Category Archives: Seasons

The Span of Success: Will This Change This Month?

Every year, once the domestic season ends I update the table showing the English clubs’ span of success – i.e. the number of years between a club’s first major success (FA Cup, League, League Cup, major European trophy) and their most recent. Here’s the table as it stands today (17 May 2026) after Manchester City’s success in the FA Cup. Obviously, there’s a chance for Arsenal (currently 11th), Aston Villa (7th but could be top if they win their European final) and Crystal Palace (just on the table following last year’s FAC success but could rise above those other ‘one major trophy’ clubs) to move up the table this month.

2026 Span of Success (as of 17/5/26, after FAC final)

Even if Arsenal do win the League or Champions League this year they’ll only rise to ninth as they didn’t win a major trophy until the 1930s.

For comparison purposes here’s the table after the 2023-24 season ended (see below). Notice the moves up the table of Spurs and Newcastle in recent seasons:

As I always say, the span of success does not show how many trophies each club has won nor does it show how frequently that club has experienced great eras of success, but it does demonstrate how wrong those people are who believe certain clubs were unsuccessful until recent years, or those who think certain clubs have always been giants. The column on first major success helps to show when some clubs first became trophy-winning significant (often after transformational investment too!).

I know clubs focus on their financials but winning a trophy has longevity, gaining the odd Premier League place provides a bit of extra cash now but no long term kudos. Winning a trophy attracts new fans and brings money-spinning opportunities too. Look at how winning the FA Cup has helped Palace this last year or so.

If I was a supporter of any of the major clubs who have not found significant success in recent decades then I would absolutely want my team to go for whichever cup competition seems the most likely to win. That’s what I always wanted from Manchester City before they were able to compete for the League again. Winning the FA Cup in 2011 helped everything that followed happen – it gave confidence and a trophy winning mentality.

While you’re here why not take a look at the wide range of articles available on this site? Such as the 100 day series of features on Maine Road:

Maine Road 100 – Day 10
Maine Road 100 – Day 3
How To Subscribe
An Interview About Joe Mercer

FA Youth Cup Winners: City v United

Last night (14 May 2026) Manchester City found FA Youth Cup glory for the second time in three years with a 2-1 derby victory over Manchester United at the Joie Stadium.

Having taken over as the Under-18s Lead Coach in the summer of 2024, German coach Oliver Reiss oversaw back-to-back Youth Cup Finals with 2026 seeing the young Blues win 2-1 in the Manchester derby. In what was Club’s 14th appearance in the Final, the result meant City’s youngsters had won the famous trophy twice in the previous three years. 

This was the fifth time City had won the FA Youth Cup in total, following the successes in 2024, 2020, 2008 and 1986. 

Goals from Floyd Samba (40 mins) and Reigan Heskey (87 mins) helped secure the trophy at the Joie Stadium, in what was only the second all-Manchester FA Youth Cup Final. The United scorer was Godwill Kukonki (42nd minute).

This victory over Manchester United came just 12 days after the City youngsters were crowned as the Under-18 Premier League North title winners for a second successive season, with an Under-18 Premier League National Final still to come. 

Academy Director Thomas Kruecken said: ‘Winning the FA Youth Cup is always a key target for us at the start of each season, so to see the team lift the trophy is a momentous occasion and an achievement everyone in the Academy should be immensely proud of. Our results throughout the competition have shown how much the FA Youth Cup means to Oliver, his staff and the players. They have been superb. 

‘They have shown the importance of performing when it counts, in a final, in front of 8,000 people. We are incredibly proud of the players and staff for facing the challenge head on and we believe it will prove to be an important experience in our player’s journey to become a professional footballer one day. It is an unbelievable achievement to be in the final three times in a row. It shows a consistent high level of dedication, passion and a success that has been built over years of tireless hard work. 

‘It has been a pleasure to watch the team grow and play football that mirrors our ethos here at Manchester City – we aim to play the same style of football across every age group at this football club. 

‘But this moment would also not be possible without the hard work of everyone connected to the Club. So many people have worked closely with the squad throughout their progression up the age groups, providing the best environment possible for our players to develop not just into fantastic football players, but amazing people also. I am so proud to not only lead the Academy, but to work with so many talented people at City.’

First Team Manager Pep Guardiola, who was there watching, added: ‘I want to congratulate Oliver Reiss, his staff, the players and everyone working in our Academy on winning the FA Youth Cup. Success in this competition is another example of how good this Club is at creating a winning mentality and producing top young players. Every season I am so impressed by the talent that we produce here at the CFA – I see it when the young players train with us. I hope everyone in the Academy enjoys this achievement because it is a reward for all the hard work and commitment not just from this season, but years of hard work.’

You can read about the first all-Manchester final here:

https://gjfootballarchive.com/2023/06/01/the-first-all-manchester-fa-final/


Fifteen Years On: 2011 FA Cup

Today (14 May 2026) marks the 15th anniversary of Manchester City’s 2011 FA Cup final success over Stoke. There are so many angles to that first major success of the modern era for Manchester City and it is impossible to cover them all here. Elsewhere on this website I talk about the 2011 FA Cup run, especially that semi-final win over Manchester United. If you’ve not heard it have a listen to this:

Restored 2011: The All-Manchester FA Cup Semi Final

Today I’ll focus on the final itself with a lengthy article on the final below. This is a subscriber article. It costs £3 a month to subscribe OR take out an annual subscription at £20 (works out about £1.67 a month). All subscribers get full access to everything throughout their subscription.

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Were You There 60 Years Ago Today? Charlton 2 Manchester City 3

On this day (13 May) in 1966 Manchester City defeated Charlton 3-2 as they won the Second Division title. City’s scorers were Dave Connor, Johnny Crossan and Alan Oakes. The trophy would be presented at the final game of the season at home to Southampton.

Were you there that day? If you were please feel free to add your comments.

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 2010s: Champions League Qualification

Manchester City qualified for the Champions League for the first time when they defeated Tottenham 1-0 via an own goal from Peter Crouch on this day (10 May) in 2011. Crouch had deflected a James Milner cross past his own ‘keeper. This had been a rather tense game against a Spurs team desperate to get into a European place. They ended the day sixth, behind fifth place Liverpool. City were fourth, two points behind third placed Arsenal and seven ahead of fifth placed Liverpool with only two games remaining.The target remained third place, as this avoided a Champions League play off, and success in the FA Cup final. Finishing in the top four for the first time since the 1970s was an achievement in its own right, but winning the FA Cup would end 35 years without success at the highest levels of the game. The final was against Stoke at Wembley on 14 May.

Were You There 60 Years Ago? Leyton Orient 2 Manchester City 2

7 May 1966 was the day when Manchester City effectively won the Second Division title. City’s scorers were Bell and Sorrell (an own goal) as City drew 2-2 at Orient. The point was enough for the media to claim them as champions (Southampton could potentially have overtaken them but it would have meant them scoring a significant number of goals). There were only two games left after this match in the Second Division with the next game being away at Charlton. The trophy would be presented at the final game of the season at home to Southampton.

Were you there that day? If you were please feel free to add your comments. Here’s some match reports from the Leyton Orient 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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Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) or sign up for a year at the discounted price of £20 per year (works out £1.67 per month). Subscribers access the 1000+ articles posted so far and the others scheduled during the life of your subscription.

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Congratulations Manchester City on Winning the WSL Tonight

Congratulations City on winning the WSL for the second time. Arsenal’s draw away to Brighton was enough to guarantee City the title without playing tonight. Great work this season Blues.

Former Blue Matt Busby Congratulates Manchester City

60 years ago today (5 May 1966) Matt Busby formally congratulated Manchester City on their return to football’s top flight. The previous day City had won 1-0 at Rotherham to earn promotion. Colin Bell was the scorer. If you missed this yesterday, here are some contemporary match reports and photos from that day.

Here for subscribers are match reports and details of that day:

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The 1950s: The 1956 FA Cup Final

70 years ago today (5 May 1956) Manchester City defeated Birmingham City 3-1 in the FA Cup final with goals from Bobby Johnstone, Jack Dyson and Joe Hayes. The final became known for Bert Trautmann’s exploits and during the night I was on Talksport about 2am talking with Paul Ross about Bert’s life. I also, briefly, mentioned Bert’s role with the Manchester Corinthians. You can listen here (my part starts around 1 hour 17 minutes into the show):

https://talksport.com/play/talksport/catchup/20260505-24517

Subscribers can read more on the 1955-56 season below…

Here for subscribers is a 3,900 word article on the 1955-56 season when City won the FA Cup final (nowadays known as the Trautmann Final) and Bert Trautmann was FWA Footballer of the Year (presented in the days before the final). Enjoy!

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Talksport Interview Tonight

If all goes to plan I’ll be on Talksport Radio with broadcaster Paul Ross tonight around 2am (5 May) chatting about the legendary Manchester City ‘keeper Bert Trautmann. We’ve recorded it now and I really enjoyed it. I met and chatted with Trautmann quite a few times over the years and it was great discussing him on national radio. I even managed to get mentions in there of the Corinthians.

If you subscribe to my site and want to know more about Trautmann then read on. This is a small article about him that looks back to a day when I visited his birth place and first football club. It also talks of his involvement with the Manchester Corinthians women’s football team.

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