I was 10 years of age living in Crowther Street in Gorton. Our next door neighbour-Keith Moray- took me to the game. Manchester City vs Halifax Town-a wartime fixture. It was a time of German air-raids, ration books, and gas masks. The fact that any football was played at all was due to the indomitable spirit of the British people. “Business as usual.”

There were no match programmes. The players names were entered in chalk onto a blackboard and this was paraded around the playing area before kick-off (2.15pm- no floodlights then). The City team was Swift-Sproston-Barkas-Walsh-Fagan (later to manage Liverpool)- McDowall (later to manage City)- Dunkley- Hend (who had played in the 1934 Cup Final)- Smith- Black- and Emptage.

City led 2-0 at half-time with goals by Hend and Smith. In the second half Halifax took control and dominated the game. A hat-trick by Tommy Barkas (brother of City’s Sam Barkas) gave Halifax a victory by 3-2.

City had England internationals in Swift, Sproston, and Barkas- also Walsh (Republic of Ireland), Mcdowall (Scotland), and Herd (Scotland). A bus home cost 2d (old money) and I delivered sporting papers on the Saturday evening. The old Empire News had all the results from the days’ fixtures. I have been a supporter all these years. I am now 75.

Walter Allison