"Manchester The Greatest City"

[Gary James]

I've been asked a few times about updating "Manchester The Greatest City". This is highly unlikely, but for anyone who is still trying to get hold of a copy, I've noticed that Amazon have a few secondhand copies but they are ridiculously priced. Of all my books this tends to be the one that is hardest to get hold of.

There's one at £29.99 plus postage, but the rest are much more expensive:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/1899538224/ref=ed_oe_h_olp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listin ... d_oe_h_olp</a>

I wish I'd kept a few back to sell!

There's a couple of Pride Of Manchester copies on Amazon for about £20 as well.

There is a "Manchester The Greatest City" on ebay at the moment that seems a definite bargain. It looks like it could go for less than the others (at the time I posted this, it was up at 99p plus postage).

<a class="postlink" href="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Manchester-The-Greatest-City-Football-Book_W0QQitemZ200459261632QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_SportsMemorabilia_Football_Memorabilia_ET?hash=item2eac4d96c0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Manchester-The-Gr ... 2eac4d96c0</a>

On both Amazon & Ebay there are a couple of copies of my original version of "Football With A Smile" but if you're going to buy that book I suggest you get the updated edition due out at the end of this month: <a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Joe-Mercer-OBE-Authorised-Successful/dp/0955812747/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270814546&sr=1-1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Joe-Mercer-OBE- ... 546&sr=1-1</a>

 

[Didsbury Dave]

I've got both editions of "The Greatest City" and two copies of "Farewell to Maine Road".

I sound like your greatest fan Gary but it's a bit more mundane than that. The second Greatest City was a Christmas present and I had a little piece published in Farewell, so my girlfriend bought he own copy then married me.

All brilliant books, recommended to any Blue. Especially the young guy who depressed me a bit the other day on here by saying "we have a bit of history but only the same as 20 other clubs"

 

[Gary James]

All brilliant books, recommended to any Blue. Especially the young guy who depressed me a bit the other day on here by saying "we have a bit of history but only the same as 20 other clubs"

I guess it depends which 20 clubs he means - Barcelona, Real Madrid....

The thing about our history is that we have had plenty of peaks and troughs whereas some clubs had absolutely nothing for decades then eclipsed us with a modern day peak.

 

[nijinskybell]

£29.99 is a good price for that these days.

I've seen them for anything between £60-£90... that's the usual price range you'll see them going at.


Could someone summarise the differences in the 2nd edition... is it very different... is it worth having both?

Cheers.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

All brilliant books, recommended to any Blue. Especially the young guy who depressed me a bit the other day on here by saying "we have a bit of history but only the same as 20 other clubs"

I guess it depends which 20 clubs he means - Barcelona, Real Madrid....

The thing about our history is that we have had plenty of peaks and troughs whereas some clubs had absolutely nothing for decades then eclipsed us with a modern day peak.

He meant 20 other clubs in England. The gist of his post was "Why would any top manager want to manage City".

It also neglected the important fact that we've been amongst the top 6 or 7 supported clubs in England for most of our history, as far as I understand it. Often much higher.

Again, you'll know the facts...

The depressing thing is i think a lot of our younger fans feel that way. Understandably I guess.

 

[awaydayblue]

Excellent reads, highly recommended!

 

[DD]

Just so we all know - United did NOT have the better goal average going into the last day of the 1967-68 season! :-)

 

[Gary James]

He meant 20 other clubs in England. The gist of his post was "Why would any top manager want to manage City".

It also neglected the important fact that we've been amongst the top 6 or 7 supported clubs in England for most of our history, as far as I understand it. Often much higher.

Again, you'll know the facts...

The depressing thing is i think a lot of our younger fans feel that way. Understandably I guess.

Unfortunately, because we have under-delivered since the mid-70s (let's face it, that side in the 70s ought to have been more successful and allowed to develop), people think that's always been the case with City. But I see the last 30 years as the exception, the dark years.

Football, for many, started with the Premier League. That's one of the reasons I'm bringing out my Mercer book again. When the first version came out in 1993 Mercer's stature in the game nationally was high. City fans reckonised what he had achieved at City and Arsenal fans voted him one of their greatest players of all time (and probably greatest captain). A few years ago I was appalled that Arsenal fans no longer talked of his record and also that the positives of his time at City were being wiped away.

But... City's history isn't just about that period when he managed us. However, the book will remind people of what we once were and also how low we had gone before he arrived - possibly an example of how the game can be changed and challenged.

I'm working on a few ideas at the moment that hopefully will remind football of what MCFC was, is, and should be.

 

[ChesterRdBlue]

I've been meaning to get one of these books by Gary for ages, which would anyone recommend as the best to get?

 

[Gary James]

Could someone summarise the differences in the 2nd edition... is it very different... is it worth having both?

Cheers.

Basically, it's just the progression of the story. The first ends in 1997, but the second includes the promotions etc. up to 2002.

The first version included some extra detail on the 2 grounds, but the second edition includes a bit on the 'future' move to COMS.

There are other minor changes.

 

[nijinskybell]

He meant 20 other clubs in England. The gist of his post was "Why would any top manager want to manage City".

It also neglected the important fact that we've been amongst the top 6 or 7 supported clubs in England for most of our history, as far as I understand it. Often much higher.

Again, you'll know the facts...

The depressing thing is i think a lot of our younger fans feel that way. Understandably I guess.

Unfortunately, because we have under-delivered since the mid-70s (let's face it, that side in the 70s ought to have been more successful and allowed to develop), people think that's always been the case with City. But I see the last 30 years as the exception, the dark years.

Football, for many, started with the Premier League. That's one of the reasons I'm bringing out my Mercer book again. When the first version came out in 1993 Mercer's stature in the game nationally was high. City fans recognised what he had achieved at City and Arsenal fans voted him one of their greatest players of all time (and probably greatest captain). A few years ago I was appalled that Arsenal fans no longer talked of his record and also that the positives of his time at City were being wiped away.

But... City's history isn't just about that period when he managed us. However, the book will remind people of what we once were and also how low we had gone before he arrived - possibly an example of how the game can be changed and challenged.

I'm working on a few ideas at the moment that hopefully will remind football of what MCFC was, is, and should be.

I would not have believed anyone who said in 1974-5 that we would be in the third division in just over 20 years... amazing cock up that was, same as Leeds!

 

[Sky Blue]

I've got both editions of "The Greatest City" and two copies of "Farewell to Maine Road".

I sound like your greatest fan Gary but it's a bit more mundane than that. The second Greatest City was a Christmas present and I had a little piece published in Farewell, so my girlfriend bought he own copy then married me.

All brilliant books, recommended to any Blue. Especially the young guy who depressed me a bit the other day on here by saying "we have a bit of history but only the same as 20 other clubs"

Very annoying poster that lad......Huddersfield winning three league titles in the twenties makes them as big as us in his world!

 

[nijinskybell]

Could someone summarise the differences in the 2nd edition... is it very different... is it worth having both?

Cheers.

Basically, it's just the progression of the story. The first ends in 1997, but the second includes the promotions etc. up to 2002.

The first version included some extra detail on the 2 grounds, but the second edition includes a bit on the 'future' move to COMS.

There are other minor changes.

Thanks Gary.

 

[HelloCity]

'Manchester: The Greatest City' should be given to every player and every member of staff who joins the club imo. It's a book which should always be stocked in the official club shop and a book which all true blues should want to own.

I'd love to buy a new version in a few years if we have a few seasons of success. It would certainly be a great end to the next edition, reading about our return to Wembley and the end of the trophy drought!

I'd also be interested in a 'A Decade of the City of Manchester Stadium' book if you were ever interested in doing one!

 

[Didsbury Dave]

I'd also be interested in a 'A Decade of the City of Manchester Stadium' book if you were ever interested in doing one!

A Year behind the scenes at Manchester City would sell Gary, especially if it was next season.

I doubt the club would give you access but what a great, fun, project.

In the past City would have given you open access to do this, remarkable as it seems.

Now I suspect Cook would insist on all revenues going to City.

 

[bluemanc]

He meant 20 other clubs in England. The gist of his post was "Why would any top manager want to manage City".

It also neglected the important fact that we've been amongst the top 6 or 7 supported clubs in England for most of our history, as far as I understand it. Often much higher.

Again, you'll know the facts...

The depressing thing is i think a lot of our younger fans feel that way. Understandably I guess.

Unfortunately, because we have under-delivered since the mid-70s (let's face it, that side in the 70s ought to have been more successful and allowed to develop), people think that's always been the case with City. But I see the last 30 years as the exception, the dark years.

Football, for many, started with the Premier League. That's one of the reasons I'm bringing out my Mercer book again. When the first version came out in 1993 Mercer's stature in the game nationally was high. City fans reckonised what he had achieved at City and Arsenal fans voted him one of their greatest players of all time (and probably greatest captain). A few years ago I was appalled that Arsenal fans no longer talked of his record and also that the positives of his time at City were being wiped away.

But... City's history isn't just about that period when he managed us. However, the book will remind people of what we once were and also how low we had gone before he arrived - possibly an example of how the game can be changed and challenged.

I'm working on a few ideas at the moment that hopefully will remind football of what MCFC was, is, and should be.

I'm working on a few ideas at the moment that hopefully will remind football of what MCFC was, is, and should be

I wish you wouldn't do that,you've hinted a couple of times recently that you are working on something special. As a person who can keep a secret & is trustworthy to the point of blind loyalty a PM with a tiny hint of what you are working on would be treated like it was never sent:)

 

[Dyed Petya]

He meant 20 other clubs in England. The gist of his post was "Why would any top manager want to manage City".

It also neglected the important fact that we've been amongst the top 6 or 7 supported clubs in England for most of our history, as far as I understand it. Often much higher.

Again, you'll know the facts...

The depressing thing is i think a lot of our younger fans feel that way. Understandably I guess.

You and I are pretty much the same age, DD, and started going to City at roughly the same time. At that point we were definitely one of the top teams in the country, and no one - whether a Blue or not - would have disputed it.

When we won the League Cup in 1976, it was our 9th major trophy: Liverpool at that stage had 13, the Rags 11 and Spurs and Everton 10 each. We were the third best supported club in the country behind United and Liverpool, and our ground was regularly chosen over Old Trafford for semi finals. We were free spending, had a lot of star players and made headlines regularly.

That's more representative of our history as a whole than is the last 35 years, but those who don't actually remember us as a top club don't always see it that way. Our long barren run has done our standing as a club great damage in the eyes not only of other fans but of many of our own, sadly.

 

[Gary James]

You and I are pretty much the same age, DD, and started going to City at roughly the same time. At that point we were definitely one of the top teams in the country, and no one - whether a Blue or not - would have disputed it.

When we won the League Cup in 1976, it was our 9th major trophy: Liverpool at that stage had 13, the Rags 11 and Spurs and Everton 10 each. We were the third best supported club in the country behind United and Liverpool, and our ground was regularly chosen over Old Trafford for semi finals. We were free spending, had a lot of star players and made headlines regularly.

That's more representative of our history as a whole than is the last 35 years, but those who don't actually remember us as a top club don't always see it that way. Our long barren run has done our standing as a club great damage in the eyes not only of other fans but of many of our own, sadly.

Spot on. One of the aims for those of us who do know/remember the history and heritage of the Club is to ensure that any new success is seen as a re-establishment of City's place in the world. In the Utd prog my In Search Of The Blues piece will focus on Billy Meredith's City career - the idea being that his role in football will be correctly remembered for his contribution to the Blue cause (it's been too red in recent years!).

 

[Didsbury Dave]

He meant 20 other clubs in England. The gist of his post was "Why would any top manager want to manage City".

It also neglected the important fact that we've been amongst the top 6 or 7 supported clubs in England for most of our history, as far as I understand it. Often much higher.

Again, you'll know the facts...

The depressing thing is i think a lot of our younger fans feel that way. Understandably I guess.

You and I are pretty much the same age, DD, and started going to City at roughly the same time. At that point we were definitely one of the top teams in the country, and no one - whether a Blue or not - would have disputed it.

When we won the League Cup in 1976, it was our 9th major trophy: Liverpool at that stage had 13, the Rags 11 and Spurs and Everton 10 each. We were the third best supported club in the country behind United and Liverpool, and our ground was regularly chosen over Old Trafford for semi finals. We were free spending, had a lot of star players and made headlines regularly.

That's more representative of our history as a whole than is the last 35 years, but those who don't actually remember us as a top club don't always see it that way. Our long barren run has done our standing as a club great damage in the eyes not only of other fans but of many of our own, sadly.

Bang on the money, Dyed. That has traditionally been our "place in the game".

Although we have had catastophic periods too. Usually these have been a few years but the latest one has been bloody 30 years.

The other problem is that young blues these days are surrounded by gloating, pisstaking reds. That persistant negativity must get to them.

 

[Dyed Petya]

Bang on the money, Dyed. That has traditionally been our "place in the game".

Although we have had catastophic periods too. Usually these have been a few years but the latest one has been bloody 30 years.

The other problem is that young blues these days are surrounded by gloating, pisstaking reds. That persistant negativity must get to them.

Yes, as Gary points out, we've had more peaks and troughs than most clubs, and that has added to the character of the club. I like the fact that, with City, you never quite know what's coming next, and never have.

For instance, Cup winners, challenging for the title and on the threshhold, seemingly, of a domonant period - only to be done for illegal payments, and be forced to sell our best players to our rivals, who promptly won League and Cup with the core of our team. League Champions, top scorers in the division, a positive goal difference, England's greatest 'keeper at the time in goal and the national team's back line - and relegated. We do unpredictability with a style no one else in English football has matched.

But as you say, we've always recovered quickly from the setbacks and managed to recover the status of a genuine top club - until, that is, the early 1980s. I suppose Blues of our generation and older, who remember us playing in Cup finals, challenging for the title and beating Juve or Milan in Europe should remember that the younger ones don't have those kind of memories and have suffered constant piss takes from plastic Rags.

Hopefully we don't have long to wait for the kind of times we're describing to be back with us. A nice thought as I prepare to clock off and head out for my Friday evening pint!