Stadium of Light: First Penalty

Georgi Kinkladze scored the first penalty at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light when he equalised in the 75th minute of Manchester City’s 3-1 defeat on Friday 15 August 1997.  Earlier that night former Blue Niall Quinn scored the stadium’s historic first League goal.

While you’re here, why not subscribe and read an indepth article on the 1997-98 season? The article is almost 9,500 words long – there’s so much to say! Some people write entire football club histories that are shorter than that. It’s available to subscribers, so why not subscribe and relive this season and an extraordinary decade? As with many other subscriber features it contains material from interviews I’ve performed with key figures from that time.

Here’s the 9500 word article on that season:

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Sunderland’s Last

The 1990-1 season was Sunderland’s first in the top flight since 1985, although it was far from successful.  By the last match, on this day (11 May) in 1991, of the season the Wearsiders needed a win to avoid relegation, while Manchester City were enjoying their best League season since they finished 4th in 1978.

A large away following of around 9,000 filled the Kippax corner terracing and the Platt Lane Stand.  In fact this was the last great crowd housed in the old Platt Lane Stand which was demolished a year later, after being designated for away fans only since the mid-80s.  The result brought the Wearsiders nothing but disappointment as the Blues won 3-2 thanks to goals from future Sunderland star Niall Quinn (2) and David White.

Little did Quinn and City manager Peter Reid realise that within a few seasons they would be helping to resurrect the fortunes of Sunderland and its passionate supporters.  Despite the result in 1991, Reid and Quinn must have been impressed by the positive support given by the Wearsiders.

City ended the season in fifth place behind Arsenal, Liverpool, Crystal Palace, and Leeds, while Quinn was voted City player of the year.

Stats:  League Division One.  11th May 1991.

City 3 Sunderland 2

Scorers – City: Quinn 2 White

Sunderland: Gabbiadini, Bennett.

City:  Margetson, Hill, Pointon, Heath, Hendry, Redmond, White, Brennan, Quinn, Harper, Clarke (Beckford).

Sunderland: Norman, Owers, Hardyman (Brady), Bennett, Ord, Pascoe, Bracewell, Hawke (Hauser), Davenport, Gabbiadini, Kay.

Attendance: 39,194 (the highest Maine Road crowd since 23/9/1989)

While you’re here why not subscribe and read a series of articles covering Manchester City in the 1990s (and other decades too)? Here’s an article on the 1990-91 season when a shock managerial departure could have disrupted the club but ultimately they finished 5th, 3 points ahead of Manchester United: (it’s a 2,700 word article available to subscribers):

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The 1990s: City 3 Forest 1 Video Highlights

Here are some highlights of the Manchester City-Nottingham Forest game played on this day (6 April) in 1991 when the Blues won 3-1 with goals from Mark Ward (penalty), Niall Quinn and Steve Redmond (photograph). Future Blue Stuart Pearce scored for Forest. Here’s the clip:

The 1990-91 season had included a shock managerial departure which could have disrupted the club but ultimately the Blues finished 5th, 3 points ahead of Manchester United. Here’s a 2,700 word article on that season:

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This series of articles and features will run throughout March with indepth articles some days and smaller ‘on this day’ style posts on others. There will be flashbacks to great games, players and more. Every day in March will offer something to enjoy.

Subscribers will get access to everything, while some on this day material will be free for all to view.

If you want to know more on this incredible decade for Manchester City Football Club then why not subscribe and read it all? If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see:

The 1990s: MCFC 4 Leeds 0

Remember that day in 1992 when Alex Ferguson claimed Manchester City would let Leeds United beat them at Maine Road because City didn’t want United to win the League? He was of course wrong about the Blues helping Leeds to the title and you can see what happened on this day (4 April) in 1992 below. The players and the fans (listen to the atmosphere) clearly wanted City to win no matter what the potential implications. It was a memorable day for all of us at Maine Road that day:

Andy Hill was City’s first scorer that day and the image at the top of this page shows the celebration after that goal. Some may have thought that the title was on its way to Old Trafford for the first time since 1966-67 but Manchester’s Blues were to play their part in stopping that occurring a few days later when they faced the Reds at Old Trafford. Leeds ultimately won the title, with City finishing fifth.

If you’d like to know more on the 1991-92 season when the Blues finished 5th for the second season running, have a read of this 2,100 word article on that season:

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This series of articles and features will run throughout March with indepth articles some days and smaller ‘on this day’ style posts on others. There will be flashbacks to great games, players and more. Every day in March will offer something to enjoy.

Subscribers will get access to everything, while some on this day material will be free for all to view.

If you want to know more on this incredible decade for Manchester City Football Club then why not subscribe and read it all? If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see:

The 1990s: Crystal Palace 1 Manchester City 3 Video Highlights

Here are some highlights of the Crystal Palace-Manchester City game played on this day (1 April) in 1991 when the Blues won 3-1 with a hat trick from Niall Quinn. Here’s the clip:

The 1990-91 season had included a shock managerial departure which could have disrupted the club but ultimately the Blues finished 5th, 3 points ahead of Manchester United. Here’s a 2,700 word article on that season:

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This series of articles and features will run throughout March with indepth articles some days and smaller ‘on this day’ style posts on others. There will be flashbacks to great games, players and more. Every day in March will offer something to enjoy.

Subscribers will get access to everything, while some on this day material will be free for all to view.

If you want to know more on this incredible decade for Manchester City Football Club then why not subscribe and read it all? If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see:

Goalless v Wimbledon

Manager Peter Reid (pictured) opened his Manchester City programme notes for the Wimbledon game on this day (30 November) in 1991 with a realistic view of City’s season to date:  “We are nearly halfway through the season and I think it’s fair to say we’ve given it a right good go so far.  The League table doesn’t lie and we are in the last 16 in the Rumbelows League Cup.  You can’t argue with that.  But you won’t hear any talk of championships or winning trophies from anyone at Maine Road.”

The previous game had seen the Blues draw 2-2 at Luton and consolidate their position in the table.  City were actually third, 6 points behind leaders Leeds United, but the Luton game had started badly with the Blues giving away a sloppy goal. The gritty nature of Reid’s side shone through and a header from captain Curle and a strike from Quinn ensured the point.  Sadly, late on Steve Redmond was sent off for a second bookable offence.   

Unfortunately the Wimbledon game ended goalless at Maine Road and City started to lose their way a little in the title race, but at least they were still in with a shout.   

Result

30 Nov 1991 Wimbledon (H) 0-0, Attendance 22,429

if you’d like to know more on the 1991-92 season when the Blues finished 5th for the second season running, have a read of this 2,100 word article on that season:

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This series of articles and features will run throughout March with indepth articles some days and smaller ‘on this day’ style posts on others. There will be flashbacks to great games, players and more. Every day in March will offer something to enjoy.

Subscribers will get access to everything, while some on this day material will be free for all to view.

If you want to know more on this incredible decade for Manchester City Football Club then why not subscribe and read it all? If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see:

Quinn and Hill: Defeat For Forest

On this day (4 September) in 1991 Manchester City defeated Nottm Forest 2-1 at Maine Road. You can watch highlights here:

The goals were scored by Niall Quinn and a late header from Andy Hill. Forest’s goal was by future United player Teddy Sheringham. While you’re here why not read this 2100 word article on MCFC in the 1991-92 season? It’s available to subscribers below:

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The 1990s: Curle Penalty

A Keith Curle penalty, in front of an Old Trafford crowd of 46,781, helped City to a 1-1 draw in a controversial Manchester derby on this day (7 April) in 1992.  The game was viewed as being highly significant in the title race as only four days earlier the Blues had beaten title-hopefuls Leeds 4-0 at Maine Road.  Leeds ultimately won the title, with City finishing fifth.

You can watch highlights of the game here (I was in the Scoreboard End Paddock, directly behind the goal, when Curle scored):

If you’d like to know more on the 1991-92 season when the Blues finished 5th for the second season running, have a read of this 2,100 word article on that season:

Subscribe to get access – Monthly

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This series of articles and features will run throughout March with indepth articles some days and smaller ‘on this day’ style posts on others. There will be flashbacks to great games, players and more. Every day in March will offer something to enjoy.

Subscribers will get access to everything, while some on this day material will be free for all to view.

If you want to know more on this incredible decade for Manchester City Football Club then why not subscribe and read it all? If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see:

The 1990s: 1991-1992 Curle Signs

Remember the day Manchester City defeated eventual League Champions Leeds United 4-0 at Maine Road? It was a great day (4 April 1992) though Leeds’ title rival Alex Ferguson had incorrectly suggested City would take it easy that day and let Leeds win so that Utd wouldn’t get the title! How wrong (and disrespectful) was he?

Here’s the Manchester Evening News report of that game. Notice the Leeds team included Eric Cantona and former Red Gordon Strachan:

if you’d like to know more on the 1991-92 season when the Blues finished 5th for the second season running, have a read of this 2,100 word article on that season:

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.

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This series of articles and features will run throughout March with indepth articles some days and smaller ‘on this day’ style posts on others. There will be flashbacks to great games, players and more. Every day in March will offer something to enjoy.

Subscribers will get access to everything, while some on this day material will be free for all to view.

If you want to know more on this incredible decade for Manchester City Football Club then why not subscribe and read it all? If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see:

The 1990s: 1997-1998 A New Low

The series of articles covering Manchester City in the 1990s continues today with an indepth article on the 1997-98 season. The article is almost 9,500 words long – there’s so much to say! Some people write entire football club histories that are shorter than that. It’s available to subscribers, so why not subscribe and relive this season and an extraordinary decade? As with all these 1990s subscriber features it contains material from interviews I’ve performed with key figures from that time.

Here’s the 9500 word article on that season:

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.

Subscribe to get access – Annual

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.

This series of articles and features will run throughout March with indepth articles some days and smaller ‘on this day’ style posts on others. There will be flashbacks to great games, players and more. Every day in March will offer something to enjoy.

Subscribers will get access to everything, while some on this day material will be free for all to view.

If you want to know more on this incredible decade for Manchester City Football Club then why not subscribe and read it all? If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see: