Who was there?

[i kne albert davy]

I was there in Kippax never been in a crowd with a better atmosphere doubt if a ever will be.

 

[Eds]

I was in Main Stand with my late father, hairs still stand up on back of neck thinking about it. Crap first half, unbelievable second half. Newcastle didn't know what hit them.

 

[HankTheSucker]

Kippax myself that afternoon but I was not at York.

 

[City_Shirts]

Sometimes an anniversary slips by without so much as a nod or a wink, if you are a married man and you have forgotten your wife's special day, you'll know what I mean.

But I doubt if any City supporters privileged to be witnesses will ever forget one football anniversary, which will be 36 years this December, that took place at Maine Road on Boxing Day, December 26th 1977, when City played Newcastle United.

For two frustrating years Colin Bell had refused to bow down to the fact that he was out of the game for life. Bell had hardly played a senior match since he critically damaged his knee playing against Man.Utd on a November night in 1975. The pain and torment of his long and lonely battle for fitness would have put paid to lesser determined characters. Bell's demanding and tedious fight for fitness continued throughout two summers when most players were enjoying there holidays.

But on that Boxing Day 1977 his courage and dedication were rewarded, When City's physio Roy Bailey displayed the number 6 card to call off the injured Paul Power, on trotted City sub, Colin Bell, to a deafening roar from the 45,811 spectators. City were level pegging with Newcastle at 0-0 when, all of a sudden the Maine Road atmosphere was transformed by the appearance of the long-absent idol of all true blue fans at the time, a spontaneous demonstration of warmth and effection for a great player who had fired the imagination, there has rarely been anything quite so stirring as the ovation accorded to Bell that afternoon. Even the normally unemotional old hands in the press box got that pulse-tingling feeling of magic in the air - The King Was Back.

Everyone loves a fighter and it seemed that every supporter at the game was willing Bell to do well. His presence proved to be an inspiration to his team-mates and City coasted to a 4-0 victory. Bell went on to play 20 full games that season, 16 in the league, 2 FA Cup and 2 League Cup games. The following season he had a recurrence of the injury and only played 16 senior games plus one as a sub. Four appearances in his last season for City were in the UEFA Cup, he came on as sub against Dutch side FC Twente and scored in a 3-2 win at Maine Road to help City into the next round on a 4-3 aggregate. He played twice against Standard Liege in the next round, and again, against AC Milan.

On August 21st 1979, he reluctantly announced his retirement from the game after a stern warning that he could be crippled for life if he continued. Whenever football fans in general, and City fans in particular talk about great names who have graced the famous England and City shirt's, Colin Bell's name is spoken with reverence. The final fitting farewell for Bell came on Tuesday September 11th 1979, just three weeks after he had made his retirement known. A combined Manchester team met a similar eleven from merseyside in his testimonial match at Maine Road. On a dismal night, 23,936 admirers turned up to pay tribute to a player whose wide-ranging talent had played a big part in City's successful trophy triumphs of the 60's & 70's.

For the record Bell signed for City from Bury in March 1966 for £45,000, then a record fee for a teenager. Within 48 hours he had made a goalscoring debut in a 2-1 win at Derby County as City stormed towards the Second Division Championship. Bell was capped 48 times for England and with City he won First and Second Divsion championship medals, FA Cup and League Cup winners medals and European Cup Winners' Cup medal. He made 393 League appearances and scored 119 League goals.

Legend

 

[1_barry_conlon]

Yep, very emotional day that was. Loudest cheers i've ever heard for one player in a game.

If anything summed up how much the fans loved him that was it.

Can't say i'd feel anything like that towards any professional footballer in this day and age.

 

[Blue Mist]

I was there. It was very emotional. A true gent, players player and fans number 1.

 

[fallowfieldflyer]

I was there to see my idol,and to see him return after a such long time but still came on with a limp,you knew then he was finished as the great player he was.Used to sneak into Maine Road as a kid and watch Colin train round the pitch,they used to have 4 youth players on the half way line and Colin would run round the pitch with one of the players at a time,lap after lap,it was unbeliveable to watch.Then Stan Gibson would see us and go after us,i think he had Kenny Clements with him if i can remember correctly.EEE Great Memories.

 

[Gingers Dad]

I was there in the Kippax and it was a fantastic atmosphere and probably a great day for Colin as well. But, I wish now he hadn't made a come back. He wasn't even half the player he had been. Particularly remember a 3 nil derby home defeat when he played centre half on an icy pitch. Shouldn't be left with memories like that of someone who had been such a great player

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

I've read Colin Bell's autobiography on numerous occasions and I'm just wondering if anyone was actually present upon his return after injury against Newcastle United and the emotion surrounding the place? I've been told that there has never been a louder applause for a City player by a few around me.

I was. Very young and I think I had to ask my dad why everyone was clapping

 

[raininspain]

In the Kippax that day. If you weren't there, it's impossible to describe the wall of noise as the King came out after half time.

I have never ever experienced anything like it in 40-odd years of football.