Tag Archives: Sir Howard Bernstein

Sir Howard Bernstein

I’ve been invited to the celebration of the life of Sir Howard Bernstein taking place later today. Howard’s death on 22 June 2024 was a sad loss to Manchester and all who knew him. He was a politician who did what he said he’d do and helped improve the city of Manchester significantly. His influence will still be felt many, many years from now.

Like many of us, Howard was a man from humble beginnings who worked hard to achieve something, not just for himself but for his fellow Mancunians.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham commented this morning that Howard: ‘knew how to make big things happen; whose passionate love for his city led him to change it forever. Howard had time and friendly advice for everyone. As a young MP, he fired me up with ambition for what GM could be. He had huge warmth and humour, always giving you a good laugh with a wink and glint in his eye – and still doing it even today with the “no red” dress code for his memorial! He gave the North its confidence back. You taught us how to think big, Howard, and in your memory that’s what we’ll always do.’

As Andy commented there is a ‘no red’ dress code for his service today and the invitation also says: ‘scarves welcome’ so I will be donning a blue and white scarf. I’m sure he’d appreciate that.

Howard was a key figure behind Manchester’s redevelopment and was hugely influencial in the regeneration of east Manchester, including the stadium and the wider Etihad campus. A while back the walkway from the stadium to the CFA was renamed Sir Howard Bernstein Way in his honour and it now has a wonderful mosaic of him too.

Thanks Howard for all your did for Manchester and the other places and causes you supported.

Jeremy Vine and Media Today

If you missed myself and Pete Boyle on BBC Radio 2 today at 1.30pm (UK time) talking about City and United then you can play it here

It was the Jeremy Vine show (after 1hour 40mins):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00209p6

Enjoy! I was on as a City supporter and Pete Boyle represented the United angle.

Sadly, our time was reduced and so I didn’t have chance to mention Sir Howard Bernstein, who died this weekend. Howard was a key figure behind Manchester’s redevelopment and was hugely influencial in the regeneration of east Manchester, including the stadium and the wider Etihad campus.

His death is a sad loss to Manchester. A politician who did what he said he’d do and helped improve the city.

Something that has been getting a bit of attention this weekend concerns MCFC sponsorship deals back in 2011. The journalist Nick Harris was complaining about it yesterday and implied the value was inflated and so on. It’s all fairly typical stuff but it is worth noting that Harris’ view has changed significantly since 2011. Back then he actually claimed City’s sponsorship was fair, and possibly even undervalued!

I won’t go into it all but here’s how his August 2011 piece was headlined:

Sir Howard Bernstein is mentioned in other articles on this site such as:

https://gjfootballarchive.com/tag/sir-howard-bernstein/

Yaya Delivers

On this day (6 May) in 2012 the Premier League title race saw Manchester City travel to Newcastle. The Blues had two games left to play – away at Newcastle and at home to QPR – and inevitably the focus on both Manchester sides was high as United were also challenging for the title. The global audience for the Manchester derby had been huge and that game had swung the advantage City’s way (the Blues had been 8 points behind the Reds only a brief while earlier). Both Manchester sides had the same number of points but the Blues had the better goal difference.

City felt they could do win their first top flight title since 1968 with captain Vincent Kompany leading the way on the pitch:  “If we in at Newcastle we will win the title.  Sir Alex said that, so it must be right.  He has far more experience than me.”

Here for subscribers to the site is the story of what happened at Newcastle:

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The 1990s: 1999 The Fightback

The series of articles covering Manchester City in the 1990s continues today with an indepth article on the opening months of 1999-2000 season. City had been promoted the previous May and the last few months of 1999 saw the Club continue its resurrection. The article is almost 4,000 words long. It’s available to subscribers, so why not subscribe and relive this period 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 4900 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:

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The Title Race Moves To Newcastle

On May 6 2012 the Premier League title race was to see Manchester City away at Newcastle. The Blues had two games left to play – away at Newcastle and at home to QPR – and inevitably the focus on both Manchester sides was hight. The global audience for the Manchester derby had been huge and that game had swung the advantage City’s way. Both Manchester sides had the same number of points but the Blues had the better goal average.

The Blues felt they could do win their first top flight title since 1968 with captain Vincent Kompany leading the way on the pitch:  “If we in at Newcastle we will win the title.  Sir Alex said that, so it must be right.  He has far more experience than me.”

Here for subscribers to the site is the story of what happened at Newcastle:

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Read more of this content and everything else on the site when you subscribe. It costs £3 to pay a month at a time (cancel anytime).

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