Welcome!
The November issue of the City Magazine is here and as always, it's packed with interviews, features and the occasional dose of irreverence.
In the digital pages that follow you'll find interviews with Elliot Anderson, Iliman Ndiaye and Alex Greenwood, each with their own fascinating revelations and views on the season so far.
We also have the moments that have been perhaps lost in time, such as a 1990 friendly against Cobh Ramblers, the all-too brief stay of Daniel van Buyten as well as a closer look at the origins of our inflatable bananas.
Years & Years looks at City's performances in November during the Premier League era, while Marc Riley has more fun rifling through old City matchday programmes.
All the above plus Kevin Cummins at Italia '90, features on our Under 18s and EDS players and an astonishing prediction from Andy Morrison in our predictions battle 'This Month'...
Enjoy!
CITY MAGAZINE sat down with Elliot Anderson to discover his path to the Etihad, his boyhood affection for Manchester City and why he is being touted at the signing of the summer…
One thing seemed clear when the summer transfer window opened – City were determined to sign Elliot Anderson.
The then Nottingham Forest midfielder was away with England at the World Cup and was the target for a number of top clubs but press reports and transfer shows on TV and radio all indicated the same thing – Anderson’s preferred destination was Manchester City.
As he shone for the Three Lions on the way to a World Cup semi-final, there was an air of calm from City and the player that the move to the Etihad was a formality and, shortly after the tournament ended, he flew to Manchester to complete the deal.
"Obviously, performances help you settle in. That plus training where the lads have been brilliant with me."
The Blues had got their man and, just three months into his time at the Club, it’s easy to see why he was top of our summer wish list.
It’s almost impossible to fill the boots of a player like Rodri, but it feels as though Elliot Anderson has made the Spaniard’s departure so much easier to deal with than it might have been.
They are different players, of course, but their cohesive effect on the team is very similar.
Anderson is already being touted as the signing of the summer as he settles into life wearing sky blue, with the praise and plaudits heaped on him seemingly each time he plays.
In short, it’s hard to imagine a player settling in quicker or having a more impactful beginning to life at a new club, but the measured, focused and grounded Anderson is taking it all in his stride.
“It's gone well so far, I think,” says Anderson.
We are at a PUMA shoot in a pub a stone’s throw from the Etihad, with costume and make-up artists preparing players for their shot and dozens of production team members, crew and goodness knows what else running around.
Yet Anderson’s focus is on the questions, and nothing more.
“Obviously, performances help you settle in. That plus training where the lads have been brilliant with me," he says.
"There’s been a lot of change over the summer for the club, so everyone's kind of in the same boat.”
"The fans have been great to me from the first minute I played and really supported me and got behind me."
To say Anderson has quickly become a crowd favourite would be something of an understatement.
He’s often the name on everyone’s lips as fans drift out of the stadium, with his work rate, intelligence and ability making him a candidate for man-of-the- match virtually every time he plays.
He has very quickly become the glue that binds Enzo Maresca’s exciting new-look side together and he is feeling the love from the City faithful.
“The fans have been great to me from the first minute I played and really supported me and got behind me," he says.
"Obviously, my first game was in the Community Shield and wasn't my best performance, but I think the fans really sort of stuck with me and hopefully I’ve started to repay them.”
A graduate of the Wallsend Boys Club in Newcastle, the lad from Whitley Bay grew up with Newcastle United’s home of St James’ Park around 10 miles to the west.
A traditional seaside town, Whitley Bay is known best for its long sandy beach, sweeping promenade and iconic St Mary’s lighthouse. An idyllic place for any youngster to grow up with summer days spent on the beach, dips in the Nort Sea and numerous rock pools for crabbing and fishing.
Add that to a backdrop of arcades, cafes and fish-and-chip shops and it’s easy to imagine a feeling of being on holiday all year round for any youngster lucky enough to live there.
“It was a great place to grow up,” he admits.
“The family home overlooks the sea and it's beautiful. We had a dog we’d walk in the beach and on the weekends, we’d go out for walks as a family or with my friends, and it was really good fun.
"My grandad got me a City shirt – I think around the 2010/11 season – and I was about eight at the time."
“Wallsend was a top club, and obviously, it's got a really good track record of professional footballers making it through from there. And, for me, it was the best platform and produced a lot of talent.”
Being a Geordie, and with his grandfather - Geoff Allen – a former Newcastle player, it was inevitable Anderson, who was impressing scouts watching Wallsend games on a weekly basis, would be snapped up by Newcastle United sooner or later, and at the age of eight, he did exactly that, beginning a near-15 year stay with the club.
“I think I joined the under nines and left when I was about 21, I think. So, yeah, I was a long time at the club, and I loved it. Obviously, I've always been a Newcastle fan, and all my family have been, but everyone has got a second club and yeah, that was City for me.
“My grandad got me a City shirt – I think around the 2010/11 season – and I was about eight at the time.
"It was something I’d just wear around the house - while outside I was always in a Newcastle top.”
With opportunities to feature for the Magpies limited, he would spend the second part of the 2021/22 season with League Two side Bristol Rovers, playing 21 times and scoring seven goal for the Pirates.
It was his first real steps into the life as a professional footballer, moving some 300 miles south west and learning to stand on his own two feet for the first time.
“It was a really successful run, on and off the pitch, I think,” he recalled.
“It was the first time I'd left my family, and it was, I was sort of stepping outside my comfort zone. I grew as a player as well, and a person, and I loved everything. It was brilliant.”
He returned to Newcastle and the 2023/24 campaign saw him feature 26 times, becoming something of a crowd favourite in the process as it looked as though he would become an established first team player.
"It was always Kevin De Bruyne who I looked up to and wanted to be,” he said.
And while the Magpies were his boyhood club, scratch the surface and there were a deep respect and admiration for a club who were starting to dominate English football… Manchester City.
And when it comes to players he admired the most growing up, that fondness for the Blues is evident.
“As a kid I guess you could say Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were idols for a lot of kids, but once I started to get an understanding of the game and the position I played in it was always Kevin De Bruyne who I looked up to and wanted to be,” he said.
Anderson is now acclimatising to life in Manchester, a city he already feels very much at home in...
“He was an amazing footballer, and, yeah, that was the sort of the player I always closely looked at. I always watched and really loved the way he played. It was just so satisfying to watch the way he passed the ball.”
Anderson is now acclimatising to life in Manchester, a city he already feels very much at home in.
“I'd never really stayed in the city previously, and I'm obviously loving it,” he smiled.
“I’m really enjoying it ."
Long may it continue...
Interview: David Clayton
It’s already been a season full of milestones for various players with Andrée Jeglertz’s team...
And the latest to hit another landmark moment in their career is our skipper, Alex Greenwood.
The England international hit 200 Barclays Women’s Super League appearances in our 4-2 win over Arsenal at the Etihad last month, making her just the 10th player to reach a double century.
116 of her appearances came in the sky blue of Manchester City with 38 at Everton, 14 at Notts County and 32 at Liverpool completing the tally.
And in typical professional, laser focused Greenwood style, she admitted she wasn’t even aware the milestone was on the horizon.
“Honestly I had no idea about it,” admitted Greenwood with a smile.
"I looked at the numbers and it’s crazy because I think about it and I can’t imagine being anywhere else."
“I didn’t know it was getting close or anything. I think you just roll with the games and so it crept up on me.
“I don’t know whether it shows my age or what! No but I am really proud of it.
“To play in this league 200 times is something I’m proud of. I remember the start of it [the WSL] and how much it’s grown to today.
“I looked at the numbers and it’s crazy because I think about it and I can’t imagine being anywhere else.
“Of course all the teams in the past led me to where I am today and the person and player I am and I’m very grateful and fortunate for them but I just see this place as home now and I can’t ever imagine never putting on a City shirt.
“So I’m very glad that I’ve had a lot of them appearances here and hopefully more to come.”
"I think we’ve taken the pressure of looking to retain the title in our stride."
Greenwood joined City in 2020, marking her return to the English top-flight after a one-year stint with OL Lyonnais, where the versatile defender won the prestigious UEFA Women’s Champions League.
She helped City fight relentlessly for the past six years as we searched for our first WSL title since 2016.
And hers, and all of City’s hard work was rewarded when we recorded an historic double.
And whilst the celebrations that followed were incredible and unforgettable, Greenwood is now fully focused on what City can achieve next.
“I think we’ve taken the pressure of looking to retain the title in our stride,” said Greenwood.
“I think maybe from the outside it’s heightened a bit more but we don’t speak about it day-to-day. We don’t go into games saying we have to defend our title, we’re there to play a game, to win a game and that’s how we work.
“We are aware that we are champions and we are going to try our best to defend the title. But day-to-day, it’s about our standards and trying to raise them from last season.
“This sounds crazy but we’ve moved on from last season. That’s in the bank, the trophy is in the cupboard and we want to just go again, improve and be better.
“We want to compete in the Champions League, compete for the league again and every other competition we are in.
“And it’s probably a shift in mentality as in we wanted it so badly last season and we did everything we could to achieve it.
“Now we’ve achieved it, it’s like, okay, so how much do we want to keep it? And that’s probably the difference in the mentality now.
"I knew Niamh very well anyway from playing at England, playing against her at Chelsea."
“And I love that. I love that because the girls have taken it in their stride. We work hard for each other and that’s what I love the most about this team.”
Looking to help the team retain silverware and push for more are two of City’s newest defensive signings.
Full-backs Carlotta Wamser and Niamh Charles joined City’s ranks in the summer and have already impressed both in the defensive third and attacking third, with both defenders already off the mark for the Blues.
And who better to ask for their opinion on how our newest defensive duo has settled in than our most experienced and decorated one.
“I knew Niamh very well anyway from playing at England, playing against her at Chelsea,” said Greenwood.
“They've both fit in seamlessly, to be fair. Very differently, Niamh's a bit more of a character, a bit more outspoken. Carlotta is a bit more reserved and quiet, but you know, she's not on the pitch.
“I think you can see that yourself. She's full throttle. As soon as that whistle goes, she is 100 miles an hour and gives absolutely everything she's got. She's like that in training, she's like that in the gym.
“Niamh's the same, just a little bit more vocal. She brings her experiences from Chelsea, from England, and that's been a fantastic addition for us because we need that, we need that experience, and she's got it in abundance, and she's wise upon her years, actually. So, yeah, brilliant signings, and I think they've been really great for us so far.”
Interview: Holly Percival
..
As autumn in the UK really kicks in, November sees the Premier League kick on a notch...
With the clocks going back, we move on to the yellow ball and floodlit matches become the norm – sometimes even if you’re kicking off at lunchtime.
It’s when we really start to see who has the minerals to go all the way and who might be looking down instead of up.
While the stats suggests it’s historically our second worst month of the season, November has still thrown up some memorable days for City fans through the years.
2026/27 is our 30th season in the Premier League in what has been a rollercoaster ride since the rebrand in 1992.
Recent times have seen unprecedented success given we’re the most successful side over the last 14 years – winning eight titles in that time.
Before then, there were some tougher times including five seasons outside of the top tier through the 1990s and early 2000s.
Every month, we’ll go through the most memorable moments that have happened in those weeks.
STATS
Matches played: 109
Wins: 51
Draws: 28
Losses: 30
Goals scored: 185
Goals against: 125
Points per game: 1.66
Special start
Our first ever Premier League game in November was perhaps our standout display in the rebranded competition’s first year.
We thrashed Leeds 4-0 at Maine Road thanks to goals from Mike Sheron, David White, Andrew Hill and Ian Brightwell.
Peter Reid’s side had proven early on they knew where the net was and would keep that up, finishing ninth in the end.
Standout run in tough times
To say 1995/96 didn’t go to plan for City was an understatement, with Alan Ball’s side eventually relegated.
However, after 11 games without a win at the start of the campaign, November looked like we’d turned it all around.
We managed 1-0 wins over Bolton Wanderers, Wimbledon and Aston Villa via goals from Nicky Summerbee, Niall Quinn and Georgi Kinkladze respectively.
There was also a battling draw with Sheffield Wednesday in there. For all that hope though, December brough a return to the difficulties of the early weeks.
Remember, remember the ninth of November
It was inevitably that the final Manchester derby at Maine Road would be an emotional one.
With United one of Europe’s best sides and City newly promoted back to the top-flight, few could have expected what happened.
In fact, it’s the game that cemented Shaun Goater’s status as a City legend.
After Nicolas Anelka and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had cancelled each other out, the Bermudan took centre stage.
First up, he took the ball off Gary Neville and squeezed home before completing the job with a deft chip in the second half.
Biblical.
Draws galore
After a highly promising start to the 2009/10 season, Mark Hughes’ City were faltering.
We drew all three league matches in October before backing that up with another four draws in November.
City let leads slip against Fulham, Burnley and Liverpool as the Welshman’s time in charge neared its end.
3-2 v QPR…not that one!
2011/12 is best remembered for a 3-2 win over QPR on the final day of the season. The day Sergio Aguero made our dreams come true.
But back in the November prior, a priceless three points also came in the form a 3-2 defeat of the west London side but this time at Loftus Road.
We went behind and were then pegged back level after turning the game on its head, only for man of the moment Yaya Toure to make the decisive impact.
At that point, we’d won 10 of our first 11 games and were well in control of our first genuine title race since 1968.
Navas from kick-off
Jesus Navas needed just 14 seconds to open the scoring in a 6-0 thrashing of Spurs at home in 2013.
Pouncing on a poor Hugo Lloris ball out, he sent in a shot from a tight angle that the French goalkeeper had no chance with.
We didn’t let up after that, with a Sergio Aguero brace, one for Alvaro Negredo, Sandro own goal and another for Navas sealing a special day on the way to Manuel Pellegrini’s Premier League title success.
How did Bernardo do that?
City dominated the ball from start to finish at Old Trafford in 2021, with Eric Bailly flashing the ball into his own goal early on from a Joao Cancelo cross.
The standout moment came on the cusp of half-time though as Bernardo Silva somehow forced home the ball
from an impossible angle when it seemed it had already gone out.
A goal to typify the passion of the Portuguese international and the brilliance of that season’s City side, who would eventually pip Liverpool to one of the most fiercely contested titles of all-time.
Goals, goals, goals
City managed 11 goals in our three Premier League matches in November 2023, but still only came away with five points.
Jérémy Doku truly announced himself to the Etihad Stadium in the first game of the month with four assists and a goal in a 6-1 thrashing of Bournemouth.
A Premier League classic followed eight days later when we ebbed abd flowed with Chelsea to a spectacular 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge.
The 1-1 with Liverpool two weeks later was much more frustrating, with the visitors snatching an undeserved point through Trent Alexander-Arnold with 10 minutes to go.
Annus horribilis
2024/25 was undoubtedly Pep Guardiola’s toughest year as City boss. However, up until the start of November it appeared to be going well in the Premier League.
We’d won seven and drew two in our opening nine, before a 2-1 loss at Bournemouth on the second of the month sent things unravelling.
Defeat at Brighton followed the next week before a 4-0 home thrashing at the hands of Spurs put us in a difficult spot.
As always under Pep, the Catalan found a way out of the woods though as we again qualified for the Champions League.
1000 up for Pep
One of the greatest managers in the history of football reached a significant milestone in November 2025.
That he did it with a 3-0 win over Liverpool, who had been his greatest nemesis during his time in Manchester, was all the sweeter.
Erling Haaland, Nico and Jérémy Doku got the goals on a memorable day, with Doku in particular showing just how far he’d come working under the boss.
Feature: Jack Wilson-Mumford
In June 1990, with the success of New Order’s World in Motion, World Cup fever swept NME Towers. Football was fashionable again and EVERYONE had to have a team – even the record company snobs who’d looked down their noses at us for the previous few years, because suddenly, they could smell hit singles on the horizon...
We were desperate to do an Italia '90 piece for the paper, and my Editor, Danny Kelly (Tottenham and Ireland) rang every record company PR to offer them a cover feature if they took us and their band (any band) out to Italy to watch a game.
EMI finally offered us Adrian Sherwood, who actually liked football – he was a West Ham fan - and who had released The English Disease album under the moniker The Barmy Army the previous year. It’s still a great album and the wiki page for it is really comprehensive.
Adrian was well up for it - with his current band Tackhead – which comprised of Doug Wimbish who also played bass with Sugarhill Gang and The Rolling Stones, and drummer Keith LeBlanc, another Sugarhill cohort, who’d recently been working with REM and NiN.
Tackhead were a great band. Sherwood was a brilliant innovator of club and Dub music, and his label On-U Sound Records (with Gary Clail and Mark Stewart) defined the late 80s early 90s zeitgeist when clubbing and illegal raves were crucial for thousands of British youth.
And so off we went to Cagliari for England v Ireland, a three-day trip to do a piece with a band who played the kind of music we in the office liked, but who weren’t really NME reader favourites.
Sardinia was full of the Carabinieri and England and Ireland fans. We stayed in a ludicrously expensive resort hotel (thanks EMI) that was nowhere near Cagliari, where the game was to be played, but at least we’d made it out there.
We – me, Danny and Adrian Sherwood – were having the time of our lives, but It’s fair to say that Doug and Keith, the other two band members were less impressed.
Their bemusement came from the total lack of understanding as to why we’d gone to Sardinia to interview them when we could have just done it in East London. They were also American, and soccer still didn’t have much currency in the USA, until four years later when they held their own World Cup tournament.
Keith LeBlanc kept talking about music and working with different musicians and Danny Kelly would say, “Sounds great, but who do you support?”
The morning of the match we were lying by the pool again, talking about our respective football teams and Keith LeBlanc kept trying to tell Danny about their new album.
Danny was enjoying a cold beverage and was only half listening.
In the end Keith said: “this is ridiculous. All you guys are interested in is soccer. I’m going home”.
Adrian pointed out that we were there on a massive blag to watch a World Cup match and Keith said: “I don’t care about soccer. I thought this was a music paper interview.” Adrian shrugged and Keith walked off.
I asked Adrian if he was going to call him back and he said: “No. We’re going to the match aren’t we? If he doesn’t want to come that’s his problem.” Doug went off with Keith while Adrian just shrugged and cracked open another can of Peroni.
And that was the last we saw of him. I still hadn’t taken a photograph, I thought I’d be taking pictures of them around the stadium, but now all we had was a sulky drummer who may or may not have gone home, Doug who wasn’t bothered either way, and Adrian who was definitely coming to the game with us.
Sherwood didn’t seem that bothered about losing his drummer – who was crucial to his band’s sound – and later when we discussed it, said that if he didn’t want to be in the band it was up to him.
After a five-hour drive – five hours (we’d thought Sardinia was the size of the Isle of Wight) we finally got to the stadium. Three body searches later and we were in only to find a half empty almost derelict concrete bowl like arena. This wasn’t the glitzy Italian glamour we’d dreamed about, and we were with the VIPs. Look, there’s Nigel Kennedy with Brix Smith; isn’t that Jasper Carrott? Hey! There’s Arsenal’s George Graham next to Michelle Lineker…and so on.
Oh, and there’s Doug who’s just walked in – without Keith.
Doug explained that he’d gone with Keith to the airport to talk him out of leaving, but he’d just bought a new ticket and disappeared through immigration never to been seen on Italian soil again.
Danny Kelly described the game as thus: The actual match, was the usual British/Irish display of proudly cultivated inadequacy and all-out physicality, thud and blunder, football as aerial karate.
When the lightning-streaked heavens opened and we all got thoroughly soaked, the familiar picture was complete. We may have crossed half a continent and shelled out 110,000 lire [£56} for a ticket, but if you'd have removed the uniformed chaps with revolvers, we could have been at any Division Two derby.
It finished in a desultory 1-1 draw so everybody – or nobody – was happy.
We couldn’t face a five-hour trip back to our hotel only to have to do similar the following morning, so we drove to the airport and slept in our cars.
I felt slightly guilty about it all, as I’d never been responsible for a band breaking up during a trip, but I had some photos in the bag of Adrian at the game - who incidentally looked like he didn’t have a care in the world - and post-match, when we deliberately bumped into George Graham to take a photo of him with Doug and Adrian– and that was it.
Tackhead at the World Cup… well 50% of them. Call the Carabinieri.
Kevin Cummins
It has not taken Iliman Ndiaye long to impress City fans – here, our Senegalese winger explains the influences behind his moves and skills…
Iliman Ndiaye is no ordinary winger.
Our summer recruit from Everton has a fluidity and trickery to his game that make him impossible to second guess when he’s on the ball.
He also has the kind of work ethic that makes him popular not only with supporters, but team-mates and managers.
At 26, he is reaping the rewards of a tough and eclectic apprenticeship in football which saw him play youth football in his native France and Senegal before moving to England with his father to study in London and eventually join Boreham Wood aged 16.
He would spend three seasons with ‘The Wood’, before being picked up by Sheffield United as a raw but clearly talented 19 year-old.
The Blades saw Ndiaye as something of an unpolished diamond, but he wasn’t ready for the senior side just yet and so he was loaned out to Hyde United for the latter half of the 2019/20 campaign – a club based just a few miles from the Etihad and one that hosted Manchester City reserve team/EDS games for several seasons.
Nine appearances and one goal later, he returned to Sheffield United, then a Premier League side – but time appeared to be against Ndiaye who would make just one sub appearance in 2020/21 – and that in a 5-0 loss to Leicester City.
The season after must have felt like make or break for the now 21-year-old and he was determined to grasp any opportunities he was given, and when he bagged two goals on his full debut for the Blades against Peterborough, his journey had finally begun.
Ndiaye ended 2021/22 with seven goals in 35 appearances, but he had finally won his first team spurs and 2022/23 saw him at last realising his true potential.
Ndiaye was superb, scoring 25 goals in 52 games and winning a place in the PFA Championship Team of the Year as well as the EFL Championship Team of the Season, and was voted the Sheffield United Players’ Player of the Year and the club’s Player of the Year.
All the potential, promise and ability had clicked at once and he was finally on his way – ironically to one of his former youth clubs, Marseille, who paid a reported £20million to take the exciting winger back to France.
Just one year after joining the Ligue 1 giants – where he had become a huge crowd favourite – Everton brought him back to England by agreeing a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
Two years later, he was signing for City and arrived as one of the Premier League’s most outstanding talents.
It’s been quite a journey.
So, returning to that unique style. The shimmies, the twists, the ball skills and momentum runs that can see him twist out of the most difficult situations… what’s the story?
"That side of it,” smiled Iliman, “I think my Dad taught me everything that I know today. Dribbling and being fast is one of the most important things and a big part of my game is dribbling which my Dad taught me so much."
It is without question that his father knows football, but the fact he was also once a dance choreographer might be even more telling to why Iliman is such a thrilling player to watch.
“Yeah it's true!” he said. “He would make his dance move and then he would say, 'try to do that with the ball'. I couldn't do everything, but I tried. Do I still follow those guidelines he set or just what the coach asks? I do both.
“Obviously the manager will prepare his sessions. Some dribbling ones and doing it against my team-mates. But yeah I hopefully can implement it at City.”
It is amazing his father had time to teach his son such intricate movements given Iliman was one of NINE siblings!
He smiles at the mention of the sometimes chaotic Ndiaye household when he was a kid, but it was a happy time for him and one that taught him life lessons he has benefitted from then to the present day – particularly as he had many sisters to answer to!
“It really helped me to become the person I am today,” he said.
"The house was always loud and busy.
"I had my sisters, all of them used to do sports so we used to go out and train together. They really helped me. Until my little brother came, who is the youngest, I was the only boy in the house so I couldn't do everything they were doing I was obviously playing football, and they were doing other stuff. I'm someone who is quite calm as well, even I don't know how!”
And, like his father, Iliman has a knack of producing beautiful daughters, with his first three children all girls and ensuring he is again in the minority in a household of five!
A dedicated family man, like football, it is a role he relishes and appreciates in equal measure.
“It means a lot,” he said. “Seeing them, making memories with them and my wife. We've been through some things and to be able to share the happy memories with them just means everything.
"And then for the future as well, they can look back at it, you just want to make them proud."
And given his start to life at Manchester City, he is already making his family proud as he settles into his new surrounds – and if he ever needs a reminder of just how far he has come, Hyde United’s Ewen Fields is just a short drive from the City Football Academy…
Words: David Clayton
ASTON VILLA v City
Villa Park | FA Cup | Saturday 30 January 2016
A crowd of 23,636 for a game between two of the biggest Clubs in England in a showpiece FA Cup clash might not seem like a game to highlight our remarkable away following.
But when you consider that well over a quarter of that attendance was made up of City fans that had made the trip down the M6, it’s show their commitment and fortunately it was well worth the journey following a superb victory.
The fourth round tie came at that moment in the season when there was still talk of quadruple in the air.
"Manuel Pellegrini made a raft of changes to his starting line-up."
City were second in the Premier League table and had just reached the League Cup final three days earlier after a second leg victory over Everton at the Etihad Stadium.
We had also reached the last-16 of the UEFA Champions League with the first leg in Ukraine against Dynamo Kyiv in the days before the war with Russia.
However, City fans would not be allowed to make the trip to the Ukrainian capital with the game set to be played behind closed doors due to Kyiv being handed a three-match stadium ban for racist behaviour and crowd disturbances.
That would be reversed just days before the European encounter – very short notice for those that wanted to make the journey – but that wasn’t the case for our FA Cup clash at Villa.
Allocations for away fans always increase for FA Cup matches and City sensational support have followed us up and down the country.
Just under 6,000 fans made the trip to Villa Park and were rewarded with a brilliant performance.
Manuel Pellegrini made a raft of changes to his starting line-up despite City being held to a goalless draw by the struggling Villans in the Premier League earlier in the season.
Among those to come in was Kelechi Iheanacho and it was one to remember for the young Nigerian as he claimed a hat-trick.
His first from just three yards out came in front of the jubilant Blue Army before a cool penalty before the break.
He coolly added a third from a short backpass before claiming an assist for Raheem Sterling’s fourth with a miscued overhead kick.
It’s no surprise that he was the focus of the fans adoration with a couple of attempted signature chants that included efforts to re-work some classic tunes – I Am The Music Man (including the lines: And can he play? Yes he can play!) and John Lennon’s Oh Yoko!
Iheanacho was not the only players to get the away fan’s love with a warm reception for homegrown stars Cameron Humphreys, Bersant Celina and Angelino getting their chances as second half substitutes.
Another away trip came in the fifth round against Chelsea and the fans travelled in number again.
But with the game kicking off at Sunday tea-time ahead of 1,500-mile flight to Kyiv, Pellegrini decided to select a virtual second-string team to protect his players and we crashed out, at least making up for it with a win in Ukraine.
Words by Jonathan Smith
Our Editorial Team bring Manchester City stories to life.
The Team engage with supporters across our digital platforms like mancity.com and our official app as well as publications like the matchday programme.
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Paul Brown is the Assistant Head of Editorial and kindly offered his time to talk about both his career journey to City and his exciting role at the Club.
Where did your interest in your profession come from?
I wanted to be a sports journalist from a fairly young age. I come from a sporting background. My dad played for West Brom for 20 years and is Albion’s leading goalscorer and appearance maker as well as having a statue outside the Hawthorns. He’s from Wythenshawe originally and actually turned down City to sign for the Baggies in the early 1960s and I often joke with him that a Brown did eventually join the Blues! Because of the circles my dad moved in, I got to know lots of reporters and I loved that they got to spend their days covering football. So I set about breaking into the industry. I got my journalism qualifications, secured placements that helped hone my skills, built up valuable experience working in newspapers before landing a job at Aston Villa where I stayed for nearly 20 years before moving up north to work for City. My first season was the Treble so not a bad start. I’ve genuinely loved every minute of being here!
How did you come to be in your role at City?
As I said, I worked at Aston Villa for nearly 20 years before eventually deciding I wanted a new challenge outside sport. After time spent as a freelancer, I got the itch to move back into football. Scanning LinkedIn one day I saw a job at City. Living in Birmingham at the time, it felt like quite a leap to up and move with being so settled in the Midlands. But backed by my supportive wife, I applied and was thrilled when I eventually got the call to say I’d got the job. On a personal level, we arrived here as a two and now we’re a three after our son was born in 2025. So it ended up being the best decision I’ve ever made - other than marrying my wife, of course!
What does an 'average' day look like for you?
Every day is different but I generally aim to support the Head of Editorial wherever he needs me to, attend meetings to make sure the week is productive, catch-up with my direct reports to make sure they’re on track and feel supported as well as covering whatever is in the diary like press conferences, match days and during the transfer window, of course, coverage of new signings.
There’s also a lot of planning for me as one of my key responsibilities is managing special projects - so ensuring that milestone moments in our calendar are marked like anniversaries of cup wins and notable birthdays of former players.
What makes City's editorial team unique?
I think it’s the people I’m lucky enough to work with.
They’re not only top professionals who I admire greatly for their talent but also wonderful humans who are kind and considerate to those they work with. They have the aptitude but also the attitude.
I’m genuinely thrilled to work at an organisation as ambitious and aspirational as Manchester City and the work we produce as an editorial team and also as a wider media department makes me so proud.
But I’m equally delighted that I get to spend so much time with the group I do - they make you look forward to getting into work in the morning.
What's an aspect of working for the club's media team fans might not expect?
I think we are a well-respected media team in the sports industry, known for being brave, bold and courageous with what we produce. But sometimes, I think you’d be forgiven for thinking that we’d bask in the glow of that admiration. But no, we are constantly thinking of ways we can elevate our coverage and make it even better.
What piece of work/project are you most proud of?
There’s been so many.
One of the key parts of my role, as I mentioned earlier, is leading on special projects - taking milestone moments in the calendar and bringing teams together to make sure we cover them creatively and collaboratively across our platforms.
I was especially proud of the content we produced for the 25th anniversary of the 1999 Wembley Play-Off final as we remembered that last-gasp victory over Gillingham that essentially started the journey to where Manchester City is today. I knew what we published was extensive and exhaustive when my boss said: ‘I think you’ve spoken to everyone other than the guy sweeping the concourses after the match!’
Finally, what advice would you give to someone looking to have a similar role to yours?
One of my first bosses had a sign on the wall of his office. It read ‘It’s nice to be important. But it’s more important to be nice’.
I think that sums up my philosophy. Just be a good person, treat people well and you won’t go far wrong - in work and in life.
MCFC V ASTON VILLA
WEDNESDAY 25 AUGUST 1976
Those of us old enough to remember the Summer of ‘76 might well greet this particular column with mixed emotions. Who doesn’t like a bit of sunshine on their backs.
Out come the shorts and shades and we could all pretend we’re on holiday for the few short months of heat. But from the end of June to the 7th of July Britain was a cauldron. The lapping up of yellow rays gave way to a hermit like existence for many. Cowering in the shade. There were tales of spontaneous dust bin combustion and even the peculiar sight of people frying eggs on the baking pavements of the UK. But that wasn’t the only heat being generated in Manchester at the time. This due to the fact that either side of the two week heatwave saw a bunch of miscreants from London Village head north for two shows at the less than celebrated, barely known to most, Lesser Free Trade Hall, nestled away in a far flung corner of its elder brother - The Free Trade Hall proper.
Yes - I’m talking about the Sex Pistols. Those two gigs have now well and truly cemented themselves in Mancunian folklore. Legend has it that most of the attendees of those two shows immediately went out and formed a band of their own. Their philosophy being “If they can do it - so can I”! Joy Division, Mick Hucknall of Simply Red and future members of The Fall were irrefutably in the crowd for those shows and so legendary were those gigs that the story is that thousands of people claimed to have been there… this despite the fact that the ‘Lesser’ had a capacity of only 400. And it wasn’t even full. How do I know it wasn’t full? Because I was there. HONEST GUV!! Not at the first show (4th June 1976) but the second (20th July 1976).
Now at this point you might simply chalk me off as another wannabe punk fantasist. But the truth is - me and my mates were there…but our night was less than covered in glory.
We only went in the first place because some half mates of ours were in a Bowie influenced Wythenshawe band called Slaughter and the Dogs. We used to go and watch them in Pubs, Youth Clubs, Church Halls and the like. We found out they were playing a show in Manchester with two bands we’d never heard of. Buzzcocks were not only opening the show that night (with their debut gig) but they were also the Promoters. The third band was indeed Johnny Rotten and his mates. With the emphasis being on the word ‘Rotten’. With the benefit of hindsight I now recognise that The Sex Pistols are one of the greatest and most influential bands of all time. But on the night… what can I say? We weren’t immediately bowled over and more importantly - me and my mates, we were hungry!
Halfway through the Pistols set, myself and mate Craig and Steve decided the right thing to do was to skulk off to the chippy round the corner on Oxford Road for some nourishment. This we did. And have never lived it down. To our credit we did return to the venue. Just in time to see Slaughter and the Dogs fans take part in an almighty punch up with those of a Sex Pistols flavour. Needless to say - we kept a safe distance up in the mini balcony above and watched battle commence.
I’m pleased to say, as I remember, the chips were first rate.
And just to prove there are no hard feelings - here’s a shot of myself and Sex Pistols founder member Glen Matlock take in July at their Castlefield Bowl show.
Whilst this ‘Punk Thing’ was unfolding no doubt the Manchester City squad of present and future legends were applying aloe vera to burnt shoulders, looking forward to the start of the season, and matches such as the one which heralded this month’s chosen matchday programme.
MCFC V Aston Villa.
In goals for the Villains on the day in question… this future Man City Legend.
That’s right. John Burridge. John had a reputation for the taking the game seriously - but himself less so. One of the legion of stories about ‘Budgie’ is a corker. Five years after the game in question we find John as goalkeeper for Wolverhampton Wanderers who were up against Kevin Keegan and Newcastle United at Molineux. In an effort to wind KK up the goalkeeping mischief maker bet the curly haired genius a stake of £100 that he would play the entire match in a superhero costume. Unwisely Kevin took Budgie up on the offer - and was £100 worse off post final whistle. Yes - Mr Burridge played the whole match in a Superman outfit.
There’s no evidence to suggest any such skulduggery took place at the match though.
Funnily enough. Talking of the Free Trade Hall…
You simply have to applaud the thought behind a rally organised to stamp out hooliganism, but the cynic in me can’t help but think that many of the crowd gathered that day would be of the ‘bovver boot’ kind! But it was worth a try. And dare I say it was worth it to get a lovely letter from G Kirton of the F.A.
I’m not sure there was exactly a ‘one in one out’ policy at Maine Road around this era, but that’s exactly what’s going on in the August of 1976.
Out; Manchester City legend Alan Oakes. Now I don’t know if I’m being overly sensitive here but the opening salvo in this piece about Alan’s departure hardly summons up euphoria or a tear to the eye!
TALK ABOUT DAMNED BY FAINT PRAISE!! GOOD LORD!! I bet Alan Was delighted to read that!
On a more positive note - with an “Arsenal’ buffer between his stint ‘over the road’ and his joining the Blues, Brain Kidd’s arrival is celebrated. He made 98 appearances for our lot and of course ended up as Assistant Manager to Roberto Mancini.
Taking advantage of the disappearing Professional Footballers Holiday Season, some bright spark on the editorial side of City’s matchday programme thought it a good idea to publish details of almost everyone associated with the Blues’ holiday movements over the previous two months. This in the middle of a countrywide economic downturn. The pound had plummeted and Inflation peaked at nearly 25%. Never mind all that… Mike Doyle has been to Abersoch!
Time now for this month’s Caption Competition. I’ve gone for the front cover of this publication. Not that it will necessarily evoke a cascade of eye watering witticisms… more down to the awful blurred image which presents itself. I can’t find a photographer's credit anywhere in here... and I’m not in the least bit surprised!
Do your worst!
OK. That's me done for this episode of GET WITH THE PROGRAMME.
I hope you’ve enjoyed it.
All that is left for me to do now is show you the two teams for the day - and some good news…
CITY 2 -0 ASTON VILLA
In our new magazine feature Coffee Corner, it sees two worlds collide for our players, their love of a caffeinated beverage and football!
For the piece, we sit down with a Women's player and chat over a piping hot cup of coffee whilst we get to know them a little bit more away from the pitch.
And first up, it had to be coffee connoisseur Grace Clinton...
What is your go-to coffee order at the moment with it getting colder and more autumnal?
At the moment for me it's an Americano. And I like a little dash of cinnamon. I think I don't know, it's just because it's the autumnal season.
As the team's expert it feels like on coffee, what goes into making a good cup of coffee?
A good cup of coffee, I think good beans, really nice beans. And the person making the coffee. If it's made with love and the right texture of the milk and stuff. But I think for me, the main thing is the beans and then getting the milk right. But then it doesn't matter how it looks. You can taste if it's made with love.
Who, if in that case, would you get in the team to make a coffee for you?
It's between two people, Sydney or Mary. They both make it with lots of love and it's always a good coffee.
Is there a particular coffee spot that you're happy to share with us that you like to go to in Manchester?
There's loads. One of my favourites I probably like to go to for the coffee is Pollen, but also just for the atmosphere of being by the canal and stuff. I think that's a really cute spot.
What makes the perfect day off for you in terms of recharging?
The perfect day off for me would be wake up, have a coffee with my family, whether that's my sister or my mum, probably go for a nice walk and get a sauna at some point. I love a good sauna. And then resting for the rest of the day. I like going to the pictures, so if there's a good film on, go to the pictures. If not, just resting and recharging on the couch with lots of cups of tea.
So on top of the cinema, what else would you like to do? Are you someone that likes to journal or do artsy stuff?
Yeah, I like to journal. I do love to journal. I love to go for coffee on my own and journal. And I am currently loving shopping for like furniture, so I'm doing that a lot at the minute. And kind of, we've been so busy really with football, so whenever I get time, I just like to watch shows on the couch.
What is your go to movie at the moment? Or what's your comfort movie?
I watched Practical Magic the other day. I really liked it. I liked how cute it was. It was like all this magic stuff happening before. That's very autumnal vibes at the moment.
Would you consider yourself quite a good chef as well? Is cooking something you enjoy?
I love cooking and I love the whole process of getting nice fresh veg, cooking with it.
What's your go-to thing to cook for people when you have people around?
I always like to cook people a nice steak because everyone loves a good steak, but at this time of year I'm addicted to soups, so I have every type of soup that you can think of. I roast the veg, I blend it all up, I love it.
In terms of self-care, kind of obviously eating healthy and looking after your body that way is really nice. Do you do any other forms of self-care?
I think journaling is a big self-care thing for me. And I think cooking is kind of a self-care, like just it's quite meditation style for me, like I just am with my own thoughts, I play music, it's really nice. And then I think just getting to bed early, that's like my biggest self-care. I'm usually a night owl, so recently I've been really trying to force myself to sleep early and that's been amazing.
Are you reading anything at the moment?
At the moment I am. The thing with me is I like to do a lot of things at once. So I'm like researching some things and then I'm reading some books. So I've got like three things on the go at the minute. But it's not fictional though. So if it was fictional, I couldn't. But it's not fictional. At the moment I'm researching about Asthma. Yeah, so I'm doing a lot of research around that and trying to, because I do like a Chinese medicine type thing course. So I'm looking at it from that perspective, which is very cool.
A little bit more towards match days, but I guess just preparing for matches in general, are you superstitious at all? Do you have rituals? Do you eat the same things? What do you kind of do?
I'm not superstitious that much, but I like to have control over what I eat and stuff. I like to make my own food, make my own smoothies, but I'm not very superstitious.
And then last question, if you were in a coffee shop right now with your younger self coming through Everton, what advice would you give yourself?
I think I would tell myself to believe in myself more and be more open-minded because everything that we go through we've always learned from and we've grown from.
Interview: Holly Percival
The continuing predictions battle between former captain Andy Morrison and City YouTubers Esteemed Kompany, Typical City and MCFC Lads…
RB Leipzig v City
Champions League
Wednesday, 04 November, 20:00 kick-off
Mozzer’s verdict: After our comfortable win over AEK, I think Enzo knows he can rotate his squad with confidence. While I don’t expect the wholesale changes we saw against AEK, I do think he’ll make some changes to what is a more recognised Premier League starting XI – but I don’t see Leipzig being able to prevent another important League Phase win.
Mozzer’s prediction: Leipzig 1-3 City
MCFC Lads verdict: City have played against Leipzig quite a few times over the past few seasons, tending to get a good result. I reckon we need 3 points in this one if we want to get a Top 8 finish, and I think we can win it.
MCFC Lads prediction: Leipzig 0-2 City
Forest v City
Premier League
Saturday, 07 November, 17:30 kick-off
Mozzer’s verdict: Forest haven’t started well under Oliver Glasner. They seem to be a club who suit certain managers, whereas others struggle. Glasner has already proved himself at Palace, but this looks to be a bigger job – and I think we’re all seeing how important Elliot Anderson was to their team. I see goals and I think we’ll win a topsy-turvy game by a couple of goals.
Mozzer’s prediction: Forest 2-4 City
MCFC Lads verdict: The City Ground is never an easy place to go, with a mixture of results since Forest resurfaced in the Premier League. It always seems to be quite a tight affair, but I’m going to go against the grain here and say we might make this one a little more comfortable.
MCFC Lads prediction: Forest 1-4 City
City v Fulham
Premier League
Saturday, 21 November, 12:30 kick-off
Mozzer’s verdict: Fulham are not a bad side and I don’t think they will go down, but I do think they’ll flirt with relegation for much of the season. They don’t travel well and they don’t so particularly well at the Etihad and while Oscar Bobbwill get a nice reception, that’s all I expect Fulham to get.
Mozzer’s prediction: City 4-1 Fulham
MCFC Lads verdict: Fulham have been quite poor so far this season and a trip to the Etihad is definitely not what they need. After the international break, there may be a level of rustiness for City, but I can see Haaland walloping in a hat trick still.
MCFC Lads prediction: City 3-0 Fulham
City v Napoli
Champions League
Tuesday, 24 November, 20:00 kick-off
Mozzer’s verdict: Kevin De Bruyne’s return will be the only thing City fans will be thinking of for this game, but we need to keep an eye on Scott McTominay who I think is a really underrated player. It will be fairly tight, but a goal in each half should take us closer to qualification for the knockout stages.
Mozzer’s prediction: City 2-0 Napoli
MCFC Lads verdict: City played Napoli at home last year in the UCL and got the better of them. KDB will get an amazing reception if he features, but hopefully City can still do the business
MCFC Lads prediction: City 2-0 Napoli
Arsenal v City
Premier League
Saturday, 29 November, 16:30 kick-off
Mozzer’s verdict: If we are still leading the Premier League by this game – and I think we will be – this will be a match nobody wants to miss. Arsenal will want to flex their muscles against us, and there’s no doubt this will be a really tough test. But a point would be a very good result and I think we’ll achieve that here/
Mozzer’s prediction: Arsenal 1-1 City
MCFC Lads verdict: City had a great record against Arsenal last season, and if it wasn’t for a very late Arsenal goal in this exact fixture last season, the Blues would have had 3 wins out of 3 against the Gunners. This will be very tricky game, particularly if Arsenal are behind City in the table prior to the game. I think it’ll be a copy of last year’s result.
MCFC Lads prediction: Arsenal 1-1 City
Results so far...
Mozzer 13-12 YouTubers
Only one correct prediction last month - and what a prediction it was! Andy Morrison's verdict of a 2-2 draw with Brighton and then a City in on penalties was on the nail and gave our former skipper a 5-3 win over Esteemed Kompany to edge ahead in the season-long battle...
In our series looking at players who left the club too early, we go back to a giant centre back that made a giant impression during his brief stay.
There’s a simple slogan that sensible supporters subscribe to around loan players which is something along the lines of don’t get too attached.
But those with a more irrational perspective tend to follow the words of the legendary Elvis Presley who sang: “Can’t help falling in love with you.”
While that was made for the movie Blue Hawaii, it could also have been the Blues who watched Daniel van Buyten during the 2003/04 campaign.
"Son of the wrester Franz van Buyten – also known as Rico Garcia or Captain Davies – he stood an imposing six feet six with a jet black mane that would be the envy of many WWE superstars."
If you were to look at his statistics, you would be pretty underwhelmed. During a five-month loan spell, the defender made just six appearances, won just one game, helped City to just one clean sheet and didn’t score.
But during that brief stop in Manchester, it was clear that he was set to be a superstar and that unfortunately he was just out of City’s reach for a permanent move.
Kevin Keegan masterminded the signing of the Belgian international at the end of January 2004 from Marseille much to the frustration of their coach Jose Anigo.
Van Buyten, then 26, was already an outstanding defender, with 16 caps for his country and had been named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year for the previous season.
Son of the wrester Franz van Buyten – also known as Rico Garcia or Captain Davies – he stood an imposing six feet six with a jet black mane that would be the envy of many WWE superstars.
"He is a terrific player and I don't think we will keep him at the end of the season as I feel he will go to a big club then."
Kevin Keegan
He had turned down a move to Old Trafford earlier in his career but agreed to join City when we were hovering perilously just above the relegation zone, without a league win in two months and in need of some defensive reinforcement.
Still there was a feelgood factor at the Club when he made his debut against Birmingham City, days after our unforgettable 4-3 FA Cup comeback victory at Tottenham.
City were firmly on top that day with Van Buyten, stepping in alongside Richard Dunne, adding a strong platform to build from.
But Birmingham goalkeeper Maik Taylor was in inspired form as we had to settle for a goalless draw.
A difficult run of games followed with defeats away to Liverpool and Manchester United, in the FA Cup, and then at home to Chelsea dropping us down to 16th.
Van Buyten, however, was more than up for the fight, with a physical presence and battling spirit showing that he was prepared to give everything for City’s relegation fight.
His best 90 minutes would come against Manchester United as the Blues demolished our neighbours with a brilliant 4-1 victory thanks to goals from Trevor Sinclair, Jon Macken, Robbie Fowler and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
A final appearance came in a 2-1 defeat at Leeds before injury forced him to miss our remaining games but by then it was obvious he wouldn’t be staying.
“He is a terrific player and I don't think we will keep him at the end of the season as I feel he will go to a big club then," a resigned Keegan said.
"The deal we have is not tight and other teams are sure to nip in."
German side Hamburg did nip in and he spent two seasons there before moving to Bayern Munich when he won four Bundesliga titles, four German Cups, the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.
His last double came under Pep Guardiola in 2013/14 before he retired from the game with 83 Belgian caps and a fearsome reputation.
Van Buyten had been outstanding for City in his half a dozen appearances and it was with a wistful look from afar, that many fans watched his career accelerate to greatness.
Words: Jonathan Smith
In January 2020, as part of our City DNA series, we featured the story of how and why City fans adopted inflatable bananas on matchdays. With the yellow perils making a major comeback at our recent trip to Anfield, what better time to look back at this fascinating fan-led craze…
When English football was at one of its lowest ebbs, it was City fans who put the smiles back on the faces of fans attending matches.
Disaster at the Heysel Stadium had resulted in English clubs being banned from European football and the glamour and glitz of the Premier League was still a distant dream.
Crowds across the country were falling and the national game was, effectively, on its knees.
What better time was there to bring a bit of fun back into going to the match and remind everyone that football was meant to be enjoyed and going to the match was an occasion?
It is generally accepted that it all began when one City fan – a gentleman named Frank Newton – decided to take an inflatable banana to a game at Maine Road (as you do).
The story of how this happened and why has been retold many times, but the following is somewhere near the truth.
After Newton visited a toy collector friend, he noticed a five-foot inflatable banana among the many items that had been gathered over the years.
Now, whether all this is the stuff of legend or not, we may never know, but Frank decided to borrow the banana (it’s hard to imagine him trying to smuggle it out surreptitiously) and take it on to the Kippax at the earliest opportunity.
In August 1987, at home to Plymouth Argyle in what is now the Championship, said banana made its City debut and to say it attracted favourable reviews, is an understatement.
In fact, Frank decided to put his shirt in the inflated yellow peril during the game and, when a face and bobble hat were added, there was no going back. It had begun.
"By the start of the 1988/89, the banana army had gown to hundreds and away games became a colourful, almost carnival atmosphere."
The banana would become a permanent fixture from there on, as Frank travelled home and away with the Blues and when a chant for Imre Varadi was amended to Imre Banana, other bananas started to appear as people sought them out from joke shops and retailers.
Before long, astute businesses began stocking inflatable bananas.
By the start of the 1988/89, the banana army had gown to hundreds and away games became a colourful, almost carnival atmosphere.
And of course, it wasn’t only bananas. Anything that could be inflated – and often that did mean anything – was fair game.
Crocodiles, hammers, dinosaurs, Frankenstein… even a paddling pool. You name it, it was there on a matchday.
There was also the first inflatable heavyweight battle during a dull away trip to West Brom, when Godzilla took on Frankenstein and though City lost the game 1-0, the thousands of travelling supporters at least left smiling.
The pinnacle of the inflatable craze came away to Stoke City on Boxing Day when 12,000 City fans converged on the Victoria Ground in fancy dress, armed with thousands of inflatables – it was an incredible, vibrant sight.
And when the City players ran out carrying inflatable bananas that they threw into the crowd, well, you can imagine the response.
City lost that game 3-1 and it is hard to imagine Pep Guardiola condoning such a stunt – as friendly as it was – when the team was challenging for promotion.
Nonetheless, the craze spread far and wide, with Stoke adopting Pink Panthers, Norwich using inflatable canaries and memorably, Grimsby Town’s Harry the Haddock. It was irreverence at its best and it had been nurtured and promoted by City supporters.
On the final day of the 1988/89 campaign, City got the point needed for promotion at Bradford City’s Valley Parade where Trevor Morley’s last-gasp equaliser was greeted by around 4,000 delirious banana-waving travelling fans.
That was the last notable outing for the inflatable army, though there are still inflatable bananas dotted around the Etihad Stadium some 33 years since that fateful day in ’87.
Happy days, indeed.
Words: David Clayton
Looking back at friendlies, testimonials and exhibition games involving City that might have otherwise been forgotten…
COBH RAMBLERS 0-1 CITY
16 August 1990
Teams
COBH: Ludzic, Van Wijmen, Lynch, O'Halloran, O'Keefe, Cowpar, Cullimore, Hoare, Fenton, Kearns, Neiland - Subs Behan, Kearney, Abbott, O'Rourke, Philpo
CITY: Dibble, O’Donohue (triallist) , Brennan, Harper, Seagraves, Redmond, White, Megson, Allen, Clarke, Beckford - Subs Pointon(60), Quinn(60), I Brightwell(60)
ATTENDANCE: 4,000
As Howard Kendall prepared for his first full campaign as City manager, a short trip over to Ireland was arranged to help the manager fine-tune his side ahead of the 1990/91 Division One campaign.
League of Ireland outfit Cobh Ramblers, based in County Cork, represented a decent workout for the Blues, but weren’t expected to cause too many problems for Kendall’s men.
However, a keenly-fought contest ensued that pushed City to the brink of what would have been an embarrassing defeat.
Kendall named Republic of Ireland striker Niall Quinn – a big draw for the locals who filled the majority of the 4,000-capacity St Colman’s Park – as one of the subs with Clive Allen and Wayne Clarke starting up front.
The first half was a rather sanguine affair, with the teams going in 0-0 at the break in a game that had seen few scoring opportunities at either end.
But on the hour, Kendall introduced local hero Quinn, along with Neil Pointon and Ian Brightwell and the game ratcheted up a few notches in terms of excitement and competitiveness.
Cobh midfielder Tony Neiland went close to breaking the deadlock on 78 minutes with a 25-yard drive that went inches over.
With time running out and Cobh closing in on a memorable draw, the Blues finally struck.
The ball was played into Quinn who held off a challenge from defender Eddie O'Halloran in the box before laying the ball off to David White who placed a low drive into the bottom corner from 12 yards out.
That proved to be the only goal of what had turned out to be an entertaining game for the home support with the first game against Tottenham at White Hart Lane just six days away.
Feature: David Clayton
Exciting Elite Development Squad teenager Christian Dunbar-McDonald says he is already reaping the benefits from time spent working alongside City’s array of world class wingers.
The 18-year-old wide man made the move up to the EDS squad this summer on the back of what was a stellar 2025/26 campaign with City’s Under-18s.
Though the winger’s progress was briefly interrupted by an injury sustained in late September, he has already more than caught the eye with Oliver Reiss’s talented young group.
Reflecting on a hugely positive first few months with City’s Under-21s, Dunbar-McDonald revealed how time spent working with Enzo Maresca’s first team and learning from the Blues’ group of world class wingers was already aiding his own game.
"Yeah, 100% [they serve as an inspiration] because they started where I started, if not even lower than where I started in the game."
The likes of Antoine Semenyo and Jérémy Doku along with summer signing Iliman Ndiaye have all been at the forefront of so much that has been admirable and eye-catching about City of late.
And for Dunbar-McDonald, the opportunity to both train alongside and learn from such elite, world-class talent is both a priceless opportunity and the perfect example from which to draw from.
“Yeah, 100% [they serve as an inspiration] because they started where I started, if not even lower than where I started in the game,” Dunbar-McDonald said.
“For example, you look at Antoine Semenyo and see how he's worked his way up, which is phenomenal for me.
“Like, it's inspiring, because it's not like only, ‘Oh, you're at Man City and then your journey is just linear and it's just straight to the top.
“Do you know what I mean? Antoine started from low [down the pyramid], worked his way up, and it’s even the same with Iliman Ndiaye.
“So, it’s inspiring for me to see how they have had a different journey to me.
“But they got to where they got to.
"Yeah, 100%. I feel like pre-season helped because we played a lot of men's teams in pre-season."
“So, there's no way of saying like, why can't that be me? Do you know what I mean?
“So yeah, 100%, I look up to them.”
Alongside the example of seeing City’s first team wingers out on the training field, Dunbar-McDonald says the experience of sampling men’s football via the EFL trophy has also proved invaluable.
The 18-year-old made an immediate mark in this year’s tournament, helping the Blues’ youngsters record a fine 4-1 win away at Mansfield in August’s opening group game.
And he says that exposure to the senior game, alongside a valuable pre-season and time spent working with City’s first team, was impossible to quantify.
“Yeah, 100%. I feel like pre-season helped because we played a lot of men's teams in pre-season,” Christian added.
“At the start [of the season] I probably didn't understand the game as much, but I'd say I understand it a little bit more now.
“Whether that’s game management, how they play the game, all these small little details which I store in the back of my head.
"You see that they are training at 100% all the time, which they are, which is positive for me."
“I understand little tricks and obviously I think the main thing for me is when you come up against professional players [to try and learn].
“And when we are training over with the first team, [it’s so important] just gaining little tips on like how to do things.
“For example, if I'm training over there [with the first team] and I see Jérémy Doku or Antoine Semenyo or any of the wingers over there, I try to learn off them.
“Obviously they're at the highest level of football. So, there's only one way you can go if you learn off them and see how they play and see how they train.
“You see that they are training at 100% all the time, which they are, which is positive for me.
“So, I can know, don't give 80% of training and try to give it 100.
“You've got to score 100, 100 training and game.
“So I think that's the best for me being here [and learning].
“It's definitely important because you get to see how the best team in the country, if not the world, how they train, how they play, and you can learn off them.
“And then when it comes to playing in the EFL Trophy, it should feel like second nature to be honest.”
Interview: Neil Leigh
Another new face to Lauris Coggin’s Under-18s is towering defender Archie Thornton.
A natural-born leader, Thornton has always operated in the backline. He’s developed his craft at full-back and centre-back, with the latter the position he feels he shines best in.
He is commanding, strong, has impressive ball-playing ability and is difficult to beat in the air both defensively and offensively.
We’ve seen those attributes in abundance in the opening weeks of the 2026/27 season, with the 17-year-old already a regular in the matchday squad.
He’s totalled five league appearances in which he has scored one goal and assisted three and has already been trusted to wear the captain’s armband also.
And for Thornton, it all goes back to being a young boy and falling in love with football.
"I started kicking a football since I was knee high."
“My Dad got me into football and I’ve just never looked back. I got scouted at Under-9s and here we are now!
“I’ve almost always been a centre-back both for club and country so playing right-back a little this season has been a new challenge.”
And one that Thornton has taken in his stride.
“It’s a lot more running than I’m used to!,” Thornton joked.
“But I think I’ve done a good job so far so we will see how it goes and I’m just happy Lauris [Coggin] has put his trust in me.”
In his five appearances, Thornton has helped City keep two clean sheets, both of which he has operated at right-back.
At the other end of the pitch, he’s been just as influential in our incredible goalscoring form, with City leading the charge in the league with 26 goals in six games.
Thornton enjoys getting to attack the opposition’s box on corners and something he hopes to do regularly this term.
“More goals to be fair,” said Thornton when asked what he’d like to develop in his game.
"I think from what we’ve seen so far I’m quite a threat in the box. So I just want to maintain that and hopefully put a few more in the back of the net."
“In the lead up to every game we practice set pieces and so it’s just about knowing what everyone’s roles are in that moment.
“If I do my job and I know my team-mates have done their job then it should work out positively.”
Away from football, Thornton enjoys playing snooker in his spare time to help him relax, recover and then return to the football pitch able to give his all for the team.
And during his interview with City Magazine, it’s evident he is extremely determined to lead by example with one of his main ambitions in 2026/27 being to help City retain the Under-18 Premier League North title.
“My main goal is winning the league,” said Thornton.
“Compared to playing for the Under-16s last season, playing for three points every week keeps us focused and gives us something to work for, fight for.
“Personally, I also just want to play as many games as I can and as best I can.”
Interview: Holly Percival
Following Charlie Courtman’s ultimate Top 5 list of tv shows, next in the hot seat was Under-18s full-back Theo Carrington... He was tasked with building his Top 5 list of basketball players. Let’s see what made the cut…
Victor Wembanyama
7 foot 5. Can't stop him. He's at the San Antonio Spurs. He's new to the league as well, so he's always been fun to watch.
Derrick Rose
I always liked, but he had a bad injury..
Kevin Durant
He's just a pure scorer, so being able to score from anywhere on the court, I've always liked watching him.
LeBron James
Best of all time.
Steph Curry
I was first playing 2K when I first got into basketball, and he was always my go-to player.
Interview: Alice Wright
Six regenerated community pitches opened across Manchester
Across the Summer of 2026, six newly regenerated community football spaces have opened across Manchester as part of City in the Community’s ‘Healthy Goals’ initiative.
Five of the six latest pitch transformations have been made possible through joint investment from Manchester City Council and Manchester City’s official charity, City in the Community (CITC).
Multi Use Games Areas (MUGAs) at Aquarius Centre in Hulme, Brookdale Park in Miles Platting and Newton Heath, Clayton Park in Clayton and Openshaw, Harpurhey Park and Nuthurst Park in Moston have all undergone significant regeneration.
The five sites were selected following collaboration with Manchester City Council, using local insight and data to identify areas where investment in accessible community sports provision could have the greatest impact.
All five facilities are free to access, helping to create safe, welcoming spaces where local people can enjoy football and physical activity close to home.
The regenerations form part of CITC’s ‘Healthy Goals’ initiative, which launched in 2023 and aims to uplift the physical and mental health of young people by creating and regenerating community football spaces across Greater Manchester.
The latest openings mean City in the Community has now invested £1.25million into spaces to play through Healthy Goals, alongside supporters of the initiative.
As with all Healthy Goals regenerations, local young people have played an important role in shaping the new facilities.
Schoolchildren from communities surrounding each site were invited to develop ideas for bespoke centre-circle artwork, helping to ensure the finished pitches reflect the people and places they have been created for.
One of the five new spaces, Clayton Park, also provides a lasting community legacy celebrating Manchester City Women’s title-winning 2025/26 campaign.
Located close to the team’s training facility at the City Football Academy, the pitch was designed in collaboration with local schoolgirls from The East Manchester Academy, drawing inspiration from the team’s Barclays Women’s Super League success and the togetherness that underpinned their triumphant season.
The centre-circle incorporates ideas developed by the schoolgirls alongside City players, while the wider pitch celebrates the team’s achievements and aims to inspire the next generation of local girls.
This summer’s Healthy Goals programme has also been supported by Manchester City partner C.P. Company, whose three-year partnership contributed towards one of CITC’s six community pitch regenerations.
Alongside the physical transformations, City in the Community will continue to work within the local communities surrounding the new sites, providing activity and programming designed to encourage people to make use of the facilities and support sustained participation.
Michael Geary, Chief Executive Officer at City in the Community, said: “We’re incredibly proud to see these five fantastic community spaces now open and ready for local people to enjoy.
“Healthy Goals has always been about much more than transforming the physical facilities. We want local communities to feel genuine ownership of these spaces, which is why involving young people in their design and providing opportunities to get active once the work is complete are such important parts of the initiative.
“We’re hugely grateful to Manchester City Council, City Football Group and C.P. Company for helping us bring these latest regenerations to life.
“Reaching £1.25million of investment through Healthy Goals is an important milestone, but the real impact will be seeing children, young people and families enjoying these spaces for years to come.”
Councillor Shazia Butt, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Libraries, said: “Manchester City Council are committed to ensuring that everyone in Manchester has access to high-quality places to be active close to home, regardless of where they live.
“This partnership with City in the Community is a fantastic example of organisations working together to invest in neighbourhood facilities that local people can use free of charge.
“These improvements will transform important community spaces and create more opportunities for children, young people and residents of all ages to get active, connect with others and enjoy the benefits of sport and physical activity.”
Healthy Goals was first launched in May 2023 and has since transformed community football spaces across Greater Manchester, with previous sites including Scotland Hall Road, Ladybarn Park, Ravensbury Community School, St Wilfrid’s C.E. Primary School, Ashbury Meadow Community Primary School, Southern Cross School, Holy Name RC Primary School and Bradford Park.
City in the Community exists to empower healthier lives with city youth through football.
For more information about City in the Community, visit mancity.com/CITC or follow @citcmancity on social media.
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