Tag Archives: Southampton

Top Two Divisions Attendances and Table From 40 Years Ago!

Last week I posted the top flight attendances for this last week forty years ago and this led to a number of comments/questions and so to answer some of those I’ve now posted the top two divisions attendances together with the two League tables AND the end of season average attendances. People asked for clarity on how the figures compared to the second tier and whether League position played its part in affecting crowds. As a reminder here’s last week’s attendances…

And here’s this week’s (published 24 November 1985) and the League table too.

Obviously, these are only snapshots from that season but to add a bit more context here are the end of season averages here are the top 46 best supported clubs in order that season (hopefully it might make those who sing songs like ‘Where Were You?’ think about the crowds at their own clubs first):

A few notable League positions for those who do sing ‘Where Were You?’… The top eight clubs in the League were: Liverpool (champions), Everton, West Ham, Man Utd, Sheff Wed, Chelsea, Arsenal and Forest. Manchester City (who were 4th best supported club) were 15th (only 4 points above relegation zone), Spurs were tenth, Newcastle 11th and Aston Villa 16th.

In the Second Division best supported club Sunderland were 18th (avoiding relegation by 4 points); the top four were Norwich, Charlton, Wimbledon and Portsmouth.

If you’d like to know more about Manchester City at this time, here’s a 2,500 word subscriber feature on the 1985-86 season. Enjoy!

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Attendances 40 Years Ago!

These two results tables for top flight football in November 1985 make interesting reading. I’ve included the details published today (17 November, for games played the previous day) in 1985 and also the week after’s details too. This gives an idea of what the top clubs were attracting back then. Notice West Ham’s game attracted more at home than Arsenal’s and that Liverpool were over 26,000 less than Manchester United. Arsenal’s crowd was 6,000 less than struggling Manchester City and Tottenham attracted more than Arsenal too. Reigning League champions Everton were some way ahead of the London clubs and only about 600 behind Liverpool. Obviously, these are only snapshots from two weekends but hopefully it might make those who sing songs like ‘Where Were You?’ think about the crowds at their own clubs first.

the Marwood scoring for Sheffield Wednesday was of course Brian Marwood who went on to play a key part in Manchester City’s modern return to glory. If you’d like to know more about Manchester City at this time, here’s a 2,500 word subscriber feature on the 1985-86 season. Enjoy!

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Southampton 0 Manchester City 1

A dramatic added time winner by Gabriel Jesus lifted Premier League champions Manchester City to an incredible 100-point mark on this day (13 May) in 2018. The 1-0 win over Southampton was the perfect end to a perfect season for City. You can see highlights here:

https://www.mancity.com/citytv/match-highlights/2018/may/southampton-v-city-extended-highlights

The 1990s: City 3 Southampton 3 Video Highlights

Here are some highlights of the Manchester City-Southampton game played on this day (30 March) in 1991 when the Blues drew 3-3 with goals from Clive Allen, Mark Brennan and David White (pictured from an earlier season). 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:

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The 1960s: Manchester City 3 Southampton 1

Continuing the series of features on the 1960s… On this day (20 February) in 1965 Manchester City defeated Southampton 3-1 with goals from Johnny Crossan, Bobby Kennedy and Neil Young. Subscribers can read more on Manchester City during the 1964-65 season below. This was a remarkable season when a City director held meetings, hoping to merge City and United! Plus much more. If you’d like to read this 2350 word article, plus all other articles on the site, then please subscribe (see below). As with most of the other features in this series it includes words from interviews I have performed with those who were there.

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The Kippax Today in 1982

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:

The 1980s: 1982-1983 Selling Francis

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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MCFC V Southampton

If you’re at the Manchester City game today and are lucky enough to read the match programme, my One Moment in Time feature includes a photo of the Kippax Stand taken about a hour before kick off of a City-Southampton match in November 1982. Here are highlights of that match for those who want to know more about the game:

You can read more on the 1982-83 season here:

The 1980s: 1982-1983 Selling Francis
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If you enjoy all the free material on my website and would like to support my research and keep this website going (but don’t want to subscribe) then why not make a one-time donation (or buy me a coffee). All support for my research is valued and welcome. It allows me to keep some free material available for all. Thanks.

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Manchester City v Southampton

It’s City v Southampton today. My match programme feature remembers the Kippax Stand with a photo from a day when the two clubs met. I hope those who get to see it enjoy it. Also, there are plenty of stories connected with both clubs on my website and here’s a selection:

City v Southampton on New York TV
The 1990s: 1996 Georgiou Kinkladze Goal V Southampton

Others mentioning Southampton here:

Welcome to Gary James’ Football Archive

Bury’s FA Cup Anniversary

On this day (18 April) in 1903 Bury Football Club won the FA Cup by defeating Derby County by a record 6-0 scoreline (this was equalled by Manchester City’s FAC final victory over Watford in 2019). It may surprise some to know that Bury was the first team in the wider Manchester region to find major trophy success and that this was their second FA Cup. They had first won the competition in 1900, defeating Southampton 4-0 in the final. This means they’d won the FA Cup twice before either Manchester City or Manchester United (and many other modern day giants) had got to a final.

Subscribers can read about Bury’s successes in this article:

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The 1990s: 1996 Georgiou Kinkladze Goal V Southampton

Continuing the series on Manchester City in the 1990s with a feature today on one of the best goals of Maine Road’s final couple of decades. This saw the brilliant Georgiou Kinkladze at his best. The goal was scored at Maine Road in March 1996. Kinkladze was a major star – some would say Manchester City’s biggest during the mid 1990s – and livened up many dull days for City fans.  This goal was obviously popular with Maine Road regulars but, thanks to television and the game’s appearance on Match of the Day, many neutrals recognised the quality of this Golden Goal.

This article, covering Kinkladze’s goal is available for subscribers to the website below. It costs £20 a year (it works out £1.67 per month) and you get full access to all articles posted, including PDFs of the out of print Manchester A Football History and my first ever book about Manchester City. There are also audio interviews & more. Do a few searches on past content to see what’s available.     

 

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