Gary James
Well-Known Member
I have learned that on Friday (26/03/10) Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4 will be repeating/updating a feature they did three years ago on Anna Connell and her work in West Gorton.
I don't know how much they've updated it, but I do think it'll be worth listening to.
A BIT OF CAUTION.....
The original feature was produced as publicity for a book by a religious expert called Peter Lupson. I had helped Peter significantly with his research into West Gorton, City and the Connells.
However, when I received a call from the BBC 3 years ago about this feature the original angle of the piece was based entirely on the view that City had forgotten its roots/didn't care about where it had come from and that we knew nothing about the Connell involvement. I was told by the producer that they had been informed that City wouldn't know anything and definitely wouldn't help! Whether that is true or not I don't know, but that is what I was told.
I was stunned (especially as much of the material had come from Citry historians over the years, mostly me and a guy called Tony Heap who really deserves most credit), as was the BBC producer when I told her more about the story than they knew and explained that much of it had been included in some of my earlier books (Manchester The Greatest City & Manchester City The Complete Record). These pre-dated the religious book.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, the BBC eventually agreed to interview me as well and I helped tell the story. As this was supposed to be a feature promoting Lupson's book it ended up that he was quoted extensively, and I was used sparingly, but nevertheless it proved City and its fans knew about its history.
Since the programme was originally aired, I have carried out much more research into this period. As have other City historians like Paul Toovey. Both Toovey and I are agreed that Anna Connell is not the main spark in the creation of the football club, and that the roots of the club go back to the cricket club, around 5 years before Anna organised the Working Men's meetings (that we originally thought led to the creation of the football club).
Paul Toovey wrote about this in "The Birth Of The Blues" and I've written the findings of this latest research in "Manchester A Football History". I believe the key figures are William Beastow (the real founding father), Arthur Connell (our first president and the only Connell whose involvement with the football team can be confidently proved), and Thomas Goodbehere. Research is ongoing and I still think Anna deserves credit for her work in Gorton, but the others are the football people.
Moving on to this week...
I have not been re-interviewed, so some of my views will not be based on the latest research. I don't know if Peter Lupson has been either.
I have a feeling that the emphasis may be back on the 'City, with its immense wealth, doesn't know or care' about its history. I sincerely hope it isn't.
I will be listening intently on Friday to hear how the story is put across this time.
I don't know how much they've updated it, but I do think it'll be worth listening to.
A BIT OF CAUTION.....
The original feature was produced as publicity for a book by a religious expert called Peter Lupson. I had helped Peter significantly with his research into West Gorton, City and the Connells.
However, when I received a call from the BBC 3 years ago about this feature the original angle of the piece was based entirely on the view that City had forgotten its roots/didn't care about where it had come from and that we knew nothing about the Connell involvement. I was told by the producer that they had been informed that City wouldn't know anything and definitely wouldn't help! Whether that is true or not I don't know, but that is what I was told.
I was stunned (especially as much of the material had come from Citry historians over the years, mostly me and a guy called Tony Heap who really deserves most credit), as was the BBC producer when I told her more about the story than they knew and explained that much of it had been included in some of my earlier books (Manchester The Greatest City & Manchester City The Complete Record). These pre-dated the religious book.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, the BBC eventually agreed to interview me as well and I helped tell the story. As this was supposed to be a feature promoting Lupson's book it ended up that he was quoted extensively, and I was used sparingly, but nevertheless it proved City and its fans knew about its history.
Since the programme was originally aired, I have carried out much more research into this period. As have other City historians like Paul Toovey. Both Toovey and I are agreed that Anna Connell is not the main spark in the creation of the football club, and that the roots of the club go back to the cricket club, around 5 years before Anna organised the Working Men's meetings (that we originally thought led to the creation of the football club).
Paul Toovey wrote about this in "The Birth Of The Blues" and I've written the findings of this latest research in "Manchester A Football History". I believe the key figures are William Beastow (the real founding father), Arthur Connell (our first president and the only Connell whose involvement with the football team can be confidently proved), and Thomas Goodbehere. Research is ongoing and I still think Anna deserves credit for her work in Gorton, but the others are the football people.
Moving on to this week...
I have not been re-interviewed, so some of my views will not be based on the latest research. I don't know if Peter Lupson has been either.
I have a feeling that the emphasis may be back on the 'City, with its immense wealth, doesn't know or care' about its history. I sincerely hope it isn't.
I will be listening intently on Friday to hear how the story is put across this time.