Tag Archives: Billy McNeill

40 Years Ago: David White’s Debut

Forty Years Ago Today (23 September 1986) David White made his debut for Manchester City. It had been a strange 24 hours after manager Billy McNeill had left the club for Aston Villa. White was the latest of City’s FA Youth Cup winning team to make a first team appearance and the Manchester Evening News report highlights him a little.

If you’re interested in knowing more, here’s a 2,500 word feature on the 1986-87 season for subscribers:

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40 Years Ago: McNeill Swings the Axe

Here’s an article from this day (12 September) in 1986 when Manchester City manager Billy McNeill was unhappy with the way City’s team was playing. He felt some of the experienced guys were letting the side down and, following City’s success in the 1986 FA Youth Cup final, he knew there were some talented young players coming through. This article suggests that and it’s worth noting that David White and Darren Beckford were going to be in the squad for the Oxford game. McNeill was clearly getting frustrated and it wouldn’t be long before he walked out on the club for Villa.

If you’re interested in knowing more, here’s a 2,500 word feature on the 1986-87 season for subscribers:

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Help Billy McNeill Make City Great Again!

A little over forty years ago when my Manchester City season ticket book arrived this leaflet was inside. Billy McNeill’s quote told ‘us’ supporters how our support would be absolutely vital helping him make City great again. I’ve kept hold of it all these years because, within only a couple of months, Billy McNeill had left (September 1986) – we stayed to fight on! Looking back I don’t blame Billy – he was sold a life at Aston Villa that seemed better than what he had at City (in the end it was worse!). Years later I interviewed him and brought this up. He admitted that leaving was the biggest mistake he’d made. I kept the leaflet because, like thousands of fans, I did stay during the bad days and (as with Billy’s move to Villa) things did get worse. There was a lot of positivity in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but the period 1996 to 1999 was not so great.

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The 108th Manchester Derby in the League

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:

https://gjfootballarchive.com/2023/03/23/wembley-wembley-86-mcfc-v-chelsea/

Here for subscribers are the match stats, background, match report, film and other details from the 1986 Old Trafford derby: 

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From My Collection: Merry Christmas

Here’s an image I’ve rediscovered in my collection of Manchester City manager Billy McNeill and his assistant Jimmy Frizzell. McNeill was City boss from 1983 until 1986 and was followed by Frizzell, who then remained at Maine Road in one capacity or another for many, many years. I liked Billy McNeill but was devastated when he chose to leave City for Aston Villa in 1986. Years later when I interviewed him he told me it had been a big mistake leaving Maine Road. He was right! Both City and Villa were relegated at the end of the 1986-87 season and I can’t help thinking Billy would have found success at City had he stayed.

40 Years Ago Today: MCFC Wembley Bound

Forty years ago today (11 December 1985) a 2-0 victory (3-2 on aggregate) by Billy McNeill’s Manchester City over Brian Horton’s Hull sent the Blues to Wembley for the inaugural Full Members’ Cup Final. City’s scorers at Maine Road were David Phillips and Jim Melrose before the largest crowd (by any club) of the entire tournament, excluding the final, of 10,180. Here’s a contemporary report by Patrick Barclay of the game:

 You can read more on the Full Members Cup and what it was all about here:

The 1986 Full Members’ Cup

Spend For Billy City

On this day (30 September 1985) forty years ago Manchester City manager Billy McNeill highlighted the need for his club to spend if they hoped to stay in the top flight. The Blues had been promoted in May and McNeill felt the squad needed strengthening. City did survive in 1985-86 (in fact they reached a Wembley final) but McNeill’s concerns were valid. The following couple of seasons would see City rely on talented young players coming through the ranks, alongside some seasoned professionals, but many felt the club needed to spend to survive. Unfortunately they were relegated in 1987, by which time McNeill had left, frustrated by City’s lack of investment in the first team.

The 1980s was a truly important decade in the history of Manchester City Football Club and you can find out more on this season by reading the following 2,500 word feature on 1985-86 (available to subscribers). Enjoy!

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Tomorrow’s feature is on the 1986-87 season. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald

Manchester City v Wimbledon: The First Time

The first League meeting between Manchester City and Wimbledon occurred on this day (25 August) in 1984 was an altogether new experience for City.  Relegation in May 1983 had brought many changes to the club, including the arrival of manager Billy McNeill and his assistant Jimmy Frizzell.  Their first season in charge had seen the Blues finish fourth behind Chelsea, Newcastle, and Sheffield Wednesday, and much was expected from their second campaign. 

The opening fixture of the 1984-5 season saw City take to the field against Wimbledon for the first time.  It should have been an easy victory for McNeill’s men, particularly as the Blues viewed themselves as championship contenders whereas Dave Bassett’s Wimbledon had risen from Division Four in two consecutive seasons.  It seemed at the time as if everyone in football doubted that Wimbledon would be able to handle life in Division Two.

The match commenced with City hopeful, but within fifteen minutes of the start Wimbledon were 2-0 up thanks to goals from Stewart Evans and Glyn Hodges.  City just didn’t know what had hit them.

By half-time, however the Blues had pulled a goal back and by full-time had equalised.  Gordon Smith and Derek Parlane had provided the crucial City goals, but the game was certainly one which made City realise promotion was not going to be as straightforward as some had suggested.  Apart from a victory over Grimsby a few other worrying results followed, then McNeill’s men got their act together and moved up the division.  Gradually they rose up the Division – although it’s fair to say there were a few heartstopping moments along the way!.  The Blues ended the season in the third automatic promotion spot, while Wimbledon ended the season in an encouraging 12th place – their best ever at the time.

Stats:  Division Two 25th August 1984.

Wimbledon 2 City 2

Scorers – City: Smith, Parlane

Wimbledon: Evans, Hodges

City:  Williams, Phillips, Power, Bond, McCarthy, Wilson, McNab, Baker, Cunningham, Smith (Tolmie), Parlane

Wimbledon:  Beasant, Kay, Winterburn, Galliers (Gage), Smith, Morris, Evans, Ketteridge, Cork, O’Berg, Hodges

Attendance: 8,365

More on the 1984-5 season here:

The 1980s: 1984-1985 Promotion
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Post-Match Press Conference 1980s Style

When Billy McNeill joined Manchester City in 1983 he commented on how surprised he was at the number of post-match media reporters there were at games. Apparently, the volume was much higher than he’d expected and similar comments were expressed three years later when Alex Ferguson experienced his first press conferences at Old Trafford. Back in the 70s and 80s no matter what division the Manchester clubs were in (City were second tier in 1983) there was considerable media interest. Back then there was a strong Manchester newspaper scene with northern issues of most national newspapers produced in the city, often filling their sports pages with the latest from City and United.

This photo shows Billy in the centre of a post match press conference. I wonder how today’s managers would react to this style of meeting with the journalists. Nowadays similar press conferences appear to be organised more formally. Anybody recognise the journalists?

You can read more from Billy McNeill’s early days at City in the following 2,500 article on the 1983-84. It’s called ‘Fish Supper’ because manager Billy McNeill said City were so skint at the time that they could hardly buy a fish supper! Sadly, the purchases were often funded out of the money City had received for their talented young defender Tommy Caton who joined Arsenal.

Subscribers can read a 2,500 word feature on the 1983-84 season below. Enjoy!

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If you missed the season features on the 1980s then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald

1983: Jack Charlton & Brian Clough Tipped For MCFC Management Role

On 8 June 1983 it was reported that both Jack Charlton and Brian Clough were possible for the vacant manager’s position at Manchester City. The Blues had been relegated the previous month, leading to the dismissal of caretaker John Benson. Benson had been appointed following the departure of John Bond in January and Benson was a reluctant manager – basically he’d been told that he either took the job or he’d be sacked from his assistant manager position!

Ultimately, Billy McNeill became the City boss. Notice the comment from Swales about resigning – as I’ve often said it was down to his supporting directors that he remained in charge for as long as he did!

You can read all about the 1982-83 season for City in this 3,500 word subscriber feature. Enjoy (well, if you know the outcome of this season you can enjoy this memory refresh while reflecting on the modern day successes of the Blues!).

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Tomorrow’s feature is on the 1983-84 season. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald