where Swales gives Watson financial advice (45 secs) and it ends with Swales telling us he was a bit like Kevin Keegan (4 mins).

This really is MCFC gold. Enjoy:

https://bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/6139d63a544c6f0021171865?q=Manchester%20city&size=75

Manchester’s First Major Trophy Success

It’s the return of the FA Cup tonight with Manchester United facing Everton. It’s always worth reminding ourselves of the significance of the FA Cup to Manchester and the story of Manchester’s first major trophy success. The captain and goalscorer of the first triumph by Manchester in 1904 was the great Billy Meredith. In 2021 following the purchase of the oldest surviving FA Cup by Sheikh Mansour (to loan to the National Football Museum) I helped Manchester City with the story of the cup and its significance to Manchester. They’ve produced a video telling the story and it can be viewed here:

https://www.mancity.com/citytv/mens/manchesters-first-trophy-1904-fa-cup-documentary-63745781

For more on the significance of this FA Cup trophy check out the category 1903-04 in the drop down list below.

A Goater Penalty

On this day (6 January) in 2001 goals from Andy Morrison, Darren Huckerby and a penalty from Shaun Goater brought Manchester City a 3-2 FA Cup third round win over Birmingham City. City had raced to a three goal lead and seemed comfortable but then things started to go horribly wrong. Fortunately, the Blues held on for the victory though. Phew! It was one of those games. Here’s a contemporary match report of the game:

I was sat in the ‘new’ Platt Lane Stand that day. Were you also at this match? If you were why not leave your memory as a comment or email it to me for possible future use on this website?

You can read more articles on Shaun Goater here:

https://gjfootballarchive.com/tag/shaun-goater/

A Postponed Derby

Heavy snow fall across the country threatened fixtures in January 2010, then on Tuesday 5 January, a day before it was scheduled to be played, the all-Manchester League Cup semi-final was called off.  Manchester City’s pitch was perfectly playable, however traffic chaos in Manchester was an issue. 

The Blues had been desperate for the match to be played as the mood seemed perfect for a City victory.  There was a great deal of positivity.  Similarly, at United a FA Cup defeat to Leeds had increased the pressure on the Reds.  By the time the two sides did face each other the momentum had changed. 

I was in the North Stand when this game was eventually played. Were you at the game when it took place? If you were why not leave your memory as a comment or email it to me for possible future use on this website?

Subscribe to get access

If you have enjoyed this free post and would like to support my research and writing then please subscribe. Annual subscribers (£20 per year, sign up here) get access to everything posted on the site including PDFs of 2 of my out of print books and archived content like my exclusive audio interviews with John Bond, Malcolm Allison etc. Not only that but you’ll be helping to support this site’s development.

Subscribe

Subscribe to get access

If you have enjoyed this free post and would like to support my research and writing then please subscribe. Monthly subscribers (£3 per month, cancel anytime and sign up here) get access to everything posted on the site since 1 October 2022. Not only that but you’ll be helping to support this site’s development.

Subscribe