Football writing, thoughts and more by Gary James
Forty years ago today (11 December 1985) a 2-0 victory (3-2 on aggregate) by Billy McNeill’s Manchester City over Brian Horton’s Hull sent the Blues to Wembley for the inaugural Full Members’ Cup Final. City’s scorers at Maine Road were David Phillips and Jim Melrose before the largest crowd (by any club) of the entire tournament, excluding the final, of 10,180. Here’s a contemporary report by Patrick Barclay of the game:
You can read more on the Full Members Cup and what it was all about here:
Almost 46 years since their first ever meeting Manchester City and Real Madrid meet tomorrow (10 December 2025) in the Champions League. I doubt anyone in the media covering the game will mention the first meeting but if there is anyone interested it took place on 19 December in 1979. Back in 1979 the game was considered a prestigious friendly, or at least that’s what it was supposed to be, but it turned out to be a controversial game with implications for the Blues for some time. Here for subscribers is an 1800 word article with images of that game and the controversy surrounding it.
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Fifty years ago today (3 December 1975) Manchester City defeated Mansfield Town 4-2 in the League Cup. Subscribers can read all about the game below.
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Paul Power signed as a full time professional for Manchester City on this day (17 July) in 1975. He had previously been a youth player, signing as a part time professional in December 1974 (while studying a law degree). You can find several articles that mention Paul throughout this website. Start looking here:
On this day (1 February) in 1986 Manchester City defeated West Bromwich Albion 2-1 with goals from Gordon Davies and Paul Power.
The 1980s was a truly important decade in the history of Manchester City Football Club and you can find out more on this season by reading the following 2,500 word feature on 1985-86 (available to subscribers). Enjoy!
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Tomorrow’s feature is on the 1986-87 season. If you missed the earlier features then start here:
The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald
Jack Charlton’s Middlesbrough arrived at Maine Road on this day (21st January) in 1976 for the second leg of the League Cup Semi final 1-0 up after a tense first leg match. The majority of the first leg had been played out in midfield with Alan Oakes, Asa Hartford and the emerging Paul Power putting up a good fight on City’s behalf. Boro had found it difficult to break through City’s powerful defence until David Armstrong gave them the lead in the 66th minute. Despite the advantage Middlesbrough’s Evening Gazette predicted a difficult return game.
At Maine Road a youthful City side destroyed Boro. As early as the 5th minute 19 year old Peter Barnes – now working for GMR – crossed the ball to 20 year old Ged Keegan, who headed home his first senior goal. Six minutes later Keegan laid the ball off for Oakes to fire a left foot shot past ‘keeper Jim Platt. A minute into the 2nd half Barnes made it 3-1 on aggregate. Shortly before the end Joe Royle made it 4-1 and maintained his record of scoring in every round.
You can watch highlights here:
Stats: League Cup semi-final 2nd leg. 21st January 1976.
City 4 Middlesbrough 0
Scorers – City: Barnes, Keegan, Oakes, Royle
City: Corrigan, Barrett, Donachie, Doyle, Clements, Oakes, Power, Keegan, Royle, Hartford, Barnes.
Boro: Platt, Craggs, Cooper, Souness, Boam, Maddren, Murdoch (McAndrew), Brine, Hickton, Mills, Armstrong.
Attendance: 44,426
While you’re here why not subscribe and read a 5,320 word article on the entire 1975-76 season – a season which saw Tony Book guide the club to major success. You can read this below.
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.
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DonateOn this day in 1984 Manchester City faced Wolves.
Here for subscribers is a flashback piece detailing what features were in the MCFC match programme that day:
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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.
You can read more on the 1982-83 season here:
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:
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DonateOn this day (April 11) in 1981 John Bond’s Manchester City faced Bobby Robson’s Ipswich in the FA Cup semi-final. Here’s a piece I wrote for the Times a few years back on the significance of the game for both teams.
Subscribers can view the article and all others on here (including the entire Manchester A Football History and a PDF of my first book). It costs £20 a year (works out about £1.67 a month) or join up a month at a time for £3 and you can sign up below. Thanks.
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The series of features/articles covering Manchester City in the 1970s continues with a 4,220 word article on the entire 1979-80 season – a season which saw heroes leave and spending get ridiculous!). My article, like the other indepth pieces, contains material from interviews I have performed with many of the key figures – chairman, managers, players and others. You can read this below.
This series of articles and features on Manchester City in the 1970s has been running throughout January and now into February with indepth articles some days and smaller ‘on this day’ style posts on others. Every day in January offered something to enjoy and I’ll continue this series for a little while yet. Thanks for all the positive comments about it.
Subscribers can access everything. 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 4,220 word article is on the 1979-80 season and is available to subscribers below. Enjoy!
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.
If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see:
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Your contribution is appreciated.
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