On this day (27 March) in 1926 the first all-Manchester FA Cup semi final occurred. You can see film of that game here and subscribers can read about the match below. Here’s the film from Bramall Lane:
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Here’s film of the FA Cup semi final from this day (26 March) in 1955 when Manchester City defeated Sunderland 1-0 at Villa Park. Roy Clarke was the City scorer. Enjoy: https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/59403/
This series on Manchester City in the 1950s includes free items and items only available to subscribers. If you’d like to find out more on the 1954-55 season then subscribe and read the following 3,400 word article on it. It’s a season when City reached the FA Cup final and Don Revie was FWA Footballer of the Year.
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It was one of those crazy Manchester City days in the 1980s (and you can see film of it below!) when City travelled to Walsall for a League game on this day (25 March) in 1989. That day every one attending the match had real value for money when Nigel Gleghorn replaced the injured Andy Dibble in goal. City were 2-0 down when Dibble collapsed in agony with a groin problem. Gleghorn put on the green shirt and helped the Blues to fight back with David Oldfield – the fifth most expensive City player up until that point at £600,000 – scoring his first goal for the club. Paul ‘Golden’ Moulden equalised and then, early in the second half, he scored again to bring a 3-2 lead. Gleghorn made a couple of good saves and even kicked superbly to keep the pressure off City but then a ridiculous out of character back pass from Oldfield gave Walsall opportunity to score, and the game ended 3-3.
The substitute ‘keeper was certainly the man of the match, winning applause from both sets of supporters after being stand-in for around an hour. You can see highlights here (wonderful commentary from the Walsall video commentator too). City had the away section behind the goal on the right and the covered paddock opposite (right). I was stood in the paddock behind the row of stanchions. Notice the bananas too:
Subscribers can read a series of articles covering the 1980s – a seasonal journey through a truly important decade in the history of Manchester City Football Club. The 1988-89 article is a 4,100 word feature below. Enjoy!
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Here’s film of the FA Cup 6th round tie from this day (12 March) in 1955 when Manchester City defeated Birmingham City 1-0. Johnny Hart was the City scorer. Enjoy!
This series on Manchester City in the 1950s includes free items and items only available to subscribers. If you’d like to find out more on the 1954-55 season then subscribe and read the following 3,400 word article on it. It’s a season when City reached the FA Cup final and Don Revie was FWA Footballer of the Year.
This is a subscriber article and you can read it by subscribing below.
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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.
On this day (13 February) in 1982 Manchester City defeated Brighton 4-0 before 30,038 at Maine Road. The previous season’s FA Cup finalists had signed Trevor Francis at the start of the season and he scored, as did Asa Bobby McDonald, Kevin Reeves (there was also an own goal).
You can read more on Trevor Francis and the entire 1981-82 season elsewhere on this site. There are lots of articles, many free including an interview I did with Trevor a few years back. Follow the link for more:
If you enjoy all the free material on my website and would like to support my research and keep this website going (but don’t want to subscribe) then why not make a one-time donation (or buy me a coffee). All support for my research is valued and welcome. It allows me to keep some free material available for all. Thanks.
It wasn’t worn that often and was captured in photos/film even less, but here’s Manchester City winning away at Tottenham on this day (10 February) in 1973, wearing a classic kit. It was royal blue with red & white diagonal stripe. The game ended in a 3-2 City win at Spurs with goals from Rodney Marsh and Francis Lee (2). You can watch it here:
If you want to know more on this season or this incredible decade for Manchester City Football Club then why not subscribe and read the following article and all others on the 1970s? You could even subscribe for a month and see what you think. The following 1,700 word article is on the 1972-73 season and is available to subscribers below. Enjoy!
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Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 or there’s a special annual rate below which gives greater access and works out much cheaper.
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (above) or £20 a year (here) to access everything posted since the site was created in December 2020. This special rate works out about £1.67 a week and gives access to everything posted, including PDFs of 3 of my books.
If you enjoy all the free material on my website and would like to support my research and keep this website going (but don’t want to subscribe) then why not make a one-time donation (or buy me a coffee). All support for my research is valued and welcome. It allows me to keep some free material available for all. Thanks.
There are a few events lined up where I’ll be talking about the Corinthians. These are free to attend (details below) and tonight (31 January) I’ll be on Lewis Connell’s sport show on Tameside Radio too. That’s on at 7pm (link below). Thanks to Lewis for the invite. He’s been a key supporter of the Corinthians project over the last few years.
Wednesday 12 February 2pm at Tameside Library, Ashton under Lyne
Thursday 27 February (evening) at the West Yorkshire branch of the MCFC Supporters Club
Wednesday 5 March – 5.30pm (general) at Manchester Central Library
Watch this space for further details soon.
There will also be talks with schools and other groups soon. If you’d like me to talk at your library, group or school then please get in touch.
The book is now beginning to appear at bookshops. Amazon now say they have copies if you want to buy it from them. You can also buy copies direct from me.
The book consists of 356 pages. It is illustrated throughout and you can order it below for £25 (including UK postage and packaging).
If you live outside the UK then please contact for details of additional postage costs.
You do not need to have a PayPal account to order – use the ‘Pay with PayPal’ button above and it will give you the option to pay by credit/debit card without creating a PayPal account
UK ONLY – Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History
The story of a pioneering women’s club as told to Gary James by those who were there. This will be published in late December 2024. This is UK only at £25 (incl UK postage and packaging). Outside UK contact for additional postage costs.
£25.00
To get a feel for the Corinthians’ story and the book you can watch an 18 minute video put together by Imprint Films here:
If you’ve issues watching the video there (youtube may ask you to sign in) you can also watch it here (click on the ‘Watch on Youtube’, bottom left if your link doesn’t work):
I’d like to say my heartfelt thanks to Manchester City for their help and for inviting the Corinthians. I’s also like to thank all at Imprint Films for doing the video. In the spirit of Percy Ashley himself, they have funded the production of this video themselves and have the desire to see the Corinthians story spread widely. This is, of course, something I totally believe in myself. We need to spread this story and let the entire world know about the Corinthians.
Please share the video and, while you’re at it, spread the news about the book too. Both are self funded and we need help to spread the word.
On this day (30 January) in 1974 Manchester City defeated Plymouth 2-0 in the second leg of the League Cup semi final. The first game ended 1-1 (Tommy Booth scored for City) at Plymouth and this match saw goals from Colin Bell and Francis Lee to ensure a Wembley final. You can watch highlights here (I particularly like the Bell goal):
Below you can read a 1,700 word article on the entire 1973-74 season – a season which included a Wembley final, multiple managerial changes and a controversial Manchester Derby at Old Trafford! You do have to be a subscriber to read this and subscribers get access to everything on the site. Why not subscribe for a month and see what you think.
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Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) or there’s a special annual rate of £20 which works out about £1.67 a week and gives access to everything posted, including PDFs of 3 of my books.
If you enjoy all the free material on my website and would like to support my research and keep this website going (but don’t want to subscribe) then why not make a one-time donation (or buy me a coffee). All support for my research is valued and welcome. It allows me to keep some free material available for all. Thanks.
Jack Charlton’s Middlesbrough arrived at Maine Road on this day (21st January) in 1976 for the second leg of the League Cup Semi final 1-0 up after a tense first leg match. The majority of the first leg had been played out in midfield with Alan Oakes, Asa Hartford and the emerging Paul Power putting up a good fight on City’s behalf. Boro had found it difficult to break through City’s powerful defence until David Armstrong gave them the lead in the 66th minute. Despite the advantage Middlesbrough’s Evening Gazette predicted a difficult return game.
At Maine Road a youthful City side destroyed Boro. As early as the 5th minute 19 year old Peter Barnes – now working for GMR – crossed the ball to 20 year old Ged Keegan, who headed home his first senior goal. Six minutes later Keegan laid the ball off for Oakes to fire a left foot shot past ‘keeper Jim Platt. A minute into the 2nd half Barnes made it 3-1 on aggregate. Shortly before the end Joe Royle made it 4-1 and maintained his record of scoring in every round.
You can watch highlights here:
Stats: League Cup semi-final 2nd leg. 21st January 1976.
While you’re here why not subscribe and read a 5,320 word article on the entire 1975-76 season – a season which saw Tony Book guide the club to major success. You can read this below.
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Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 or there’s a special annual rate below which gives greater access and works out much cheaper.
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (above) or £20 a year (here) to access everything posted since the site was created in December 2020. This special rate works out about £1.67 a week and gives access to everything posted, including PDFs of 3 of my books.
If you enjoy all the free material on my website and would like to support my research and keep this website going (but don’t want to subscribe) then why not make a one-time donation (or buy me a coffee). All support for my research is valued and welcome. It allows me to keep some free material available for all. Thanks.
Continuing the series of features on the 1960s, here’s a wonderful film from the Manchester derby played at Maine Road on this day (21 January) in 1967:
The game ended in a 1-1 draw before almost 63,000 at City’s old stadium. You can read more on the 1966-67 season (a 3200 word article; plus all other articles on the site) if you 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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