Tag Archives: Mike Doyle

Former Blue Matt Busby Congratulates Manchester City

60 years ago today (5 May 1966) Matt Busby formally congratulated Manchester City on their return to football’s top flight. The previous day City had won 1-0 at Rotherham to earn promotion. Colin Bell was the scorer. If you missed this yesterday, here are some contemporary match reports and photos from that day.

Here for subscribers are match reports and details of that day:

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Sixty Years Ago Today: “We Went To Rotherham, We Won 1-0….” Manchester City’s Promotion

60 years ago today (4 May 1966) Manchester City won 1-0 at Rotherham to earn promotion back to football’s top flight. Colin Bell was the scorer and the win became immortalised in a song. Here are some contemporary match reports and photos from that day:

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Were You There 60 Years Ago Today? Manchester City 3 Birmingham City 1

Today (30 April) in 1966 Manchester City were almost back in the top flight after a 3-1 victory at home to Birmingham City. There were only four games left after this match in the Second Division with the next game being away at Rotherham the following Wednesday – fans wondered could this be the night (and if it is would a song eventually be created that would be sung for at least the next three decades remembering the night? No they didn’t wonder that but that is what happened).

Were you there that day? If you were please feel free to add your comments. Here’s some match reports from the Birmingham game:

You can find out more on Manchester City during the 1965-66 season by reading the following 4100 word article. As with most of the other features in this series it includes words from interviews I have performed with those who were there. This is a subscriber article (see below).

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Were You There 60 Years Ago Today? Ipswich Town 1 Manchester City 1

Today (23 April) in 1966 Manchester City draw 1-1 at Ipswich. There were only five games left after this match in the Second Division and City hadn’t yet achieved promotion, though they remained in pole position. Notice that the report (main image) was written by Henry Blofeld, more commonly recognised for his cricket work on radio and TV.

Johnny Crossan scored six minutes from time to ensure a point in this match, much to the relief of manager Joe Mercer who commented afterwards (with typical Mercer humour): ‘We worked hard for it but I began to wonder if it would come. We missed enough chances to have won three games!’

Subscribers can read some contemporary match reports from this game below. Were you there that day? If you were please feel free to add your comments.

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You can find out more on Manchester City during the 1965-66 season by reading the following 4100 word article. As with most of the other features in this series it includes words from interviews I have performed with those who were there. This is a subscriber article (see below).

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Fifty Years Ago Today: Colin Bell Scores in 2nd Comeback Game

An unlucky away game at Leeds on this day (17 April) in 1976 was noteworthy for a goal by Colin Bell, playing his second comeback game for Manchester City. Journalist Alan Thompson writing for the Daily Express summed up the game well: ‘Leeds were awful for most of the first half, went in a goal down, but they won the match… As Mike Doyle says, “We threw the game away… AGAIN!”’

City’s goal came after five minutes when the ball was swung out to Colin Bell, playing his second comeback game after his devastating injury in the November derby match, on the edge of the box. Bell scored with a magnificent shot which went in off the upright.  Sadly, the game ended in a 2-1 defeat after two goals in three minutes from Leeds (McNiven 62nd minute & Harris 64th minute).

You can read more on the 1975-76 season with this 5,320 word article – a season which saw Tony Book guide the club to major success. If you want to know more on this incredible decade for Manchester City Football Club then why not subscribe and read it all? You could even subscribe for a month and see what you think. The following 5,320 word article is on the 1975-76 season and is available to subscribers below. Enjoy!

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Were You There 60 Years Ago Today? Manchester City 4 Bolton Wanderers 1

Today (16 April) in 1966 Manchester City defeated Bolton 4-1 at Maine Road in the Second Division. The City scorers were Dave Connor, Johnny Crossan, Bobby Kennedy and Cliff Sear. Future PFA chief Gordon Taylor scored for Bolton. Subscribers can read some contemporary match reports from this game below. Were you there that day? If you were please feel free to add your comments.

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You can find out more on Manchester City during the 1965-66 season by reading the following 4100 word article. As with most of the other features in this series it includes words from interviews I have performed with those who were there. This is a subscriber article (see below).

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King Colin’s Crown

Today (10 April 2026) marks the 50th anniversary of the day City legend Colin Bell was crowned. The story has entered folklore about the day when a fan – Dave Brammer – ran on to the Maine Road pitch with a crown he had specially made for the occasion and placed it on the head of Colin as the player warmed up just before kick-off.  This photo recently rediscovered captures the moment and you can read more about this remarkable day and see other photos of Colin in action that day below (this is a subscriber article – see below for details).

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Kidd’s Double

On this day (April 8) in 1977 two goals from Brian Kidd gave Manchester City a 2-1 victory over Leeds at Maine Road.  A crowd of 47,727 witnessed the game as the Blues challenged for the League title. This result saw City move a point behind the League leaders Ipswich Town, managed by Bobby Robson.

It had not been a convincing City performance but there had been injury issues with Mike Doyle and Brian Kidd playing in an unorthodox midfield – my biography of Peter Barnes goes in to a lot of detail about these easter 1977 games. You can order that here:

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Leeds had taken the lead with Joe Jordan heading home after 17 minutes. Kidd equalised in the 38th minute after Joe Royle’s pass bounced off Leeds’ Trevor Cherry. Kidd’s second came when he flicked in the winner after Paul Madeley had seemingly headed clear a Peter Barnes corner in the 64th minute.

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1965-66: Manchester City 1 Plymouth Argyle 1

60 years ago today (2 April 1966) Manchester City and Plymouth met in the Second Division. The game ended 1-1 with City’s goal coming from Johnny Crossan. Subscribers can read contemporary match reports below from a scrapbook on the entire 1965-66 season I have.

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1966 FAC Quarter Final Replay: Everton V Manchester City

60 years ago today (29 March 1966) 60,349 watched a goalless FA Cup quarter final replay at Goodison Park between Everton and Manchester City. Once again City ‘keeper Harry Dowd was one of the star men but a curious team selection issue cropped up before the game. City striker Neil Young went down with flu on the way to the match. Then Ralph Brand turned down the chance to play as he believed he was not fit enough. Manager Joe Mercer turned to Matt Gray, but he couldn’t play because he didn’t have any boots! City looked for some size 8 boots but couldn’t find any. So Gray couldn’t play. Ultimately, Roy Cheetham managed to get to Goodison Park 15 minutes before kick off and took Young’s place.

Here for subscribers are match reports and details of that day:

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