It’s finally online-the Peter Swales video we’ve been waiting for P31

[Gary James]

Didn't John Bond say he nearly walked out at city after the 81 FA Cup semi final because Swales showed zero emotion at the game and afterwards, any true fan would have been ecstatic?.

It was after the FA Cup final first game but it wasn’t Swales. It was Niven. Bond said Niven went up to him and told him he knew nothing about management at the hotel that Saturday night. I‘ve Bond on tape telling me that he almost resigned before the FAC replay. Obviously, that’s his side of the story but I do know that Niven did a number of things to try and unsettle Bond. The reason, according to a couple of key figures,was that Niven resented Bond because he wasn’t Malcolm. It says a lot about how the club was run by the entire board at the time, not just Swales.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

It was after the FA Cup final first game but it wasn’t Swales. It was Niven. Bond said Niven went up to him and told him he knew nothing about management at the hotel that Saturday night. I‘ve Bond on tape telling me that he almost resigned before the FAC replay. Obviously, that’s his side of the story but I do know that Niven did a number of things to try and unsettle Bond. The reason, according to a couple of key figures,was that Niven resented Bond because he wasn’t Malcolm. It says a lot about how the club was run by the entire board at the time, not just Swales.

I think I remember a similar story from one of your books. After the Wembley defeat, at the dinner which had been pre-arranged, Bond felt that the board were bitter and angry at him for losing and he realised then that the club culture was all wrong.

 

[petrusha]

Rob Gretton and maybe Ian Curtis might have gone to Maine Road but the rest of them were reds if they were ever interested at all in football

Fair enough. I think Cummins just suggested that the photoshoot wouldn't have happened had the match taken place. Perhaps he meant they wouldn't have had a photographer because he'd have been at Maine Road!

I just love the idea that the fate of such an iconic set of images depended on whether a City v Rotherham cup match could go ahead.

It was after the FA Cup final first game but it wasn’t Swales. It was Niven. Bond said Niven went up to him and told him he knew nothing about management at the hotel that Saturday night. I‘ve Bond on tape telling me that he almost resigned before the FAC replay. Obviously, that’s his side of the story but I do know that Niven did a number of things to try and unsettle Bond. The reason, according to a couple of key figures,was that Niven resented Bond because he wasn’t Malcolm. It says a lot about how the club was run by the entire board at the time, not just Swales.

I remember that when Bond eventually did resign, some allegations about him having an affair made their way into the tabloids. There was also comment at the time that people inside the club were trying to undermine him.

I listened to your interview with him on your site when he spoke about a lack of warmth within the club compared with Norwich. I thought it very sad he felt that, as the 1980/81 season was such a thrilling time to be a City fan and obviously he inspired that revival.

 

[LongsightM13]

Fair enough. I think Cummins just suggested that the photoshoot wouldn't have happened had the match taken place. Perhaps he meant they wouldn't have had a photographer because he'd have been at Maine Road!

I just love the idea that the fate of such an iconic set of images depended on whether a City v Rotherham cup match could go ahead.



I remember that when Bond eventually did resign, some allegations about him having an affair made their way into the tabloids. There was also comment at the time that people inside the club were trying to undermine him.

I listened to your interview with him on your site when he spoke about a lack of warmth within the club compared with Norwich. I thought it very sad he felt that, as the 1980/81 season was such a thrilling time to be a City fan and obviously he inspired that revival.

Looks like it was Curtis and Cummins, and probably Rob Gretton as well though he isn’t mentioned

City DNA #28: Ian Curtis

The 28th instalment of our City DNA series focuses on one of City’s most unique and talented fans…

www.mancity.com

 

[philiph20]

It was after the FA Cup final first game but it wasn’t Swales. It was Niven. Bond said Niven went up to him and told him he knew nothing about management at the hotel that Saturday night. I‘ve Bond on tape telling me that he almost resigned before the FAC replay. Obviously, that’s his side of the story but I do know that Niven did a number of things to try and unsettle Bond. The reason, according to a couple of key figures,was that Niven resented Bond because he wasn’t Malcolm. It says a lot about how the club was run by the entire board at the time, not just Swales.

Thanks Gary, i do remember seeing Swales in the director's box at Villa Park and the rest of the board are going wild at the final whistle and he was sat there showing zero emotion hence me thinking it was him who Bond was irate with.

 

[Gingers Dad]

Thanks Gary, i do remember seeing Swales in the director's box at Villa Park and the rest of the board are going wild at the final whistle and he was sat there showing zero emotion hence me thinking it was him who Bond was irate with.

Swales pretending to be too cool for school. While he was probably more worried about slipping in his heels or his hair doing a Bobby Charlton

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

I did ask him when I interviewed him about his support and how it started. He came from Ardwick and claimed he was often forced to hear Utd fans going on and on at school. He said he was picked on for being a Blue at his school.

Obviously, it’s difficult to prove one thing or another. I think we’d like to see evidence of people at games and soon. I know some doubted Bernstein was a Blue for example. I’ve also done in-depth interviews with former directors who have pointed the finger at others on the board claiming they weren’t Blues. For example, Eric Alexander was absolutely adamant that Sidney Rose had been desperate to join the board at Utd before he joined City’s board (due to Busby connection). Obviously, it’s opinions not fact.

Sidney was kind enough to give me some documents before he died and among them is one describing his experiences of going to matches at Maine Road in the 1930's.

 

[paulchapo]

Bloody hell that video and the documentary they did on us takes me back to my childhood. Maine Road, chairman's office, all the hopes and dreams I and others had, dashed on the ego of Swales and his cronies. Looking back at it now it's like a comedy but incredibly it was real life. It's no wonder we almost sunk into oblivion and it's criminal this clown wasn't ousted earlier. People might say those dark years were fun, character building, blah blah blah but it was mainly 35 years of misery as we became a laughing stock and lost generations of young fans along the way.

 

[LongsightM13]

Bloody hell that video and the documentary they did on us takes me back to my childhood. Maine Road, chairman's office, all the hopes and dreams I and others had, dashed on the ego of Swales and his cronies. Looking back at it now it's like a comedy but incredibly it was real life. It's no wonder we almost sunk into oblivion and it's criminal this clown wasn't ousted earlier. People might say those dark years were fun, character building, blah blah blah but it was mainly 35 years of misery as we became a laughing stock and lost generations of young fans along the way.

Looking at it now it looks like something scripted by Vic and Bob or the League of Gentlemen team

 

[Gingers Dad]

Looking at it now it looks like something scripted by Vic and Bob or the League of Gentlemen team

Probably inspired the writers of the Office. The scene where Tony Book comes up to speak to Swales is like a sketch from The Fast Show