The 1967-68 Season

[mancunial]

That goal by Colin in the platt lane 1st half was shown 7pm to advertise motd something they had never done before,

 

[remember arthur mann]

Good topic; I, too, enjoy the trivia and minutiae that go to make up the 'whole'. It's like discussing now whether John Guidetti (for example) is good enough to play for us or if he has a future at City (probably not). Temporal distance doesn't dispel the issues that were important and were being discussed by fans 40 years ago.

Or something.

Stand on one leg !!

 

[NPBlue]

I discovered recently that during the 1967-68 season, second division QPR appeared on Match of the Day more times than the First Division Champions.

I've only ever seen the "Ballet on Ice", our defeat at Leeds, the 4-3 at Newcastle (ITV) and brief highlights of the 1-1 at Everton which appeared on "The Golden Vision"

Perhaps our older supporters could talk us through the big games.

At which end did we score our goals in the vital game at White Hart Lane?
What was the atmosphere like during the Everton home game when news filtered through that United were losing at West Brom and the title was therefore in our hands.
How many fans were City taking away that season?
Was there any aggro at Maine Road?
At what point did City go from mid table mediocrity to championship contenders? One season.
John Clay? Chris Jones? Stan Bowles? Did they deserve a medal?
How was the atmosphere in Manchester on the night that City won the League?
How did United take our success?
Any lucky victories or unlucky defeats?
Did we always kick-off towards a particular end?
What were the songs that season? Give us a C, give us an I, give us a T, give us a Y, City, City City. Something like that. It's a long time ago, and I was young at the time. Zigga Zagga something or other as well, but I don't really recall the rest of it.
Where did the away fans congregate? All over the ground. There was no segregation in those days.
Was Ken Mulhearn better than Tony Coton or worse than Andy Dibble?
What colour were the Platt Lane benches? Purple, as I recall. And you could rent a sky blue and purple cushion to sit on. There were piles of them just inside the turnstiles available for rent.
Any strange away kits? No, but the first time I watched City at Maine Rd against Reading in the FA Cup, City came onto the pitch clad in an all purple kit, which confused me. I kept asking my brother why?, but he didn't know why either.

Sounds sad, but it's the anecdotes that provide the substance.

 

[Big Swifty]

I can tell you when the turning-point was. We drew our opening game (home v Liverpool), when Tony Book shot wide from the penalty spot. Two away games next, away at Southampton & Stoke - lost them both. One point from three games.

The next Wednesday, the return fixture, home to Southampton. Half-time, we were 1-2 down. Mutterings of relegation were heard.

We the scored three in the second half though, won 4-2, and from then on it was a different story, especially as Frannie was signed soon after. Last piece of the jigsaw, to coin a cliche. Our football was quality, believe me.

 

[xgorton]

I can tell you when the turning-point was. We drew our opening game (home v Liverpool), when Tony Book shot wide from the penalty spot. Two away games next, away at Southampton & Stoke - lost them both. One point from three games.

The next Wednesday, the return fixture, home to Southampton. Half-time, we were 1-2 down. Mutterings of relegation were heard.

We the scored three in the second half though, won 4-2, and from then on it was a different story, especially as Frannie was signed soon after. Last piece of the jigsaw, to coin a cliche. Our football was quality, believe me.

Yes I was at the Liverpool game Sat in the Platt Lane,think Book missed the pen at the scoreboard end.Lee signed in October and made his debut against Wolves in a 2-0 win.

 

[mrt4919]

I can tell you when the turning-point was. We drew our opening game (home v Liverpool), when Tony Book shot wide from the penalty spot. Two away games next, away at Southampton & Stoke - lost them both. One point from three games.

The next Wednesday, the return fixture, home to Southampton. Half-time, we were 1-2 down. Mutterings of relegation were heard.

We the scored three in the second half though, won 4-2, and from then on it was a different story, especially as Frannie was signed soon after. Last piece of the jigsaw, to coin a cliche. Our football was quality, believe me.

No no no
The turning point for that team was the 6th round away at Leeds the season before, standing with the thousands of Blues packed into the open end facing the cowshed in the pouring rain. We dominated the match against them from start to finish losing to a Jack Charlton header late on at our end. It broke my 15 year old heart at the time but we played with a style and confidence that grew into the magnificent side that won the league the following season.

 

[Big Swifty]

True, they played a blinder at Leeds but their League form was indifferent then and they started poorly in the 67-68 season.

Their fortunes in terms of results (and style) began to turn at half-time v So'ton.

But you are quite right, they were unlucky at Leeds and the ref allowed a highly dubious goal from from Charlton J.

 

[dennishasdoneit]

I can tell you when the turning-point was. We drew our opening game (home v Liverpool), when Tony Book shot wide from the penalty spot. Two away games next, away at Southampton & Stoke - lost them both. One point from three games.

The next Wednesday, the return fixture, home to Southampton. Half-time, we were 1-2 down. Mutterings of relegation were heard.

We the scored three in the second half though, won 4-2, and from then on it was a different story, especially as Frannie was signed soon after. Last piece of the jigsaw, to coin a cliche. Our football was quality, believe me.

That half time turn around against the saints truly does sound like it was the turning point..and when coupled with the snippet from Gary James re Big Mal wanting to desert us for Coventry City,in the midst of our poor start, it shows that season 67/68 could well have turned into a fucking nightmare and not the first division title....Thanks for the info Gary..always interested in the facts which dont always sit in fans memory bank...like the Mick Doyle to utd rumours,(early 70s) confirmed by Doyle himself in his book" Manchester City..MyTeam" it was nearly utd ,and he wanted to go after falling out with Big Mal...no one mentions this when they say big mike doyle,true blue and he hated the reds!

Very interesting bit about last day of the season at newcastle, and liverpool still being in the hunt with a game in hand..the confusion and excitement of that last day must have been mental and only a step down from our more recent title cliff hanger nearly three yrs
ago ...

Great thread,hope the older blues keep posting, keep the memories coming !

 

[petrusha]

You can get the tables here: <a class="postlink" href="http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/division-one-old/1967-1968/table/1968-05-11" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.statto.com/football/stats/en ... 1968-05-11</a>

And fixtures/results here: <a class="postlink" href="http://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1968-05-11" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.soccerbase.com/matches/resul ... 1968-05-11</a>

Goinjg into the final Saturday of the league season, City and United had 56 points each, with one game to play. Liverpool had 53, with two games to play: Forest at home on the Saturday and Stoke away the following Wednesday. City had the best goal average, but Liverpool's goal average was superior to United's.

Anyway, while we were beating Newcastle and United were slipping up against Sunderland, Liverpool beat Forest 6-1 at Anfield. By my calculations, had Newcastle snatched a late equaliser so that we'd drawn 4-4 against them, Liverpool could have taken the title with a 5-0 win at Stoke. However, if Stoke had scored, Liverpool would then have needed to score seven to take the title. This is what makes goal average a bonkers system (I'm amazed it survived so long).

As it turned out, our win on the Saturday made what United and Liverpool did in their matches irrelevant. But I always used to think that, with United losing, it ought to have been more relaxed at St James's because City could have afforded to have drawn or even lost. Of course, that was untrue because it would have given Liverpool a chance to overhaul us.

 

[Gary James]

As it turned out, our win on the Saturday made what United and Liverpool did in their matches irrelevant. But I always used to think that, with United losing, it ought to have been more relaxed at St James's because City could have afforded to have drawn or even lost. Of course, that was untrue because it would have given Liverpool a chance to overhaul us.

Absolutely. That's why it is so frustrating when people writing the history of these clubs and of football focus solely on the City-Utd angle. City's task was much more pressured than that. The City-Utd angle is obviously a good story but downplays City's task that day. The real threat was Liverpool. Had City slipped up the title would have been in their grasp and everyone would have had to wait until their last game. Of course we know now that Liverpool's results wouldn't have brought them the title had City failed, but had we lost or drawn then their final game would probably have gone differently.