Denis Law had such a wonderful footballing career, with so many periods deserving focus. Inevitably – and rightly – many will focus on his exploits with Manchester United and Scotland. Following his death I’d like to add to the tributes out there by highlighting a couple of periods of his career that may be being overlooked. It’s totally understandable, but today I’d like to highlight his Manchester City career. A career that saw him become a City legend. Not many manage to become idolised at both City and United in equal measure (Meredith & Kidd are the other prominent two I can think of) but Law managed it.
He was signed by City in March 1960 from Huddersfield Town for a record figure of £55,000 – £10,000 more than the previous British transfer record. It was a bold move by Les McDowall but was clear proof that City were still a force to be reckoned with, particularly as they had managed to fight off the likes of Arsenal to sign the 20 year old.
Law was a lethal finisher, and a genuine crowd pleaser. His first goal for the Blues came during his debut match at Leeds United on 19th March 1960, although City were defeated by the odd goal in seven. His second League game brought another goal as West Ham were defeated 3-1 at Maine Road on 30th March. He ended the season with 7 appearances.
The following season he was top scorer with 19 League goals – 1 more than Joe Hayes – and again made the headlines with an amazing goalscoring feat in an abandoned cup tie. On 28th January City were defeating Luton 6-2 with Law scoring all City’s goals, when the match was abandoned. In the replay, Law again scored but this time City were defeated 3-1 in conditions which Law himself believed were worse than the original game.
In addition to his performances for City, Law was making a name for himself with his country. He made 5 international appearances during his first two seasons at Maine Road, and was an obvious choice for his beloved Scotland.
All the media interest which understandably focused on Law helped to make him known throughout the footballing world and, with City still struggling to find consistency during the early sixties, it was perhaps inevitable that he would move on. In the end he was transferred to Italian side Torino for another record. This time he became Britain’s first £100,000 footballer when the Italians paid City £110,000 for his signature in July 1961.
After a little over a year in Italy, Law returned to Manchester. This time to help United. In his first season there he helped the Reds avoid relegation, but regrettably City suffered as a consequence. While at Old Trafford, Law found the success that had not seemed possible at Maine Road.
In July 1973 after becoming a legend with the Reds – please go and read everything you can about his career at Old Trafford – he was given a free transfer. City manager Johnny Hart quickly made arrangements to sign the player, and on his second City debut he again scored (twice) as Birmingham were defeated 3-1. Of the City side he joined in 1973 only Alan Oakes remained from his final City game in 1961, and the Blues were in an entirely different position.
The late sixties and early seventies had seen City achieve phenomenal success and eclipse Law’s United side, and so rather than join a poor, struggling side, law was now with a team of entertainers capable of tremendous success. He had also joined a team renowned for its unpredictability!
Johnny Hart was replaced by disciplinarian Ron Saunders as manager, and the entire mood of the club changed. Saunders seemed to be at odds with many of the club’s more senior professionals and his handling of the stars was often attacked. For a while there were rumours of player power, especially when City started plummeting down the table. Inevitably, Saunders was sacked and his replacement, Tony Book, managed to change the approach. On the final day of the season, it was as a member of Book’s side that Law scored his final – and most memorable – League goal.
It was scored with his last kick in League football, and he often said it was the worst he had ever felt after scoring a goal. It wasn’t his last competitive goal in football or even for City – people often incorrectly claim it was but he played on into the 1974-75 season, scoring for City in a competitive game at the start of that season.
City fans usually remember Denis Law more for that particular goal than for any other moment in his City career. That goal was widely held responsible at the time of ‘sending Manchester United into the Second Division’. In actual fact, the goal was irrelevant as United would have gone down in any case, but it has become a landmark goal and inevitably keeps the name of Law in the minds of Blues fans everywhere. Law’s City career deserves to be remembered for much more.
Less than two months earlier he made his final appearance at Wembley as a member of City’s League Cup final team. That game ended in a 2-1 defeat, but then it did take place during Ron Saunders’ period as manager. Had the atmosphere of the club changed prior to Wembley then it’s possible Law’s illustrious career would have ended with a League Cup winners’ medal.
Denis Law only managed three seasons with City in total, but in each of those seasons he did enough to make the headlines and become a member of City’s hall of fame. During the mid 1970s The King’s Head pub at Crown Point, Denton became a shrine to football and its sign depicted “The King” Denis Law. Although the nickname was awarded to him at Old Trafford, the pub sign depicted him in a City shirt – the team that first brought him to Manchester. It should never be forgotten that Law is a hero to both Blues and Reds.
Gary James' Football Archive 