The 25 most defining games in our history

[mayo31]

City v Newcastle Boxing Day 1977

My first game.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

The 1904 FA Cup final against Bolton that gave us our first trophy.

The league game against Aston Villa in the 1904/5 season which led to the bribery scandal that nearly finished us.

The 1956 FA Cup final.

The 'ballet on ice' and the 3-1 win at the swamp in the 1967/8 season.

 

[Carstairs]

City 10 - 1 Huddersfield ?

 

[jimharri]

City 10 - 1 Huddersfield ?

A fantastic game, but ''defining''? Hmm.

 

[i went to rotherham]

The problem here is everyone focuses on what they remember, but this won't represent our whole history.

I'll throw in

Rotherham away, 1966, when Joe Mercer's team won promotion to the top division.

The 1956 FA Cup Final because it's a nationally iconic game

Luton, home 1983. Defined the next 20 years.

but I bet Gary James can name many other pivotal/defining games

Rotherham away - Like my user name, I like that one . I also think the 2-0 win away at
Newcastle in 2012 was pivotal in us winning the league.

 

[Shaelumstash]

Might not be the most obvious example, but losing to Middlesbrough on that Friday night in April 98 was definitely a defining game for me. It was the first time I actually realised we were doomed and going down to the 3rd division. Before that I just assumed we'd get out of it, but from memory Gazza was just taking the piss out of us and we were absolutely woeful, no spirit, no desire, and even less quality!

On a more positive note, Newcastle away in 2012 was a monumental game for us, as was the Everton away game in 2014. Both of those wins felt like title winning games. Obviously there were a few more bends in the road in 2012, but the Newcastle game definitely felt like a huge turning point.

Also would have to include the ECWC game against Zornic Gabrese, bit before my time, but I'm sure some older blues will be able to offer other European games from that season?

Also didn't we beat AC Milan in the UEFA Cup once? That must have been a pretty big deal at the time?

 

[Blue Is the Opposite of Blue]

Just seen on Facebook that a writer friend has a book coming out on the 50 most defining fixtures in Arsene Wenger's time at Arsenal.

Got me thinking what our most 25 defining games would be?

Some obvious ones to begin with -

v York (a) 98/99 (record attendence in English football)
v Newcastle 1968
v Leicester 1969 (FA CUP final)
v Newcastle 1976 (League Cup Final)
v Gillingham 1999
v United (6-1) (tide turned)
V QPR

Realise there's some glaring omissions above but just wanted to get things started.

Which other games would be in the most defining 25 in our history?

Edited for accuracy

Haha.

 

[FrankSwift1]

My first game was the last game of 83-84

Ones I can remember (not checked the dates.. I’m sure some will be incorrect)

Charlton to win promotion 84-85

West ham relegation 86-87

Bradford promotion 89-90

Not a game but appointing Alan Ball – was it 2 points from 8 games?

Southampton relegation 95-96

QPR 2-2 97-98

Stoke relegation 97-98. Although 98-99 was our lowest ever league placing I think this was our worst ever season. The amount of games we lost at home 1-0 to teams with squad cost and wage bill a fraction of ours we showed little fight and had no confidence what so ever. The whole atmosphere was toxic. The worst point for me was seeing Alan Ball being carried shoulder high by the Portsmouth fans after leading them to safety. It was quite galling to see the man who started the decline getting acclaimed as a hero.

York away didn’t really stand out at the time for me it seems to have been highlighted in retrospect as was our lowest ebb. Stoke at home to me was the turning point. Losing 1-0 at half time.. the ‘grumbles’ getting louder. I think Dickov contribution in the lifting the crowd and the crowd getting behind the team was vital that day.

Both Wigan play-off games

Gillingham. 98-99

Blackburn 99-00

00-01 The only game that really stands out from this season for me is when Utd let Derby win at OT around Easter to pretty much seal our relegation.

01-02 This season was the best I’d ever seen us play until the takeover. Played Ipswich off the park to clinch promotion.

The next 5-6 years are bit hazy for me as I was out of the country. Still followed of course but not quite the same.

More recent

Losing to Spurs for CL, losing to Utd at OT (gutted for days afterwards – I’d waited 25 years to get to a semi and then to lose in the last minute.. )

UTD at Wembley was the turning point for me. And my favourite ever game (wasn’t at QPR) I remember watching Liverpool away on the Monday night (I think) and Tevez getting injured and fearing the worst. There was almost a sense of disbelief amongst us. City at Wembley for an important game?? !!.. but the fear was ever present that Utd would again rain on our parade. Everyone giddy on the roundabout before the game, the Poznan when announcing their team, their early dominance, Toure goal and praying for the final whistle.. then disbelief.

Stoke FA Final of course (What a day.. waited 26 years to see this)

2012
Spurs away, Utd away (I always wind them up by saying if we would have won that game 2-1 you win the league on goal scored.) Chelsea at home, Norwich away stands out as our belief returned and we finally put some pressure on Utd.. Utd at home and of course QPR, but I always feel beating a decent Newcastle challenging for CL was the key.

2014
Liverpool at home was key in retrospect, but the two away games at Palace and Everton we had to win under pressure were pivotal for me.


Well that brought some good memories back and kept me busy at lunch... back to work.

 

[Blue Is the Opposite of Blue]

Remember, the word is "defining" and not "important".

 

[noely]

Can I throw the FA cup 1/4 final vs Tottenham in 1993
I think thats when the rot started to truly eat the club