Just a few more of my special
memories from a time when things seemed to move a little more slowly
and the game belonged to the people who made their own heroes. A
time when SKY was something you looked up to - with clouds in it.
Three cup finals from
different era's starting with Everton v Manchester City
1933. City lost the final 2-0 with goals from Stein and
the legendary Dixie Dean. The final was the first to
feature numbered shirts in a competitive game. Everton
wore 1-11 with City wearing 12-22, of course no subs in
those days. The middle programme was City Youth Teams
third defeat in the Final of this competition albeit
narrowly, 2-1 in extra time in this the second leg. A
1-0 win at Maine Road wasn't enough to overcome Watford
who had a young David James in goal. Finally Leicester
City v Manchester City in the 1969 Final, City's last FA
Cup Final success. Malcolm Allison and Joe Mercer were
serial trophy winners in what was City's most successful
period in their history. I was at this game with my old
mate Les Shopland who managed to get me a ticket at the
last minute through his City development ticket scheme.
I had queued at the ground for hours on end to get my
hands on a ticket and couldn't believe it when the sold
out announcement came as I was about a dozen places from
the front. Still it all turned out ok in the end when
Nelly Young whacked in Summerbee's cross.
Books : Here are two
books from my collection written by City greats
of the past. Peter Doherty (Spotlight on
Football published1947) was possibly the fans
Colin Bell of his time and when I was knee high
to a grasshopper, all the old blokes used to say
he was the best they ever saw. Sadly WWII took
him away from City and he spent most of his war
time football playing for Derby County where he
eventually moved permanently after a dispute
over his testimonial payout. Some great stories
about winning the league for City in 1936-37
season. Peter was signed from Blackpool for
£10,000 which was a huge amount at the time
which is the same club who we signed big Frank
Swift from as a promising youth. Signing pro
forms in 1932 Frank was on the princely sum of
ten shillings (50p) a week!! Frank went on to be
a huge star and possibly City's best ever
goalkeeper. This book takes you from his humble
beginnings as a shrimper on Blackpool beach to
the very pinnacle of world football. I read this
book again lying on the beach in Turkey & ended
up lending it to two fellow City fans, the
younger one always thought Harry Dowd was our
best ever keeper - sigh.....
Here's
a popular sight, a bottle of red wine
from Spain, most likely a cheap table
red but obviously the ante is raised to
a vintage red with that crest adorning
the front. My son Dylan brought it back
as a present around 1999 and said,
"we'll drink it in celebration when we
win a major honour again!"
Well it's probably well corked by now as
our glorious team keep us all waiting
for that next big trophy win. My boy is
thirty three now (2010) so it will be
something quite special when that
wonderful day arrives, until then it
stays sealed......
Here's
a popular sight, a bottle of red wine
from Spain, most likely a cheap table
red but obviously the ante is raised to
a vintage red with that crest adorning
the front. My son Dylan brought it back
as a present around 1999 and said,
"we'll drink it in celebration when we
win a major honour again!"