On this day (April 11) in 2012 Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City lay eight points behind Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United and possessed an inferior goal difference (two goals) after the same number of games. There were only six games left to play and, as far as the wider public was concerned, it was only a matter of time before United won the title. But things began to change on this day in 2012 when City faced West Bromwich Albion.
Here for subscribers is the story of that day…
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The series of articles covering Manchester City in the 1990s continues today with an indepth article on the 1998-99 season – yes, that season! It saw the Blues reach their all-time low before an incredible fight back. It’s City’s one and only season at that level. The article is almost 8,000 words long. It’s available to subscribers, so why not subscribe and relive this extraordinary season? 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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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.
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:
The series of features/articles covering Manchester City in the 1970s continues with the day the Northern Premier League’s Wigan Athletic came to Maine Road to face the ECWC & League Cup holders City. Who’d have thought that one day these two clubs would meet in a FA Cup final and that Wigan would be victorious? Hang on, let’s not talk about that. Let’s get back to the 1970s…
Colin Bell netted the only goal of this day (2 January) in 1971 and you can watch it here:
The Wigan Athletic Supporters Club website tells the Wigan perspective on this day and is well worth reading:
‘The third round draw pitted them against Manchester City away at Maine Road. City at the time were holders of the League Cup and European Cup-Winners Cup and were doing well in the League. Their team that day, 2 January 1971, was full of star names: Joe Corrigan in goal; Tony Book, Arthur Mann, Mike Doyle, Tommy Booth, Alan Oakes, Mike Summerbee, Colin Bell, Francis Lee, Neil Young and Derek Jeffries, with Frank Carrodus on the bench.
‘Latics had in their line-up Dennis Reeves; Alan Turner, Billy Sutherland, Gordon Milne, Doug Coutts, Ian Gillibrand, Derek Temple, Bobby Todd, Geoff Davies, Jim Fleming and Graham Oates with sub Ian Ledgard.
‘The referee was one of the top officials of the time, Pat Partridge from Middlesbrough.
‘Both teams changed their strip, City into their renowned (at the time) black and red striped shirts with black shorts – the colours they’d worn to victory in both the FA Cup in 1969 and the European Cup-Winners Cup in 1970. Latics wore all white with blue trim. But best of all, BBC’s “Match of the Day” cameras were there to record the scene.
‘Not being overawed by their European trophy-holding opponents, or by the 46,212 fans, Latics held out until the 72nd minute when goalkeeper Dennis Reeves’ boot split when taking a goal-kick. The ball went to Neil Young, who flicked it inside to Colin Bell, who made no mistake. One goal was enough for City, and two late fine saves from Joe Corrigan put paid to Latics’ dreams. They received a standing ovation from the crowd.‘
You can read more on Wigan’s season and history at the Wigan Athletic Supporters Club website:
This series of articles and features on Manchester City in the 1970s will run throughout January 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 January will offer something to enjoy.
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.
Subscribers will get access to everything. If you want to know more on this incredible decade for Manchester City Football Club then why not subscribe and read it all? You could even subscribe for a month and see what you think. The following 5,600 word article is on the successes of 1970 and is available to subscribers below. Enjoy!
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Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 or there’s a special annual rate below which gives greater access and works out much cheaper.
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.
Day 56 of my posts counting down to the centenary of Maine Road’s opening game is a simple reminder of the days when local newspapers would highlight faces in the crowd and offer cash prizes to those ringed, squared or triangled. The top row of photos here are from the Manchester City v Arsenal game at Maine Road of February 1935 and the bottom row is from Mossley v Wigan Athletic. Oddly, a bloke who looks uncannily like my granddad appears triangled in the bottom right. He’d have been about 20 when this photo was taken, so it can’t be him as he looks as he did in the 70s but they had it tough in those days! This is my granddad back in early 70s (I think it was 70s; could have been late 60s).
And the man I’m talking about…
Fans at MCFC v Arsenal and Mossley v Wigan, February 1935
Anyone worked out why the City-Arsenal game of February 1935 is still regularly referred to these days? This might help:
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.
On this day (23 December) in 1942 future Manchester City player and manager John Benson born at Arbroath. He joined the Blues at the age of 15 in July 1958 and went on to make 52 League and Cup appearances before being transferred to Torquay in 1964. Spells at Bournemouth, Exeter and Norwich followed, before John moved into coaching. In 1980 he returned to Manchester as assistant to manager John Bond. Here’s an interview I did with him during October 2004.
Sadly, John died on October 30 2010 at the age of 67.
Here for subscribers is the interview from 2004.
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Subscribers get access to lots of additional content on this site. Annual subscribers get access to everything while monthly subscribers get access to everything from 1st October 2022. Annual costs £20 above and monthly is £3 per month here.
Sixty years ago today (February 21 1962) John Benson made his Manchester City League debut. He had joined the Blues at the age of 15 in July 1958 and went on to make 52 League and Cup appearances before being transferred to Torquay in 1964. Spells at Bournemouth, Exeter and Norwich followed, before John moved into coaching. In 1980 he returned to Manchester as assistant to manager John Bond.
Sadly, John died on October 30 2010 at the age of 67.
Here for subscribers is a flashback piece to the 1998-99 season and, in particular, the games with Wigan Athletic which included the last competitive match at Springfield Park. Enjoy!
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Read more of this content when you subscribe today. Subscribers also access everything else on the site for as long as they subscribe. This includes the entire Manchester A Football History book and various exlusive audio interviews and over 350 articles.
Gary James' Football Archive 