Football writing, thoughts and more by Gary James
An advert which appeared on the cover of the Manchester City match programme from today (15 December) in 1934. Back then ‘all’ the City players wore Sammy Scarves! Presumably not in games, though Sammy Scarves could have made a fortune in Sammy Snoods when Tevez was playing!
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100 years ago today (12 September) Manchester City and Manchester United met in the first Manchester Derby to be played at Maine Road (United had been in the second tier for the first couple of seasons of Maine Road’s existence). Here’s the background, report and stats from that game (this is all from the book I wrote with Steve Cawley called The Pride of Manchester – the history of the Manchester Derby). Enjoy!
MANCHESTER CITY 1 (Cowan)
MANCHESTER UNITED 1 (Rennox)
Manchester City: Jim MITCHELL, Sam COOKSON, Philip McCLOY, Sammy SHARP, Sam COWAN, Charlie PRINGLE, Billy AUSTIN, John (known as Jack) WARNER, Frank ROBERTS, Tom JOHNSON, George HICKS. Manager: David Ashworth
Manchester United: Alf STEWARD, Charlie MOORE, Jack SILCOCK, Ray BENNION, Frank BARSON, Frank MANN, Joe SPENCE, Thomas SMITH, Jimmy HANSON, Clatworthy ’Clat’ RENNOX, Frank MCPHERSON. Manager: John Chapman
BACKGROUND
United had spent three seasons in the Second Division and returned as runners-up to Leicester City. Some of the old faithfuls remained, notably Silcock and Spence, but inevitably team strengthening and transitions had occurred, in particular, with the acquisition of club captain Frank Barson. Signed in 1922 for the huge sum of £5,000, United promised Barson a pub if they were promoted within three years – and he just made it! A former blacksmith, Barson was an attacking centre-half of international standard but also carried a notorious reputation as a traditional ‘hard man’ who was quick to exact retribution if a team-mate was fouled. Another useful signing was Frank McPherson, a man with reputedly the hardest shot in football. The Reds made a quite promising start to the new campaign and had looked impressive in a 3-0 home victory against Aston Villa.
City’s playing squad had changed considerably since the last derby, while manager Ernest Mangnall who had joined the Blues from United in September 1912 and played such a major role in the development of both clubs had left City in May 1924, and was replaced by David Ashworth. Meredith had also finally retired in 1924, bowing out in an FA Cup semi-final against Newcastle, although he retained a connection through his son-in-law Charlie Pringle who now played for the Blues. A number of fresh signings had been made; Frank Roberts for £3,400, Billy Austin for£2,000 and Philip McCloy for £3,000. City also had great hopes that Sam Cowan, a centre-half signed from Doncaster Rovers in December 1924 would develop into a quality player. City had moved to their magnificent purpose-built stadium at Maine Road in August 1923 and had established a provincial record crowd of 76,166 in the stadium’s first season. Now, with the derby imminent, its capacity was viewed at a possible 85,000!
BEFORE THE GAME
P W D L F A Pts
UNITED 4 1 1 2 5 4 3
CITY 3 1 0 2 3 4 2
MATCH VERDICT
The derby rivalry resumed in front of what was, at the time, City’s record League gate. City were deemed the better side in what was a rousing contest. Local born ‘keeper Alf Steward had an outstanding game keeping the lively City forwards at bay with a string of fine saves, before ’Clat’ Rennox then went down to the other end and gave the Reds the lead with a smart shot.
Sam Cowan capped a wonderful display by scoring the equaliser with a powerful far post header from a left wing corner (see photo). It was a fitting reward for Cowan, who besides being the man of the match, looked to be a player the Blues could build a future around.
“The Athletic News” reported on the resumption of the derby match after a four year break: ”The first meeting of the Manchester rivals after a lapse of four years brought the City club the largest League gate they have ever enjoyed. It was not so great as that recorded at the Cup-tie with Cardiff City in March 1924, when 76,166 spectators paid for admission, but over 62,000 people passed through the turnstiles, and, with ticket-holders, the attendance was officially returned at nearly 66,000. It was a magnificent spectacle and a game fought in a splendid spirit. That the City did not defeat their rivals was due primarily to the brilliant goal-keeping of Steward, a Manchester-born player, to whose rich promise the Athletic News referred last Monday.
It was fitting that on the only occasion he was beaten the success fell to Samuel Cowan, for these players were the outstanding figures in the contest. Cowan’s headwork was a feature of the match. More, he tackled with grim determination and effectiveness, and distributed the ball with discrimination and accuracy.
Cowan promises to be all that the City club expected when they brought him from Doncaster Rovers last season. He has all the physical requirements for a centre half-back, and, judging by his display in this match, he has the temperament for the big event. His equalising goal was a masterpiece in headwork and judgement”.
If you’d like to know more about this season for Manchester City why not read the following 4,900 word subscriber article on the 1925-26 season. If you subscribe (see below) I hope you enjoy it. If you are not currently a subscriber then why not try it for a month (£3 per month or sign up for a year at a discounted £20 per year)?
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Continuing the series on Manchester City in the 1920s here’s a brief post on 1920s City manager Peter Hodge. Enjoy!
Peter Hodge
City Manager between: 26 April 1926 – 12 March 1932
Previously: Former Leicester City manager.
Took Over From: Committee led by vice-chairman Albert Alexander snr.
Inherited: Sam Cowan, Tommy Johnson & Frank Roberts.
Players Brought In: Eric Brook & Fred Tilson.
Youngster Gave Debut To: Matt Busby
Players He Let Go/Sold: Tommy Johnson in 1930, leading to widespread demonstrations and a boycott (crowds dropped by around 8,000 following the move).
First Game: City 2 Leeds Utd 0 (City scorers Austin & Johnson), 27 April 1926, Division One, attendance 43,475
Lows: Relegation five days and 2 games after taking over in 1926.
Last Game: Arsenal 1 City 0, 12 March 1932, FA Cup semi final at Villa Park, attendance 50,337.
Unusual Start: It was agreed Hodge would become City manager in 1926 but would only take up the post after his current club Leicester ended their own season. Their last game was on 24th April 1926 and he became City’s manager with 2 League games left the following Monday. The Blues looked safe from relegation, but defeat at Newcastle saw City demoted (a point would have kept them up).
Similar End: Hodge’s City career ended with defeat by a solitary goal in the dying seconds of the FA Cup semi-final with Arsenal in 1932. The manager had already agreed to return to his previous club Leicester once City’s FA Cup campaign ended.
Season By Season Record:
League
1925-26 P 2 W 1 D 0 L 1 GF 4 GA 4 Pts 2
1926-27 P 42 W 22 D 10 L 10 GF 108 GA 61 Pts 54
1927-28 P 42 W 25 D 9 L 8 GF 100 GA 59 Pts 59
1928-29 P 42 W 18 D 9 L 15 GF 95 GA 86 Pts 45
1929-30 P 42 W 19 D 9 L 14 GF 91 GA 81 Pts 47
1930-31 P 42 W 18 D 10 L 14 GF 75 GA 70 Pts 46
1931-32 P 32 W 11 D 10 L 11 GF 70 GA 59 Pts 32
2 points for a win
FA Cup
1925-26 City competed in the FA Cup Final 2 days before he took over.
1926-27 P 1 W 0 D 0 L 1 GF 1 GA 4 Reached 3rd round
1927-28 P 3 W 2 D 0 L 1 GF 3 GA 2 Reached 5th round
1928-29 P 1 W 0 D 0 L 1 GF 1 GA 3 Reached 3rd round
1929-30 P 5 W 2 D 2 L 1 GF 18 GA 7 Reached 5th round
1930-31 P 1 W 0 D 0 L 1 GF 0 GA 3 Reached 3rd round
1931-32 P 5 W 4 D 0 L 1 GF 16 GA 7 Reached semi-final
TOTAL (League & cup fixtures)
P260 W122 D59 L79 GF 582 GA 446
Trophies Won: Second Division title 1927-28, the season after missing out on promotion by the tightest margin in the history of the game.
Followed By: City secretary Wilf Wild who went on to become a truly successful manager.
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The new series on Manchester City in the 1920s continues today with a 4,900 word subscriber article on the 1925-26 season. If you subscribe (see below) I hope you enjoy it. If you are not currently a subscriber then why not try it for a month (£3 per month or sign up for a year at a discounted £20 per year)?
Here’s the article:
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 a month (cancel anytime) or sign up for a year at £20 per year. Subscribers have access to the 1000s of articles, features, interviews etc. posted so far and all those posted during your subscription.
The new series on Manchester City in the 1920s continues today with a subscriber article on the 1924-25 season. If you subscribe (see below) I hope you enjoy it. If you are not currently a subscriber then why not try it for a month (£3 per month or sign up for a year at a discounted £20 per year)?
Here’s the article:
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 a month (cancel anytime) or sign up for a year at £20 per year. Subscribers have access to the 1000s of articles, features, interviews etc. posted so far and all those posted during your subscription.
My series on Manchester City in the 1930s continues today with a subscriber article on the 1935-36 season. If you subscribe (see below) I hope you enjoy it. If you don’t subscribe then why not try it for a month (£3 per month or sign up for a year at a discounted £20 per year)?
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Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 a month (cancel anytime) or sign up for a year at £20 per year. Subscribers have access to the 1000s of articles, features, interviews etc. posted so far and all those posted during your subscription.
My series on Manchester City in the 1930s continues today with a 4,300 word subscriber article on the 1933-34 season. If you subscribe (see below) I hope you enjoy it. If you don’t subscribe then why not try it for a month (£3 per month or sign up for a year at a discounted £20 per year)?
Here’s the article:
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 a month (cancel anytime) or sign up for a year at £20 per year. Subscribers have access to the 1000s of articles, features, interviews etc. posted so far and all those posted during your subscription.
My series on Manchester City in the 1930s continues today with a 1600 word subscriber article on the 1932-33 season. If you subscribe (see below) I hope you enjoy it. If you don’t subscribe then why not try it for a month (£3 per month or sign up for a year at a discounted £20 per year)?
Here’s the article:
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 a month (cancel anytime) or sign up for a year at £20 per year. Subscribers have access to the 1000s of articles, features, interviews etc. posted so far and all those posted during your subscription.
The new series on Manchester City in the 1940s continues with this feature on the 1947-48 season. This 1000 word subscriber article can be read by subscribing below.
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month or you can subscriber for the discounted annual rate of £20 per year. Each subscriber gets access to everything posted so far, including PDFs of a couple of my books.
The new series on Manchester City in the 1940s continues with this feature on the 1946-47 season. This was the first league season after the war and ended with City winning the Second Division title. There were some truly significant – and well attended – games that season and future Liverpool manager Joe Fagan (photograph) made his debut this season too. This subscriber article includes comments from an interview I did with George Smith back in 2003.
This is a subscriber article and you can read it by subscribing below.
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month or you can subscriber for the discounted annual rate of £20 per year. Each subscriber gets access to everything posted so far, including PDFs of a couple of my books.
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