Tag Archives: Peter Swales

City Crisis!

On this day (25 October) in 1985 the Daily Mirror covered the staggering news that Manchester City’s financial crisis meant that they were paying £1,000 a day in bank loan interest alone. City had gone from a profitable, major trophy challenging club, prior to Swales’ time as chairman to a debt-ridden club that seemed to be downsizing at every opportunity. There were frequent managerial changes and the ground was lacking the kind of investment it needed and, in many ways, the similarities with modern day United are clear. CIty fans regularly demonstrated against Swales and his supporting directors.

The media rarely supported fans in their demonstrations, often criticising them. The contrast with 2026 is clear – now City have an owner and board who have invested BUT some in the media want them to demonstrate against their owner. Where was the support in the media when City fans needed them?

The 1980s was a truly important decade in the history of Manchester City Football Club and you can find out more on this season (and why the club was in debt) by reading the following 2,500 word feature on 1985-86 (available to subscribers). Enjoy!

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The Origins of City In The Community

In 1979 Manchester City established a programme of community work called ‘The Manchester City Way’. It was so successful that academic studies were performed on it and it was then used to form ideas that led to the establishment of the PFA’s Football in the Community. In 1986 City became one of the clubs that pioneered the new ‘Football in the Community’ and today, forty years on ‘City In The Community’ remains a major contributor to Mancunian life. It’s also the inspiration for the City Football Group’s community initiatives around the globe.

People often forget, or overlook, the significance of ‘The Manchester City Way’ that proved so successful, so I’ve decided to post this article from October 1986 that talks about that and the establishment of Football in the Community. Notice Graham Stringer’s comments on the second page (some Blues will like this, coming from a United fan!). Enjoy!

Kaziu Deyna Goal v Forest

On this day (13 October) in 1979 Kaziu Deyna scored the only goal of the City-Nottingham Forest League game at Maine Road. The photograph shows Deyna in action during this game.  A crowd of 41,683 witnessed the City win with future Spanish TV presenter Michael Robinson wearing the number 9 shirt for the Blues that day.

Back in 2003 I wrote this profile of former Manchester City player and Polish World Cup star Kazimierz Deyna. Deyna was such an important and unusual signing at the time he joined City in November 1978 that I feel this article is still appropriate and of interest to subscribers to my blog today.

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Brightwell and Moulden Score in Front of 8,071

Today’s the anniversary of a memorable day at Chelsea when a crowd of 8,071 (imagine the seat counters if that occurred today) at Stamford Bridge watched Manchester City defeat Chelsea 3-1. Here’s some film of the day when City’s former FA Youth Cup winners Ian Brightwell (scored 2) and Paul Moulden scored:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X42HrZYvH74

You can read more on this season below if you subscribe. This article is a 4,100 word feature on the 1988-89 season. Enjoy!

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Tomorrow’s feature is the last on the 1980s as we tell the story of the 1989-90 season. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald

Steve Daley, MCFC Player of the Month

Over the years much has been said about Steve Daley and his time at Manchester City with many myths developing. While his price tag had a direct impact on his performances it is unfair to suggest that he achieved nothing (which is often said these days!) during his time at City. This image actually shows something positive and is a nice reminder that late in 1979 he was viewed so positively that he was acclaimed as City’s player of the month for November. Presumably his match winner v Bolton that month played its part.

Obviously, things like this are subjective but I do believe the wider narrative of him as a ‘failed’ player developed simply because the media focus on how expensive he was was overwhelming. As fans we were told that he HAD to deliver game after game because of his price (think about how that narrative is used today and consider what happens when a player doesn’t perform as the highest level expected of him; how many times are we told ‘Haaland hasn’t had a touch yet!’ because it’s a story that some want to tell?). Steve Daley was for many, many years City’s record transfer. It wasn’t Daley’s fault his transfer was so expensive but it was something that was always hurled at him if he had a poor game. I interviewed him a few years back and we discussed his transfer, City fans and the ridiculous spending City did. It was great to interview Steve and I enjoyed it immensely, helping fill in some gaps.

This interview is available to subscribers below.

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45 Years Ago: Trevor Francis Debut At Stoke

45 Years ago today (September 5, 1981) I attended my first away game. That day my parents told me we were going to Stoke v Manchester City. The reason why? It was to be the debut of new City striker Trevor Francis. This was perceived as a huge transfer at the time (don’t be fooled into thinking major transfers have only come in recent years!) and part of manager John Bond’s plan to challenge for the League title – and for a while it looked as if they would!

Here for subscribers is a piece on that day and what followed with quotes from interviews I’ve performed with Trevor Francis and Peter Swales who tell the story of that time. There are also contemporary match reports too:

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Trevor Francis Arrives

On this day (4 September) in 1981 Manchester City signed Trevor Francis from Nottingham Forest. The transfer meant that the Blues were the first English side to sign three separate £1m or £1m+ players. Peter Swales often boasted of this point (and did so in an interview I did with him years later). The earlier £1m/£1m+ men were Steve Daley and Kevin Reeves.

I’ve interviewed John Bond, Trevor Francis and Peter Swales specifically about this transfer over the years. Subscribers can listen to my Bond interview (see below for details):

Here’s the John Bond interview:

The John Bond Interview

The story of Trevor Francis’ debut against Stoke is here:

41 Years Ago Today: Trevor Francis Debut

Here’s an article quoting Mike Doyle, who by this time was a Stoke player, about Francis:

Brian Horton – New MCFC Manager

On this day (28 August) in 1993 Brian Horton officially became Manchester City’s new manager. Subscribers to this website can read all about the appointment and the 1993-94 season below. It was such an important (and at times complicated season) that this article on that season is over 9,000 words long. It’s like a book in itself! It’s available to subscribers, so why not subscribe and relive this extraordinary season? It contains material from interviews I’ve performed with key figures from that time. In particular this one contains quotes from Peter Swales and Francis Lee which they discussed with me personally.

Here’s the 9000+ word article on that season:

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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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Bidding War Between MCFC And Villa!

On this day (25 August) in 1981 Manchester City and Aston Villa were in a bidding war to sign Trevor Francis.

I know in recent years City have been criticised by some in the media for both high spending and for not spending more than they deem a player is worth (what a crazy world it is when a potential purchasing team is criticised for not wanting to spend what a selling club want when there are no other clubs interested in buying that player at that price!) but in 1981 the desire to sign Francis meant they were prepared to spend big if necessary.

A bidding war is always in the best interests of the selling club and occasionally a friendly word with a journalist or another club can create a bidding war even if there really isn’t much interest from a club. Thinking back I can’t remember Villa seriously going after Francis but this Daily Mirror report suggests they were interested.

It wasn’t long of course before City got their man.

Notice the brief mention of Peter Barnes at the bottom of that cutting? If you want to know more then obviously I recommend The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography (use tabs/menu to find out more).

Mid Sussex Blues

On Saturday 18 July I had a great time as guest of the Mid Sussex Manchester City Supporters Club at Burgess Hill Town FC. I really enjoyed the evening chatting with so many dedicated Blues and they also were keen to hear about the Manchester Corinthians (if you don’t know about them have a search through this site for stories and information). During the evening it was great to talk about some of my past meetings and interviews with Khaldoon, Kompany, Thaksin, Allison, Mercer, Swales, Bell and more. It was great reliving the early years of my writing when Joe Mercer wrote the foreword to my first book and then Busby and Mercer did similar for my second book. It was great to see that Daryn Buckley still had the book I personally signed for him back in 1989.

Thanks to all in attendance for making this a special night.

If you run a supporters club, history group, Women’s Institute branch, Rotary Club or similar group I’d be happy to talk about the Corinthians, City, the origins of football, Manchester, Hulme Athenaeum or any other area of research I’ve focused on. Feel free to get in touch.

Thanks again to all at Mid Sussex Blues for making me so welcome.