Category Archives: Seasons

Were You There 60 Years Ago Today? Manchester City 3 Birmingham City 1

Today (30 April) in 1966 Manchester City were almost back in the top flight after a 3-1 victory at home to Birmingham City. There were only four games left after this match in the Second Division with the next game being away at Rotherham the following Wednesday – fans wondered could this be the night (and if it is would a song eventually be created that would be sung for at least the next three decades remembering the night? No they didn’t wonder that but that is what happened).

Were you there that day? If you were please feel free to add your comments. Here’s some match reports from the Birmingham game:

You can find out more on Manchester City during the 1965-66 season by reading the following 4100 word article. As with most of the other features in this series it includes words from interviews I have performed with those who were there. This is a subscriber article (see below).

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Manchester City v PSG, Champions League Semi-Final 2021

The first leg of the Champions League semi final between Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain was played on this date (28 April) in 2021. Subscribers to this site can read about that game and the second leg below.

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Law’s Last League Game

On this day (April 27) in 1974 Denis law played his last League game on a day that saw Manchester United relegated. Law was in his second spell at Manchester City and, over the years, many myths have developed about his final game and the weeks that followed.

United fans like to say that this game had no bearing on relegation (though pre match United were not relegated and still had a chance of survival) while City fans like to boast that Law’s goal relegated United (mathematically it did not). Many in the media claim Law’s goal was his last in first team football (it wasn’t) and that he retired immediately afterwards (he didn’t). There are other myths about the pitch invasions (there were two not one) and the actions of the ref, so here for the benefit of subscribers is the true story of that day, including quotes from interviews I have performed over the years. Those quoted are Dennis Tueart, Tommy Docherty, Denis law and Willie Donachie.

So get yourself a brew and enjoy this long read on that infamous day:

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1969 Manchester City’s Fourth FA Cup

On this day (26 April) in 1969 Manchester City defeated Leicester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final. City’s scorer was Neil Young. If you’d like to know more about that success or the 1968-69 season then have a read of this subscriber article on Manchester City during the 1968-69 season.
If you’d like to read this 6,000 word article , plus all other articles on the site, then please subscribe (see below). As with most of the other features in this series it includes words from interviews I have performed with those who were there.

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The 2021 League Cup Final

Pep Guardiola’s team won the League Cup for a record-equalling fourth time in succession with a deserved victory over Tottenham on this day (25 April) in 2021. The London club had dismissed manager Jose Mourinho earlier that week, placing coach Ryan Mason in charge for this final. At 29 Mason became the youngest man to be in charge for a League Cup final.

City were the dominant team for most of the game, but the game’s only goal didn’t arrive until eight minutes from time. Aymeric Laporte rose to head home Kevin De Bruyne’s free kick.

After the final Pep Guardiola told the BBC: ‘That is what these players give for the future generations of this club. It is not winning [just] one title. This team in the last decade was the team in England – since Roberto Mancini won the Premier League, this team wins a lot of times in England. It’s nice, four Carabao Cups in a row, it means consistency in the team to be there. We beat Arsenal and Manchester United on the way so we can say we deserved to win this competition. The way we played was fantastic and it’s nice when you win a title. The most impressive thing is in the last 33 games we won 30.’

The victory meant City were now level with Liverpool on eight League Cup final wins and no team had bettered that success. Similarly no manager had won the competition more than Pep Guardiola.

In this Covid-hit season there was some positive news for fans as a limited number were allowed to attend the final wearing face masks. Stewards were told to actively look for fans taking them off and frequently they went into the crowd to ask fans to re-mask otherwise they’d face expulsion. The final attendance of 7,773 included around 2,000 from each club and a number of locally based residents. At the end those from Manchester and the neutrals present stayed to watch the Blues lift their eighth League Cup.

Match Stats

25 April 2021

Manchester City 1 (Laporte) Tottenham Hotspur 0

Attendance 7,773 (Covid restrictions)

You can read my comments about attending the final here:

Covid and the 2021 League Cup Final

Southampton v Manchester City: The First Meeting


Tomorrow sees City and Southampton meet in the FA Cup semi final at Wembley . The first ever meeting between these clubs was a FA Cup tie in 1910 (5 February) and this image is from that very first meeting. City won the tie 5-0 with goals from Jimmy Colin, George Dorsett, Tom Halford, Billy Lot Jones and George Stewart. Here’s a contemporary report of the game:

https://gjfootballarchive.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/img_8537.jpeg

Were You There 60 Years Ago Today? Ipswich Town 1 Manchester City 1

Today (23 April) in 1966 Manchester City draw 1-1 at Ipswich. There were only five games left after this match in the Second Division and City hadn’t yet achieved promotion, though they remained in pole position. Notice that the report (main image) was written by Henry Blofeld, more commonly recognised for his cricket work on radio and TV.

Johnny Crossan scored six minutes from time to ensure a point in this match, much to the relief of manager Joe Mercer who commented afterwards (with typical Mercer humour): ‘We worked hard for it but I began to wonder if it would come. We missed enough chances to have won three games!’

Subscribers can read some contemporary match reports from this game below. Were you there that day? If you were please feel free to add your comments.

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You can find out more on Manchester City during the 1965-66 season by reading the following 4100 word article. As with most of the other features in this series it includes words from interviews I have performed with those who were there. This is a subscriber article (see below).

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The 2020s: Victory over Aston Villa

On 21 April 2021 Manchester City travelled to Aston Villa for a Premier League game that ended in a 2-1 victory, putting the Blues 11 points clear of second placed Manchester United. Pep’s team were closing in on the title. The game had not started so positively with Villa’s McGinn scoring the joint quickest Premier League goal (20 seconds) of the season to date.

City fought back with goals from Phil Foden (22 minutes) and Rodri (40) but then suffered a setback when John Stones was sent off just before the break for a challenge on Ramsey. Villa also had a player, Cash, sent off 12 minutes into the second half after receiving his first yellow card only three minutes earlier. Both challenges were on Foden, who had been exceptional again. After the match Pep commented about Foden: ‘This guy is growing. His influence in our games is massive. He’s becoming a serious player. Phil right now is becoming such an important player. His influence in the final third is so important.’

The away win meant City were the first team to win ten or more games in a row on more than one occasion (previous time straggled two seasons and was 11 in May-December 2017). 

Manchester City Women: The 1st Home WSL Game

A crowd of 1,253 attended the Mini-Com (as the regional athletics stadium next to the City Of Manchester Stadium was dubbed by City at the time) to watch as Manchester City played their first home Women’s Super League game on this day (20 April) in 2014. I was there that day to watch this historic moment (these images are my photos from my seat). Sadly the game ended in a 2-0 defeat to Bristol Academy. Three days earlier City had lost 1-0 away to Liverpool in the first WSL game the club played.

If you’re interested in the history of women’s football then you may be interested in my Authorised History of the Manchester Corinthians. You can get your name in the second edition if you subscribe to it here. All subscribers will get a copy of the second edition book (posted out before it appears in the shops) and your name will be included in a special roll of honour published within the book if ordered before publication:

UK ONLY – Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History (second edition)

The story of a pioneering women’s club as told to Gary James by those who were there. This is UK only at £19.95 (incl UK postage and packaging). Outside UK contact for additional postage costs. This revised and updated second edition will be a paperback edition and contain more pages than the first edition.

£19.95

Opportunities to buy multiple copies, sponsor the book or donate to ensure it’s published to the size and standard the women who played deserve exist. Please email Gary@GJFootballArchive.com for more information on those opportunities.

This book is a must for anyone interested in Manchester or women’s football and will consist of over 360 pages. It will be fully illustrated throughout and subscribers can order it now for £19.95 (including UK postage and packaging). All orders received before publication will have the purchaser’s name included within the special roll of honour at the back of the book. You can order the book for someone else – all details will be checked and confirmed before publication.

The book will be published this October (2026).

If you live outside the UK then please contact for details of additional postage costs.

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Fifty Years Ago Today: City v Liverpool

Maine Road’s highest crowd of the season, 50,439, witnessed a pulsating game against League title hopefuls Liverpool on this day (19 April) in 1976. The game was goalless until the 74th minute when Steve Heighway scored the opener. In the 87thminute, as City searched for an equaliser, the Blues were unlucky when a David Fairclough attempt was diverted in off Tommy Booth and then in the final minute future Blue Fairclough blasted home a Kevin Keegan pass from 14 yards out. 

Paul Power came close to scoring a consolation goal a few moments later, as goalkeeper Ray Clemence and Emlyn Hughes scrambled the ball off the line, but the game ended 3-0 to new League leaders Liverpool, who led the table from QPR by a point. The Daily Express report praised City’s performance: ‘City stuck manfully to their job and until Fairclough began to create his havoc they always looked likely to take at least a point.’

You can read more on the 1975-76 season with this 5,320 word article – a season which saw Tony Book guide the club to major success. If you want to know more on this incredible decade for Manchester City Football Club then why not subscribe and read it all? You could even subscribe for a month and see what you think. The following 5,320 word article is on the 1975-76 season and is available to subscribers below. Enjoy!

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