Continuing the series of articles covering the 1980s. Today’s is an on this day (20 December) from 1980 when Kevin Reeves scored a City goal at Maine Road against Leeds United. City are wearing their popular all blue (and white numbers etc.) kit. You can see Reeves’ goal here:
The game ended 1-0 and if you’d like to know more about that season then why not subscribe and read the following ten thousand word long read on the 1980-81 season. Enjoy!
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It’s day 27 of my posts counting down to the centenary of Maine Road’s opening game. Today – the wooden benches! Many a fan’s first experience of Maine Road was sitting on the benches in the old Platt Lane Stand.
These images may bring back a few memories. The Platt Lane benches were painted maroon and yellow for many years – I’m not certain if they were originally that colour. Older fans may know the answer but if they were maybe it was because they were installed at a time, the early 1960s, when those two colours had been used as City’s second choice kit?
Maroon is City’s traditional away colour but in 1959 a yellow shirt with maroon cuffs and V was used. If there was a link then that was not obvious by the time my Dad was taking me on to the Platt Lane as a young boy.
For me it seemed so odd, but then again the new North Stand had grey seats, and back in 1923 much of Maine Road was painted green. So I suppose there was never much logic around football grounds.
City used to paint on to the seats whether they were for season ticket holders, ‘invalids’ (obviously the wording back then, not today’s wording!) or if they were just numbered you could either sit there if it was an unreserved seating game or the number would match a ticket holder.
Platt Lane corner benches – note the wording on the seats. Some say season ticket; some ‘invalid’ and some are numbered/unreserved.
Most of the benches lasted about 40 years, but some were destroyed when Leeds United fans visited in November 1990 and were replaced for the stand’s final season or so with blue plastic seats. The stand was demolished in 1992.
November 1990: Jimmy Frizzell inspects the damage after Leeds fans smashed up some of the Platt Lane benches.
The Main Stand also had benches for much of its existence. These were painted blue and in some cases had arm rests. They had been part of the original build in 1923 and were replaced in phases during the 1970s and 1980s.
The Main Stand’s benches with the Platt Lane Stand’s maroon and yellow benches in the background
For those unfamiliar with Maine Road this photo may help. This shows the original Platt Lane Stand corner (number 3) where the maroon seating with ‘invalid’ wording image was taken. The benches damaged by Leeds fans were near the front of the stand under number 5. The Main Stand bench image is taken to the left of number 2 looking towards the floodlight near 5 and 6.
Maine Road aerial 1971 from Farewell To Maine Road
If you’d like to read more on the history of Maine Road, take a look at Farewell To Maine Road, which can be downloaded from this page:
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On Wednesday 18 January I held a discussion about Manchester City FC away games. Subscribers can now listen to a recording of that talk here (it costs £20 a year to access everything on the site or £3 per month). The talk lasts about 1 hour so get yourself a brew and listen to the story of traveling away.
We talk about the train specials that the City Supporters Travel Club used to organise and their coaches too (remember number one coach with Helen ‘the Bell’ Turner?). Amongst the moments/subjects discussed were the history of travelling to away games; Trevor Francis’ debut; railway & coach specials; the experience of being an away fan; games at Notts County, Barnsley, Stoke, Bradford, Oldham, QPR, Leeds & more. Thanks to all who participated in this for your efforts, especially Graham Ward, Roger Reade and the guys from the Lad & Dad Away Days podcast who all brought up their own memories of games.
The next History Talk will take place later today 1/2/23 at 6pm-7pm UK time. This will be more of a presentation and will be about the origins of Manchester City. You can register for that and find out more here:
Here’s the recording of the MCFC Away Days talk. This is for subscribers only:
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If you would like to access it here and support my writing & research while also reading all the great content (including PDFs of Manchester A Football History and From Maine Men To Banana Citizens) then please subscribe. It costs £20 a year (access everything) or £3 per month (see below).
On Wednesday 18 January I held a discussion about Manchester City FC away games. You can now listen to a recording of that talk here. It lasts about 1 hour so get yourself a brew and listen to the story of traveling away.
There’s a link further down this page to the recording. We talk about the train specials that the City Supporters Travel Club used to organise and their coaches too (remember number one coach with Helen ‘the Bell’ Turner?). Amongst the moments/subjects discussed were the history of travelling to away games; Trevor Francis’ debut; railway & coach specials; the experience of being an away fan; games at Notts County, Barnsley, Stoke, Bradford, Oldham, QPR, Leeds & more. Thanks to all who participated in this for your efforts, especially Graham Ward, Roger Reade and the guys from the Lad & Dad Away Days podcast who all brought up their own memories of games.
The next History Talk will take place on 1/2/23 at 6pm-7pm UK time. This will be more of a presentation and will be about the origins of Manchester City. You can register for that and find out more here:
Here’s the recording of the MCFC Away Days talk. This was freely available until 31 January and now it is for subscribers only:
Subscribe to get access – Annual
If you would like to access it here and support my writing & research while also reading all the great content (including PDFs of Manchester A Football History and From Maine Men To Banana Citizens) then please subscribe. It costs £20 a year (access everything) or £3 per month (see below).
On this day (22 December) in 1993 David White left Manchester City after years of dedication to the Blue cause. He was transferred to Leeds United in a swap deal for David Rocastle. It was a sad loss for the Blues but it was also a new beginning for Rocastle.
On this day (15th March) in 1960 Huddersfield Town’s Denis Law signed for Manchester City for £55,000 – £10,000 more than the previous British transfer record fee.
Here for subscribers is an overview of that transfer plus footage from Law’s debut and other material.
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Today (26th February) reminds me of how football clubs would often do anything to save a few quid or to avoid spending money they didn’t need to. The reason? Because on this day in 1977 Manchester City’s League game with Sunderland was postponed.
The game was postponed because the Blues were drawn to face Leeds United in the fifth round of the FA Cup that day and so the original League fixture was rescheduled. Tickets had already been sold for the Sunderland League game and, rather than issue new tickets, the club simply announced the original tickets would be used for the new game. It made common sense and this was something that happened often when cup games meant League games had to be postponed. Now, in the days when entry for home fans is mostly by card (though some tickets are issued of course), it seems an unusual occurrence.
The re-arranged game saw City beat Sunderland 1-0 on 9th March with a goal from Dennis Tueart. As for the FA Cup tie – that ended in a 1-0 defeat before 47,731 at Elland Road.
For those still wondering whether my biography of Peter Barnes is worth getting, here’s a fairly typical review that appeared last month. Enjoy! Also thanks to Ian Farrell for reviewing this in When Saturday Comes. Ta!
Absolutely delighted with the review of the Peter Barnes Authorised Biography in the November issue of When Saturday Comes. the magazine is out this week and i love the review by Ian Farrell. Thanks to Ian, Andy and all at WSC. it really is appreciated.
Tonight Peter & I will be talking about my new book on Peter’s life and career. At Reddish MCFC Supporters Club. If you can’t make it you can still order the book here:
United Kingdom
The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – UNITED KINGDOM
Order today for £16.95 (incl UK Postage and Packaging).
£16.95
This 372 page, colour paperback book is £16.95 (including UK postage).
You do not need to have a PayPal account to order – use the ‘Pay with PayPal’ button above and it will give you the option to pay by credit/debit card without creating a PayPal account. UK postage included; outside UK contact me for additional postage costs.
Here are the contents pages:
This is the life story of Peter Barnes who, at the age of 18, scored the opening goal in the 1976 League Cup final. Playing for the team he supported, Manchester City, Peter was idolised by fans and was awarded the 1976 PFA Young Player of the Year award. The following year he made his England debut and was described by one journalist as the ‘saviour of English football.’
These were the days when Manchester City won the League Cup; were runners up in the League (missing the title by a point); and were challenging in Europe but then Malcolm Allison returned as coach and within months Peter, and a whole host of international stars, were on their way out. Peter was sold for a record amount. City’s fortunes suffered while Peter carved out a new career at West Bromwich Albion (where he played for Ron Atkinson).
Another record breaking transfer to Leeds United followed, before spells at Real Betis, Coventry City, Manchester United (playing for both Ron Atkinson and his replacement Alex Ferguson) and Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Written by acclaimed author Dr Gary James, this book covers the highs and lows of Peter’s life with stories about his time playing for some of the game’s biggest clubs and most famous managers. It also discusses Peter’s ongoing involvement with the sport and the significance of his family.
Oh, and if you’re wondering where the cover came from… it’s based on the packaging and advertising for the cult toy from the late 1970s The Peter Barnes Football Trainer.
If you run a book shop and would like to know more about the book please email: accounts@manchesterfootball.org
If you’re a media company interested in interviewing Peter or Gary about the book then please contact author Gary James: gary@GJFootballArchive.com
The ISBN is 978-1-9168852-0-2 and stocks are now available for book shops.
You can listen to Peter in conversation with myself about the book here:
