interpol said:
Gary - started reading the book cover to cover and it's a great read so far. Have to admit I did wonder whether I would find some of the very early history that interesting but it is...found it fascinating.
Couple of questions so far..
1. The blue plaque shown on a photo in the early chapters marking the site of the 1st game....looks to be on the side of one of the houses in "Shameless" land. I believe some of these (if not all) are due to be demolished soon...any plans to preserve the plaque?
2. Any idea why St. Mark's Rectory was so far away from the church (looks to be have been a good half mile away)?
Glad you are so interested. For me it was important to get the early history properly (or at least as properly as we can) recorded. That's why the book starts around 30 years before the team ever kicked a football.
It all sets the scene and proves that the roots of the Club go right back to the development of that part of Manchester.
Now the answers....
1. The plaque used to be on the now boarded up Aces pub. Once it closed someone stole the plaque. I took the photo about 5 years ago and the plaque went about 3 years ago.
2. No conclusive answer (others are researching this much more indepth than I am at the moment though). There are a few factors... main one may simply be that this was a much nicer part of the parish (considered a more well-to-do area back then). Also, it was still within the St. Mark's parish and may have been an attempt at ensuring St. Mark's 'staked its claim' to a ever-growing area.
There were debates between Rev Connell and neighbouring parishes on what boundaries should be and he did lose part of his parish when St Benedict's was built (ironically this means that the area where the old Hyde Rd ground was had been in St Marks parish in 1860s & 1870s).
The Connells didn't live in the rectory (it hadn't been built) during the 1860s and they lived on Hyde Road itself back then. Maybe Arthur felt he needed to have the family in a more gentrified area?
Some of City's earliest managers lived close to the St Mark's rectory - Lawrence Furniss and Sam Ormerod definitely did.
Hope this helps. I hope you continue to enjoy reading the book.
It took me a long time to research and write, so I do enjoy hearing how people find it and hop it does inspire everyone to learn more about the Club's entire history. Thanks.
