MAN CITY INFO VIA THE ALPS #69

DATE Friday 31st March '95

We have several answers to my request for more info on Phelo's misdemeanours with some variance in the story t'would seem! We also have another 'Why Blue' as well as plenty of discussion on just about everything! Svenn has now opened voting for the 'Player of the Year'. You can vote either by accessing the WWW Home Page or by sending Svenn an email directly (svenn@hanssen.priv.no). He will collate the votes and ensure we don't have any outsiders attempting to mess things up by multiple voting.

Lastly, there's the embryonic MCIVTA T-shirt for which we are going to need a minimum of 40 orders to keep costs down. Ordering however, comes later; firstly we need designs so if anyone has an artistic leaning and wants to try their hand at putting something together, please have a go.

Next game Crystal Palace away, Saturday 1st April 1995.

MCIVTA T-SHIRT

Further to the suggestion of a MCIVTA T-shirt, I'm happy to say that John Shearer has kindly volunteered to coordinate T-shirt ordering. He has a contact who does the artwork and produces T-shirts for a living and John says that the quality is good. He is currently getting a price estimate as well as finding out what postage & packing to the four points of the compass will cost.

That's one aspect, the other is the design. Svenn, Paul and I came up with some suggestions and Svenn has done a great job of designing three prototype T-shirts. These can be seen at the following address:

http://www.service.uit.no/mancity/mcivta/t-shirt.html

What we need now is for people to take a look and then submit further designs or modifications to the three existing ones. Is there anyone out there with graphic design experience? This would be best done by sending GIFs to Svenn as he cannot spare the time to convert everyone's ideas into graphics. Alternatively, if sending a GIF isn't possible, a finished design could be posted to someone with a scanner. When we have accumulated all the designs we can reasonably expect to get, we'll have a vote on the favourite. Naturally there are some caveats such as background colour and permission to use the City crest (if desired) but these problems will hopefully get solved as we go along.

NEWS - RÖSLER

Bayern Munich are the latest addition to the list of clubs interested in Uwe Rösler. After their bid to sign Jürgen Klinsmann was turned down by Spurs, Bayern are now interested in Uwe. However, City say he's not for sale and Uwe says he doesn't want to move anyway.

NEWS - REID & QUINN

Peter Reid has been appointed manager of Sunderland, replacing Mick Buxton. His position will be reviewed at the end of the season. He claims to have turned down a number of previous offers, saying "without wanting to sound big-headed, I was waiting for a club like this."

Niall Quinn put the Republic of Ireland into the lead in yesterday's European Championships qualifier against Northern Ireland in Dublin; Iain Dowie scored a late equaliser, the match ending 1-1.

NEWS - SPURS MATCH

City and Spurs are in dispute over the date of their match at White Hart Lane. Spurs, concerned about their FA Cup semi-final appearance, no longer want to play the game on 11th April and haven't agreed with any of the dates put forward by City. Likewise, City won't agree to any of the dates suggested by Spurs. The FA are set to decide when the game will be played.

NEWS - CANTONA

Eric Cantona's sentence has been reduced on appeal from 2 weeks' prison to 120 hours community service, or playing nearly 2 seasons for City, depending on how you look at it :-)

NEWS - TEAM

Here's the team details from the early edition of the MEN. As suspected, Quinn (hamstring) and Ian Brightwell (Hip) have been ruled out, so that leaves:

Coton: (from) Foster, Vonk, Curle, Kernaghan, David Brightwell, Gaudino, Flitcroft, Summerbee, Walsh, Rösler, Beagrie, Griffiths, Hill, Burridge.

TRANSFER SPECULATION - NIALL QUINN

According to a report in the Daily Express, Niall Quinn is set to leave City in the summer in order to kick-start his career and look after his future as an international. Speaking in Dublin prior to the European Championships qualifier against Northern Ireland, he said

"It's great coming to Dublin for matches like this because I can forget all about what is happening at club level."

The Express reckons there'll be a scramble to acquire the services of the 2m-rated Irishman.

OPINION - HILLSBOROUGH

This whole issue of Heysel - sorry, Hillsborough - is doing my head in. Jeremy (and countless other people) seem to be quite willing to lay the blame at the feet of the West Yorks. Police, saying that they shouldn't have opened the gates, blah blah blah and a disaster could have been averted.

The thing is it's piss easy to be wise after the event. Sure, it was a terrible day that ought never to have happened, I'm not disputing that. My point is, suppose the police had not opened the gates and people had died in the crush outside - what then? People would have still accused the police by saying the gates should have been opened. Don't tell me it wouldn't have happened either, because I'm pretty damn sure it would have. The police were in a no win situation and, I'm sure did what they thought was right on the day.

OPINION - QUINN

Now that the transfer deadline has passed, what did Frannie and BH do with Niall? I saw his goal and several near-goals (with perfect service on one header from the rag Dennis Irwin) in yesterday's Ireland-Northern Ireland Euro '96 match. Again, I can only hope that Quinn will remain on hand during the possible relegation battle. There are very few centre-forwards I have seen anywhere with his ability to control the ball in the box (Dennis Bergkamp and Jostein Flo of Norway come to mind). Also, I haven't seen Lomas in the Man City line-up lately. Does he still play for Northern Ireland?

Lomas has a broken leg but a return is perhaps possible before the end of the season [Ashley]

OPINION - PLAYERS

1. On the Uwe Rösler front, I read in the paper today that BH has turned down some determined enquiries from Bayern Munich. It seems they have been impressed by his strike record with City, and having been rebuffed by Spurs' Jürgen Klinsmann, they were hoping to tempt Uwe back to Deutschland. Fortunately for us, BH has told them that Uwe just ain't for sale, partly because the club won't let him go and partly because Uwe doesn't want to leave anyway. With him being initially valued at 2 million, I reckon he must be worth at least 3.5 million now, and I wonder what BH will do if the Krauts come in with a big money offer? Interestingly enough, I read recently that Uwe had a trial with Middlesbrough before he came to Maine Road but luckily for us he was sent home without getting a game. If he keeps up his scoring form he should be knocking on the door of the German national side; as I live in South Wales, and Germany are in the same European Championship qualifying group as Wales, for me it would be great to see Uwe knock a couple past Dibs in the Wales - Germany match at Cardiff in October this year (OK, I'll get real, Southall then!).
2. On the continental front, I reckon this is where the Blues must look for good players; mainly because of the over-priced English market (in fact I think the current England side will struggle against a quality overseas team; I personally get more excited over the rugby team's progress than the 11 man team). For example, until he was injured I reckon that De Wolf of Wolves would have suited us down to the ground; he is an international 'hard-man' defender who would do well alongside Curley-Wurley, plus he has reasonable mobility which is unusual for a big defender. City could have had a good deal buying him. Although Wolves are on the up, I'm sure he would have preferred a Premiership club, and weren't Wolves interested in Vonk before finally getting De Wolf, to me a better all round player than Vonk? Now that he's injured I don't feel too bad that we didn't go in for him. Also, what about that Ivanov of Bulgaria? Although I believe he recently flunked on trial with Coventry, is he any good - he must be decent if he played in the 4th best team in the world, and buying him from a Swiss club shouldn't cost the earth? Someone mentioned a Romanian who marked Shearer well in the recent game with England; to me the Romanians on top form were the only team who could have been a match for Brazil at USA '94 - the eastern block countries do have a knack of producing some very talented players.

COMMENT - STADIA

I couldn't agree more with Jeremy Poynton's piece on the demise of the terraces and the Taylor report, which has been the main reason for a lack of atmosphere at many grounds including City (no it's not just the results). The decision to remove the terraces was a political decision that had nothing to do with the safety of fans, and personally I do not believe that fans are any safer now than they were pre-Hillsborough. A classic example of this is Sheffield United's new away stand, with the lower stand having an exit approximately 5 feet wide for thousands of fans to get through. Maybe if the people concerned had been consulted, a better solution would have been reached but maybe that's too much to ask of the Government... to be democratic.

COMMENT - EMBARASSING ONES!

Kevin's account of his wife's quotes at Maine Road reminded me of a girl who used to sit in front of me in the North Stand. She was part of a family group, her father being known to us as "Get a grip", after his favourite saying, "Get a grip City!" Anyway, one afternoon she was getting particularly annoyed with the referee and you could see the frustration building as her face nearly turned purple. One more incident caused her to snap, but clearly coming from a "nice" background, she couldn't bring herself to abuse the referee in the time-honoured, obscene fashion (well, not in front of her father, anyway), so she shouted out: "Referee! You're so wet .... you're a lettuce!" I nearly fell off my seat laughing...

A HILLSBOROUGH STORY

I lived in Sheffield at the time of the disaster, and knew someone who was a nurse at the hospital where many of the injured were being treated. One day she was salking towards the lift (having finished her shift) when she saw Thatcher and her hangers-on moving towards the ward where the injured were being treated, with the media in hot pursuit. My friend noticed that Mrs T was plastered with makeup, far too much on. The reason became clear when she watched the news that night: "Mrs Thatcher, looking pale and drawn at the sight of the injured..." The old b*****d had put the makeup on to achieve that 'pale and drawn' look.

Combat 18: has anyone like this started tagging on to City in any way?

T-SHIRTS

I passed a shop selling some City T-Shirts in Tib Street when I was back in Manchester a week or two back, but didn't have the time to stop and buy any. It's just near the door to Debenhams on the corner of Market Street and Tib Street. This was on a Saturday so I don't know if it's open any other days. From its size it looks like an ex-cigarette kiosk. A quick ASCII map follows. Sorry I can't remember the name of the new hotels and stores, so I have used the old names.

                                  | T  |
        DDD = doors               | i  |Old C&As
        *   = shop                | b  +------
                                  |    Back Piccadilly
                                  | S  +------
           Debenham's             | t  |
                                  |    * T-Shirt Shop
                                  |    |         Old Littlewood's
       ---------DDD-------------DDD    +--------------
        Market Street
              Metrolink Platform
       -----------DDD------------DDD-+   +---
                                     |   |   \    Bus Station
             Lewis's                 |   |    |
                                              |
                                              |

THOUGHTS FROM VIRGINIA

I seldom post to the group any more, as the folks in the U.K. know so much more than I. Are we really up to 212 people? That's quite impressive, as I know the much older Spurs list just went over 200 around the holidays. I was on the Spurs list for ages, because City didn't have one, and because the quality of the footy-chat was first rate. I got to meet up with a bunch of them at the Railway Tavern (right next to the WHL BR stop) prior to their match with Crystal Palace. I could hardly have been treated any better, having people (not list members, but just hard-core Spurs fans, who knew I was a City fan, but didn't care because I hated Arsenal, and had given up my Christmas to come and watch football overseas) buy me pints until I could barely make it back to High Street Kensington. I was lucky enough to run into Shaggy (Palace fan, and probably the most lucid of the frequent posters to rec.sport.soccer), who is as advertised - long leather coat, smoking silk cuts, etc. Hope you get to meet up before the match on Saturday. If you see him, please tell him that I say hello.

On an amusing note, I watched the RAGS/QPR FA cup match for just a few seconds the other night. I had watched all of the other quarter-final matches start to finish, but had no interest in watching Trafford United do anything. In the approximately two minutes that I watched, there was an obvious foul by Bruce on Ferdinand at the edge of the area, and an obvious hand-ball by Sharpe in the area, neither of which was given. We'd have a lot more than that damn blue carpet in the trophy room too if we had the three extra players out there every match like they do!

Hope all is well, and that this trip to Selhurst Park is a lot better than the last.

For more recent subscribers, I should point out that Bob has been with the list from the earliest days [Ashley]

MORE CITY SONGS

Following on from people's recollections of City songs, just a topical one I heard a few years ago. I once went watching City play at Derby just after Tommy Docherty was fired from the Rags. The Doc walked out with the Derby players to a crescendo of "Who's up Mary Brown" - the tune of "knees up Mother Brown". From there they went on to the tune of "He's here he there he's every***** where", "He shot he cum, all over Mary's bum, Tommy Doc, Tommy Doc." He who laughs last ,laughs longest - Derby won 2-1.

I remember this well as I was at the same match. For the benefit of younger Blues I should perhaps point out that Tommy Docherty was fired from the Swamp (cost themm dearly) for having an affair with the wife of the Man. Utd. physio, a lady called Mary Brown. If memory serves me correctly, he eventually married her and they lived up near me in Charlesworth (Glossop) for some time, they may still live there? This song was also the cause of one of The Doc's famous court cases after a fight with some Blues on a train in Stockport. [Ashley]

RUSS MAKES A BID FOR HMP IX!

> If anyone is thinking of going to the Palarse game and has not yet got a
> ticket, Russ Jenkins has a spare one which he will 'sell-on' at a discount
> to gate-prices.
>
> Please contact Russ direct  RJENK@morgan.com

Just remember not to let any money change hands in public near the ground - this is now illegal regardless of the sum involved. You know it makes sense ...

This is another spin-off of the Taylor report; whilst being I guess a laudable attempt to crack down on touts, it has also had the above effect - I know there has been at least one case of someone being nobbled for passing on a spare ticket at cost price.

WHY BLUE?

My first memory is the '81 Cup Final. I was six at the time and found it hard to understand why my Dad was getting so worked up! Not really understanding what all the fuss was about. I was taken to the league rematch early the following season. It was one of Trevor Francis' first games for us and I think Spurs won 1-0.

Over the next 2 or 3 seasons, I would be taken to 3 or 4 games a season and invariably see City lose! However, I was starting to understand and get involved, despite never seeing them win for about 4 years. Then I saw Luton!

The infamous last game against Luton is usually remembered for the Pleat celebrations. My memory is of a game we should have won easily (is this true?) and then Rady Bloody Antic scored with little time left. The relegation put me off going the next season unless I thought it would be a good game that we might win.

The only game I went to that season was against Newcastle. This was by far the best side in the division. They had Keegan, Beardsley and Waddle. We had ... erm ... well ... can't remember! Shows what state the club was in.

We won promotion the next season, then were back 2 years later. Of this period, my memories are few. One is of missing a last minute equaliser against Birmingham after leaving a dire performance early. Oh, and the Full Members' Cup Final at Wembley.

What a comeback that almost was. I was due to have my tonsils removed a few days before the game but my parents cancelled the op so I could go. Anyway the game is in my memory for two reasons, the comeback and the trouble. The trouble at this game was my first experience of any sort of football violance. It started when some Chelsea 'fans' were found in our end (just to the left of where I was sat). There was some minor fighting and then the police moved in and moved them to the other end. Then on the way home, a brick was thrown through a window of the coach in front of us. How bad, in reality, this was, I don't know. I just remember it as the first (and so far only, thankfully) time I have been afraid for my safety at a City game.

Anyway, on to the game. 1-0 up (Steve Kinsey), 5-1 down. Then the last ten minutes. We somehow managed to get it back to 5-4. I think there was an own goal and a penalty in there, but whatever, it was almost a brilliant comeback but not quite.

During our first season back in the second division, I remember wanting to go to the Huddersfield game, but wasn't allowed (a legacy of Wembley; my dad wouldn't let me go without an adult). Listening to the game on the radio that afternoon, I was amazed when we were 4-0 up at half time. It won't last said my dad - we won 10-1. I still remind him of that when he doesn't want to go to a game I'm going to!

After getting back into the First Division we struggled for a while (and still do!!). My next memory is perhaps my favourite. The Niall Quinn vs. Derby County game. It was a game Derby had to win to have a chance of staying up. We took an early lead through Quinn. Then Saunders broke through at the Platt Lane end. Coton brought him down; penalty and Coton sent off. The North Stand (where I was) was up in arms, after all, what could we see from the other end? Anyway, Quinn goes in goal and saves the penalty. What joy! I can't remember such a swing in atmosphere. One minute calm, then very hostile, then celebratory. We went on to win 2-1. Quinn was a hero.

Recently, I have been exiled in Birmingham for much of the year. As a student, I don't get to see many games but try to stay in touch. Hopefully, I'll get to see the Liverpool game and perhaps Villa away (if a date is finally set in term time).

ANSWER - PHELAN'S NIGHTLIFE I

Terry was up for assault last season after he and his girlfriend attacked some United fan and his girlfriend, probably after much p**s-taking about the derby. Not that provocation is any sort of excuse, mind...

Can't remember what the sentence was, but he didn't spend any time in jail as far as I remember, so he probably isn't eligible for the HMP squad. Tony Adams and Mickey Quinn are two qualified candidates though!

ANSWER - PHELAN'S NIGHTLIFE II

I'm not sure if this is the same incident as mentioned by demented red, but the Pit Bull was given a suspended sentence (or bound over to keep the peace - not sure) for trying to poke out a United fan's eyes during a Christmas party. Apparently the Rag in question was a waiter who picked the wrong person to take the piss out off.

If you can't defend against them... poke their eyes out!

ANSWER - PHELAN'S NIGHTLIFE III

Flixton Red is referring to an incident that occurred at the City Xmas party in the Copthorne Hotel a couple of years ago when Terry had a "disagreement" with one of the hotel guests. Can't remember the full details about what followed, maybe someone else will elaborate.

ANSWER - PHELAN'S NIGHTLIFE IV

From what I recall, the rumour was that a Rag was mouthing off at him at the above hostelry; it was also suggested that the colour of his skin came into the conversation. Phelo - not surprisingly - took umbrage at this and proceeded to rearrange various of his features. I know he went to court, but don't know what the outcome was - obviously he didn't go down, but I don't know whether he got a suspended sentence, was fined, or congratulated by the beak.

"We are all coloured, or you wouldn't be able to see us."
Captain Beefheart.

ANSWER - PHELAN'S NIGHTLIFE V

Said incident occurred a couple of xmas's ago when a few of our boys were partaking of their favourite pastime - drinking, at an hotel in Salford Quays. Things were getting a bit lively and the language rather colourful when an unsuspecting chap, out for a quiet night with his wife, asked the boys to tone down their conversation. Utilizing all the diplomatic skills gleaned from his Salford upbringing, our Terry practically put his fingers into the guys eye sockets and lifted him up off the floor, obviously taking exception to an unreasonable request. The result of this episode was fortunately, given current trends, only a fine and Terry was free to appear on the Songs of Praise show that was done from the Swamp some time later!

ANSWER - PHELAN'S NIGHTLIFE VI

In MCIVTA 68 Ashley mentioned that he wondered what escapade Mr T Phelan got up to in the Copthorne Hotel. I heard that he got 200 hours community service for glassing someone when he was tanked up, so I presume that's what Flixton Red was alluding to. When there was paper talk of a European club buying him over the summer, people were commenting on the balance of the 200 hours being a problem.

ANSWER - KIPPAX PHOTO

Ashley Hevicon might try the Evening News for a good picture of the Kippax. Just before it was demolished they published an aerial view of Maine Road which could be bought from them. I remember it was quite pricey. Anyway, they might have some left or he could even try their picture library.

CORRECTION - WHY BLUE?

Re Kevin Duckworth's piece in MCIVTA 68:

> ...
> The game began
> and within 10 minutes, the tension was too much to bear and, when Ian
> Brightwell (?) passed the ball into the path of Marshall who scored for
> Ipswich, she was hooked as a City fan- she has always felt sorry for the
> underdog. By the final whistle I was battered and bruised as she showed her
> enthusiasm. Her lasting impressions on the game were Rocastle has a nice
> bum. Phelan is as fast as F***, and Lomas is a sweetheart.

The back pass was by Garry Flitcroft; you must have had a nice view of Rocastle's "Brazilian" skills that set up Griffiths' equaliser?

MORE BLUE MIRTH

The jokes in MVIVTA 68 remind me of an ad that appeared in the classifieds section of the M(U)EN a year or two ago. Must have been from a Rag as from memory it read something like :-

For Sale:

Trophy cabinet
Excellent condition, Hardly used
5 pounds

Contact, The Secretary, MCFC, Maine Rd.

You may have come across this before; wonder if they got a buyer?

SOME RED MIRTH

The latest issue of Viz contains the following tip:

Man. Utd fans. Don't waste your money on yet another replica team strip. Simply strap a large plastic penis to your head. It will ten be perfectly obvious to everybody which team you support.