50 years ago today - Joe Mercer came...

[Gary James]

Fifty Years Ago today - Joe Mercer became manager of City.

This ultimately became a major moment in the Blues' history but at the time was not particularly viewed highly. In fact Mercer's first game in charge (a friendly) saw City slow-hand-clapped! The mood soon changed once the season began however, and the former Everton, Arsenal and England captain led the Blues to the Div 2 Championship in his 1st season. Further successes followed, as he gave City their most successful period ever (though today's successes will hopefully eclipse that soon!). I've posted a photo of Mercer's first day here https://www.facebook.com/GaryJames4 - surprisingly(!) it rained.

 

[squirtyflower]

My, how time passes, fifty years whoosh

 

[silverback]

I was a mere 18 years old. WOW.

 

[ifiwasarichfan]

50 years !

 

[petrusha]

Fifty Years Ago today - Joe Mercer became manager of City.

This ultimately became a major moment in the Blues' history but at the time was not particularly viewed highly.

I can imagine that, had there been a Blue Moon in those days, there would have been a fair amount of negativity following this appointment: "Already taken the Blades and Villa down - we're more likely to end up in Division Three than Division One with this bloke in charge!" and "If managing Villa drove him to a stroke, imagine what the stress here will do to him!" and that sort of thing. Inspired choice, though. What Joe and Malcolm achieved was incredible, really. And given the way United developed through the 1960s, it doesn't bear thinking about where we'd have ended up if the two of them hadn't engineered those fantastic successes of our own at the end of the decade.

 

[lancs blue]

Jeez, I was 10 when Joe arrived. Some huge ups and downs since then but in hindsight a momentous day in the club's history, no doubt about that.

 

[Alan Oakes Shinpads]

Jeez, I was 10 when Joe arrived. Some huge ups and downs since then but in hindsight a momentous day in the club's history, no doubt about that.

Snap !!!

Indeed what a rollercoaster ride we have had since then and agree a very momentous day for the club. I remember my Dad , saying at the time he liked Joe but thought that Allison was a cockney wide boy who would be no use to City ! Perhaps he meant second time round

 

[remember arthur mann]

Started watching Ciity seriously then, home and away, a year into my paper round and chose to spend my money on the blues rather than Belle Vue Speedway.

 

[ccr]

Fifty Years Ago today - Joe Mercer became manager of City.

This ultimately became a major moment in the Blues' history but at the time was not particularly viewed highly. In fact Mercer's first game in charge (a friendly) saw City slow-hand-clapped! The mood soon changed once the season began however, and the former Everton, Arsenal and England captain led the Blues to the Div 2 Championship in his 1st season. Further successes followed, as he gave City their most successful period ever (though today's successes will hopefully eclipse that soon!). I've posted a photo of Mercer's first day here https://www.facebook.com/GaryJames4 - surprisingly(!) it rained.

Was against Dundee if memory serves Gary. About 8000 summat in the crowd. Did Ralph Brand make his debut or did we buy him later ? We lost 1-2, I think.

 

[xgorton]

I was 13 and a few weeks later I was outside Maine Rd (school holidays) with my autograph book when Ralph Brand signed,he was Joe's first signing.