Sam Cowan signed for Manchester City on this day (12 December) in 1924. You can find several articles that mention Sam throughout this website. Start looking here:
Category Archives: Seasons
Juventus & MCFC
Tonight it’s Juventus v Manchester City and here’s a report (& film) of Manchester City beating Juventus in their first competitive meeting. It was played on 15 September 1976. That day Brian Kidd scored the only goal (a header) and you can see that goal here:
The match report expresses the disappointment City felt at only taking a 1-0 lead to Italy for the 2nd leg.
Here’s a photo from the game. Notice anything odd? Follow the link after the photo for the story.
Subscribers can read more about the game here:
Luton 1 Manchester City 2
On this day (10 December) in 2023 Manchester City defeated Luton Town 2-1 with goals from Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish. You can watch highlights here:
https://www.mancity.com/citytv/mens/luton-town-manchester-city-extended-highlights-63837836
Hyde Road Image
On this day (9 December) in 1922 Manchester City defeated Blackburn Rovers 2-1 at Hyde Road. This action shot from the game shows Blackburn threatening the City goal. The stand in the background is the Popular Side at City’s former home 102 years ago today.
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A City Captain’s Death
On this day (8 December) in 1989 the captain of Manchester City’s 1936-37 League title success died. The captain was defender Sam Barkas, who had been born in December 1909. Here’s a profile of this legendary figure who also played for Bradford City and Workington.
SAMUEL BARKAS (1934-47)
Defender, 5ft 9in, 13st. 7lbs, b. Wardley, 29 December 1909, d. Shipley, W.Yorks, 8 December 1989
Signed from Bradford City, 20 April 1934 (£5,000)
Transferred: Workington player-manager, May 1947
Career: Middle Dock, Thorndale, Barnes Rovers, Bradford City, City, Workington Town
Debut v Liverpool, 2 May1934
Appearances: League: 175 apps. 1 gl; FA Cup: 20 apps. 0 gls; Charity: 1 apps, 0 gls Wartime (League & Cup): 75 apps. 3 gls; Total: 271 apps, 4 gls.
Captain of the great 1936-37 Championship winning side, Barkas was a stylish left back who joined the Blues for £5,000 from Bradford City in April 1934 shortly before the FA Cup final. Naturally, he was unable to play at Wembley but did manage to play in the final two League games that season. In fact Barkas was to miss only one of the first 68 League games played after his arrival as he quickly proved his value with many outstanding performances.
One of the first players to create positive play from defensive positions, Barkas became renowned for always trying to create attacking opportunities and even managed to score a goal himself – to bring a 1-1 draw on the opening day of the 1934-5 season at West Bromwich Albion.
As the decade progressed Barkas became an England international and a major figure in Manchester. Sadly, the war interrupted his career as he was in his prime – he was 29 when war broke out – and when football returned on a professional, national basis Barkas was almost 37. Nevertheless he managed to guide the side to the Second Division title and appeared in 33 League matches during 1946-7. His last appearance came on 14th June 1947 (City’s latest ever finish) when the Blues defeated Newport County 5-1 with all goes coming from George Smith.
He later became Workington Town manager and also had a spell on City’s scouting staff.
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Lowest Crowd
On this day (8 December) in 1998 the infamous Auto Windscreen Shield tie between Manchester City and Mansfield Town took place. It’s okay we can talk about this now that City are treble winners!
It was a competition City did not want to be in and it was a fact known across City’s supporter base. They also knew that a weakened team would be played and, to be frank, we were mostly full of apathy for the competition. The League was the only competition that mattered that season.
For the record future Blue Lee Peacock scored twice for Mansfield – a 53 minute penalty and another three minutes later – before Danny Allsopp scored City’s consolation in the 74th minute. If you want to relive that game (why would you?) here’s a match report from a Mansfield based newspaper:
Three Penalty Barnes
On this day (7 December) in 1957 Ken Barnes (pictured here with Don Revie and Johnny Williamson) became only the third person to successfully convert three penalties in a Division One/top flight game, as Manchester City defeated Everton 6-2. Albert Dunlop, who later became a City scout working for Barnes, was the Everton ‘keeper that day and Barnes remembers facing Dunlop for each attempt: “I stuck one to the left, one to the right and he was so confused by the time the third award arrived that I could have back-heeled it in!”
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United Trying To Sell Best
On this day (7 December) in 1972 Manchester United secretary Les Olive, acting on behalf of the club, sent a letter to all First and Second Division clubs informing them that the Reds would like to receive offers for George Best. The letter shown here is the one sent to Manchester City.
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Peter Doherty Leaves Manchester City
On this day (6 December) in 1945 the legendary Manchester City forward Peter Doherty (described as the greatest Irish footballer of all time into the 1970s) was transferred to Derby County. A few years back I wrote this profile of him.
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Manchester City 2 Fulham 0
On this day (5 December) in 2020 in front of an official crowd of zero (these were the days when no fans were allowed to attend due to Covid) Raheem Sterling (5th minute) and Kevin De Bruyne (penalty after Sterling had been brought down) gave City a 2-0 victory at home to Fulham. You can watch highlights here:
https://www.mancity.com/citytv/mens/manchester-city-2-0-fulham-extended-highlights-63742795
Gary James' Football Archive 