1967–68 Manchester City F.C. season

Manchester City F.C.
1967–68 season
Manager Joe Mercer and
Malcolm Allison
Football League
First Division		 1st0000000000000000
FA Cup Fourth round
League Cup Fourth round
Top goalscorer League:
Neil Young (19 goals)
All:
Neil Young (21 goals)
Highest home attendance 62,942 vs Manchester United
(30 September 1967)
Lowest home attendance 22,002 vs Southampton
(30 August 1967)
Home colours
← 1966–67 1968–69 →

The 1967–68 season was Manchester City F.C.'s seventy-sixth season of league football, and second consecutive season in the Football League First Division. In the third full season under the management of Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison, Manchester City were unfancied at the start of the season following a mid-table finish in 1966–67 Following the signing of forward Francis Lee, the club embarked on an unbeaten run that saw the club challenge at the top of the table. A televised victory against Tottenham Hotspur in snowy conditions proved particularly notable, becoming known as the Ballet on Ice.

Going into the final match of the season, Manchester City led the table. A 4–3 win at Newcastle United clinched the club's second league title, winning the First Division by two clear points over club rivals Manchester United. The league championship was the first trophy of the most successful period in Manchester City's history. Under Mercer and Allison, the club won a further three trophies in the following two seasons.

Background and pre-season

The 1966–67 season had been Manchester City's first in the top flight after winning promotion from the Second Division in 1966. A fifteenth-place finish consolidated the club's place in the division. Club captain Johnny Crossan struggled with injuries in 1966–67, and was sold to Middlesbrough for £34,500 in the close season.[1] Tony Book succeeded him as captain. The club made no major signings before the start of the season, though Tony Coleman, a winger with a wild off-field reputation, had arrived from Doncaster Rovers at the tail-end of the 1966–67 season.[2] Mercer had reservations about signing Coleman, but Allison convinced Mercer that he could pacify a man he once described as "the nightmare of a delirious probation officer".[3] City also attempted to sign England international goalkeeper Gordon Banks, but were outbid by Stoke City.[4]

The team travelled to Europe in pre-season, playing friendlies against Eintracht Braunschweig and Standard Liège.[5] After returning to England they played Portsmouth at Fratton Park, winning 2–0, and finished their preparations with a resounding home win against Borussia Dortmund.[5] Between matches, the players followed a fitness plan created by former athlete Joe Lancaster, under instruction from Malcolm Allison.[6] The training regime was initially unpopular with the players; the severity of the first session caused some players to vomit.[6]

Football League First Division

City's season opened with a 0–0 draw at home to Liverpool. City were awarded a penalty, but new captain Tony Book hit it wide.[7] Two defeats followed, at Southampton and Stoke. The Stoke defeat led to a tactical switch. Mike Summerbee, who played wide on the right at the start of the season, was moved to centre-forward.[8] The change reaped immediate dividends, with Summerbee playing a leading role in a 4–2 win against Southampton.[7] This was the first in a run of five straight wins, after which Manchester City had caught up with the league leaders.[9] During this run of wins young winger Stan Bowles made his league debut, scoring twice in a 5–2 win against Sheffield United.[10]

Manchester City's first transfer business of the season brought goalkeeper Ken Mulhearn to the club from Stockport County on 21 September, a deal that involved City's back-up goalkeeper Alan Ogley moving in the opposite direction.[11] Harry Dowd kept goal in the next match, a 1–0 defeat at Arsenal,[12] but then dislocated a finger, prompting a debut for Mulhearn in the season's first Manchester derby.[11] Mulhearn was reputedly so nervous before the match that Allison locked him in the medical room until he calmed down.[11] Colin Bell scored the opener after five minutes, but two Bobby Charlton goals meant a win for Manchester United. In the second half of the match, Bowles exchanged punches with Brian Kidd, though neither man was sent off, largely thanks to the intervention of their respective captains.[13] The derby loss was followed by a third consecutive defeat, at Sunderland.

A couple of days after the Roker Park defeat, Manchester City completed the signing of centre-forward Francis Lee from Bolton Wanderers for a club record £60,000.[14] During negotiations Mercer stated to Lee that "we feel we've got the start of a good side. We are just one player short, and we think you are that player."[15] Lee made his debut in a 2–0 win at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers, the start of an 11 match unbeaten run,[16] including a 6–0 win against Leicester City.[17]

Ballet on Ice

Midway through their unbeaten run, City faced Tottenham Hotspur at home in snowy conditions, in a match televised on Match of the Day. As the teams came out onto the frozen pitch, commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme called the Manchester City team as "the most exciting team in England".[18] Aided by a modification to the studs on their boots suggested by Tony Book,[19] City produced one of their best footballing performances in their history. One Spurs player was quoted as saying, "It was extraordinary. City moved like Olympic speed skaters while we were falling around like clowns on a skid patch."[18] Tottenham took an early lead through Jimmy Greaves, but Bell equalised before half-time, and in the second half City besieged Tottenham, scoring three more times to win 4–1. After the match City trailed the league leaders by only a single point.[20]

The match was named as Match of the Day's "Match of the Season",[20] and as the only match at Maine Road that season to be recorded for television,[21] is the foremost recorded example of the 1967–68 team in action.

The unbeaten run came to an end at Christmas, with back-to-back defeats in matches against West Bromwich Albion causing the club to fall to fourth place.[22] The team commenced 1968 with a seven match unbeaten run, starting with consecutive 3–0 wins at Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United, and culminating in a 5–1 defeat of Fulham to go top of the table.[23] The run came to an end with a defeat at Don Revie's Leeds United, which also meant City were overtaken at the top of the table by local rivals Manchester United. A visit to United's Old Trafford ground then followed. United took an early lead, but City rallied to win 3–1.[24]

In late April, after City won 1–0 against Sheffield Wednesday and title rivals Manchester United lost to West Bromwich Albion, City were in a position where winning their final three games would all but guarantee the championship.[25] In the first of the three, a home match against Everton, City won 2–0 in a match featuring Tony Book's first league goal for the club.[26] Next was Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. City took a 3–0 lead before half time, eventually winning 3–1.[26]

Title decider at Newcastle

Going into the final match, City were level on points with neighbours Manchester United, with City holding the advantage in goal average – the first decider if teams finished level on points – but needing to win to be sure of staying above their cross-city rivals. Liverpool were three points behind, but had a game in hand, so could still win the title if both City and United faltered.[27] City faced tenth-placed Newcastle United at St James' Park; United were at home to bottom-half Sunderland. Bookmakers made United slight favourites for the title.[28]

Mike Summerbee opened the scoring on 13 minutes, but Newcastle soon equalised.[29] Neil Young made it 2–1, but again Newcastle equalised. A second strike by Young was disallowed for offside, and at half-time the score was 2–2. Straight after half-time Young scored again, and Francis Lee scored a fourth on 63 minutes.[30] A late Newcastle goal set up a nervy finish, but City held on to win 4–3 and secure the title.[30] The win was compounded by a 2–1 victory by Sunderland over Manchester United, giving City the title. Liverpool won one of their remaining games but lost the other, missing their chance to leapfrog United into second by one point.

Matches

Date Opponents H / A Venue Result
F–A		 Scorers Attendance
19 August 1967 Liverpool H Maine Road 0–0 49,531
23 August 1967 Southampton A The Dell 2–3 Bell, Coleman 23,675
26 August 1967 Stoke City A Victoria Ground 0–3 22,426
30 August 1967 Southampton H Maine Road 4–2 Bell (2), Young (2) 22,002
2 September 1967 Nottingham Forest H Maine Road 2–0 Coleman, Summerbee 29,547
6 September 1967 Newcastle United H Maine Road 2–0 Hince, Young 29,978
9 September 1967 Coventry City A Highfield Road 3–0 Bell, Hince, Summerbee 34,578
16 September 1967 Sheffield United H Maine Road 5–2 Bowles (2), Bell, Summerbee, Young 31,922
23 September 1967 Arsenal A Highbury 0–1 41,567
30 September 1967 Manchester United H Maine Road 1–2 Bell 62,942
7 October 1967 Sunderland A Roker Park 0–1 27,885
14 October 1967 Wolverhampton Wanderers H Maine Road 2–0 Doyle, Young 36,476
21 October 1967 Fulham A Craven Cottage 4–2 Summerbee (2), Lee, Young 22,108
28 October 1967 Leeds United H Maine Road 1–0 Bell 39,713
4 November 1967 Everton A Goodison Park 1–1 Connor 47,144
11 November 1967 Leicester City H Maine Road 6–0 Lee (2), Young (2), Doyle, Oakes 29,039
18 November 1967 West Ham United A Upton Park 3–2 Lee (2), Summerbee 25,495
25 November 1967 Burnley H Maine Road 4–2 Coleman (2), Summerbee, Young 37,098
2 December 1967 Sheffield Wednesday A Hillsborough 1–1 Oakes 38,207
9 December 1967 Tottenham Hotspur H Maine Road 4–1 Bell, Coleman, Summerbee, Young 35,792
16 December 1967 Liverpool A Anfield 1–1 Lee 53,268
23 December 1967 Stoke City H Maine Road 4–2 Lee (2), Coleman, Young 40,121
18 December 1967 West Bromwich Albion A The Hawthorns 2–3 Lee, Summerbee 44,897
30 December 1967 West Bromwich Albion H Maine Road 0–2 45,754
6 January 1968 Nottingham Forest A City Ground 3–0 Coleman, Summerbee, Young 39,581
20 January 1968 Sheffield United A Bramall Lane 3–0 Bell, Doyle, Lee 32,142
3 February 1968 Arsenal H Maine Road 1–1 Lee 42,392
24 February 1968 Sunderland H Maine Road 1–0 Lee 28,642
2 March 1968 Burnley A Turf Moor 1–0 Lee 23,486
9 March 1968 Coventry City H Maine Road 3–1 Bell, Summerbee, Young 33,310
16 March 1968 Fulham H Maine Road 5–1 Young (2), Bell, Lee, Summerbee 30,773
23 March 1968 Leeds United A Elland Road 0–2 51,818
27 March 1968 Manchester United A Old Trafford 3–1 Bell, Heslop, Lee 63,004
6 April 1968 Leicester City A Filbert Street 0–1 24,925
12 April 1968 Chelsea H Maine Road 1–0 Doyle 47,132
13 April 1968 West Ham United H Maine Road 3–0 Young (2), Doyle 38,755
16 April 1968 Chelsea A Stamford Bridge 0–1 36,466
20 April 1968 Wolverhampton Wanderers A Molineux 0–0 39,632
25 April 1968 Sheffield Wednesday H Maine Road 1–0 Own goal 32,999
29 April 1968 Everton H Maine Road 2–0 Book, Coleman 37,786
7 May 1968 Tottenham Hotspur A White Hart Lane 3–1 Bell (2), Summerbee 51,242
13 May 1968 Newcastle United A St James' Park 4–3 Young (2), Lee, Summerbee 46,492
PosTeamPWDLFAGAPtsNotes
1Manchester City422661086432.00058European Cup 1968–69
First round
2Manchester United422481089551.61856European Cup 1968–69
First round[31]
3Liverpool422211971401.77555Participated in
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1967-68
4Leeds United422291171411.73253Winners of the
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1967-68[32]
5Everton422361367401.67552

P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; Pts = Points

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
42 26 6 10 86 43 +43 58 17 2 2 52 17 +35 9 4 8 34 26 +8

N.B. Points awarded for a win: 2

FA Cup

As a top-flight side, Manchester City entered the FA Cup in the third round, and were drawn at home to Reading of the Third Division. With City unusually wearing their maroon change kit, the match finished goalless, with Tony Coleman missing a penalty.[33] The replay at Elm Park was a one-sided affair. City won 7–0, Mike Summerbee scoring a hat-trick. In the fourth round, another home tie finished 0–0, this time against Leicester City. In the replay Manchester City squandered a 2–0 lead and lost 4–3.[34]

Date Round Opponents H / A Venue Result
F–A		 Scorers Attendance
27 January 1968 Third round Reading H Maine Road 0–0 40,343
31 January 1968 Third round replay Reading A Elm Park 7–0 Summerbee (3), Young, Coleman, Heslop, Bell 25,659
17 February 1968 Fourth round Leicester City H Maine Road 0–0 51,009
19 February 1968 Fourth round replay Leicester City A Filbert Street 3–4 Summerbee, Bell, Lee 39,112

League Cup

Manchester City's League Cup run saw two notable debuts for young players. In the Second round against Leicester City, Stan Bowles scored twice in a 4–0 win.[35] In the next round against Blackpool, Joe Corrigan made the first of his 605 appearances for the club.[36] City progressed after a replay. Fulham were the opponents in the Fourth round, meaning City visited Craven Cottage for the second time in as many weeks. However, they could not replicate their league win, and lost 3–2.[37]

Date Round Opponents H / A Venue Result
F–A		 Scorers Attendance
13 September 1967 Second round Leicester City H Maine Road 4–0 Bowles (2), Book, Young 25,653
11 October 1967 Third round Blackpool H Maine Road 1–1 Summerbee 27,633
18 October 1967 Third round replay Blackpool A Bloomfield Road 2–0 Summerbee, Craven (o.g.) 23,405
1 November 1967 Fourth round Fulham A Craven Cottage 2–3 Oakes, Bell 11,732

Squad statistics

Squad

Appearances for competitive matches only
Source:[38]

Pos. Name Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
League FA Cup League Cup Total
GKEngland Corrigan, JoeJoe Corrigan 0 (0) 000202 (0)0
GKEngland Dowd, HarryHarry Dowd 7 (0) 000209 (0)0
GKEngland Mulhearn, KenKen Mulhearn 33 (0) 0400037 (0)0
GKEngland Ogley, AlanAlan Ogley 2 (0)000002 (0)0
DFEngland Book, TonyTony Book 42 (0)1404150 (0)2
DFEngland Doyle, MikeMike Doyle 37 (1)5403044 (1)5
DFEngland Heslop, GeorgeGeorge Heslop 41 (0)1414043 (0)0
DFEngland Pardoe, GlynGlyn Pardoe 41 (0)0404049 (0)0
MFEngland Bell, ColinColin Bell 35 (0)14424143 (0)17
MFEngland Cheetham, RoyRoy Cheetham 2 (1)000002 (1)0
MFEngland Clay, JohnJohn Clay 1 (1)000001 (1)0
MFEngland Connor, DavidDavid Connor 10 (3)10.90 (1)00.90 (1)012 (5)1
MFEngland Horne, StanStan Horne 4 (1)0001 (1)05 (2)0
MFScotland Kennedy, BobbyBobby Kennedy 4 (2)000004 (2)0
MFEngland Oakes, AlanAlan Oakes 41 (0)2404149 (0)3
FWEngland Bowles, StanStan Bowles 4 (0)2000.90 (1)04 (1)4
FWEngland Coleman, TonyTony Coleman 38 (0)8414046 (0)8
FWEngland Hince, PaulPaul Hince 6 (0)2004010 (0)2
FWEngland Lee, FrancisFrancis Lee 31 (0)16410035 (0)17
FWEngland Jones, ChrisChris Jones 2 (0)000002 (0)0
FWEngland Summerbee, MikeMike Summerbee 41 (0)14444249 (0)20
FWEngland Young, NeilNeil Young 40 (0)19414148 (0)21

Transfers

In

Date Pos. Name From Fee
September 1967 GK England Ken Mulhearn England Stockport County
October 1967 FW England Francis Lee England Bolton Wanderers £60,000

Out

Date Pos. Name To Fee
August 1967 FW Northern Ireland Johnny Crossan England Middlesbrough £34,500
1967 FW Scotland Ralph Brand England Sunderland
September 1967 GK England Alan Ogley England Stockport County Part exchange

Legacy

The league championship was Manchester City's first trophy since the 1956 FA Cup. The triumph was the first of the most successful period in the club's history. Under Mercer and Allison the club went on to win the FA Cup in 1969, and the League Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup in 1970. The Mercer-Allison partnership changed in October 1971, with Allison taking the manager's role, and came to an end in June 1972 when Mercer left to take charge of Coventry City.[16]

As a result of the title win, Manchester City entered European competition for the first time. However, Malcolm Allison's prediction that the club would "terrify Europe" proved inaccurate, with the club losing to Fenerbahçe in the first round of the European Cup.[39]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Penney, Manchester City: The Mercer-Allison Years, p. 37.
  2. ↑ Penney, Manchester City: The Mercer-Allison Years, p. 33.
  3. ↑ Ward, The Manchester City Story, p. 59.
  4. ↑ Tossell, Big Mal, p. 127.
  5. 1 2 Goldstone & Saffer, Manchester City Champions 1967/68, p. 11.
  6. 1 2 Tossell, Big Mal, p. 133
  7. 1 2 Goldstone & Saffer, Manchester City Champions 1967/68, p. 13.
  8. ↑ Tossell, Big Mal, p. 137.
  9. ↑ Tossell, Big Mal, p. 138.
  10. ↑ Penney, Manchester City: The Mercer-Allison Years, p. 39
  11. 1 2 3 James, The Big Book of City, pp. 124–5.
  12. ↑ Goldstone & Saffer, Manchester City Champions 1967/68, p. 33.
  13. ↑ Penney, Manchester City: The Mercer-Allison Years, p. 40
  14. ↑ James, Manchester City – The Complete Record, p. 178.
  15. ↑ James, The Official Manchester City Hall of Fame, p. 52.
  16. 1 2 James, Manchester City – The Complete Record, p. 53.
  17. ↑ Summerbee, Mike Summerbee – The Autobiography, p. 103.
  18. 1 2 "Manchester City 4–1 Tottenham". mirrorfootball.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 July 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  19. ↑ Book, Maine Man, p. 76.
  20. 1 2 Goldstone & Saffer, Manchester City Champions 1967/68, p. 58.
  21. ↑ Tossell, Big Mal, p. 148.
  22. ↑ Penney, Manchester City: The Mercer-Allison Years, p. 45.
  23. ↑ Tossell, Big Mal, p. 149.
  24. ↑ Tossell, Big Mal, p. 150.
  25. ↑ Summerbee, Mike Summerbee – The Autobiography, p. 107.
  26. 1 2 Book, Maine Man, p. 78.
  27. ↑ James, Manchester City – The Complete Record, pp. 125–6.
  28. ↑ Summerbee, Mike Summerbee – The Autobiography, p. 108.
  29. ↑ James, The Official Manchester City Hall of Fame, p. 130.
  30. 1 2 James, Manchester City – The Complete Record, p. 126.
  31. ↑ Manchester United qualified for the European Cup 1978–79 as defending champions of European Cup 1968.
  32. ↑ Leeds United won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup this year, and also the League Cup.
  33. ↑ Penney, Manchester City: The Mercer-Allison Years, p. 45
  34. ↑ Goldstone & Saffer, Manchester City Champions 1967/68, p. 74.
  35. ↑ Penney, Manchester City: The Mercer-Allison Years, p. 39.
  36. ↑ James, Manchester City – The Complete Record, p. 156.
  37. ↑ Penney, Manchester City: The Mercer-Allison Years, p. 42.
  38. ↑ James, Manchester City – The Complete Record, pp. 402–3.
  39. ↑ James, Manchester City – The Complete Record, p. 55.

Bibliography

External links

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