Having watched City play since 1944 I thought it was time I went through my records and picked out some special magical moments that some of you may remember too.
The ones I will be choosing are in no special order.
With City about to start their home games with a match against Everton I thought I would start
Magic Moments with this game.
This was the moment Anelka completed his hat-trick to give ten men City three points after an excellent team display. Anelka had given City a two goal lead before Wright-Phillips was controversially sent off before the half hour for being the last man and a foul resulting in a penalty and City were down to ten men for the rest of the game. The City side included the magic Benarbia and Foe and was as follows-
Schmeichel: Sun Jihai, Howey, Distin, Jensen: Wright-Phillips, Benarbia (Goater), Foe, Berkovic (Horlock), Anelka, Huckerby (Tiatto)
When I looked at my program I noticed a young player called Rooney came on from the Everton bench after 65 minutes. He is number 18 on the left watching Peter Schmeichel saving a shot.
I wonder what happened to him!
Original Web page covering the game
HERE With United in third place and City lurking too near the bottom three in the Premiership we were not expecting miracles in this first derby at the new City of Manchester stadium. However despite United pressure City took a two goal lead through Fowler and Macken. Scholes reduced the arrears but United failed to add to their score. Sinclair took advantage of a defensive error to make it three one and in 'fergie time' Shaun Wright-Phillips blasted the ball into the net to make it 4-1( pic above). A great moment!
Earlier in the game Distin and Butt went head-t0-head! Both got booked.
The City side was
James: Dunne, Van Buyten, Distin, Wright-Phillips, Reyna (Bosvelt) Sibierski (Jihai Sun) McManaman (Sinclair) Tarnat, Macken, Fowler
We could do with Van Buyten now - he was an excellent player.
There was a chap called Ronaldo playing for United
- didn't do much though!
original web page covering this game
is HERE The debut of Sergio Aguero will always be remembered by City fans for this wonderful second goal in added time. It was a ferocious shot from some way out that swerved and beat Vorm . He is now approaching Eric Brooks record total of goals for City and I am sure he will be become the top goal scorer soon. Dzeko and Silva scored the other two for City.
Aguero scoring his first goal from a cross by Richards on 67 minutes
We did have the odd Poznan
The original web page covering this game is
HERE Hart: Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy: De Jong (Aguero) Barry, Johnson (Savic) Toure, Silva (Milner) Dzeko
Man City 3 Sunderland 1 Capital Cup Final Wembley March 2014
Robinho did like to let me know he had scored!
At the end of the season against Bolton Robinho is pointing me out (maybe) to Vladimir Weiss who had just made his league debut and only league game for City. He is now playing in Qatar.
The 100th Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium was blessed with a great hat-trick by Brazilian Robinho. The above pic shows his best, taking a pass from Sturridge (yes he did play for us) and cracking the ball past Sorensen for his second goal.
The vital moment of the second half revival by City having been a goal down to Sunderland was this spectacular effort by Yaya Toure from 30 yards that flew into the top corner to equalize. Nasri gave City the lead shortly after and Navas added to the score late in the game. It was Pellegrini's first trophy and we let Wembley a lot happier than the previous visit when we were beaten by Wigan.
Pantilimon : Zabaleta, Kompany , Demichelis , Kolarov : Yaya Toure , Fernandinho , Nasri , Silva ( Garcia) Aguero ( Navas ) Dzeko ( Negredo)
The original web page covering this game is HERE
The original web page covering this game is HERE
An excellent display of football by City was capped by one of the best free kicks I have ever seen. A foul by Nicky Butt gave away the free kick which was taken by Elano over thirty yards out from goal. The ball flew into the top corner giving Given no chance and City finished 3-1 winners - Petrov and Mpenza scoring the other two for the sky blues.
City team - Hart, Corluka,(Onuoha), Dunne, Richards, Garrido,Ireland, Hamann, Johnson ( Ball) Petrov, Elano, (Geovanni) Mpenza.
The City team was - Hart, Richards, Dunne (Fernandes), Ben Haim, Garrido (Onuoha), Kompany, Ireland, Wright-Phillips, Elano, Robinho, Evans (Sturridge)
The original web page covering this game is HERE
As far as I can ascertain this was the only time in at least Premier League history that a manager has had his players on the pitch at half time for a rollicking! Hull City manager Phil Brown certainly did not hold back and with the sky blues scoring three in the first 28 minutes it was four nil at half time and a Boxing Day game to remember. City scorers that day were Caicedo and Robinho 2 each and ireland one.
City team- Hart, Zabaleta, Dunne, Richards (Onuoha) , Ball, Kompany, Ireland, (Fernandes), Wright-Phillips, Elano, Robinho, Caicedo ( Jo).
The original web page covering this game is HERE
Following
the last two away wins at Birmingham and West Brom City should have been confident
to face a United without Beckham (suspended) and Keane (injured) but the midweek
defeat at the hands of Wigan and injuries to the heart of the defence - Howey
and Distin meant that Mettomo and Wiekens had their first outings of the season
and the support near me were somewhat apprehensive of what was to come. We need
not have worried - the whole team gave a terrific display and virtually played
United off the park. It could have been 5-1 again and not just 3-1.
After
25 minutes a long ball from Foe appeared to be going nowhere other than out for
a goal kick. Garry Neville was in attendance to shepherd the ball out of play.
The persistent Goater managed to get the ball and hammer it past Barthez from
a narrow angle - 2-1 to City. Goater is congratulated by Berkovic for his 99th goal for City while on the right
a dejected Garry Neville considers the consequences of his calamitous error. I
don't think the Neville brothers were celebrating that night
The original web page covering this game is HERE
The very last game at Maine Road - the End of an Era . Lots of images on this web page covering the ground ,the game and a bit of history. The game and result were not the best for City but it was a very important occasion.
a famous supporter is watching the duel between Anelka and Jones.
She is 83 year old Helen Turner - in the front row just above Anelka. She is wearing
a blue wig and normally rings a bell.
Peter
Schmeichel's last save of his career with about five minutes or so to go.
Team
Schmeichel
7: Dunne 7, Howey 8, Distin 7: Sun 7, Berkovic 9, Foe 6, Horlock 7,Tiatto 7: Goater
5, Anelka 8 :
Schmeichel
6; Dunne 6, Sommeil 6 Distin 7, Jensen 6: Foe 6, Wright-Phillips 7, Benarbia 6,
Barton 6: Goater 6, Anelka 7:
The original web page covering this game is HERE
City v Ipswich 1-1 Dec 12th 2000 abandoned
City v Spurs 4-1 Dec 9th 1967
This Worthington Cup game was called off by Graham Poll shortly after Paul Dickov equalized an earlier goal by Stewart. Very heavy rain had made the surface unplayable and alas 7 days later the replay was won by Ipswich 2-1 after extra time.
www.rtfract.com/citdec.htmOnly took a couple of pics at this famous 'Ballet on Ice' that took place at Maine Road on a very cold winters day. City won 4-1 with goals from Bell,Summerbee, Young and Coleman. Considering the conditions it was a great performance by City and 36,000 turned out to watch. It was amazing the game was played at all.
The City team was - Mulhearn: Book, Pardoe:Doyle, heslop, Oakes: Lee, Bell, Summerbee, Young,and Coleman -
www.rtfract.com/citypast.htm
When Adebayor headed past Almunia to make it 3-1 at the North Stand end we did not expect him to dash down to the other end and show off in front of the fans of Arsenal his previous team. He was booked and extra staff and police had to be called to contain the anger of the visiting supporters. It is a shame the game will be remembered for this event rather than a good City display. The City team was - Given:Richards, Toure, Lescott, Bridge: Wright-Phillips, Ireland, De Jong, Barry, Bellamy, Adebayor
When City played Lech Poznan in the Europa Cup back in 2010 little did we think that the unusual back facing arm linking bounce action of many of their supporters would become a regular City celebration. The image on the right was taken at the four nil win over Villa in December that year. We must not forget that the win over Poznan also had a hat-trick by Adebayor.
The City team was - Hart 7: Richards 6.5, Boyata 6.5, Lescott 6, Zabaleta 7 ( Bridge): Viera 8, De Jong 8: Wright Phillips 6 (Jo 6) Silva 8 ( Yaya Toure 6) Johnson 8 , Adebayor 8.5
The animated Gif above was taken at the Cup Final at Wembley in 2011 when City beat Stoke -
CITY 1 STOKE 0
Man City 3 Newcastle U 3 Feb 20 1996
One of the few good memories from that season was this exciting clash against a high flying Newcastle side. Alan Ball was the manager of City who had a very poor start to the season and were eventually relegated. However City did have one of the most magical players ever to don the sky blue shirt in Georgi Kinkladze.
His dribbling and amazing general skill was awesome and I wish I had taken more pics in those days. Below are the only images of Kinkladze I could find. The City team that day was - Immel, Curle, Symons, Summerbee, Hiley, Brown, Clough,Lomas, Kinkladze, Rosler,Quinn. The City goals came from Neill Quinn 2 and Rosler. Ginola, Les Ferdinand and Beardsley were playing for Newcastle.
Navas scoring the fastest goal at the Etihad Stadium in this drubbing of Spurs. A poor clearance by the Spurs keeper went straight to Aguero and after Lloris saved his shot the ball ran to Navas who shot from a narrow angle and the ball was in the net after just 13 and a half seconds.
Jason Manford sang Blue Moon before the game - maybe that did the trick!
Navas scored the last goal as well
The City team was
Pantilimon: Zabaleta, Demichelis, Nastasic, Clichy: Toure, Fernandinho, Navas, Nasri, Negredo, Aguero
Newcastle U 3 City 4 May 1968
This was an amazing game the result giving City under the management of Joe Mercer the first Division Championship. City goals were from Young (2) Lee and Summerbee and one of the highlights I remember was the journey up the A1 which was a mass of blue! Over 30,000 City fans made the trip to St James Park and with United losing at home to Sunderland and City winning it was all worthwhile.
The crowd were almost up to the touchline and the pitch was flooded with City fans at the final whistle.
The City team was - Mulhearn, Book, Pardoe, Doyle, Heslop, Oakes, Lee, Bell, Summerbee, Young, Coleman,
With only seconds to go Zabaleta gave away a penalty but thanks to a great save by Joe Hart from Messi City finished only one goal down to Barcelona in the Champions League
Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy, Nasri, Fernando, Milner, Silva, Aguero, Dzeko
An epic run in extra time by Yaya Toure ended with him shooting past the Villa keeper to make the score four nil and it was City's 100th league goal of the season. The first time since the 1957-58 season when City got 104. That season City also conceded 100 losing to WBA 2-9 and Leicester 4-8 but we finished 5th!
The City team against Villa was - Hart: Zabaleta, Kompany Demichelis, Kolarov, Garcia, Toure, Milner, Nasri, Silva and Dzeko.
More pics HERE
On 56 minutes on came a sub for the visitors and his name was Alan (27). He was cheered every time he touched the ball and City fans sang songs about him who must have wondered what was going on. He was a 21 year old Brazilian.
The City team was - Given, Boating, Toure, Lescott, Zabaleta, Viera, Milner, Wright-Phillips, Johnson, Jo, Balotelli
The City scorers were Balotelli 2 and Adam Johnson - more pics
HERE
The first game in the new Stadium and it was the farewell game for Ali Benarbia a creative genius like David Silva or Kevan De Bruyne. City fans also gave a special cheer to Ronaldinho who had turned down a move to United. Anelka scored the first ever goal at the Stadium and Sinclair notched the winner. The City team was - Seaman, Sun, Sommeil Distin, Tarnat, Wright-Phillips, Sibierski, Barton, Sinclair, Anelka, Fowler More pics
HERE In this easy win against Fulham on 32 minutes Barton won a tackle and Corradi scored and then Knighted Barton with the corner flag! Not seen this before or since!The City team was - Weaver Richards, Dunne, Distin, Thatcher, Trabelsi, Barton, Reyna, Vassell, Samaras, Corradi. more pics
HERE
With City desperate for three points and with just two minutes of normal time to go Pearce made an amazing last ditch decision
replacing Reyna with another keeper Weaver, David James moving up front. Above left you can see him trying to beat several defenders!
In added time Robbie Fowler had a chance to give City the win but his penalty was saved.
The City team was- James Mills, Onuoha, Distin, Thatcher, Wright-Phillips, Reyna, Barton, Musampa, Sibierski, Fowler
More pics HERE
Ten years go there was a major change in the ownership of City when Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan took over from Thaksin Shinawatra and his only visit to the Etihad Stadium so far was in August 2010 when City beat Liverpool three nil. The take-over has made a tremendous difference both to the club and the whole area around the ground.
Barry scored for City after 12 minutes and Tevez made it two nil from close range after 50 minutes. Tevez scored a penalty later to complete the scoring. City played well and Joe Hart made some good saves. The City team was - Hart: Richards, K Toure, Kompany, Lescott, Johnson, De Jong, Y Toure, Barry, Milner and Tevez. more pics
HERE
Yaya Toure was at his best and scored a great goal to make it three nil for City
Balotelli -remember him- scored with his shoulder after a rebound from the keeper
Not the best of days for Delia Smith -
plenty of food for thought!
team - Hart: Richards, K Toure, Kompany, Clichy, Barry, Nasri, Silva, Yaya Toure, Aguero, Dzeko.
Balotelli came on a sub
George Weah signed for City from Milan in August 2000 but only played in a few games before moving to Marseille. He was named FIFA Player of the Year in 1995. He became President of Liberia recently and incredibly he came out of retirement to play for Liberia aged 51 against Nigeria in a friendly game. Amazing!
He is on the left passing to Wanchope who scored in a 4-2 win over Sunderland
He had golden boots! This was his first home game
Remember the wet days at Maine Road
Weah shoots wide against Middlesbrough in a one all draw
He is about to score against Gillingham in the Worthington Cup. City won the replay after a one all draw
His last game was against Newcastle in a one nil loss. He is number 22 in the foreground.
Coverage of these early games are
HERE
A great hat-trick by Aguero won this Champions League game against Bayern Munich . The first was from a penalty which resulted in Benatia getting a red card and the visitors were down to ten men. Bayern actually took the lead and with just 6 minutes to go it looked pretty bad for City but Aguero broke through for his second and in the final moments he got his third. The City team was - Hart, Sagna (Zabaleta) Kompany Mangala, Clichy, Fernando, Lampard, Navas, Milner (Jovetic) Nasri, Aguero
more pics
HERE
Musampa was a real danger man against Liverpool and after hitting the post with twenty odd minutes to go he hit the winner in the final minute taking a great cross from substitute Croft and cracking the ball past the keeper.
The City team was - James, Onuoha, Dunne,Distin, Jordan, Reyna, Barton, Bosvelt, Musampa, Sibierski, Fowler
More pics
HERE
Just before half time Vincent Kompany scored with a great header from a corner taken by Silva.
It was a vital goal - more pics
HERE
After Newcastle had taken the lead Aguero took over and scored five goals - his first was a header following a corner and early in the second half Sergio put City ahead from a pass from Silva.
Silva supplied the pass for Aguero to notch his 4th goal
His 3rd goal was a chip over the keeper following a pass from De Bruyne
Two minutes after his 4th goal Aguero scored another to make it five - amazing
He was only the 5th player to score five in the Premiership - the others were Shearer, Defoe, Cole and Berbatov - more pics
here
While searching through old images for this web page I came across these pics of the end of Maine Road.
I did come home with an old brick from the ground!
A goal by Carlos Tevez which went in off the post enabled City to beat top of the league Chelsea in a tough game.
Hart 7: Boyata 8 ( Boateng), K. Toure 8, Kompany 9, Zabaleta 8: de Jong 8.5, Barry 8.5,
Y. Toure 8, Silva 8 ( Johnson) Milner 8, Tevez 8.5 (Adebayor)
More pics
HERE
Nasri's shot from outside the area set the seal on a final win and the Premier League Championship.
Kompany made it two nil later and we all celebrated a great season. Interesting that Manager Pellegrini is now at West ham
Hart 6.5: Zabaleta 8, Kompany 7.5, Demichelis 7.5, Kolarov 7.5: Garcia 7, Toure 7.5 ( Negredo) , Nasri 8, Silva 8 ( Milner), Dzeko 7 ( Fernandinho) Aguero 7
more pics HERE
A new Manager- a new Chairman and new signings and Kasper Schmeichel in goal- what a start to the home games that season. Johnson was going to be the new Colin Bell but alas his career went downhill later.
Here he is scoring after help from Elano
K. Schmeichel 7: Corluka 6.5, Dunne 7, Richards 7, Garrido 6.5: Hamann 7: Johnson 8, Ireland 6.5, Petrov 6 : Elano 7.5: Bianchi 7
More pics
HERE
October 2005
After inter passing between Croft and Ireland the ball came to Mills who was almost 30 yards from goal.
He cracked in a great shot which beat the keeper and at last City were ahead.
The game was special as the kick-off was at 11-15am - surely a record! The goal by Mills was the only won he ever scored for City in his 51 games for the club -more pics
HERE
The City team - James, Mills, Dunne, Distin, Jordan: Sibierski, Barton, Ireland, Musampa (Croft) , Vassell, Cole (Sun Jihai)
On the half hour Elano passed to Geovanni cracked the ball past Van der Sar from 30 yards to score what turned out to be the winning goal
It was City's third win on the run but alas the season did not finish as it started! -more pic s
HERE
team - Kasper Schmeichel: Corluka, Dunne, Richards, Garrido: Hamann, Elano (Bianchi) Geovanni (Ball) Johnson, Petrov, Bojinov (Mpenza)
Neill Young scores past Shilton for the winning goal
Malcolm Allison celebrates with the cup at the town hall in Manchester.Joe Mercer and Tommy Booth are also in the pic
100,000 packed into the old Wembley to see the teams meet Princess Ann
Trautmann saves - City v Chelsea 1-1 Sept 1954
Trautmann saving from Bradley - City v United Feb 1960
The two animated gifs below are from some very old 8mm film I shot back in the fifties - They show the excellent way Bert used to throw the ball out.
team - Dowd: Book, Pardoe: Doyle. Booth Oakes: Summerbee, Bell, Lee, Young and Coleman
With a film about Trautmann about to come out I thought I would look up some old pics etc showing him in action
City 2 United 2 Dec 1957 70,500
Trautmann: Leivers,Little:
Barnes,Ewing,Warhurst:
Barlow,Kirkman,Johnstone, Hayes, Fagan
City 2 Notts F 1 Aug 1959 39,000
Trautmann,Lievers, Kerr:
Barnes, McTavish,Shawcross:
Fagan, Johnstone, Barlow, Hayes, Colridge
Tony Book one of the best City full backs is here scoring one of his few goals against Stoke City at Maine Road. He notched the first goal. This was followed by goals by Lee and Young and an own goal by Gorden Banks in the Stoke goal.
The City team was - Corrigan, Book,Pardoe,Doyle,Booth,Oakes,Towers,Bell,Summerbee,Lee,Young.
More Pics
HERE
With
time running out City equalized. A free kick taken by Joey Barton deep on the left
was headed home by
David Sommeil (no. 2 ) from the edge of the six yard line. It was the first City league goal in the new stadium.
Seaman 6: Sun 5, Sommeil 6, Distin 6,
Tarnat 7: Wright-Phillips 7, Sibierski 5 (Berkovic 6), Barton 7, Sinclair 6, Anelka
6, Fowler 5 (Wanchope 6): more pics HERE
The first ever goal in the new stadium was scored by Anelka against Barcelona in a friendly 2-1 win on Aug10th
Just
five minutes after half time came the goal of the season - perhaps of the century!
Wow
what a goal ! Anelka took the ball down the right and whipped in a great cross
with his left foot along the edge of the penalty area. The ball was met first
time by left wing back Niclas Jensen who volleyed it past Robinson with wonderful
technique and precision. Absolutely perfect! Two nil to City and the large Leeds
contingent were struck dumb.
Schmeichel
7: Dunne7, Howey7, Distin 7: Sun 7, Berkovic 8, Foe 8, Horlock 7, Jensen 8: Anelka
8, Goater 7.
Tevez beats Shawcross and Wilkinson and scores a great individual goal on 13 minutes
From well outside the penalty area Tevez scores with a terrific free kick to put City three up
team - Hart: Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Zabaleta: Milner, Johnson. Silva .De Jong. Yaya Toure ,Tevez
Just after Chelsea had taken the lead Frank Lampard came on to make his debut and 7 minutes later Silva started a move which ended with Lampard thumping the ball into the net to score against his old club. Now where is he manager now?!!
City team - Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Mangala, Kolarov ( Lampard), Toure. Fernandinho, Milner, Silva, Dzeko, Aguero
Four minutes into the second half City took the lead against Everton. Samaras passed the ball out wide to Beasley who chased it down to the goal line and slid it back to Samaras who side footed past Howard from close range.
It was
City's 250th goal in the Premiership - more pics
HERE
City team - Weaver: Onuoha, Dunne ,Distin, Jordan, Trabelsi (Miller) Richards, Dabo, Beasley. Vassell. Corradi (Samaras)
After 84 minutes City broke away with Nasri and when his cross was only partly cleared -
Fernandinho hit Silva's pass first time into the back of the net - a terrific strike
It was
City's 500th goal in the Premiership - more pics
HERE
City legend Shawn Wright-Phillips got a huge welcome back when he came on as sub for QPR and he was soon in action against Zabaleta
Oh yes - Aguero got a hat-trick - his first - a chip over the keeper and the second following a defensive error.
His third was a penalty.
Team - Hart, Zabaleta, Demichelis, Mangala, Kolarov, Fernando, Fernandinho, Milner, Lampard, Silva, Aguero
more pics
HERE
A match that had everything except VAR - goals - near misses - controversy - and a sending off!
The left hand pic shows Shawn Wright-Phillips scoring number 3 for City - he was sent off later!
The right hand pic shows Reyna scoring his first goal and number six for City after a great move.
Seaman,Sun Sommeil, Distin,Tarnat:Wright-Phillips,Barton (Dunne),McManaman (Sibierski),Reyna,Fowler,(Tiatto),Anelka
more pics
here
Another game with a sending off - this time it was Ronaldo - wonder what happened to him!!. Above pic shows Ireland passing to Sinclair who shoots past Van der Sar for goal number one for City
Vassell scoring number two for City
Robbie Fowler score number three
James: Sun, Dunne(Onuoha), Distin, Jordan: Sinclair, Barton, Ireland, Riera (Musampa) Cole (Fowler) Vassell
Following the miracle against Gillingham at the end of the previous season this one nil win enabled City to win promotion to the Premiership. Taylor scored the vital goal following a free kick and City fans filled the pitch after the game
Weaver, Edghill, Tiatto, Prior, Jobson, Horlock, Wiekens, Whitley, Taylor, Goater, Kennedy
more pics
HERE
.
After City took an early lead Bolton went two one up and an effort by Hamann was deflected by a defender to make it 2-2 (above left). City keeper Isaksson later made a great save from Anelka (remember him!) - above right
Vassell flicks the ball past the keeper to give
City the lead
In added time Garrido broke down the left and crossed to Etuhu who made it 4-2
Wanchope scores for City after just 16 minutes
Rooney in one of his final games for Everton battles with Distin and Barton.
Wanchope celebrates his 50th goal for City
Anelka watches the ball hit the back of the net as a shot from Sibierski makes it 4-1
Wright-Phillips scores a great final goal for City
Moonchester and Moonbeam watch Anelka take a final corner
Isaksson .: Corluka ., Dunne ., Richards , Ball : Johnson , Hamann ,
Petrov ( Garrido ) Fernandes ( Etuhu ) Vassell , Bianchi (Mpenza )
James
: Sun : Dunne , Distin , Tarnat : Wright-Phillips , Barton (Sibierski
), Bosvelt , Reyna (Jordan ) Anelka , Wanchope ( Macken ):
Wanchope scored from a penalty to give City the lead and a few minutes later we had a wonderful goal - one to remember. A long throw out
by Nash found Berkovic near the half way line - he ran and ran and ran towards
the Norwich goal and with the Norwich defenders hanging around like lost sheep
at Deerham Market he ended a great run by slipping the ball between Green's legs
to put City in the comfort zone at 3-1.
Following the sacking of Joe Royle after the relegation from the Premiership Kevin Keegan took over and his two signings of Benarbia and Berkovic made a terrific difference.
IOn this game against Norwich City went down to ten men when Tiatto was sent off after just 12 minutes. The reorganized City side took the lead through Berkovic following good work by Wanchope and Goater - pic on left
Nash, Wright-Phillips, Tiatto, Dunne, Howey, Pearce, Benarbia, Berkovic, Wanchope, Goater, Horlock
Macken - who was making his home debut following his move from Preston - took a pass from Jensen and notched number 100.
City needed just one point from this game to win the Division One Championship and just three goals to reach 100 goals. Huckerby scored two goals before half time and City led 2-1 and then......
Ali Benarbia gave Huckerby the chance to complete his hat-trick
Macken scored his second goal on 70 minutes to make it 5-1
Nash, Wright-Phillips, Jensen, Dunne, Howey, Pearce, Benarbia, Horlock, Huckerby, Macken,, Tiatto,
After just three minutes Weah crossed for Wanchope to give City the lead
A cross from Wanchope gives Haaland chance to make it two nil after 23 minutes
After Sunderland had come back to make it two all once again Weah and Wanchope linked well to give Wanchope his second goal (above) and later Paulo completed his hat-trick and City won 4-2
Weaver, Edghill, Tiatto, Prior, Horlock, Wiekens, Haaland, Wanchope, Weah, Kennedy
It could have been ten but we will be quite happy with seven nil. What a win - the highest win in the Premiership and City's biggest home win since we beat Huddesfield town 10-1 in 1987.
I was there that day at Maine Road but alas no pics
A great well worked goal finished off by Silva made it two nil within 20 minutes
In the second half a great free kick by Yaya Toure made it five nil
On 70 minutes Aguero made it six nil and Dzeko made it 7 with five minutes to go
Pantilimon 6.5: Zabaleta 7, Demichelis 7, Nastasic 7, Clichy 7; Fernandinho 7.5, Yaya Toure 8, Nasri 7.5 (Milner), Silva 9 (Navas), Aguero 9, Negredo 7.5 (Dzeko 7)
A great game to watch with goals aplenty! After City had taken the lead through Sterling Monaco hit back and went into the lead with goals from Falcao and then Mbappe. City hit back and.........
Aguero shot through the keepers legs to make it two all and then Falcao put Monaco ahead again after he had missed a penalty. Aguero then got his second goal to make it three all
Stones put City into the lead at a corner and Sane made the result safe late in the game. More pics
HERE
Caballero 7.5: Sagna 6.5, Stones 6, Otamendi 5, Fernandinho 6 ( Zabaleta 7) Toure 7.5, Silva 8.5, De Bruyne 7: Sterling 8 ( Navas), Sane 9, Aguero 9.5 (Fernando)
The final game of the season - City's 5th win on the trot and Division 1 Champs under Kevin Keegan
Steve Howey scored with a header to give City the lead after 8 minutes following a corner
Benarbia set up Goater for number two before the half hour
After Pompey had got a goal back Macken made it 3-1 on 86 minutes and then in added time Stuart Pearce missed a penalty in his very last game
Nash, Wright-Phillips, Jensen, Dunne, Howey, Pearce, Benarbia, Horlock, Huckerby, Goater, Tiatto,
subs Berkovic, Macken
Messi put Barcelona ahead on a counter attack on 20 minutes but Gundogan leveled the scores just before half time
After David Silva had been brought down Kevin de Bruyne scored a terrific free kick to put City ahead
Gundogan made it three one and thankfully a late free kick taken by Messi went well wide -more pics
HERE
Caballero 7: Zabaleta 7, Otamendi 7, Stones 7.5, Kolarov 7: Fernandinho 7 ( Fernando 7) Gundogan 8.5, Sterling 7.5 ( Navas), Silva 7, De Bruyne 8.5 (Nolito) Aguero 8
Kevin Keegan continued with the 4-4-2 formation
and also starting for the first time at Maine Road were Ali Benarbia and Berkovic. Shawn Goater had to wait until the 18th minute to score his first of three goals
Benarbia and Berkovic were playing well together and City looked as though they
would score every time they got the ball so it was not long before Goater got his second - his 19th of the season
After Huckerby had made it three before half time Goater added number four on 52 minutes - more pics
HERE
Weaver, Dunne, Tiatto, Mettomo,, Howey, Pearce, Benarbia, Berkovic, Huckerby, Goater, Wright-Phillips
Manchester
City v Gillingham - May 30th 1999 Promotion play-off
Wembley Stadium
In the beginning God created
two teams in Manchester - City and City reserves and on May 30th in the year
of our Lord 1999 under the twin towers of Wembley the opposition from Gillingham
scored a second goal near the end.
and the score was 0-2 at
the end of the 86th minute.
In the beginning of the
89th minute Kevin Horlock took advantage of a loose ball after good
work by Taylor and Goater to blast the ball past Bartram from the edge of
the box
and the score was 1-2 at
the end of the 89th minute.
A guardian angel signaled
five extra minutes for the blue multitude to endure and it came to pass that
well into the added time a four man move ended with Paul Dickov evading a
tackle and slotting home from ten yards past the flailing left hand of Bartram.
and the score was 2-2 at
the end of the 94th minute.
The roar ( from the blue
end) that greeted the goal was enough to waken the custom posts just north
of Watford and those of little faith hastened back to witness the extra half
hour. Would Gillingham, reeling from the two late blows now buckle at the
knees and submit to Joe Royle'=s Blue Army.
but the score was still
2-2 at the end of the 125th minute.
And so it came to pass
that a penalty shoot-out was to create the agony and the ecstasy . Cometh
the hour cometh the goalkeeper and the final hero of the match, the angelic
Nicky Weaver, finally came of age. With a supreme confidence far beyond his
20 years he saved two penalties to ensure City`s rise to the first Division.
and the score was 3-1 on
penalties at the end of the game
Horlock scores for City
1-0
Weaver dives to save from Smith 1-0
Dickov hits post- still 1-0
Pennock misses by a mile - still 1-0
Terry Cooke scores for City 2-0
Hodge scores for Gillingham
2-1
Edghill sends the keeper the wrong way
3-1
Weaver saves from Butters and City are
promoted
The final farewell - Division One here
we come
The roar from the seething
blue mass of humanity was enough to be heard at the Scottish border never
mind Watford. For a further twenty minutes or so the fans paid homage to the
players and we had the welcome sight of the team play humble homage to the
fans who had willed them with their incredible support up the first rung of
the ladder to the Premier League. It was a strange sight ; one half of Wembley
a mass of cheering and clapping blue and white fanatics, the other half virtually
empty save a few hundred brave City supporters who had braved the Gillingham
end by some means. To their credit the City players went across to the lone
group at the Gillingham end to add their thanks.
What a day ! I have been
to Wembley as a steward, a reporter and a City fan and seen some exciting
games but the finale of this game will remain in my memory bank for ever.
Weaver, Crooks, Edghill, Wiekens, Morrison, Horlock, Brown, Whitley, Dickov, Goater, Cooke
A great team performance started when a cross from Kolarov was hit first time by Aguero past the keeper on 15 minutes
After Toure had made it two just on half time Aguero got number three following a great cross from Negredo
Nasri made it four nil and only a free kick by Rooney spoiled a clean sheet against this team from Salford!
team
Hart 7, Zabaleta 7.5, Kompany 9 ,Nastasic 7.5, Kolarov 7.5 :
Yaya Toure 8, Fernandinho 7.5,
Navas 7.5 ( Milner 7), Nasri 9, Aguero 8.5 (Garcia) Negredo 8.5 (Dzeko)
After a goalless first half City took the lead with a great effort by Nasri
Lescott made it two nil at a corner and after Spurs leveled the scores we had to wait until the final moments when Balotelli was brought down in the penalty area
Mario secured the three points with almost the last kick of the game
Team
Hart 6.5: Richards 7.5, Savic 5, Lescott 7, Clichy 7: Barry 7.5, Milner 7.5, Nasri 7, Silva 8, Dzeko 6 (Balotelli 7) Aguero 7
After Wolves had gone ahead Kolo Toure scored at a corner just before half time
Early in the second half a great individual goal by Tevez put City ahead
Yaya Toure made it 3-1 taking a good pass from Dzeko and Tevez got his second goal with a header on 65 minutes. Surely game over! No Wolves came back with two goals but City hung on for the three points.
Hart 7: Zabaleta 6.5, Kolo Toure 6 ( Lescott 5), Kompany 6.5, Kolarov 7: Barry 6.5,
de Jong 6.5, Yaya Toure 7, Johnson 6.5 ( Silva), Tevez 9.5 ( Milner 7) Dzeko 7.5
Probably the most important magic moment of City history was in added time in the game against Queens Park Rangers on a sunny afternoon in May 2012. The score was two all and City needed to win. Balotelli passed to Sergio Aguero who beat a defender and this is the moment he shot.
The shot beat Kenny the keeper to put City ahead 3-2
Will these kids have remembered this special day?
These City fans will have!
Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy:Yaya Toure (De Jong), Barry (Dzeko), Nasri, Silva,
Tevez (Balotelli) Aguero
Aguero and the City players celebrate
The bench and particularly David Platt celebrate first the goal and then the win and the Premiership title at full time
