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:
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Southampton were the visitors to Maine Road on this day (6 November) in 1982. The image heading this feature is of the Kippax Stand about an hour before kick-off that day. Back then fans would queue up outside the turnstiles waiting for them to open at 1pm for a 3pm kick off. Once allowed in Supporters would head for their usual space on the terracing and wait for kick off.
Away fans would typically be positioned in the section to the right of this photo and, depending on the size of the travelling support, they would either have all that final section of the Kippax including the open corner next to it, or would be penned only into the back section of the stand. It may seem odd today but on days when the away fans would be positioned at the back, the front section and corner were usually opened up for home fans. As was the case for this game.
While the Kippax was one vast area of terracing, the more vocal fans would tend to gather close to the away section, above one of two large tunnels that cut through from the back of the stand to the terracing.
Notice the advertising and signage on the roof. As well as the Manchester City sign there are adverts for the Junior Blues and City Bingo, plus several familiar local businesses, including the popular Parkside Hotel, close to the ground.
City defeated Southampton 2-0 on the day this photo was taken with a tenth minute goal from Kevin Reeves – past England ‘keeper Peter Shilton – and a header from Bobby McDonald in the 66th minute. Shilton had saved a penalty in the 38th minute from Kevin Bond while City captain Paul Power was judged the man of the match in most newspapers.
The victory put City second to Liverpool in the League and four days later City and Southampton met again at Maine Road. This time it was a League Cup tie which ended in a 1-1 draw, but the replay ended in a Southampton win.
As for the Kippax… The stand had once accommodated over 35,000 and its capacity when this photo was taken was about 26,500. At the time it was demolished in 1994 it was the largest capacity terraced stand in the country, marginally higher than Anfield’s Kop.
Here are highlights of that match for those who want to know more about the game:
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.
New Manchester City manager John Bond’s first cup game was the fourth round tie against Second Division promotion hopefuls Notts County at Maine Road, played on 29 October in 1980 The game had the potential to end in defeat, especially as Bond would be unable to play any of his new signings (remember the struggles pre-Bond’s arrival earlier in the month and the impact he and his new arrivals Now, Hutchison and McDonald had?), nor would the expensive Steve Daley be able to play due to injury.
The match actually ended 5-1 to the Blues with Dave Bennett opening the scoring after 16 minutes. Dennis Tueart was in inspiring form that night scoring the other four City goals, but the result was prof that Bond’s whole approach had lifted the Club. Basically, Bond had taken Allison’s team and given them belief and confidence. Some of the younger players, like Bennett and Caton, may have been given their chance under Allison, but it was under Bond that they started to achieve their potential.
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With Manchester City playing Wolves tomorrow here’s a match programme cover from a game between the two. This was a Christmas fixture from 1980. Some of the players look happy others seem to have a fixed stare as if to say ‘do we really need to hold this Christmas banner?’
That day City defeated Wolves 4-0 with goals from Tommy Hutchison (2 goals; holding the banner above the ‘a’ in Christmas), Bobby McDonald (3rd player from right) and Kevin Reeves (4th player from right).
You can find out more on the 1980s, John Bond (including a fairly frank audio interview I did with him years ago) and City elsewhere on this website. Subscribers get access to a lot of extra content. To subscribe see the following:
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.
On this day (17 October) in 1980 John Bond was officially appointed Manchester City’s manager. The season would end with him guiding the Blues to the FA Cup final.
Back in November 1995 I interviewed John at his home. At the time I was researching my in-depth history of the club called Manchester The Greatest City (later updated as Manchester The City Years).
I met John at his home and spent a good few hours with him chatting about the Blues and his career. I loved doing this interview and was always grateful for the time he gave me. He was quite frank, open and honest – which delighted me because he was a great talker. He was also happy for me to quote everything he said in the interview. I did end up quoting him extensively in the book (and in others I’ve produced).
You can listen to the first 17 minutes of the interview here. He talks about the steps taken by City to appoint him; the interview (and the directors involved in that notorious filmed interview for the City documentary in 1980-81); the signing of Tommy Hutchison, Bobby McDonald and Gerry Gow. As I said earlier, he is quite frank in his comments and that may surprise a few.
This audio recording of the first 17 minutes of the interview is available to subscribers. If you want to listen then please subscribe below. Other sections can be listened to (see below for details).
Of course as this interview was recorded on my old cassette recorder the quality isn’t the best but I’m working on improving that for future pieces.
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If you read tomorrow night’s match programme you’ll see (if all goes to plan) my One Moment In Time feature which is an image of Bobby McDonald playing against Watford. So, for this feature I thought I’d republish an article I wrote in 2011 on McDonald. This was first published in the build up to the 2011 FA Cup final. I took a look at the eleven players who made the starting line-up for City’s FA Cup final in 1981. Subscribers can read my feature on left-back Bobby McDonald below.
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Here’s a nice Christmassy Manchester City match programme cover from today (27 December) in 1980. This was for City’s game with Wolves. Some of the players look happy others seem to have a fixed stare as if to say ‘do we really need to hold this banner?’
That day City defeated Wolves 4-0 with goals from Tommy Hutchison (2 goals; holding the banner above the ‘a’ in Christmas), Bobby McDonald (3rd player from right) and Kevin Reeves (4th player from right).
You can find out more on the 1980s, John Bond (including a fairly frank audio interview I did with him years ago) and City elsewhere on this website. Subscribers get access to a lot of extra content. To subscribe see the following:
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 articles covering Manchester City in the 1980s, here’s a brief newspaper cutting announcing that City had just signed Gordon Dalziel. The newspaper was published on this day (30 November) in 1983. The reference to MacCity links to the idea that Manager Billy McNeill and his assistant, fellow Scot Jimmy Frizzell, were buying Scottish players.
There’s a lot of truth in this and McNeill explained about it at various times over the years. My 2,500 article on the 1983-84 is titled ‘Fish Supper’ because 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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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.
A new daily series of articles for subscribers started last week covering the 1980s. This is a seasonal journey through a truly important decade in the history of Manchester City Football Club. Today’s article is a 2,500 word feature on the 1983-84 season. Enjoy!
Subscribe to get access – Monthly
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.
A new daily series of articles for subscribers started a few days ago covering the 1980s. This is a seasonal journey through a truly important decade in the history of Manchester City Football Club. Today’s article is a 3,500 word feature on the 1982-83 season. 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!).
Subscribe to get access – Monthly
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.
Gary James' Football Archive 