Joe Mercer Biography By Gary James

[Gary James]

I was wondering if you can remember or if you have come across any worthwhile phrase used by Joe which we could use on a banner.

It would be brilliant seeing his words written across the COMS and a great gesture by MCFC to our most loved and respected managers of recent years.

Joe's best quotes are often more football based than pure City but they are worth highlighting. There are plenty that include phrases like "Football is My Life". There are a few good City related ones about "winning everything except the Grand National" and about everything being perfect at City. When I finish proof reading and so on I'll have a proper think.

As far as all the other comments go - thanks it really is appreciated. Dyed Petra's comments about Mercer, Allison and Swales are worth thinking about. Firstly, it's worth remembering that the 2 'faction' books mentioned are definitely fiction. Steve Mingle's is entertaining and he has admitted himself where he got the material from (he did do proper research) and I like his book (though I've deliberately avoided looking at it over the last few months as I've tried to focus on Joe's factual story again).

Colin Shindler's book focuses on the negative (look at the title) and is a work of fiction - I think some fans think it's fact, but it's not. As Joe never talked in such negative terms (betrayal; Worst of friends etc.) I think it's wrong to use his name in that way. Joe was treated appallingly by City (and some of those people who treated him badly are still involved with the club) but Joe himself refused to complain.

My book talks of Joe's treatment but I respect his views and his dignity and so make sure any judgements on how he was treated are clearly shown as my judgements (or those of others).

As for Malcolm, I interviewed him several years ago when he was able to discuss at length this period. He told me how much he cared for Joe and how he 'now' realises that it was the new directors who messed it all up and put a strain on the relationship. There's obviously a lot on this in the book.

Joe did not blame Malcolm publicly - and so any criticism of Mal by Joe in the works of fiction is unfair. In fact Joe's son (who sadly passed away 2 years ago) talked to me at length about this over the years and revealed how Joe wanted to work with Malcolm again and almost asked him (it's in this version of my book!).

Dyed Petra, you are totally right to criticise Peter Swales and those who came to power with him. Swales was not Chairman when Joe left but his influence was there and it was the years that followed, particularly the 1980s, that I find particularly upsetting. Joe didn't blame anyone for the break up, but our greatest ever manager (and like you say a man of equal standing if not higher than Shankly) was not welcomed back to the club.

In fact, I interviewed a famous ex-City player the other week and he told me that there was no official representation at Joe's funeral from City. Several former players were there (totally as expected etc.) but no one officially representing the club. Whether that's true or not I don't know, but every other team Joe had been involved with sent senior directors and/or Chairmen. I haven't quoted this in the book because I wasn't able to prove conclusively that this was the case before my deadline, but if it is true why?

Sorry, I've waffled on, but it's worth highlighting that Joe's success as both a player and a manager placed him at the very top of the game during his lifetime. He won tremendous honours as a player and as a manager. People say he failed at Villa - rubbish! He won the Div 2 Championship, the League Cup and had built an entertaining young side before health affected him. As a player he captained Everton, Arsenal (in particular) and England with distinction.

All together in his life he won Footballer of the Year award, 4 League titles, 1 ECWC, 2 FA Cups, 2 League Cups, 2 Second Div titles, and was finalist in another FA Cup and another League Cup. As he lost his main playing years to the war and European competition was not in existence during his playing days, and in his managerial career European football was more limited, I reckon his record is astounding.

Shankly, Finney, Busby, Revie, Greenwood, Nicholson, Swift, Cullis... I could go on, but all the great managers and players always talked of the greatest in terms of adapting to success, setting the right example, being in love with the game etc. as being Joe.

He was awarded the OBE in 1976 - at the time that was a major achievement as footballers rarely received that kind of recognition. Had he retired in the modern era he would have been knighted (as would Bob Paisley).

 

[Didsbury Dave]

I will certainly be reading this book. As an aside I've just read half of the "Big Mal" biography. Unfortunately I left it on a train just as we were on the title run in.

With regards to Swales's malign influence at the club, I found something truly shocking in your "Big Book of City". It was an interview with Swales around about the time he became chairman. I actually think it's just before, about 72.

Now bear in mind that at this time we just missed out in the championship, had a team full of internationals and were averaging, at a guess close to 40K.

All Swales can talk about is Man United, how they are not part of a "magic circle" and how we need to overtake them.

It's shocking and it's no surprise we went into decline shortly after. We were miles ahead of them. They might have been getting a couple of thousand more at the gate. Big deal. The man had the mindset of some Blues on here.

 

[Petetheblu]

Thanks Gary.

"Football is my life" is a cracker. We really do need to get a banner with something Joe said, it's a great way to remember our history.

 

[Gary James]

With regards to Swales's malign influence at the club, I found something truly shocking in your "Big Book of City". It was an interview with Swales around about the time he became chairman. I actually think it's just before, about 72.

Now bear in mind that at this time we just missed out in the championship, had a team full of internationals and were averaging, at a guess close to 40K.

All Swales can talk about is Man United, how they are not part of a "magic circle" and how we need to overtake them.

It's shocking and it's no surprise we went into decline shortly after. We were miles ahead of them.

I agree. That's why I included it. Basically the 1970-71 takeover, which ultimately resulted in Swales coming to power, messed everything up. We can never get back that time, but we can re-establish City as a power. The takeover never did satisfy Malcolm Allison or Joe Mercer and both men had gone (as a result of the takeover - even Mal was disappointed by the result) by the time Swales took on the role of Chairman.

The obsession with Utd killed City's natural ambition to succeed. The Swales interview shows why we failed - as you say we narrowly missed out on the title in 1972, our support was growing, and we were respected for the quality of our players, fans and so on. At the end of the 70s Swales' obsession with Utd messed up our chance of UEFA Cup glory, and then the 80s were really a series of knee-jerk reactions as the empire crumbled.

The men of dignity, including Joe Mercer and to some extent Eric Alexander, were cast aside or placed in difficult circumstances.

 

[Dyed Petya]

The obsession with overtaking United's crowds which Swales had was simply ridiculous, and it did lead us to disaster because he crippled the club financially trying to buy the success that he thought would change things. At the time, even Liverpool, a historically very well supported club currently winning everything and attracting glory hunters all over the country, couldn't match their gates. We were doing fine on the pitch and had crowds to be proud of, but that wasn't enough for Swales, unfortunately.

My memory is hazy on this now as the conversations I had are a long time ago. What I seem to recall, though, is that while Swales came onto the board in 1971 (I think) and was chairman from 1973, he wasn't the majority shareholder at that point. He was gradually buying up shares through the seventies to bolster his position, and until he owned a majority, the old guard could exercise enough influence to stop him simply from doing anything he wanted. When he got the power, he sidelined or marginalised them. Eric Alexander's book will have more on this, I suspect.

Anyway, the board expanded and was filled with Swales's cronies, who owed their position to him. And Swales was free to put into practice his great plan to ensure that we overtook United: borrow vast sums of money on dubious terms to spend on players. It was just a huge gamble and it failed.

PS - Thanks to Gary for such an interesting and comprehensive reply above. I always associate Swales with Joe Mercer's departure because of that youtube clip where he gives a TV interview about it.

 

[Gary James]

My memory is hazy on this now as the conversations I had are a long time ago. What I seem to recall, though, is that while Swales came onto the board in 1971 (I think) and was chairman from 1973, he wasn't the majority shareholder at that point. He was gradually buying up shares through the seventies to bolster his position, and until he owned a majority, the old guard could exercise enough influence to stop him simply from doing anything he wanted. When he got the power, he sidelined or marginalised them.

Swales hardly had any shares for years. It has often been said that it was only with relegation in 1983 when our value plumetted that he was able to buy a large number of shares. He never had a majority and had to rely on the support of others.

It's very easy to look at how the club was transformed and which directors supported him and which didn't. Eric does talk about this but doesn't go far enough. 'Old guard' Sidney Rose and John Humphreys are, according to Eric, the men who ultimately brought Swales in, but even Eric doubts that "Swales" was ever the peacemaker that he portrayed himself as.

Eric was Chairman at the time of Joe's departure but the power was already in the hands of the people who had taken over the Club and those that wanted to support Swales. I interviewed Eric for the Portsmouth prog and he makes it quite clear that as time moved on Swales had so much support in the boardroom that Eric felt he could not seriously challenge him.

Personally, I tend to think that by 1972 Joe was unable to stay at the club no matter what because those with real power didn't rate him (unbelievable I know, but I was once told by a City director that Joe achieved 'nothing at Manchester City'!). Yet, I don't necessarily blame Swales. Those people who supported him in 1972 (Peter made sure he was the one who explained to the media that the club had chosen Malcolm over Joe) and remained on the Board until the Lee takeover (and beyond in some cases) could and should have spoken out at various times. Especially true when Swales had so few shares that he could easily have been challenged - because they didn't challenge him they clearly supported him.

I'd better stop here. I talk about this a bit in the book, but I try to keep it positive.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

The obsession with overtaking United's crowds which Swales had was simply ridiculous, and it did lead us to disaster because he crippled the club financially trying to buy the success that he thought would change things. At the time, even Liverpool, a historically very well supported club currently winning everything and attracting glory hunters all over the country, couldn't match their gates. We were doing fine on the pitch and had crowds to be proud of, but that wasn't enough for Swales, unfortunately.

My memory is hazy on this now as the conversations I had are a long time ago. What I seem to recall, though, is that while Swales came onto the board in 1971 (I think) and was chairman from 1973, he wasn't the majority shareholder at that point. He was gradually buying up shares through the seventies to bolster his position, and until he owned a majority, the old guard could exercise enough influence to stop him simply from doing anything he wanted. When he got the power, he sidelined or marginalised them. Eric Alexander's book will have more on this, I suspect.

Anyway, the board expanded and was filled with Swales's cronies, who owed their position to him. And Swales was free to put into practice his great plan to ensure that we overtook United: borrow vast sums of money on dubious terms to spend on players. It was just a huge gamble and it failed.

PS - Thanks to Gary for such an interesting and comprehensive reply above. I always associate Swales with Joe Mercer's departure because of that youtube clip where he gives a TV interview about it.

Alexander's book contains very little information apart from a few dull dinner party anecdotes.

Interestingly, he leaves you in little doubt that he harbours some bad feeling for Joe Mercer.

If I remember rightly he claims he went round to Joe's house to persuade him not to join Coventry. But then a few days later he did go there as manager.

He says he felt betrayed but I found that bit a little uncomfortable to read as it seems only one person was betrayed and it wasn't Alexander.

 

[Gary James]

Interestingly, he leaves you in little doubt that he harbours some bad feeling for Joe Mercer.

If I remember rightly he claims he went round to Joe's house to persuade him not to join Coventry. But then a few days later he did go there as manager.

He says he felt betrayed but I found that bit a little uncomfortable to read as it seems only one person was betrayed and it wasn't Alexander.

I explore this in the new version of my book and I have since spoken with Eric. I don't think it particularly reads well in Eric's book, but it is fair to say that Eric (possibly the only director who did) wanted Joe to stay.

 

[Gary James]

BTH - I guess I do owe you a pint. If I ever get paid any royalties from Empire and At Heart (neither of which have ever paid me a penny for the books I wrote for them!) then I'll get you a pint.

Gary, how can this happen? How can publishers pay you jack s**t for your books? Can you not get legal?

You can get legal but it costs. With At Heart (Henry Hochland) I have gone as far as is physically and legally possible but he went into administration before paying me a penny. He didn't list me or any other author as creditors which, in itself, is a bit dodgy. I have to be careful what I say, so best stop there.

 

[Dyed Petya]

My memory is hazy on this now as the conversations I had are a long time ago. What I seem to recall, though, is that while Swales came onto the board in 1971 (I think) and was chairman from 1973, he wasn't the majority shareholder at that point. He was gradually buying up shares through the seventies to bolster his position, and until he owned a majority, the old guard could exercise enough influence to stop him simply from doing anything he wanted. When he got the power, he sidelined or marginalised them.

Swales hardly had any shares for years. It has often been said that it was only with relegation in 1983 when our value plumetted that he was able to buy a large number of shares. He never had a majority and had to rely on the support of others.

It's very easy to look at how the club was transformed and which directors supported him and which didn't. Eric does talk about this but doesn't go far enough. 'Old guard' Sidney Rose and John Humphreys are, according to Eric, the men who ultimately brought Swales in, but even Eric doubts that "Swales" was ever the peacemaker that he portrayed himself as.

Eric was Chairman at the time of Joe's departure but the power was already in the hands of the people who had taken over the Club and those that wanted to support Swales. I interviewed Eric for the Portsmouth prog and he makes it quite clear that as time moved on Swales had so much support in the boardroom that Eric felt he could not seriously challenge him.

Personally, I tend to think that by 1972 Joe was unable to stay at the club no matter what because those with real power didn't rate him (unbelievable I know, but I was once told by a City director that Joe achieved 'nothing at Manchester City'!). Yet, I don't necessarily blame Swales. Those people who supported him in 1972 (Peter made sure he was the one who explained to the media that the club had chosen Malcolm over Joe) and remained on the Board until the Lee takeover (and beyond in some cases) could and should have spoken out at various times. Especially true when Swales had so few shares that he could easily have been challenged - because they didn't challenge him they clearly supported him.

I'd better stop here. I talk about this a bit in the book, but I try to keep it positive.

I spoke to someone well connected about this, but it was 15 years ago during an evening when drink was flowing so I don't remember the detail.

I knew that Swales managed to worm his way onto the board and then take the chair with a small number of shares, but I'd assumed that, by the time he was clearly dictating club policy and taking very contentious decisions, he must have had a majority shareholding. It's baffling if most of the shares were in the hands of others that he could survive something as spectacularly ill-considered and idiotic as Allison's second coming. It would be like the shareholders of Leeds keeping Risdale on after their meltdown.

Still, if there's a former director who could say with a straight face that Mercer achieved nothing at City then it beggars belief. Nothing should surprise us in that case.