The ones that got away

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

City Team for the 1988-89 FA Youth Cup Final

1 GK Martyn Margetson
2 DF Neil Lennon
3 DF John Willis
4 DF Mark Peters
5 DF Gerry Taggart
6 MF Mike Quigley
7 MF Ian Thompstone
8 FW Ashley Ward
9 FW Jason Hasford
10 MF Michael Hughes
11 MF Michael Wallace
Sub FW Mike Sheron
Sub MF Colin Small

Only Hughes and Sheron played any significant games for City. Both of them, Lennon, Taggart and Ward were better than many of the doughnuts that played for City in the 90's. I always wonder what would have happened if Machin had bought better to support the 86 FA youth cup lads and had been able to integrate this second wave. Maybe if we had got Peter Reid and Paul McGrath at the start of the season then we would have survived more comfortably. Still that would have meant no 5-1, no Aguero, Silva, Yaya - odd how things work out.

Margetson had the 2nd highest appearences for that team after Sheron, 59, Hughes played 26 times

As for the 86 team, City had been relegated in 87 when Machin joined us so we wete never going to sign quality players - and couldnt afford them anyway! We had to sell Stewart in the summer of 88 in order to buy Dibble, Biggins, Gleghorn, Deehan (who never played) and Gayle.
But definitely from that era Warhurst, Barratt and Lennon let go way too early and for peanuts

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

I thought Ian Scott was a decent prospect when he first played in the first team but seem to fizzle out pretty quickly

Fell out with Machin and was left in the reserves, eventually flogged to Stoke

 

[jamesha]

@Mad Eyed Screamer I had tried to forget about Margetson and good point about Warhurst and Barrett.

We really could have fielded a very good team with maybe 7-8 starters who came through the academy if things had been managed better.

Saw an interesting (to me at least) fact on Earl's Wikipedia page. The 1.7 million that Oldham received from Villa when he transferred in February 1992 remains the highest fee they have received for a player - 28 years ago!

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

@Mad Eyed Screamer I had tried to forget about Margetson and good point about Warhurst and Barrett.

We really could have fielded a very good team with maybe 7-8 starters who came through the academy if things had been managed better.

Saw an interesting (to me at least) fact on Earl's Wikipedia page. The 1.7 million that Oldham received from Villa when he transferred in February 1992 remains the highest fee they have received for a player - 28 years ago!

City away at Brighton in April 89 the team started with 7 of the 1986 Youth Cup team.
Brightwell, Lake, Scott, Moulden, White, Redmond and Hinchcliffe.

 

[WestGorton]

Blimey Ian Thompstone. I was at Middlesbrough when he scored as a 16 year old. Jason Beckford played. We got beat.

 

[WestGorton]

Margetson had the 2nd highest appearences for that team after Sheron, 59, Hughes played 26 times

As for the 86 team, City had been relegated in 87 when Machin joined us so we wete never going to sign quality players - and couldnt afford them anyway! We had to sell Stewart in the summer of 88 in order to buy Dibble, Biggins, Gleghorn, Deehan (who never played) and Gayle.
But definitely from that era Warhurst, Barratt and Lennon let go way too early and for peanuts

Agreed. Earl Barrett was a class.defender. Warhurst very skillful. Both City fans as well if I remember correctly.