The new series on Manchester City in the 1920s continues today with a 2,350 word subscriber article on the 1920-21 season. If you subscribe (see below) I hope you enjoy it. If you are not currently a subscriber then why not try it for a month (£3 per month or sign up for a year at a discounted £20 per year)?
Here’s the article:
Subscribe to get access
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 a month (cancel anytime) or sign up for a year at £20 per year. Subscribers have access to the 1000s of articles, features, interviews etc. posted so far and all those posted during your subscription.
Sorry to hear the news of the death of former Bolton, City, United and Stockport forward Wyn Davies. At Bolton he had a good attacking partnership with Francis Lee and it was Lee who suggested to Malcolm Allison (first and then manager Joe Mercer) to sign the player for City in 1971. Coincidentally it was this week in 1971 when Newcastle (Davies’ club at the time) agreed a fee with City.
Screenshot
Davies made his City debut on 14 August 1971 at Maine Rd v Leeds. His last City game on 9 September the following year, shortly before he became one of a relatively small group of players to transfer directly between the Manchester clubs.
At City and, presumably his other clubs, the chant ‘you ain’t seen nothing like the mighty Wyn’ was frequently sung. Years later the same chant was resurrected for Niall ‘the mighty’ Quinn.
I’ve heard the sad news that the former Manchester City and Stockport County player Barney Daniels has died. He also played for Manchester United (though not in the first team), Chester City, Ashton United and Hyde United.
He joined City on 30 March 1973 and made his first team debut against Derby County on 6 Feb 1974 (report below). In total he played 3 games in 1973-74 (debut v Derby 1-0 win; 9/2/74 at Chelsea & came on as sub at Liverpool on 16/4/74).
Screenshot
The following season (1974-75) he made ten appearances and the first of those was against Leicester on 23/11/74 when he scored 2 goals and made the headlines as he helped City go to the top of the top flight (see following report):
Daniels moved to Chester City on 9 July 1975 (Chester’s record signing at the time) and went on to join Stockport County (July 1976), Ashton United (1978-82), Hyde United 1982 and back to Ashton United (1982-84).
At City he was a consistent performer for the reserves.
John Maddocks (City’s former statistician/historian in the 80s/90s) gave these notes he’d written on Barney in the late 1990s which are worth posting here: ‘Most enjoyable it was watching Barney Daniels in action in the Reserves in the 1970’s. He scored an average of almost a goal a game in 1973-74 including several hat-tricks and he deserved his first team chance when it came. He had had trials with Blackpool, scoring three goals in four reserve games, but was not taken on, and in his first season with Ashton United he scored 27 goals. City bought him for £1,000 and also played a friendly at Ashton.
‘Barney was top reserve team marksman in consecutive seasons from 1973-75, scoring 44 times.’
John’s stats showed that Barney made the following City appearances:
Continuing the series on Manchester City in the 1940s here’s an article I wrote back in 2013 about George Smith, a City star of the 1940s, who passed away that year. This is free to read and well worth taking the time to read it too. George’s story was a remarkable one.
In July 2013 City lost one of the club’s stars from the 1940s, the popular goalscorer George Smith. Smith, who was 92, had a remarkable life and career. He joined the Blues in 1938 from Salford Adelphi and quickly proved his value in City’s A team as an inside-forward. He seemed to be getting close to a first team call up but then war broke out and naturally the world changed considerably for all, especially young, fit, agile men.
Inevitably he joined the armed forces but before he left Manchester he did manage to make two first team appearances in the war league. Both games were score draws with Stockport (the first ended 6-6 on 2nd December 1939!). Then active service took over and Smith went on to serve in Africa. There was nothing unusual about young men serving overseas, however Smith’s life changed significantly when he was under attack from the air. A bullet entered his right arm above his elbow, travelled down his arm, past his elbow and came out again after travelling a good six or so inches through his arm. Smith was in a great deal of pain, but the most shocking aspect in many ways was that the plane that fired at him was actually from the South African Air Force, Britain’s allies. This meant that Smith was on the receiving end of what years later would be described as ‘friendly fire’.
Smith was lucky the bullet had only entered his arm, but he was desperately unlucky to have been fired at by servicemen fighting on the same side. He spent some time recovering in Africa before being able to return to England.
Why the South African Air Force chose to shoot at him remained a mystery and was not investigated. In fact the whole incident was hushed up and George was encouraged not to talk about the specific events. When he eventually returned to Manchester few knew the truth of what happened and, as with so many injured men, it wasn’t a subject openly discussed. Even when the war was over the City football guide for 1945 simply stated: “Smith was one of the first casualties when he suffered a permanent injury to his hand sustained in manoeuvres somewhere in South Africa.”
The permanent injury affected George for the rest of his life. Ever since that terrible incident seventy years ago, George’s hand and fingers were permanently rigid in a clasping fashion, while his arm had two large indentations where the bullet entered and exited his flesh. In addition, the path of the bullet down his arm was still clear throughout his remaining years.
Despite the injury, George determined to return to football, but even then he experienced difficulties with the City management and football authorities. Initially, it was felt his injury may have prevented him from playing. Clearly, his arm would present some difficulties, but as a forward it was his feet and head that provided the main aspect of his play, not his arm, but the City management insisted on George performing a number of trials. He passed them all and on 26th August 1944 he celebrated his return to the first team with a hat-trick against Tranmere in the opening match of the new wartime season. This was his first appearance in since 25thApril 1942.
By the end of the war George was a key member of City’s side, although he continued to remain self-conscious about his arm. Usually he would cover it up with the sleeve of his shirt, a sock, a glove, or he would bandage it up. For team photos and the like the arm was usually hidden either behind his back or carefully positioned behind another player.
Some supporters and reporters thought his arm had been amputated, while others wanted to ask him but wouldn’t. Understandably, George wanted his football to do all the talking and when City faced United on 6th April 1946 he netted all four goals as the Blues trounced the Reds 4-1. The match, attended by over 62,000, does not form part of competitive football statistics due to the fact that wartime games are not viewed as of the same stature as regular League matches, however for every one attending or playing that day this was a full blooded Manchester derby of the highest order. It should always be remembered and, for George, scoring four goals – three in seven minutes – made him the undisputed star. When I interviewed him in 2003 he remembered: “I wasn’t much of a drinker… I never went wild or anything… but beating United in that manner and by scoring four goals was a wonderful moment. I enjoyed the day and enjoyed most of the games against them during this period. It was nice for the landlords to put one over the tenants.”
The following season saw the return of League football and George was a key factor behind City’s promotion: “The season ended in June and on the last day Roy Clarke made his debut and I scored all five goals when we beat Newport County. It was another great day and I was given the match ball. I’ve still got it because something like that is special, but it didn’t matter so much that I scored five. It was good that we won. I ended the season as top scorer but promotion was the main aim.”
George continued to perform exceptionally well for the Blues over the following seasons. At one point he was on the verge of an England cap, and it is known that he had been mentioned by officials at the FA, however it seems his arm injury may have proved a factor. In the end, to the amazement of most Mancunians, George was not selected for his national side.
In October 1951 he moved on to Chesterfield (scoring 97 in 250 League appearances), and later was player-manager at Mossley and Hyde United. He also managed Prestwich Heys.
George continued to live in the Prestwich area and watch City in his later life, though ill health did affect his final years. He loved his time at the club and for fans who remember seeing George play do so with great affection. Now he has passed away it is important supporters remember the difficulties he had to overcome before making his name as a star in City’s immediate post-war period.
You can read more on the 1945-46 season, when George was a City star below.
This is a subscriber article and you can read it by subscribing below.
Subscribe to get access
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month or you can subscriber for the discounted annual rate of £20 per year. Each subscriber gets access to everything posted so far, including PDFs of a couple of my books.
I’ve just got back after attending Steve Fleet’s funeral today. Steve was a wonderful man who played for Manchester City, Stockport County and Altrincham and it was great to see so many staff and former players from the clubs he was involved with in attendance. Fred Eyre read Steve’s own words as the eulogy and, typical of Steve, he did not want a fuss. He did not want Fred to talk of all the wonderful things Steve did or said. Steve was always humble and had a special aura that encouraged positivity.
Last week I posted one of the many interviews I did with Steve here for all to read and, if you missed it, here it is again. This was written in a Q&A style with Steve’s thoughts written out for all to see.
I think that when someone dies it is often best to use their words to describe their life/career. Who better to talk about Steve’s life than Steve himself? Here’s the interview as it was written up in 2004:
IN SEARCH OF THE BLUES – Steve Fleet
Steve Fleet has been involved with Manchester City for over 50 years, first as a player, then as a coach and later as manager of the Platt Lane complex. His early City career saw him as goalkeeping understudy to the great Bert Trautmann. Gary James, author of Farewell To Maine Road, caught up with him last week.
You made your debut against Wolves in 1957, can you remember much about that day?
I actually heard I was making my debut from the Manchester Evening News. I woke up to find a newspaper reporter and photographer on my doorstep, and they told me I was actually going to play. City had told me to report for training pre match but hadn’t said anything about being in the team. The reporter asked me what I thought of the news and then they got me to pose next to my record player – I suppose they wanted me to be doing the sort of things any 20 year old would be doing.
The game was a thriller and ended 4-3 to Wolves, how do you think you played?
I thought I’d played well, and I was fairly happy with my performance. I remember it was a bit of a foggy day and also that Wolves were powerful – they won the League that season and were one of the great sides of the period. Afterwards I saw the newspaper reports and they were full of praise, so that was great. In addition Frank Swift – a truly great City & England ‘keeper – wrote a very complimentary piece in his newspaper column and said I had a great future ahead of me, while Bert Trautmann told reporters I was the best young ‘keeper he had ever seen. All of that praise made me feel terrific of course, but I also knew I was only filling in until Bert was ready to return. He was an outstanding ‘keeper and there was no way any other ‘keeper would replace him if he was fit.
Did you feel despondent knowing you had little chance of replacing him on a regular basis?
No, not at all. I knew I was still young and all the praise made me feel that I would eventually be City’s number one. I suppose I felt I had to serve out my apprenticeship first of all. There were other good ‘keepers at City, including Roy Dixon – the father of the famous Arsenal player Lee Dixon – but I was sure my day would come. I was also delighted to be second choice to Bert. He was a terrific player and a great man.
Did he coach you or help in any other way?
Bert helped in every way. He was a great role model and taught me so much about life as well as football. He was like an older brother to me and I was fortunate to be taken under Bert’s wing. He insisted I presented myself well – clean shoes, wear a tie etc. – at all times. I listened and followed his lead both on and off the pitch.
My father needed a car to go south on holiday once and Bert offered to let Dad use it. For a fortnight my Dad had his car and when it came time to give it back, Bert refused any payment of any kind. He was terrific to be with and he remains a great man. There are few men in football or in life like Bert. Even today every former player looks at Bert Trautmann in awe – he is a true great and there are very few around.
As I was 14 years younger than him I thought I was being groomed as his natural successor. It didn’t quite work out like that, but Bert tried to ensure I was given some opportunities. I only managed to play 5 League games and 1 League Cup match during my City career but Bert ensured I’d play in some of those. I only found out recently but Bert deliberately pulled out of a couple of games simply so that I could get the opportunity. City would try and make him play every game, no matter how fit he was – and he often played when not fully fit because everyone demanded it – but for those games he made sure I got my chance.
Did you always play in goals, or did you start as an outfield player?
I didn’t like playing in goal at first and always wanted to be an outfield player but I was too slow. When I was 9 I played a game in goals and I remember a teacher shouting ‘great save’, and that spurred me on. The encouragement helped me enormously and, later when I became a coach, I always tried to ensure I encouraged and gave opportunities to those playing for me.
My first ever City match was in the Wythenshawe League for City’s 5th team. Charlie Gee, the ex-Everton & England star, was watching and I remember him complimenting me on how I’d played. Again that encouragement gave me a major boost.
What was training like at City when you first started to make it into the first team?
We’d train in the mornings, but nothing in the afternoon. We’d finish at lunch and I’d then go over to United’s training ground, The Cliff, to meet my best friend Eddie Colman. All the United youngsters would still be training hard for Bert Whalley – I think that was the big difference at the time. United under Busby and Wolves under Cullis were concentrating on coaching and on youth development, whereas the Clubs managed by more traditional managers were doing what they had always done.
Sadly, Eddie later died in the Munich disaster and I was a pallbearer at his funeral – no one can underestimate how the disaster affected all Mancunians.
As a young boy I was brought up in Ordsall and played for Salford Boys with Eddie – the first photo ever taken of me playing was in 1951 when Salford Boys beat Manchester Boys 1-0 in front of 11,000 – and they used to take us to watch United. Then I got the chance to go to Maine Road to watch City. I loved the colour of City’s shirts – a beautiful colour – and I also knew that City’s ground was better than Old Trafford – it definitely was.
One of your League appearances was against United in 1961, do you remember much about that?
It was highly controversial! City were the better side in the opening minutes and United’s key danger was Alex Dawson but every time he challenged I had the better of him. Every time he jumped for the ball I would jump higher and catch it. There were no problems. Then it all changed. We both went up and his only chance of beating me was to punch the ball with his fist! He did that and amazingly the referee gave United the goal. I could not believe it, and afterwards Dawson admitted what he had done – I still have the newspaper cutting! – but it was too late, and United went on to win the match.
When Bert’s City career neared its end did you feel your time had arrived?
Unfortunately not. In fact it felt as if my time had already gone. I made a big mistake waiting all those years because, despite the promise and the positive coverage at the start of my career, I had stagnated to some extent in the reserves. It was great being number two to Bert, but I now realise I should have moved on earlier. I would never advise a young boy to wait to fill anybody’s shoes now. You do need first team football if you want to develop. I never achieved my full potential.
I was frustrated when Harry Dowd’s opportunities came but, fortunately, Ken Barnes was now the manager at Wrexham and he asked me to go there. I was at last a true first team footballer.
A couple of years later Bert was manager at Stockport County and he asked me to go there. We won promotion and I started to do a bit of coaching – I coached Ken Mulhearn who became City’s keeper.
Is that when you started moving into coaching?
In 1969 I moved to Altrincham as a player and started coaching there, then a year later I moved back to Stockport as Chief Coach. In 1973 I got the chance to come back to City and work with the Youth team. It was then that we tried to create a Busby style youth dynasty at Maine Road. We figured that if we could find good lads, coach them correctly, and give them the right opportunities we’d be able to keep the Club progressing.
With Harry Godwin, Ken Barnes, and all the other members of City’s backroom staff, you helped find and develop several exciting players. Who was your favourite from a footballing point of view?
Peter Barnes had the greatest skill and he was one of the nicest young players as well. He was always appreciative of the support given to him. He had lots of natural skill but was grateful for the advice given.
Clive Wilson was another very skilful player, but I suppose I was most pleased for Kenny Clements. Initially nobody rated him and he had to go on the groundstaff. We kept throwing him into practice matches and eventually Ian McFarlane recognised his ability and his career blossomed.
Gary Owen was the most enthusiastic player I ever had, while Alex Williams was another nice young man who developed well.
This was a golden period for youth football at City, reaching the FA Youth Cup final in successive years (1979 & 1980). How did it compare to your own playing career?
I loved playing of course, but I believe my biggest contribution to football came after my own playing days were over. The development of the Youth set up during this time saw Ken Barnes, myself and the others give the Club much more than the occasional victory. Some of our players were the backbone of the League side in the seventies and eighties. It was the most productive time in the Club’s history for youth.
Around this time you also had a regular column in the match programme on astrology. That seems an unusual topic for a football programme and a former player. How did that come about?
I was once on holiday in Abersoch and the weather was appalling so I sat reading an article in Cosmopolitan about star signs. I started to look into it further and eventually astrology did help me a little in football. Once I knew someone’s star sign it gave me an indication of how to handle the player. Then one day City had been playing John Bond’s Norwich and Kevin Bond had played well. They’d managed a draw, which was very unusual for Norwich at the time. As they came off the pitch Kevin Bond was asking for a telephone. It seemed a real emergency, so I took him into one of the offices and he made his call. Some of the other backroom staff were around and we all listened to his call. It turned out he’d ‘phoned his mother to tell her about the game. I watched and listened and as soon as he came off the ‘phone I asked “Kevin, I hope you don’t mind me asking but are you a Cancerian?”
It turned out he was and the rest of the staff were amazed that I could guess. There’s no point going through it all now, but during the call Kevin displayed typical characteristics of a Cancerian. One thing led to another and before I knew it I’d been talked into writing a piece by Eddie Booth.
I used to give information on typical characteristics and would try and link this in to players with birthdays etc. After a while it started getting crazy – I was receiving all sorts of letters, nothing to do with football, and we decided to stop the articles before they took over from the football!
Once John Bond arrived as manager, the youth emphasis changed and you found yourself moving on. How do you view the period that followed?
It was a great period for me personally because I went coaching in Iceland and gained a great deal of experience but also developed further as a person. Staying at one club, or in one job, can make you stale, but if you move to other clubs and other countries you get different experiences. There were also the major cultural differences – there was a lot to learn. I was in charge of Akranes – Arni Arason’s team before City – and then IB Vestmann in 1982. At Vestmann we managed to get into Europe two years running – going out to a Polish side and an East German side – so I’m very pleased with that period of my career.
I returned to England in 1984 and worked for Ron Saunders at Birmingham – I know Ron has his City critics but I always got on well with him, and was delighted when he gave me the opportunity he did. At Birmingham I coached Tony Coton and, of course, David Seaman was also there then.
You eventually returned to City as Sports Development Officer and later managed the Platt Lane Complex. Was this another period of personal development for you?
Definitely. Every period of life teaches you something and I found that the experience away from City helped me, but I also found I gained a great deal at Platt Lane. As a player I think I always knew that I wasn’t destined to be a great player, but I always tried to do things in a ‘great way’. I wanted to ensure my approach was right and I think my spells coaching at Maine Road and Platt Lane were my major contribution to this Club.
You left City’s employment for the last time in 2000, what did you do for the final years of your working life?
I worked for Manchester City Council Leisure department as an Events and Activities Co-ordinator. Again I gained much from that role because it brought me back to reality and I started to work with non-footballing people. There were some good people there again, and I enjoyed that final period of work.
Finally, thinking about your retirement, do you miss football?
I still watch City of course, and I also love the involvement with the Former Players’ Association. I enjoy helping people and I do love attending functions and so on. Most of all though retirement allows me to look back and consider how my life has progressed so far. Like everybody else I’ve suffered some major tragedies and problems over the years and, at times, these were extremely hard to face, however I now look back and realise that all of this has helped shape my life and personality.
I am a great believer in fate and I do think that everything happens for a reason, so I’m not one to feel bitter. I’ve enjoyed my footballing life, and am delighted with every aspect of it. I particularly loved coaching City’s youngsters, but I have to say that I am happier today than I have ever been.
Following the death of former Manchester City, Stockport County and Altrincham goalkeeper Steve Fleet (who was also the man who had to break the news of Eddie Colman’s death to Eddie’s parents following the Munich air crash) I’ve decided to post one of the many interviews I did with Steve here for all to read. This was written in a Q&A style with Steve’s thoughts written out for all to see.
I think that when someone dies it is often best to use their words to describe their life/career. Who better to talk about Steve’s life than Steve himself? Here’s the interview as it was written up in 2004:
IN SEARCH OF THE BLUES – Steve Fleet
Steve Fleet has been involved with Manchester City for over 50 years, first as a player, then as a coach and later as manager of the Platt Lane complex. His early City career saw him as goalkeeping understudy to the great Bert Trautmann. Gary James, author of Farewell To Maine Road, caught up with him last week.
You made your debut against Wolves in 1957, can you remember much about that day?
I actually heard I was making my debut from the Manchester Evening News. I woke up to find a newspaper reporter and photographer on my doorstep, and they told me I was actually going to play. City had told me to report for training pre match but hadn’t said anything about being in the team. The reporter asked me what I thought of the news and then they got me to pose next to my record player – I suppose they wanted me to be doing the sort of things any 20 year old would be doing.
The game was a thriller and ended 4-3 to Wolves, how do you think you played?
I thought I’d played well, and I was fairly happy with my performance. I remember it was a bit of a foggy day and also that Wolves were powerful – they won the League that season and were one of the great sides of the period. Afterwards I saw the newspaper reports and they were full of praise, so that was great. In addition Frank Swift – a truly great City & England ‘keeper – wrote a very complimentary piece in his newspaper column and said I had a great future ahead of me, while Bert Trautmann told reporters I was the best young ‘keeper he had ever seen. All of that praise made me feel terrific of course, but I also knew I was only filling in until Bert was ready to return. He was an outstanding ‘keeper and there was no way any other ‘keeper would replace him if he was fit.
Did you feel despondent knowing you had little chance of replacing him on a regular basis?
No, not at all. I knew I was still young and all the praise made me feel that I would eventually be City’s number one. I suppose I felt I had to serve out my apprenticeship first of all. There were other good ‘keepers at City, including Roy Dixon – the father of the famous Arsenal player Lee Dixon – but I was sure my day would come. I was also delighted to be second choice to Bert. He was a terrific player and a great man.
Did he coach you or help in any other way?
Bert helped in every way. He was a great role model and taught me so much about life as well as football. He was like an older brother to me and I was fortunate to be taken under Bert’s wing. He insisted I presented myself well – clean shoes, wear a tie etc. – at all times. I listened and followed his lead both on and off the pitch.
My father needed a car to go south on holiday once and Bert offered to let Dad use it. For a fortnight my Dad had his car and when it came time to give it back, Bert refused any payment of any kind. He was terrific to be with and he remains a great man. There are few men in football or in life like Bert. Even today every former player looks at Bert Trautmann in awe – he is a true great and there are very few around.
As I was 14 years younger than him I thought I was being groomed as his natural successor. It didn’t quite work out like that, but Bert tried to ensure I was given some opportunities. I only managed to play 5 League games and 1 League Cup match during my City career but Bert ensured I’d play in some of those. I only found out recently but Bert deliberately pulled out of a couple of games simply so that I could get the opportunity. City would try and make him play every game, no matter how fit he was – and he often played when not fully fit because everyone demanded it – but for those games he made sure I got my chance.
Did you always play in goals, or did you start as an outfield player?
I didn’t like playing in goal at first and always wanted to be an outfield player but I was too slow. When I was 9 I played a game in goals and I remember a teacher shouting ‘great save’, and that spurred me on. The encouragement helped me enormously and, later when I became a coach, I always tried to ensure I encouraged and gave opportunities to those playing for me.
My first ever City match was in the Wythenshawe League for City’s 5th team. Charlie Gee, the ex-Everton & England star, was watching and I remember him complimenting me on how I’d played. Again that encouragement gave me a major boost.
What was training like at City when you first started to make it into the first team?
We’d train in the mornings, but nothing in the afternoon. We’d finish at lunch and I’d then go over to United’s training ground, The Cliff, to meet my best friend Eddie Colman. All the United youngsters would still be training hard for Bert Whalley – I think that was the big difference at the time. United under Busby and Wolves under Cullis were concentrating on coaching and on youth development, whereas the Clubs managed by more traditional managers were doing what they had always done.
Sadly, Eddie later died in the Munich disaster and I was a pallbearer at his funeral – no one can underestimate how the disaster affected all Mancunians.
As a young boy I was brought up in Ordsall and played for Salford Boys with Eddie – the first photo ever taken of me playing was in 1951 when Salford Boys beat Manchester Boys 1-0 in front of 11,000 – and they used to take us to watch United. Then I got the chance to go to Maine Road to watch City. I loved the colour of City’s shirts – a beautiful colour – and I also knew that City’s ground was better than Old Trafford – it definitely was.
One of your League appearances was against United in 1961, do you remember much about that?
It was highly controversial! City were the better side in the opening minutes and United’s key danger was Alex Dawson but every time he challenged I had the better of him. Every time he jumped for the ball I would jump higher and catch it. There were no problems. Then it all changed. We both went up and his only chance of beating me was to punch the ball with his fist! He did that and amazingly the referee gave United the goal. I could not believe it, and afterwards Dawson admitted what he had done – I still have the newspaper cutting! – but it was too late, and United went on to win the match.
When Bert’s City career neared its end did you feel your time had arrived?
Unfortunately not. In fact it felt as if my time had already gone. I made a big mistake waiting all those years because, despite the promise and the positive coverage at the start of my career, I had stagnated to some extent in the reserves. It was great being number two to Bert, but I now realise I should have moved on earlier. I would never advise a young boy to wait to fill anybody’s shoes now. You do need first team football if you want to develop. I never achieved my full potential.
I was frustrated when Harry Dowd’s opportunities came but, fortunately, Ken Barnes was now the manager at Wrexham and he asked me to go there. I was at last a true first team footballer.
A couple of years later Bert was manager at Stockport County and he asked me to go there. We won promotion and I started to do a bit of coaching – I coached Ken Mulhearn who became City’s keeper.
Is that when you started moving into coaching?
In 1969 I moved to Altrincham as a player and started coaching there, then a year later I moved back to Stockport as Chief Coach. In 1973 I got the chance to come back to City and work with the Youth team. It was then that we tried to create a Busby style youth dynasty at Maine Road. We figured that if we could find good lads, coach them correctly, and give them the right opportunities we’d be able to keep the Club progressing.
With Harry Godwin, Ken Barnes, and all the other members of City’s backroom staff, you helped find and develop several exciting players. Who was your favourite from a footballing point of view?
Peter Barnes had the greatest skill and he was one of the nicest young players as well. He was always appreciative of the support given to him. He had lots of natural skill but was grateful for the advice given.
Clive Wilson was another very skilful player, but I suppose I was most pleased for Kenny Clements. Initially nobody rated him and he had to go on the groundstaff. We kept throwing him into practice matches and eventually Ian McFarlane recognised his ability and his career blossomed.
Gary Owen was the most enthusiastic player I ever had, while Alex Williams was another nice young man who developed well.
This was a golden period for youth football at City, reaching the FA Youth Cup final in successive years (1979 & 1980). How did it compare to your own playing career?
I loved playing of course, but I believe my biggest contribution to football came after my own playing days were over. The development of the Youth set up during this time saw Ken Barnes, myself and the others give the Club much more than the occasional victory. Some of our players were the backbone of the League side in the seventies and eighties. It was the most productive time in the Club’s history for youth.
Around this time you also had a regular column in the match programme on astrology. That seems an unusual topic for a football programme and a former player. How did that come about?
I was once on holiday in Abersoch and the weather was appalling so I sat reading an article in Cosmopolitan about star signs. I started to look into it further and eventually astrology did help me a little in football. Once I knew someone’s star sign it gave me an indication of how to handle the player. Then one day City had been playing John Bond’s Norwich and Kevin Bond had played well. They’d managed a draw, which was very unusual for Norwich at the time. As they came off the pitch Kevin Bond was asking for a telephone. It seemed a real emergency, so I took him into one of the offices and he made his call. Some of the other backroom staff were around and we all listened to his call. It turned out he’d ‘phoned his mother to tell her about the game. I watched and listened and as soon as he came off the ‘phone I asked “Kevin, I hope you don’t mind me asking but are you a Cancerian?”
It turned out he was and the rest of the staff were amazed that I could guess. There’s no point going through it all now, but during the call Kevin displayed typical characteristics of a Cancerian. One thing led to another and before I knew it I’d been talked into writing a piece by Eddie Booth.
I used to give information on typical characteristics and would try and link this in to players with birthdays etc. After a while it started getting crazy – I was receiving all sorts of letters, nothing to do with football, and we decided to stop the articles before they took over from the football!
Once John Bond arrived as manager, the youth emphasis changed and you found yourself moving on. How do you view the period that followed?
It was a great period for me personally because I went coaching in Iceland and gained a great deal of experience but also developed further as a person. Staying at one club, or in one job, can make you stale, but if you move to other clubs and other countries you get different experiences. There were also the major cultural differences – there was a lot to learn. I was in charge of Akranes – Arni Arason’s team before City – and then IB Vestmann in 1982. At Vestmann we managed to get into Europe two years running – going out to a Polish side and an East German side – so I’m very pleased with that period of my career.
I returned to England in 1984 and worked for Ron Saunders at Birmingham – I know Ron has his City critics but I always got on well with him, and was delighted when he gave me the opportunity he did. At Birmingham I coached Tony Coton and, of course, David Seaman was also there then.
You eventually returned to City as Sports Development Officer and later managed the Platt Lane Complex. Was this another period of personal development for you?
Definitely. Every period of life teaches you something and I found that the experience away from City helped me, but I also found I gained a great deal at Platt Lane. As a player I think I always knew that I wasn’t destined to be a great player, but I always tried to do things in a ‘great way’. I wanted to ensure my approach was right and I think my spells coaching at Maine Road and Platt Lane were my major contribution to this Club.
You left City’s employment for the last time in 2000, what did you do for the final years of your working life?
I worked for Manchester City Council Leisure department as an Events and Activities Co-ordinator. Again I gained much from that role because it brought me back to reality and I started to work with non-footballing people. There were some good people there again, and I enjoyed that final period of work.
Finally, thinking about your retirement, do you miss football?
I still watch City of course, and I also love the involvement with the Former Players’ Association. I enjoy helping people and I do love attending functions and so on. Most of all though retirement allows me to look back and consider how my life has progressed so far. Like everybody else I’ve suffered some major tragedies and problems over the years and, at times, these were extremely hard to face, however I now look back and realise that all of this has helped shape my life and personality.
I am a great believer in fate and I do think that everything happens for a reason, so I’m not one to feel bitter. I’ve enjoyed my footballing life, and am delighted with every aspect of it. I particularly loved coaching City’s youngsters, but I have to say that I am happier today than I have ever been.
news that the former Manchester City and Stockport County goalkeeper Steve Fleet has passed way. So sad to hear this news. Steve was a wonderful man. He was also the man who had to break the news of Eddie Colman’s death to Eddie’s parents after Munich. I’ll post stuff on Steve in next few days.
The photo is one Ed Garvey took of Steve on a day when I interviewed Steve at the old MCFC museum, the Manchester City Experience.
Mancunian Dave Wagstaffe was a Manchester City and Wolves star who made his City debut in September 1960. Fifteen years ago I interviewed Dave and spent a really enjoyable afternoon chatting with him about every period of his career. This was a for an article on his time at City and the 3000 word article that eventually came out of that can be read below.
Sadly, Dave died in 2013 after a heart attack. He was only 70.
The following interview is available to subscribers to the site and is published here as it was written back in 2010 with Dave’s words written as he said them.
Subscribe to get access
If you’d like to read this article you’ll need to subscribe. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) or join up on an annual basis at the discounted amount of £20 per year. Subscribers get access to everything posted to the site. Why not join up for a month and see what you think?
Continuing the series of features on the 1960s, here’s a subscriber article on Manchester City during the 1960-61 season. If you’d like to read this 1200 word article, plus all other articles on the site, then please subscribe (see below).
Subscribe to get access
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.
On this day (28 January) in 1961 Denis Law’s six goals against Luton in the FAC were wiped from the records when the game was abandoned due to waterlogged pitch. Manchester City were winning 6-2, and lost the replay 3-1 (Law scored City’s consolation). If you want to know more about the 1960-61 season then you can read the following 1200 word article. It’s a subscriber piece and if you want to read it (plus all other articles on the site) then please subscribe (see below).
Subscribe to get access
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.
Continuing the series of features on the 1960s… On this day (20 January) in 1962 Manchester City defeated Arsenal 3-2 with two goals from Neil Young (and an own goal) at Maine Road. Were you there?
The photo above is of course Neil Young the following decade at Maine Road.
If you’d like to know more on this season, here’s a subscriber article on Manchester City during the 1961-62 season. If you’d like to read this 1600 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.
Subscribe to get access
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.
Gary James' Football Archive 