The "Swales Out" Campaign

[M18CTID]

Just to add that while I don't want us ever to return those dark days, I can't deny that the whole period surrounding that takeover was anything but dull.

As such, it's something I never tire of talking about, and my most vivid memories are the Friday night protest outside the main stand after we drew with Coventry the night Horton was appointed manager. Does anyone remember the guy with the mohican haircut and Adidas sweatshirt at the front of the crowd on the forecourt who was picked up by the TV cameras? I saw him on the Kippax during the game but don't recall seeing him at another game after that!

Also, the sit-down protest on the Kippax following the QPR game a couple of weeks later - this was the first game after Lee's interest in buying the club was reported in the media and that vicar was on MOTD chanting "We want Swales out"!

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Just to add that while I don't want us ever to return those dark days, I can't deny that the whole period surrounding that takeover was anything but dull.

As such, it's something I never tire of talking about, and my most vivid memories are the Friday night protest outside the main stand after we drew with Coventry the night Horton was appointed manager. Does anyone remember the guy with the mohican haircut and Adidas sweatshirt at the front of the crowd on the forecourt who was picked up by the TV cameras? I saw him on the Kippax during the game but don't recall seeing him at another game after that!

Also, the sit-down protest on the Kippax following the QPR game a couple of weeks later - this was the first game after Lee's interest in buying the club was reported in the media and that vicar was on MOTD chanting "We want Swales out"!

I sat down on the Kippax for that one, but didn't go to the Friday Cov game as I lived down South. I listened on the radio though . WAs it 3-2? The commentators "understood" Horton was taking over. Word spread round the crowd about Horton but it wasn't officially announced. I remember someone being interviewed after the game and he said firmly and pointedly "What success has he had?"

IT was an exciting time - It was nearly as exciting as when The Sheikh came forward when Lee announced his interest, because he was the dream appointment. Gates shot up too.

 

[Gary James]

Picture the scene in 2040 when someone (hopefully still me - I intend writing about City for a few decades yet!) writes the history of City. They'll talk of the European Cups, Premier League titles; World-Superbowl Soccer Successes etc. and then they'll tell everyone about the old days when candles were a fire hazard on concrete terracing; when chairmen wore cuban heels and were accused of balancing shredded wheat on their head; when rotund comedians joked that City's new signing was called "Swalesout" and that the new stand faced the wrong way; when City's manager told the players to time waste thinking they were safe while one of the club's stars was running down the touchline urging them to attack; when star players were sold to build a new white roof over the main stand; when fences went higher and higher and fans were treated like cattle; when the highlight of the game was whistling the laurel & Hardy tune to the 100 policemen walking around the pitch towards the Kippax; when 'Dibble' was actually the nickname for the policemen who stood on their platforms looking down on those in chanters' corner...


it'll sound like a different lifetime never mind our recent history!

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Picture the scene in 2040 when someone (hopefully still me - I intend writing about City for a few decades yet!) writes the history of City. They'll talk of the European Cups, Premier League titles; World-Superbowl Soccer Successes etc. and then they'll tell everyone about the old days when candles were a fire hazard on concrete terracing; when chairmen wore cuban heels and were accused of balancing shredded wheat on their head; when rotund comedians joked that City's new signing was called "Swalesout" and that the new stand faced the wrong way; when City's manager told the players to time waste thinking they were safe while one of the club's stars was running down the touchline urging them to attack; when star players were sold to build a new white roof over the main stand; when fences went higher and higher and fans were treated like cattle; when the highlight of the game was whistling the laurel & Hardy tune to the 100 policemen walking around the pitch towards the Kippax; when 'Dibble' was actually the nickname for the policemen who stood on their platforms looking down on those in chanters' corner...


it'll sound like a different lifetime never mind our recent history!

Haha, what about the time when City jokes were in vogue?

There was one about Franny Lee fainting at a conference, waking up and being told "You're in the conference" and him saying "what happened to division 3?"

One about an old lady's shopping trolley. I forget that one.

The blue oxo cube....laughing stock.

Plenty more too.

 

[Gary James]

Haha, what about the time when City jokes were in vogue?

There was one about Franny Lee fainting at a conference, waking up and being told "You're in the conference" and him saying "what happened to division 3?"

One about an old lady's shopping trolley. I forget that one.

She dropped her shopping and Lee said "Can you manage luv?" and she said "Not for you I can't"

Edit: The Conference one was an old one that kept being updated. During Swales time the story went that he collapsed in the Alliance Building Society (that dates it!) and when he came around he said "Where am I" - "In the Alliance" - "What happened to Div 2, 3 & 4!"

In the 40s Joe Mercer joked about getting injured at Arsenal and ending up at the Royal Northern. Same set up - the Doctor said "You're in the Northern" Joe joked that he thought he was playing in Northern section of Div 3

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Haha, what about the time when City jokes were in vogue?

There was one about Franny Lee fainting at a conference, waking up and being told "You're in the conference" and him saying "what happened to division 3?"

One about an old lady's shopping trolley. I forget that one.

She dropped her shopping and Lee said "Can you manage luv?" and she said "Not for you I can't"

Hahaha - that's the one!

Any more out there?

 

[1_barry_conlon]

I missed 'Swales out' as a chant, you used to be stood there and random blokes would scream SWALES OUT, SWALES OUT, SWALES OUT,SWALES OUT!! often on their own, it was a pressure release/touretts kind of thing... so much so, i missed doing it when he finally did one!!On Swales - he had to go and in the end everyone wanted him gone, as a City fan, i hated the bloke, he was ruining my club, however on his passing i read somewhere "If you had the best job in the world, would you give it up just because you couldnt do it?" which summed it up for me, he was a City fan, just not a very good Chairman.

On Franny - i met him soon after his appointment, he gave te impression he didnt want to meet us, seemed totally uninterested talking to us, he mumbled some words (which i cant remember they were so rubbish) and bragged how he was going to make Maine rd 48,000 with 2 tiers all the way around and how the best of the best would be brought to City, and then got passed over by even average managers and we ended up with Ball... who did as much damage as Malcolm did in his second spell... for this Franny should never be forgiven - Alan fucking Ball...

I used to work with a bloke who had the surname Swales. Everytime i walked past him i used to shout 'Swales out, Swales out' I used to tell him it was force of habit and there was nothing i could do about it!!!

 

[Didsbury Dave]

I missed 'Swales out' as a chant, you used to be stood there and random blokes would scream SWALES OUT, SWALES OUT, SWALES OUT,SWALES OUT!! often on their own, it was a pressure release/touretts kind of thing... so much so, i missed doing it when he finally did one!!On Swales - he had to go and in the end everyone wanted him gone, as a City fan, i hated the bloke, he was ruining my club, however on his passing i read somewhere "If you had the best job in the world, would you give it up just because you couldnt do it?" which summed it up for me, he was a City fan, just not a very good Chairman.

On Franny - i met him soon after his appointment, he gave te impression he didnt want to meet us, seemed totally uninterested talking to us, he mumbled some words (which i cant remember they were so rubbish) and bragged how he was going to make Maine rd 48,000 with 2 tiers all the way around and how the best of the best would be brought to City, and then got passed over by even average managers and we ended up with Ball... who did as much damage as Malcolm did in his second spell... for this Franny should never be forgiven - Alan fucking Ball...

I used to work with a bloke who had the surname Swales. Everytime i walked past him i used to shout 'Swales out, Swales out' I used to tell him it was force of habit and there was nothing i could do about it!!!

Long time no post Barry. Hope you're well pal.

City fans had two pavlovian responses back then..."United - SHIT!" and "Swales - OUT!"

 

[Gary James]

Tommy Docherty used to joke that Swales had a bracelet that said "In case of heart attack please call a press conference."

 

[1_barry_conlon]

I used to work with a bloke who had the surname Swales. Everytime i walked past him i used to shout 'Swales out, Swales out' I used to tell him it was force of habit and there was nothing i could do about it!!!

Long time no post Barry. Hope you're well pal.

City fans had two pavlovian responses back then..."United - SHIT!" and "Swales - OUT!"

I'm sound but hungover at the moment mate and taking in this thread.

The memories are flooding back. I agree with Gary though saying the Luton game was the worst of his life, same with me. The only game i've ever shed a tear over and i think that was in shock and anger at the same time.
However chasing Ricky Hill around trying to kick him up the arse on the pitch seemed to get some of that pent up energy out on the day!

 

[Longsight-memories]

Funny he gets no credit for anything...but at the time he came in he was what we needed (out of what was available)
we got the first miilion quid player,we had more press than we ever had (at that time) ok he went over his sell buy date..but at that time when he arrived he was like a breath of fresh air..with hindsight its easy to say this and that...

But if we had got his partner noel white, the guy who went on to liverpools board it would have been a result maybe.

But who is to say if we never had p swales we might never have had franny makin/wardel...franki and ADUG..so maybe he was a blessing in disguise

RIP PETER...

 

[1_barry_conlon]

Funny he gets no credit for anything...but at the time he came in he was what we needed (out of what was available)
we got the first miilion quid player,we had more press than we ever had (at that time) ok he went over his sell buy date..but at that time when he arrived he was like a breath of fresh air..with hindsight its easy to say this and that...

But if we had got his partner noel white, the guy who went on to liverpools board it would have been a result maybe.

But who is to say if we never had p swales we might never have had franny makin/wardel...franki and ADUG..so maybe he was a blessing in disguise

RIP PETER...

I think you'll find that was Trevor Francis from Brum to Forest.

 

[Glory Hunter]

TBH the wig-ocracy was the source of far more entertainment than was happening on the pitch.

 

[masterwig]

I love our history. It's like a mental soap opera that nobody would believe if it hadn't actually happened. You really couldn't make up some of the mad stuff that's gone on at City.

 

[fbloke]

Here is a candidate for "the most inaccurate prediction in the history of man award"

"This will be the happiest club in the land. The players will be the best paid and we'll drink plenty of champagne, celebrate and sing until we're hoarse"

F H Lee

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Here is a candidate for "the most inaccurate prediction in the history of man award"

"This will be the happiest club in the land. The players will be the best paid and we'll drink plenty of champagne, celebrate and sing until we're hoarse"

F H Lee

Hahahaha

What about his first press confrence, held at Manchester Airport, when he said "Next time we're here we'll be jetting off to Europe"

 

[fbloke]

Here is a candidate for "the most inaccurate prediction in the history of man award"

F H Lee

Hahahaha

What about his first press confrence, held at Manchester Airport, when he said "Next time we're here we'll be jetting off to Europe"

They did get a holiday in Lanzarote didn't they?

 

[Didsbury Dave]

I love our history. It's like a mental soap opera that nobody would believe if it hadn't actually happened. You really couldn't make up some of the mad stuff that's gone on at City.

It's the reason why no other supporter will ever understand the feelings some of us went through that afternoon in 1999 when we came back from the brink.

 

[fbloke]

I love our history. It's like a mental soap opera that nobody would believe if it hadn't actually happened. You really couldn't make up some of the mad stuff that's gone on at City.

It's the reason why no other supporter will ever understand the feelings some of us went through that afternoon in 1999 when we came back from the brink.

Even the hope of Thaksin left us feeling battered and bruised after the 8-1 and Svens departure and then...........

Jackpot!

 

[masterwig]

I was certainly suckered in by the promises of Thaksin. Looking back I feel like a right wally to believe the words of an on the run penniless billionaire. After that season under Pearce we were desperate though.