Tag Archives: Tony Coleman

The Death of Defensive Football: Title Race Decider

This Sunday Manchester City and West Ham face each other in the Premier League with a City victory (or an equal result to Arsenal’s game) giving the Blues the title. It’s another of those last day title deciders that City fans have had to get used to over the years.

Although there had been other seasons when City needed to get a good result in their final game to avoid relegation, earn promotion etc. the first last day title decider involving the Blues came in 1968. Back then Joe Mercer was manager and Malcolm Allison his number two. They believed in entertaining football – a contrast to what the rest of English football seemed to believe it as the following report shows.

Have a read of what was said back in May 1968 to fully appreciate how wonderful that team was and how refreshing City were to late 1960s football:

You can read about the build up to that game; the story of the match itself and quotes from those involved below.  Enjoy!

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Fenerbahce Blues

On this day (18 September) in 1968 Manchester City’s first European Cup fixture against Fenerbahce ended goalless at Maine Road.  This was the first time two British clubs from the same city had competed in the European Cup. Here’s a match report of the City game:

Francis Lee (left) and Mike Summberbee (right) threaten the Fenerbahce goal in City’s first European Cup tie in 1968.

Subscribers can read a feature about that game here:

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The Blue Ballet

On this day (9 December) in 1967 a remarkable game took place at Maine Road that became known as the Ballet On Ice.  Manchester United supporter Bobby Greenroyd watched the game on Match of the Day and wrote to City afterwards:  “I am a regular Manchester United fan, but after Saturday’s game your next home gate will be increased by one.”  High praise, particularly as United themselves were on the verge of European Cup glory.

Why and how did this happen and which leading MCFC figure sneaked out to buy a bag of chips while the club celebrated its 1968 League title success? Here for subscribers is an article that explains all….

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