My first City match was in April 1955 not long before the FA Cup final between City and Newcastle United which sadly resulted in a 3-1 victory for the Magpies. This first City game was against Blackpool at Maine Road when I was taken there by my father when I was 8 years old (I’m 62 now). We stood in the Kippax stand I recall. I think he took me to this match mainly because the legendary Stanley Matthews was playing for the Tangerines that day. He always used to say that the day that he and my mum got married was the day City won the FA Cup back in 1934. I only have vague memories of the game but I will never forget the final score and sometimes I mention this in conversations with people. The half time score was City 1 Blackpool 0 – a goal from a free kick by a player called “Fagan” I think. But, the FINAL SCORE was a complete turnaround – City 1 Blackpool 6 (Yes SIX).
About 10-15 years ago I wrote to the club at Maine Road about this game asking if they could look into their records and give me the full details for this particular result and they very kindly sent me a full summary with both teams, scorers, attendance figures etc. The next time I went a match was not until about 1967 when that great team under Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison was on the rise to glory. This was primarily because we were rugby league supporters of our local team Swinton, who were one of the best sides in the game during the ’60s.

Keith J. Smith

49 Danesway
Pendlebury
MANCHESTER
Lancashire
M27 4JS