MAINE ROAD DIARY - AUTUMN '94

This diary covers that period of optimism from August until the start of the decline in December.

AUGUST 1994

Saturday 20th

Nicky Summerbee makes his début for City and Uwe Rösler is sent off for two bookable offences as City crash 3-0 to Arsenal.

Monday 22nd

Niall Quinn, Terry Phelan and Alan Kernaghan are named in the Republic of Ireland squad for the European Championship qualifier against Latvia in Riga.

Wednesday 24th

Ian Brightwell replaces Andy Hill in the starting line-up as City beat West Ham 3-0, with goals from Walsh, Beagrie & Rösler. Alfons Groenendijk returns to Holland, joining Sparta Rotterdam after 13 months at Maine Road.

Friday 26th

Mike Sheron is sold to Norwich City for £800,000.

Saturday 27th

Steve Lomas replaces the injured Terry Phelan and Everton are thrashed 4-0 after a classy second-half performance featuring 2 goals apiece for Walsh & Rösler.

Tuesday 30th

Steve Lomas is named in the Northern Ireland squad to face Portugal in the European Championships but Terry Phelan has to withdraw from the Republic's trip to Latvia.

Wednesday 31st

City's inconsistency rears its ugly head again as they lose 3-0 at Chelsea.

SEPTEMBER 1994

Wednesday 7th

Ashley Birch, a Blue living and working in Switzerland, despairing at the dearth of information available on the Internet for City fans, posts a request for contacts to the Usenet group rec.sport.soccer (RSS). He volunteers to paste together any snippets of information about City that anyone sends him and then periodically send out a composite newsletter to anybody that wants it. Meanwhile, Niall Quinn plays his first game for the Republic of Ireland since his knee ligament injury in their 3-0 win over Latvia. Alan Kernaghan is on the bench. Steve Lomas plays for Northern Ireland in their 2-1 defeat by Portgual in Belfast.

Friday 9th

Ashley sends out the first edition of Man City Info Via The Alps (MCIVTA) to 12 people, featuring reports on the Everton and Chelsea games plus some background information on Uwe Rösler.

Saturday 10th

Terry Phelan returns from injury and Niall Quinn replaces the suspended Uwe Rösler in City's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace at Maine Road. City's goal is scored by Paul Walsh. The programme includes a voting slip for the election of the club's first supporters' representative: the candidates are Cath Knott, Alan Tapper, Dave Wallace & Frank Horrocks.

Wednesday 12th

MCIVTA 2 goes out to 20 people and is already beginning to look like the thriving newsletter it is today, with 2 reviews of the Palace game and various views on the Rocastle transfer.

Friday 16th

Fitzroy Simpson joins Bristol City on a month's loan, with a view to a permanent transfer. MCIVTA 3 has team news and opinions on City's recent transfer dealings.

Saturday 17th

Richard Edghill makes his first appearance of the season as City score their first away point with a draw at Sheffield Wednesday. Paul Walsh scores just before half time but substitute Gordon Watson hits a deserved equaliser for the Owls.

Tuesday 20th

MCIVTA 4 features a report on the Sheffield Wednesday game from the Owls WWW home page, more views on the Rocastle transfer and the first in a series 'Why Blue', by Martin Ford. In the evening, another name is added to the list of clubs that have 'giant-killed' City as Barnet win 1-0 in the Coca-Cola Cup.

Wednesday 21st

Dave Wallace, editor of King of the Kippax, wins the election for supporters' representative with 63% of the votes.

Friday 23rd

MCIVTA 5 has more reports from the Sheffield Wednesday and Barnet games, plus some dicussion on the size of the squad.

Saturday 24th

Walsh, Quinn and Rösler are in the same starting line-up for the first time as Norwich's poor sequence of results against City continues; City beat the Canaries 2-0 with second-half goals from Quinn and Rösler. Bryan Gunn saves a Peter Beagrie penalty too.

Monday 26th

City take a strong squad to play a fund-raising match against local side Droylsden FC, whose social club has been destroyed in a fire. City win 2-1 with goals from Summerbee and Lomas but Paul Walsh injures his ankle in a challenge with local United-supporting DJ, Mike Sweeney. Niall Quinn, Terry Phelan and Alan Kernaghan are all included in the Republic of Ireland squad to play Liechtenstein in a European Championship qualifier.

Tuesday 27th

MCIVTA 6 has two reports of the Norwich game, news of tickets for the Old Trafford derby and some views on the squad.

Friday 30th

With no midweek game, MCIVTA 7 just has rumours and team news for the Leeds game, along with a query about City goalkeepers.

OCTOBER 1994

Saturday 1st

Uwe Rösler and Paul Walsh (ankle injuries), Keith Curle (hamstring) and Richard Edghill ('flu) are ruled out for the trip to Elland Road and Adie Mike makes his first Premiership start since the corresponding fixture last season. Leeds win 2-0 without really exerting themselves. Tony Coton picks up a shoulder injury which is to trouble him for the next three months.

Tuesday 4th

MCIVTA 8 is a packed edition, with 2 reports of the Leeds game, rumours about the possible departure of Steve McMahon and the signing of a "class midfielder" (possibly Matt Le Tissier), a Why Blue from Alan Arenson and a multitude of replies to the goalkeeping query in the previous issue.

Wednesday 5th

MCIVTA 8a is a short edition with team news and some rumours, including one about City signing Denis Bergkamp ;-). Edghill and Walsh return as City struggle to overcome Barnet before finally polishing them off with goals from Quinn (2), Walsh and Summerbee.

Thursday 6th

The Coca-Cola Cup draw pairs City with QPR at Loftus Road, the third cup tie between the two clubs in the last 4 seasons. MCIVTA 9 has three reports of the Barnet game and goes out to 37 people.

Saturday 8th

City are unchanged for the visit of Nottingham Forest and come within a minute of ending their unbeaten run. A ding-dong battle sees Niall Quinn equalise twice and then Steve Lomas volley City into a 3-2 lead before the match ends 3-3.

Tuesday 11th

MCIVTA 10 has two reports of the Forest match plus some comments on United's use of a less than full-strength side in their Coca-Cola Cup campaign. Richard Edghill plays for the England U21 team in their 3-1 victory over Austria in Kopfenberg.

Wednesday 12th

Steve Lomas plays for Noerthern Ireland in their European Championships victory over Austria in Vienna and Niall Quinn scores two goals for the Republic in their 4-0 win over Liechtenstein in Dublin in the same competition. Alan Kernaghan starts his first international since before the World Cup Finals.

Friday 14th

MCIVTA 11 has more discussion on the Forest match, including some views from the Forest mailing list, plus the first musings about setting up a Manchester City World Wide Web Server.

Saturday 15th

City register their first away win of the season courtesy of goals by Garry Flitcroft and Paul Walsh at Loftus Road, despite having Andy Dibble and Richard Edghill sent off. Clive Wilson's free-kick isn't enough to save the home side as City beat QPR 2-1.

Monday 17th

MCIVTA 12 has six reports on the QPR game plus a Why Blue from Ashley Birch.

Wednesday 19th

Fitzroy Simpson returns to the reserve team after four games on loan to Bristol City. Martyn Margetson is sent off before Burnley score 5 times in the last 20 minutes to win 6-1 at Turf Moor. The sendings-off of Dibble and Margetson leave City with a goalkeeping problem for the forthcoming games in which they will both be suspended.

Friday 21st

MCIVTA 13 sees the announcement of the City WWW Page (set up by Svenn Hanssen at the University of Tromsø) to MCIVTA subscribers, team news and gossip, including rumours that City are to sign Les Sealey and/or Simon Tracey to cover the goalkeeping crisis. It is also rumoured that Steve McMahon will shortly be leaving the club.

Saturday 22nd

City beat Spurs 5-2 in a thrilling end-to-end display of attacking football. BBC commentator John Motson calls it "The best match I have seen, in an entertainment and attacking context, in the English League for many years." Walsh (2), Quinn, Lomas & Flitcroft get the goals for City.

Monday 24th

Former City hero Joe Corrigan takes up a full-time post as goalkeeping coach at Liverpool.

Tuesday 25th

MCIVTA 14 has five reports of the Spurs game, some transfer speculation involving Steve McMahon & Carl Griffiths and some team news for the evening's Coca-Cola Cup game at QPR. Later on, City win again at Loftus Road, this time a 4-3 thriller. Goals from Summerbee, Curle, Beagrie and Lomas make Rangers sick of the sight of City.

Wednesday 26th

Andy Dibble's appeal against his sending-off at Loftus Road is rejected, despite the video evidence and the support of Les Ferdinand, the player allegedly fouled in the incident. MCIVTA 15 has two reports of the QPR game, some comments about the Spurs game and the usual transfer speculation and gossip.

Thursday 27th

City are drawn at home to Premiership leaders Newcastle United in the 4th Round of the Coca-Cola Cup. The Magpies knocked out Manchester United in the 3rd Round.

Friday 28th

Simon Tracey is signed on loan from Sheffield United as goalkeeping cover for the suspended Andy Dibble and Martyn Margetson. MCIVTA 16 has this and other team news, two more reports on the QPR game, an article on Colin Bell from FourFourTwo magazine and a piece on the newly-formed Leamington Spa ISA branch.

Saturday 29th

Tracey makes his début in front of a big City contingent at Highfield Road but City lose 1-0 to Coventry despite being the better side for most of the game.

NOVEMBER 1994

Tuesday 1st

Niall Quinn, Terry Phelan and Alan Kernaghan are included in the Republic of Ireland squad for their game in Belfast but Steve Lomas misses out on the Northern Ireland squad due to a one-match suspension. There are three reports of the Coventry game in MCIVTA 17, plus transfer speculation about McMahon, Vonk & Griffiths and a Why Blue from Bob Kelley.

Wednesday 2nd

John Burridge (42) is registered as goalkeeping cover for City's forthcoming games. He is thought to be the club's second-oldest player ever, after the legendary Billy Meredith.

Friday 4th

The WWW Page is announced to the world; MCIVTA 18 has news of this, plus a wish-list from Svenn for items to be added to the service. There's news of the Burridge signing and also of the return of Alan Kernaghan from his loan period at Bolton. MCIVTA is now reaching 50 subscribers and this issue is the first to include recent results and a league table, requested by Paul Muschamp in order to put City's results in context.

Saturday 5th

Peter Beagrie's late equaliser ensures City earn a point at home to Southampton in an exciting 3-3 draw. Paul Walsh scores City's other 2 goals. The 30 goals seen in 7 home games this season is more than at any other ground in the league.

Monday 7th

Alan Kernaghan is back in action for City's reserves after a two month spell at Bolton in which he made 9 (plus 2 sub) appearances for the Wanderers. The reserves lose 5-2 at Birmingham.

Tuesday 8th

MCIVTA 19 has three reports of the Southampton game and a report on Monday's reserve game. There is also a review of the Pride of Manchester by Ashley Birch and some intense speculation that City are to make a £4million bid for England captain David Platt, currently at Sampdoria!

Wednesday 9th

The big news is that Southampton and former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar has allegedly taken bribes to throw matches. One of these matches was supposedly the draw at Maine Road the previous weekend!

Thursday 10th

City's Live TV Jinx strikes just where it isn't wanted and the Blues are thrashed 5-0 in the 121st League derby at Old Trafford.

Friday 11th

MCIVTA 20 has two reports of the derby disaster, including one from a Red. There's also a piece by Rob Clarke of the Manchester Computing Centre describing how telnet users can access the World Wide Web plus a review of the Manchester City Quiz Book, again by Ashley.

Monday 14th

The ankle injury picked up Richard Edghill in the derby forces him to pull out of the England U21 squad for the game against the Republic of Ireland. MCIVTA 21 has another pair of reports from the derby plus the usual news, speculation & opinions.

Tuesday 15th

Tony Coton aggravates his shoulder injury in the reserves' 3-1 win over Hull City at Maine Road. Carl Griffiths (2) and Fitzroy Simpson are City's scorers.

Wednesday 16th

Niall Quinn wins his 45th Republic of Ireland cap in their 4-0 win against Northern Ireland in Belfast. Alan Kernaghan is an unused substitute but Terry Phelan misses out with a hamstring injury.

Friday 18th

After a scan, it is feared that Tony Coton has a very serious, possibly career-threatening spinal injury. He is prescribed complete rest by a consultant in an effort to clear up his troublesome shoulder injury whilst the opinion of a second specialist is sought. The bad news is announced in MCIVTA 22, which also has the latest transfer and managerial news and speculation, a Why Blue from Jaha Kankkonen and some compliments for the MCIVTA reporters from Richard Meade, who runs the Manchester United WWW.

Sunday 20th

Andy Dibble is back from suspension, Keith Curle and Uwe Rösler (sub) are back from injury and David Brightwell makes his first appearance of the season as City win a 'live' televised match at Filbert Street. Niall Quinn scores the only goal in City's 1-0 win over Leicester.

Tuesday 22nd

MCIVTA 23 has 3 reports of the Leicester game, news that a record £5.5million debt will be announced at the AGM on 8th December and speculation that Ron Atkinson is being lined up as a replacement for Brian Horton.

Friday 25th

MCIVTA 24 is packed with features and is distributed to 67 people. There's another view of the Leicester game, some much better news on Tony Coton's injury, news that the new restaurant facilities in the Main Stand have already made £1million profit, speculation that Steve McMahon is now the favourite for the vacant managerial position at Swindon Town and even a couple of jokes!

Saturday 26th

An unchanged(!) City side defeats Wimbledon 2-0, courtesy of goals from Garry Flitcroft and substitute Uwe Rösler, maintaining City's unbeaten home record. Alan Kernaghan makes his first appearance of the season as a late substitute for Andy Hill. The City WWW is mentioned in the programme. Steve McMahon watches Swindon's defeat at home to Luton Town.

Monday 28th

Steve McMahon becomes player-manager of Swindon Town.

Tuesday 29th

Alan Kernaghan is named in the Republic of Ireland B squad for the game against England at Anfield. Former City winger Michael Hughes joins West Ham on loan from Strasbourg, with a view to a permanent transfer.

Wednesday 30th

MCIVTA 25, sent out to 76 subscribers, has two reports of the Wimbledon game and news about publicising MCIVTA and the WWW in the programme and fanzines. There's also the news about Steve McMahon and a long list of injured Newcastle players who won't be playing in the evening's big cup-tie at Maine Road. As it happens, City have to come from behind against the below-strength Newcastle team, which is marshalled superbly by Peter Beardsley. Uwe Rösler comes off the bench to score another important goal, earning City a replay on 21st December.

DECEMBER 1994

Thursday 1st

City or Newcastle are drawn away at Crystal Palace in the Coca-Cola Cup quarter-finals.

Friday 2nd

MCIVTA 26 has three reports of the Newcastle game and various opinions on the Brian Horton "should he stay or should he go?" debate.

Saturday 3rd

City achieve only their 2nd ever win at Ipswich, the last one being over 30 years ago. In a tale of two halves, City dominate the first and go in 2-0 up through Garry Flitcroft and Uwe Rösler but Ipswich fight back in the second period, the match ending 2-1 to City. The draw for the 3rd Round of the FA Cup gives City an away tie at Notts County, scene of an inglorious exit in 1991.

Tuesday 6th

There is another report of the Newcastle game plus two of the Ipswich game in MCIVTA 27. There's also more support for Brian Horton and a look forward to the forthcoming games against Arsenal and West Ham. The youth team draw their FA Youth Cup 2nd Round match with Walsall 1-1.