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.