This page chronicles the history of Manchester City in further detail from 1965 to 2001. See History of Manchester City F.C. for a history overview of Manchester City.
The dark days (1963–1965) Following relegation in 1963, George Poyser became manager and purchased Derek Kevan, Jimmy Murray and Johnny Crossan whilst promoting homegrown players Alan Oakes and Glyn Pardoe but could not arrest the decline in the club's fortunes. The nadir came on 16 January 1965, when a mere 8,015 spectators watched the team lose 2–1 to Swindon Town, a record low for a league match at Maine Road. The club finished the season eleventh in the Second Division, at that point the lowest finish in the club's history;Ardwick finished 13th in the Second Division in 1894, but at that time there were only 16 clubs in the First Division. Poyser resigned shortly before the end of the season.Penney, Manchester City: The Mercer-Allison Years, p10 Poyser soon resigned in Easter 1965 leaving City manager-less heading into the 1965–66 season.
The glory years (1965–1976) Mercer-Allison appointment (1965)
During the close season 1964–1965 the club was overhauled by chairman Albert Alexander and he appointed Joe Mercer as the club's new manager on 13 July 1965.Penney, Manchester City: The Mercer-Allison Years, p19 Mercer had had moderate success at Aston Villa, where he won the inaugural League Cup, but left after suffering a stroke in 1964.Penney, Manchester City: The Mercer-Allison Years, p13 Mercer however wanted to stay on as manager at Villa feeling he had more to give the club despite his apparent ailments, but when Mercer felt he was badly treated he decided to move on with Villa citing that the split was "by mutual consent".
Consequently, he needed a younger, fitter, assistant to run training sessions, and chose the flamboyant and dynamic Malcolm Allison, who had recently departed Plymouth Argyle after a spell as manager. Allison had other job offers from Stanley Matthews at Port Vale, Raich Carter at Middlesbrough and Joe Mercer at City which he took after admitting he had always claimed a love to City after listening to them on the radio during the [1933 FA cup final).
Progress (1965–1966) In the first season under Mercer, City won the division Two championship and gained promotion back to the top flight whilst making important signings in Mike Summerbee and Colin Bell, who later formed a formidable partnership with Francis Lee upfront.
The following 1966–67 season was fairly unremarkable for City with a 15th-place finish, though the team ended the season on a run of just four losses in seventeen games.
From 15th to champions (1967–68)
After Manchester United won the league title in 1966–67, United player Paddy Crerand bet Malcolm Allison £10 that Manchester City would never again attract crowds of 30,000. His bet proved foolish and he had to pay up within weeks of the new season, as in 1967–68 City would go on to claim the league title.
City's season opened with a 0–0 draw at home to Liverpool. City were awarded a penalty, but new captain Tony Book hit it wide.Goldstone & Saffer, Manchester City Champions 1967/68, p. 13. Two defeats followed, at Southampton and Stoke. The Stoke defeat led to a tactical switch. Mike Summerbee, who played wide on the right at the start of the season, was moved to centre-forward.Tossell, Big Mal, p. 137. The change reaped immediate dividends, with Summerbee playing a leading role in a 4–2 win against Southampton. This was the first in a run of five straight wins, after which Manchester City had caught up with the league leaders.Tossell, Big Mal, p. 138. During this run of wins young winger Stan Bowles made his league debut, scoring twice in a 5–2 win against Sheffield United.Penney, Manchester City: The Mercer-Allison Years, p. 39
City's search for a new goalkeeper ended with the signing of Ken Mulhearn from Stockport County on 21 September, in a deal that involved City's back-up goalkeeper Alan Ogley moving in the opposite direction.James, The Big Book of City, pp. 124–5. Harry Dowd kept goal in the next match, a 1–0 defeat at Arsenal,Goldstone & Saffer, Manchester City Champions 1967/68, p. 33. but then dislocated a finger, prompting a debut for Mulhearn in the season's first Manchester derby. Mulhearn was reputedly so nervous before the match that Allison locked him in the medical room until he calmed down. Colin Bell scored the opener after five minutes, but two Bobby Charlton goals meant a win for United. In the second half of the match, Bowles exchanged punches with Brian Kidd, though neither man was sent off, largely thanks to the intervention of their respective captains.Penney, Manchester City: The Mercer-Allison Years, p. 40 The derby loss was followed by a third consecutive defeat, at Sunderland.
A couple of days after the Roker Park defeat, Manchester City completed the signing of centre-forward Francis Lee from Bolton Wanderers for a club record £60,000.James, Manchester City – The Complete Record, p. 178. During negotiations Mercer stated to Lee that "we feel we've got the start of a good side. We are just one player short, and we think you are that player."James, The Official Manchester City Hall of Fame, p. 52. Lee made his debut in a 2–0 win at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers, the start of an 11 match unbeaten run,James, Manchester City – The Complete Record, p. 53. including a 6–0 win against Leicester City.Summerbee, Mike Summerbee – The Autobiography, p. 103.
Midway through their unbeaten run, City faced Tottenham Hotspur at home in snowy conditions, in a match televised on Match of the Day. As the teams came out onto the frozen pitch, commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme called the Manchester City team as "the most exciting team in England". Aided by a modification to the studs on their boots suggested by Tony Book,Book, Maine Man, p. 76. City produced one of the best footballing performances in their history. One Spurs player was quoted as saying, "It was extraordinary. City moved like Olympic speed skaters while we were falling around like clowns on a skid patch." Tottenham took an early lead through Jimmy Greaves, but Bell equalised before half-time, and in the second half City besieged Tottenham, scoring three more times to win 4–1. After the match City trailed the league leaders by only a single point. The match was named as Match of the Day'''s "Match of the Season",Goldstone & Saffer, Manchester City Champions 1967/68, p. 58. and as the only match at Maine Road that season to be recorded for television,Tossell, Big Mal, p. 148. is the foremost recorded example of the 1967–68 team in action.
The unbeaten run came to an end at Christmas, with back-to-back defeats in matches against West Bromwich Albion causing the club to fall to fourth place.Penney, Manchester City: The Mercer-Allison Years, p. 45. The team commenced 1968 with a seven match unbeaten run, which came to an end with a defeat at Don Revie's Leeds United. A visit to local rivals and league leaders Manchester United then followed. United took an early lead, but City rallied to win 3–1.
In late April, after City won 1–0 against Sheffield Wednesday and title rivals United lost to West Bromwich Albion, City were in a position where winning their final three games would all but guarantee the championship.Summerbee, Mike Summerbee – The Autobiography, p. 107. In the first of the three, a home match against Everton, City won 2–0 in a match featuring Tony Book's first league goal for the club.Book, Maine Man, p. 78. Next was Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. City took a 3–0 lead before half time, eventually winning 3–1.
Going into the final match, City were level on points with neighbours United. Liverpool were three points behind, but had a game in hand, so could still win the title if both City and United faltered.James, Manchester City – The Complete Record, pp. 125–6. City faced tenth-placed Newcastle United at St James' Park; United were at home to bottom-half Sunderland. Bookmakers made United slight favourites for the title.Summerbee, Mike Summerbee – The Autobiography, p. 108. Mike Summerbee opened the scoring on 13 minutes, but Newcastle soon equalised.James, The Official Manchester City Hall of Fame, p. 130. Neil Young made it 2–1, but again Newcastle equalised. A second strike by Young was disallowed for offside, and at half-time the score was 2–2. Straight after half-time Young scored again, and Francis Lee scored a fourth at 63 minutes.James, Manchester City – The Complete Record, p. 126. A late Newcastle goal set up a nervy finish, but City held on to win 4–3 and secure the title.
FA Cup triumph (1968–69) + 1968–69 FA Cup – Route to victoryRoundTeamScoreOppositionRound 3Manchester City1–0Luton TownRound 4Manchester City0–0Newcastle UnitedRound 4 replayManchester City2–0Newcastle UnitedRound 5Manchester City4–1Blackburn RoversQuarter-finalManchester City1–0TottenhamSemi-finalManchester City1–0EvertonFinalManchester City1–0Leicester City City won the FA Cup in 1969, a victory that gave City qualification to challenge the European Cup Winners Cup the following season, which they won. The defending champions struggled in the league however and finished 13th whilst also disappointing in the European Cup, being knocked out in the first round by Fenerbahçe and the third round of the League Cup.
Cup Winners Cup and League Cup double (1969-70)
Jeff Astle opened the scoring for Albion after five minutes, becoming the first player to score in the final of both the League Cup and FA Cup at Wembley. He had already scored in the first leg of the 1966 League Cup Final four years previously, however that was at West Ham's Boleyn Ground. City equalised through Mike Doyle to send the game into extra-time, and eventually won 2–1, with Glyn Pardoe scoring the winner.
Honours were shared in the league matches between the two sides during the 1969–70 league season, with Manchester City gaining a 2–1 victory at Maine Road and West Bromwich Albion winning 3–0 at The Hawthorns. City went on to achieve a 10th-place finish in the First Division
Manchester City qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup by winning the FA Cup in the 1968–69 season. It was only Manchester City's second European campaign. Their maiden entry into European competition, an appearance in the 1967–68 European Cup, saw the club exit in the opening round. Manchester City played the away leg first in every round. Their first tie was against Spanish club Athletic Bilbao, who were themselves managed by an Englishman, Ronnie Allen.Gardner, The Manchester City Football Book No. 2, p. 14. In the first leg, City recovered from a two-goal deficit to secure a 3–3 draw. The home leg was a comfortable 3–0 win.
Manchester City were without winger Mike Summerbee with a leg injury that had troubled him since the League Cup Final the previous month.James, Manchester City – The Complete Record, p. 130. However Summerbee was fit enough to be named as a substitute.Penney, Manchester City: The Mercer-Allison Years, p. 134