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The series of features/articles covering Manchester City in the 1970s continues with this article on Malcolm Allison. Allison’s two spells as City manager only saw the Blues receive one trophy – the 1972 Charity Shield – however he deserves to be profiled as his contribution during the glory years of 1965 to 1972 was equal to that of manager Joe Mercer.

Allison arrived at Maine Road in July 1965 as assistant manager to Mercer, and by the time he left for the first time over seven years later, City had won almost every trophy possible. 

During that time Allison worked closely with the players and it’s worth noting that the close relationship he developed with the players fostered a great team spirit which, possibly above all else, helped the Blues succeed.  Allison’s influence was felt throughout the club and his approach was refreshing.  He was like a breath of fresh air and helped bring life to the club after a particularly depressing spell – remember earlier in 1965 the club attracted only eight thousand for a couple of League games and some felt the Blues would never return to the top flight never mind find trophy success.

Allison was a major influence throughout the club and his ‘fortune favours the brave’ swashbuckling approach helped sweep aside all opposition.  In fact as the 1960s progressed Allison typified Sixties Manchester, and he became a man idolised by most Blues and many neutrals.  He had a certain charisma which few leading footballing figures possessed at the time, and his dynamism was infectious.  If Allison said City was going to win everybody believed him; when he said City would terrify Europe no one doubted him.  Of course, the terrify Europe comment came to haunt him when the Blues were defeated by Fenerbahce in their first European tie, however Allison had the last laugh when City won the European Cup Winners’ Cup the following season.  When I interviewed him in the early 1990s he laughed: “I said we’d terrify Europe, but I didn’t say when!”

During his time at Maine Road Allison was responsible for a number of the key transfers which transformed the club’s fortunes.  Colin Bell and Francis Lee were two signings he claimed personal credit for when I interviewed him: “When I signed Bell I had to pretend he was no good to put the other clubs off because we didn’t have enough money and couldn’t afford to get into a bidding war.  With Francis Lee I told him I’d make him a great player, and when I left the room he told everyone I was an arrogant so and so!  But he did join us and he was a great player, perhaps the key to the Championship success.”

Allison was also responsible for the arrival of captain Tony Book.  Book brought a steadying influence to City both in defence and across the pitch, and flourished at Maine Road as a player and later as a manager.

Another great aspect of Allison’s time at City was his ability to grab the headlines for the club. Prior to his arrival, City struggled to get positive coverage in the local press but, together with Joe Mercer, Allison knew how to bring attention to the club.  Mercer was the all-smiling public establishment type figure who would provide a serious story in a light-hearted way, while Allison was more boastful and always likely to make the bold statements many supporters demanded.  Allison would often taunt the opposition.  He once walked up to the Stretford End before an early seventies derby match and held up four fingers to indicate how many goals he expected City to score against the Reds.  Understandably, the United fans hurled abuse at him, but by the end of the match the confident Allison was laughing as City won 4-1. That’s why he was such an important figure. He understood what made City tick.

Sadly, the early seventies saw a rift between Mercer and Allison – they supported different groups during a takeover battle – and the partnership fell apart.  Allison became Manager in his own right but he was no longer able to motivate himself in the right way. In 1992 he told me: “Kenny Dalglish wanted a sabbatical at Liverpool to ease the pressure a few years back, and I think if I’d been offered something similar I’d have come back stronger but in those days you either managed or left.  There was no choice.”

Allison then started a journey which would see him return to Maine Road in 1979, as well as have spells at Crystal Palace, Lisbon, Istanbul, Middlesbrough, Kuwait, and a whole host of other locations.  Some like his image were exotic, others were not.  He achieved some real success – most notably in Portugal – and some abject failure but he always remained the ‘Big Mal’ every City fan loved. His last public managerial role saw him help Bristol Rovers face Ron Atkinson’s Aston Villa in the Cup during the 1992-3 season. The media had described it as ‘Big Mal V Big Ron’ but Allison insisted on telling the BBC that he was the only ‘Big’ in football and that his opponent was ‘Fat Ron’.  It didn’t alter the result of the game, but it gained the headlines.

Of course, despite Allison’s enormous role in Manchester football it has to be stressed that his second spell at Maine Road was not a successful period.  With hindsight Allison should never have returned, but when the announcement had initially been made there wasn’t a single supporter who complained.  Everybody wanted him back.

Allison remains one of the most important figures in the history of the club and in European football.

This series of articles and features on Manchester City in the 1970s has been running throughout January and February with indepth articles some days and smaller ‘on this day’ style posts on others. Every day offered something to enjoy.

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