60 years ago today (26 March 1966) 63,034 watched a goalless FA Cup quarter final at Maine Road between Everton and Manchester City. It was a day that ultimately brought a lot of attention City’s way and City ‘keeper Harry Dowd was the star man according to some journalists. Here for subscribers are match reports and details of that day:
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60 years ago Manchester City and Everton were due to meet in the following day’s FA Cup quarter final (to be played on 26 March – more on that tomorrow). City were a Second Division team that season and were managed by former Evertonian Joe Mercer. Everton had finished the previous season fourth and had participated in the Fairs Cup during 1965-66. They were managed by Harry Catterick. Their views on their teams and opponents make interesting reading for fans of both City and Everton. Sadly, I don’t know which newspaper this is from. It’s in a scrapbook on the entire 1965-66 season I have.
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On this day (24 March) in 1994 Peter Beagrie signed for Manchester City from Everton and soon established himself as a hero. With his trademark somersaulting goal celebrations Beagrie scored 5 goals in 58 (plus 7 as substitute) appearances, but his contribution to the exciting style of play enjoyed under Brian Horton was much more impressive than those statistics suggest.
Beagrie’s debut came in a goalless game v Oldham the following Saturday.
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Congratulations to Manchester City on winning the League Cup last night (22 March 2026). It was, once again, great to be there and clashes between the top two are always special. Years ago the former Manchester City trophy winning assistant manager (and later manager) Malcolm Allison was in a reflective mood when he told me: ‘Celebrate every success as if it’s your first, because it could be your last.’ It’s always stuck with me because so often we see people make assumptions about trophy success and then it’s taken away. Allison definitely experienced that, so I guess what I’m saying is… Celebrate every trophy; every moment; every player etc.
Yesterday’s success was thoroughly deserved. I was nervous in that first half when it looked like Arsenal had control for key stages, but then the second half demonstrated quite clearly how City as a team can deliver. Having our 21st birthday boy Nico O’Reilly score two goals added to the occasion and allowed a few headlines to be created. Listening to his BBC R5L interview on the way back from Wembley suggested that Nico would certainly be celebrating that success last night.
So much has already been written about the final so I don’t need to add much here. I absolutely loved the win and enjoyed the wider experience of Wembley. It’s changed a lot since my first visit (1986 Full Member’s Cup – 40th anniversary today!) and even since the 2011 FA Cup semi & final. We didn’t have a Greggs or shopping centre at our end back then!
In the 1900s when City first started making trips to Cup Finals and the 1920s when they first went to Wembley newspapers would often carry stories of how the train companies and Wembley organisers would change the food on offer depending on where the clubs were from. The 1904 final at Crystal Palace between City and Bolton brought stories published on the number of pies ordered being significantly higher than some other years because of the volume of northern fans. Southern fans, it reported, preferred sandwiches. I’d love to see if we could find similar details today – was Greggs busier last year because Newcastle were there for example?
Anyway…. If you support City enjoy the success. It was absolutely deserved and a great occasion again.
60 years ago this week (March 1966) Manchester City announced that their FA Cup quarter final was a 63,000 sell out. Why is this significant? Because the attendance was larger than any domestic crowd at Old Trafford that season, but why is that significant? Because at the start of the season United’s Pat Crerand bet City assistant manager Malcolm Allison that City would never get more than 30,000 for a game again! I interviewed Malcolm back in 1993 when we talked about this and he also mentioned it in he biography. The story…
Basically, Allison was sat at United’s League championship celebration and became somewhat frustrated by the glorification of United that night. While Joe Mercer took a diplomatic approach, afterall it was United’s celebration dinner, Allison decided to speak out. He told Matt Busby’s son Sandy that his dad had a twenty year start but ‘I’ll pass him in three’ and then Allison claimed he got into a discussion with Crerand about ‘little City’ compared to United. Allison claimed Crerand made a £10 bet with him that City would never again get 30,000+ in Maine Road.
A pause in the action (September 1967 Manchester derby) gives Summerbee Crerand and Dunne an opportunity to debate the action so far (Image: The Pride of Manchester, 1991)
On a Wednesday night in October (27/10/65) City attracted 34,091 for the visit of Norwich in the Second Division. Allison told me he couldn’t remember whether he ever got his £10 but he did laugh a great deal when I told him that United’s attendance the previous Saturday was 32,716 for the top flight visit of Fulham.
Malcolm Allison at the launch of Gary James’ Football With A Smile: The Authorised Biography of Joe Mercer, OBE in December 1993. Note Francis Lee appearing behind Allison.
What was even more remarkable was that the City-Everton FAC tie on 26 March 1966 was watched by 63,034 and that was higher than any domestic crowd at United that season. Allison laughed again when we discussed that briefly. As a comparison, United attracted 58,161 for their League game with Liverpool (lowest home League attendance 23,039 v Aston Villa) and they did get 60,433 for their FAC Cup quarter-final replay with Preston. Plus United managed to better all these attendances with 64,035 for their European Cup quarter-final with Benfica.
I did an earlier interview with Allison that can be listened to here:
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Forty years ago today (22 March 1986) Manchester United hosted Manchester City in the 108th League derby between the teams. The fixture was the first of two high profile games for the Blues in consecutive days with the other game coming on Sunday at Wembley. See this story for news of that Wembley final:
Here for subscribers are the match stats, background, match report, film and other details from the 1986 Old Trafford derby:
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I’m looking forward to today’s League Cup final at Wembley today. Safe travels to all making the journey. Here’s a reminder of the last time City and Arsenal met in the League Cup final. This photo is of the final minutes, captured by me, looking towards the Arsenal end. This was 2018 and City won 3-0.
After a glittering career with Preston, Everton and Liverpool, striker David Johnson joined Manchester City on this day (21 March) in 1984. Johnson scored on his City debut – an 83rd minute equaliser v Cardiff in a game the Blues went on to win 2-1. Unfortunately, despite a reputation as a lethal striker – and hard evidence of achievement – Johnson’s time at Maine Road was not particularly successful. After one goal in four (plus two as substitute) games Johnson moved to play soccer in North America in May 1984.
Johnson died in November 2022 and the following piece was written by Samuel Meade and published in the Mirror:
it’s one of the oldest fixtures either club has with a rich history stretching back to the 1890s. Both sides have found major success with City’s first major trophy coming in 1904 and Arsenal’s arriving 26 years later. As you’d expect with such a long history there are plenty of articles on my website about both clubs. Here’s a link to all those tagged Arsenal:
The League Cup winners faced Wolves at Maine Road on this day (20 March) in 1976. The game looked like a certain defeat – or at best a draw – for most of the match with Wolves dominating the early stages and even a Dennis Tueart scissor kick was unable to find the net (saved by goalkeeper Phil Parkes). Wolves took the lead via a low shot from future Blue Steve Daley in the 29th minute.
The second half saw City play with more fluidity and came close to scoring when 17-year-old debutant Gary Owen fired in a low shot following a free kick. Parkes managed a good save at the foot of the post. Eight minutes into the half City did equalise through another young player, Ged Keegan.
After 81 minutes Wolves took the lead again with a Kindon header. Three minutes later a handling offence in the area gave City a penalty which Tueart blasted past Parkes to equalise.
Only a minute later, and with the game entering its final five minutes, Mike Doyle stormed in to head City in front, making it 3-2. The victory for Tony Book’s side was a little harsh on Wolves, particularly after some excellent saves from Parkes, but it demonstrated the never-say-die attitude that seemed to be a key feature of City at this time.
Post match much of the talk was on City’s final flourish, but journalist Peter Gardner was also keen to write about Gary Owen, claiming: ‘Owen provided one of the most startling League debuts I have ever seen… he is essentially an exciting player with abundant flair and ability. He shows too, a crispness in the tackle that comes from a stocky build reminiscent of an early Ball or Bremner. Doubtless his display exceeded the expectations of many as City rallied after the break to come up on the post and snatch victory from the grasp of a Wolves side ready to celebrate.’
You can read more on the 1975-76 season with this 5,320 word article – a season which saw Tony Book guide the club to major success. If you want to know more on this incredible decade for Manchester City Football Club then why not subscribe and read it all? You could even subscribe for a month and see what you think. The following 5,320 word article is on the 1975-76 season and is available to subscribers below. Enjoy!
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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.
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.
Gary James' Football Archive 