Category Archives: Seasons

6-1 Manchester Derby

On this day (23 October) in 2011 Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City defeated Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United 6-1 in the Manchester Derby at Old Trafford. The City goals came from Mario Balotelli 22, 60; Sergio Aguero 69; Edin Dzeko 90, 90+3; and David Silva 90+1. United’s was scored by Darren Fletcher 81.

MCFC have highlights of the game here:

https://www.mancity.com/citytv/match-highlights/2011/october/united-v-city-extended-highlights-23-oct

The City win equalled the record score in a Manchester derby – also set by City and also in a League derby at Old Trafford (in a season City also got relegated!). You can read about that one here:

Decisive Derbies – 23 January 1926 MUFC v MCFC

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Trautmann 101

Today would’ve been legendary Manchester City ‘keeper Bert Trautmann’s 101st birthday. Here for subscribers 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 in women’s football.

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We Never Win Away

On this day (21 October) in 1987 Manchester City’s incredible run of 34 league games away from home without a win finally came to an end with a 4-2 win at Bradford (the first of two consecutive significant results at Bradford for the Blues). Those of us there that night will never forget the feelings of finally winning away from home.

For months we’d been hoping for a win and our travelling support seemed to increase game after game as we waited for that victory. You just had to be there and, fortunately for me, I was there on this Wednesday night in October. 

It was however a tense night… Subscribers can read the story below, along with contemporary match reports.

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Wolves v MCFC The Story So Far

It’s Wolves v Manchester City today (20 October 2024) and there are dozens of stories referencing Wolves on this website. There have been major finals and significant league games. Here’s the playing record so far:

CompetitionPlayedWonDrawnLost
League120512445
FA Cup3012
League Cup6402
European0000
Other0000

One of the away games I vividly remember going to came in October 1987 and is a great contrast with City’s modern day records:

Away Run Ends: Wolves v City

Here’s a link to some of the other stories on here involving Wolves:

Welcome to Gary James’ Football Archive

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Steve Daley Interview

It’s Wolves v City tomorrow and a nice opportunity to remember an interview I did with Steve Daley who, for many, many years was City’s record transfer. It wasn’t Daley’s fault his transfer was so expensive but it was something that was always hurled at him if he had a poor game. In this interview we discuss his transfer, City fans and the ridiculospending City were doing at the time we did the interview. It was a great time to interview Steve and I enjoyed it immensely, helping fill in some gaps.

This interview is available to subscribers below.

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Manchester City 4 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0

With Manchester City playing Wolves tomorrow here’s a match programme cover from a game between the two. This was a Christmas fixture from 1980. Some of the players look happy others seem to have a fixed stare as if to say ‘do we really need to hold this Christmas banner?’

That day City defeated Wolves 4-0 with goals from Tommy Hutchison (2 goals; holding the banner above the ‘a’ in Christmas), Bobby McDonald (3rd player from right) and Kevin Reeves (4th player from right).

You can find out more on the 1980s, John Bond (including a fairly frank audio interview I did with him years ago) and City elsewhere on this website. Subscribers get access to a lot of extra content. To subscribe see the following:

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Imagine United Moving In With City…

Here’s an interesting article from fifty years ago today (18 October 1974). Back then the Mirror’s Frank McGhee thought he had a solution to the problem of debt at leading football clubs. His solution was for clubs to move in together. He talked of City and United sharing. His best line though – and typical of the period (which demonstrates how we should never assume today’s ‘giants’ have always been giants nor should we assume they always will be) – was about Spurs not being able to fill their own ground but Frank Sinatra would.

Well worth reading.

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John Bond Arrives

On this day (17 October) in 1980 John Bond was officially appointed Manchester City’s manager. The season would end with him guiding the Blues to the FA Cup final.

Back in November 1995 I interviewed John at his home. At the time I was researching my in-depth history of the club called Manchester The Greatest City (later updated as Manchester The City Years).

I met John at his home and spent a good few hours with him chatting about the Blues and his career. I loved doing this interview and was always grateful for the time he gave me. He was quite frank, open and honest – which delighted me because he was a great talker. He was also happy for me to quote everything he said in the interview. I did end up quoting him extensively in the book (and in others I’ve produced).

You can listen to the first 17 minutes of the interview here. He talks about the steps taken by City to appoint him; the interview (and the directors involved in that notorious filmed interview for the City documentary in 1980-81); the signing of Tommy Hutchison, Bobby McDonald and Gerry Gow. As I said earlier, he is quite frank in his comments and that may surprise a few.

This audio recording of the first 17 minutes of the interview is available to subscribers. If you want to listen then please subscribe below. Other sections can be listened to (see below for details).

Of course as this interview was recorded on my old cassette recorder the quality isn’t the best but I’m working on improving that for future pieces.

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The other parts of the interview are available here:

John Bond Interview Part Two
John Bond Interview – Part Three
John Bond Interview – Part Four
John Bond Interview – Part 5
John Bond Interview Part 6 (of 7)
John Bond Interview Part 7 (Final Part)

I’ve also posted an obituary I wrote to John here:

Johnny Bond, Johnny Bond, Johnny Bond

20 Years Ago (I know!): City 1 Chelsea 0

Twenty years ago today (16 October 2004) eventual champions Chelsea were defeated 1-0 by Manchester City at the City of Manchester Stadium (now Etihad).  City were the only side to beat the champions during 2004-5 and managed to draw the return fixture 0-0. You can read more on the October game below:

By the time Chelsea arrived in Manchester on 16 October the Blues were 12th on 8 points, while the visitors were second, behind Arsenal, on 20 points.  Chelsea were also one of only two sides unbeaten in the League and were, without doubt, favourites to win this match.  Keegan optimistically told fans pre-match:  “It is still 11 against 11 on the day and we are more than capable of beating the top sides.”  

The manager’s views proved correct as City defeated the eventual champions 1-0 with an 11th minute penalty from Nicolas Anelka.  It was the first time Jose Mourinho had suffered a defeat at Chelsea and was only the second time his side had conceded a goal during 2004-05.  It was also City’s first home victory over the London club in the Premier League.  Sadly, Jihai Sun suffered cruciate ligament damage and was to miss the rest of the season.

The Jihai Sun injury was not the only one affecting Keegan’s side during the first half of the season and, as the Blues had one of the smallest squads in the Premier League, the manager found himself with few players to choose from at times.  

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Floodlights

On 14 October in 1953 the first game under floodlights at Maine Road took place, Manchester City 6 Hearts 3.  Here’s an article about that period and City’s first floodlighting system, including a photo from the actual game and another report.

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