Manchester derby - 9th December 2012

City's 2 goals from the Manchester derby on Sunday 9th December 2012.  The top pic shows Yaya Toure pulling a goal back in the 60th minute, after going 2 - 0 down in the first half.  The next pic shows Pablo Zabaleta equalising in the 86th minute.  The comeback was ruined though when Van Persie scored the winner in injury time, sending United 6 points clear at the top of the Premier League.  This result also ended City's 37 match unbeaten home record.  A bad day for City, but there's a long way to go in the battle for the title, and City don't have Europe to worry about anymore!

Classic City mag covers No4

 

This cover,  from May 2002, shows Stuart Pearce proudly holding the Division 1 trophy.  Kevin Keegan's team scored 108 goals on their way to the title, which equalled the 1926 -1927 City record.

Victory in Europe!

More Europe!  Here's the goals from the European Cup Winners Cup final 1970, which was held in Vienna.  The top picture shows Gornik Zabreze keeper Kostka blocking a shot from Lee with Neil Young running in to score the first goal.  The other picture is Francis Lee scoring a penalty to put City 2 - 0 up.  Zabreze scored a consolation goal later on, but City's victory was never really in doubt.  The match was played in heavy rain for long periods, with a crowd of only 10,000 watching, in a stadium which held 80,000!  Almost 4,000 City supporters followed the team to Austria and were rewarded with City's finest night in Europe. 

 

 

City in Europe

City didn't always struggle in Europe!  Joe Mercer with the European Cup Winners Cup on their victory parade in Manchester 1970.  In my opinion the pressure for City to succeed in Europe is very unfair.  The media seems to delight in everything that goes wrong for City in the Champions League, conveniently forgetting they were playing in the most difficult group this year.  It took Chelsea years to win the Champions League, despite their vast wealth, so why the pressure on City?  Another Premier League title will be enough for this season, Europe can wait! 

1956 FA Cup Final

The goals from the 1956 FA Cup Final, from top, Joe Hayes puts City 1 - 0 up after only 3 minutes.  The middle picture is Jack Dyson scoring to put City 2 - 1 up after Birmingham equalised.  The final picture is Bobby Johnstone scoring the 3rd goal in City's 3 - 1 win.

Lanchester Hat Advert 1934

 

An old advert for Lanchester Hats as endorsed by Manchester City,  FA Cup winners in 1934.

They've even seen them made and wear them! 

Classic City Mag Covers No3 - 2000 Promotion

Another classic City Mag cover was the June 2000 promotion special.  City beat Blackburn 4 - 1 on the last day of the season to clinch promotion to the Premier League. Shaun Goater also picked up a well deserved Player of the Year award. Unfortunately for City it was straight back down the following season, with manager Joe Royle losing his job and being replaced by Kevin Keegan.

Community Shield 2012

An (eventual) easy win for City in The Community Shield on 12th August, with goals from Toure, Tevez and Nasri.  City looked the better team even when they went behind to a Torres goal. A great start to the season.  Up the Blues!!



Classic City Mag Covers No 2

This cover features Paul Dickov after equalising against Gillingham in the 1999 Division 2 Play-Off Final.  The two late goals gave City the momentum to go on to win the penalty shoot-out and claim their place in Division 1.  Arguably the most important match in City's history, this led to another promotion the following season back into the Premier League. This issue also featured an article on long time sponsor Brother who were being replaced by Eidos in 2000.

Billy Meredith Cup Final Goal

Billy Meredith scores the winning goal in the 1904 FA Cup Final against Bolton Wanderers.  The Ralph Cleaver drawing above was originally published in 'The Illustated Sporting and Dramatic News'.

Champions Relegated!

Champions in 1937 and relegated the following season (and scoring the most goals) it could only happen to City! 

Classic City Mag covers No1

First in my series of classic City magazine covers comes from May 1998.  This was probably the saddest day in City's history as they were relegated to the 3rd tier of  English football for the first time.  On the cover, Jamie Pollock defiantly declares "We're going to have to get out of the 2nd division as quick as we can", and thankfully they did!  City won their final match 5-2 against Stoke, but it wasn't enough to save either of them from relegation.  Features in this issue were interviews with Shaun Goater, Ian Bishop and Paul Futcher.  The bad times make the good times feel even better!

City and ManC magazine RIP

Sad news that the official City magazine (or ManC as it's known now) wont be published any more after the 200th issue (August 2012).  The first issue, which is pictured above, was produced in September 1995 and featured Uwe Rosler on the cover.  An interesting welcome message from the Editor, Steve Anglesey,  recalls how he started supporting City because of a boiled sweet!  The story started with him being taken to Old Trafford to watch United with his uncle and choking on a sweet, he survived and vowed never to go to OT again!  Another member of Steve's family took him to Maine Road where he was converted to a blue.  Features in issue 1 included interviews with Rosler, Alan Ball, Francis Lee, Colin Bell, Peter Barnes, Keith Curle, Michael Brown and 'Coronation Street' actor Kevin Kennedy.  I feel as though the magazine went downhill after it was revamped and changed it's name to ManC.  I liked the feature's on history and the match reports in the old City magazine and I wasn't really interested in the fashion and 'lifestyle' features in the new one.

St. Mark's, West Gorton artwork

An original piece of artwork!  I based it on the old Baines cards from the early 20th century to give it an authentic look. I think only one picture exists of West Gorton, which is the team photo from 1884-85 (http://www.mcfchistory.com/2011/10/monday-mystery-why-did-we-have-maltese.html), this was the main reason I decided to do something a little different.

Aguero's goal v QPR

Probably my favourite picture of Aguero's title winning goal.  Just a fantastic piece of history frozen in time.

Ardwick enamel badge

I bought this enamel Ardwick badge a couple of years ago, it was listed as a limited edition, but not sure if it was!  Don't think Ardwick ever played in black and red, so colours are probably wrong.

Ogden's Cigarette Card 1906 - Club Colours

Continuing the theme of club colours, another cigarette card, this time from Ogdens from around 1906.  The shirt in the picture seems to be the wrong shade of blue when compared with the kit at http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Manchester_City/Manchester_City.htm

A lot of early memorabillia wasn't always accurate!

Gallaher Cigarette Card 1910 - Club Colours

Cigarette card issued by Gallahers in 1910 depicting club colours. The player featured is Irvine Thornley, more information on him can be found at this link http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/MANCthornley.htm
I wonder if the FA (or more likely UEFA) will have another 'investigation' into City's finances in the future?

Cash wont corrupt us (the 1968 version)

A very interesting article from a 1968 magazine called 'Out of the Blues' by Manchester City Captain Tony Book, in which he talks about how money may affect football in the future.  Very topical as City  have been accused of 'ruining' football since acquiring their wealth and starting to win trophies!! 

Blues Title Glory

Monday 14th May 2012.  It wasn't a dream!!

City v QPR programme 2012

The front cover of the programme for the 13th May 2012 match, where City won the Premier League in such dramatic style.  Already a collectors item, just 2 days after the game, this programme has been on ebay for £30 and upwards. If you've got one, keep hold of it!

2 title winning goals, 44 years apart

Francis Lee scores the winner in the 4 - 3 win at Newcastle, making City 1968 Division 1 champions.
Sergio Aguero scores against QPR, making the score 3 - 2 on Sunday 13th May 2012 to clinch the title for City for the first time in 44 years.  CITY  CHAMPIONS!

City win title at Newcastle 1968

A wonderful photograph of Mike Summerbee scoring the first goal in the 4-3 win over Newcastle United in 1968 to become English champions for the second time.  History has a wonderful way of repeating itself,  good luck tomorrow City!

'The Citizens' cigarette card 1930s

Another City cigarette card from Ogden's who produced a set called 'AFC Nicknames' in the 1930s.

The first City Magazine - 1967-68

This was an official City magazine produced for the 1967-68 season.  The foreword by City Chairman Mr A.V. Alexander is interesting as he comments the next step for the team is to bid for honours.  This season would, of course,  be the start of the most successful era in City's history.  The magazine has 60 pages, well worth the price of 2/6 when it was published, and is packed full of fascinating features about City and some of  our rivals in Division One.   I acquired mine off ebay for 99p, an excellent buy for a little bit of City's history, highly recommended.

Manchester derby cigarette cards

Cigarette cards depicting Manchester derbies from 1928, issued by Gallaher's. The company issued their first set of football cards in 1910. The 2 cards above are from the 'Footballers in action' set from 1928.

Manchester derby 1920 Illustrations

Illustrations from the 20th November 1920 Manchester Derby which was a 1-1 draw.

'Nationwide' City Book

Nationwide was a BBC news and current affairs television programme broadcast on each weekday following the early evening news. It followed a magazine format, combining politics, consumer affairs, light entertainment and sports reporting.  The programme featured a mini-series on City in the 1977-1978 season and viewers could send away for the 26 page book pictured above.  At 12 years old, this was the moment that got me interested in City,  and I was hooked from that day on!  Peter Barnes was my favourite player in the team featured by Nationwide.  Little did I know I'd have to wait until 2011 to see them win a major trophy!
A lot of Nationwide's content was live and this was not recorded,  the series on City would have been pre-recorded and is probably still in the BBC's archive. Will it ever see the light of day again?  I'd be grateful for any further information on this series.

City 1937 - Coronation Year Champions

City won the 1st Division title in 1937 and this poem describes the winning qualities of the team, while also correctly 'predicting' United would be champions in 1997! 

Manchester City Postcards early 20th century

Postcards from around 1902-03,  published by Valentines.  This is when City played at their Hyde Road ground. These postcards have recently been on ebay with a starting price of £95 each!

Manchester City Baines Card

J. Baines Ltd of Bradford began producing collectors cards in 1887. Rugby, Football, Golf and Cricket were all featured. Millions were produced with even the most obscure teams being represented. Sold in packets of six, the cards were avidly collected. At the height of their popularity, around 1919-20, a staggering 13.5 million cards were sold across Northern England and Scotland. Baines retired when he sold his business to a Barnsley concern in the early 1920s. The cards are now highly collectable.

Bert Jackson played 101 times for Manchester City (1907-11).

Max Woosnam Cigarette Card 1920s

Max Woosnam (6 September 1892 – 14 July 1965) is often called the  'Greatest British sportsman' in recognition of his achievements. In an amazing career he won an Olympic gold and silver at the 1920 Summer Olympics, winning the doubles at Wimbledon, making a century at Lord's Cricket Ground, captaining the British Davis Cup team, captaining Manchester City and ultimately finishing runners-up in the Football League Championship of 1920-21 and the only amateur ever to captain the England national football team.
Woosnam's life story is told in  the book  'All-Round Genius : The unknown story of Britain's greatest sportsman'  by author Mick Collins.

6 -1 Bloodbath

A wonderful historic day.

Classic Coffer Badge

A Manchester City badge made by Coffer from the 1970's. I was looking for a history of this firm, but only found this on Google answers......

Coffer Sports did not manufacture badges. They commissioned them from
firms in Birmingham's jewellery quarter and distributed them to
traders across the counntry. I dealt with Coffers from 1972 to the
early 1980s. The last contact I had with them was a conversation with
Malcolm Coffer on Wembley Way before the FA Cup Final of 1985, but by
that time the firm had gone into liquidation. Some of the dies were
sold and used by other people to make badges, usually in soft enamel.

1978 Pennant

This is a classic pennant from around 1978 when I started supporting City.

City v Bolton FA Cup Final 1904

Another railway poster for the 1904 FA Cup final, showing the match in progress between City and Bolton.

City use Oxo to win the FA Cup!

Another poster from 1904 describing the benefits of Oxo as used by the City team during the season. Billy Meredith is featured again holding the FA Cup, as well as a cup of Oxo. The original poster was in black and white and has been coloured by myself using Photoshop.

Railway poster predicts cup final result!

This is a poster from 1904 which correctly predicted that Billy Meredith would win the cup for City in the FA Cup final against Bolton Wanderers.  I've only ever seen the black and white picture of this poster in the book about Meredith called 'The Welsh Wizard', so this version had to be drawn and coloured using Photoshop.  This is NOT a copy of the original poster, as many people who have 'borrowed' it for their websites (including the official City site!) seem to think, only my version of it!

Ardwick Association Football Club Art Print

A one off print by myself  using Photoshop (and coffee to 'age' the paper!)