MAINE ROAD DIARY - AUTUMN '95

This diary covers the events from the start of the '95/96 season in August through to the end of November.

AUGUST 1995

Saturday 19th

The new City magazine is launched; the first issue includes an article on PremierNet, now re-launched as CarlingNet. City start the season with a 1-1 draw at Maine Road against Spurs. There are débuts for Eike Immel, Kit Symons & Georgiou Kinkladze and Uwe Rösler opens his goalscoring account for the season.

Monday 21st

There is an optimistic mood showing in MCIVTA 115, which features four reports plus other opinions of the Spurs match; there's also news of a training session and a new football information service (Soccernet) on the WWW plus a Why Blue from Andy Birkin.

Wednesday 23rd

MCIVTA 116 includes injury news, transfer speculation, a review of the first issue of the new CITY Magazine, more opinions on the players' performances against Spurs and future developments at Maine Road, plus the results of the Scottish Teams survey. Terry Phelan, Alan Kernaghan & Niall Quinn are named in the Republic of Ireland squad to face Austria in Vienna on 6th September, and Kit Symons is in the Welsh squad for the home game against Moldova on the same evening. City lose 2-1 at Coventry, with Dion Dublin netting the winner 4 minutes from time for the second season running. Uwe Rösler scores City's consolation goal.

Thursday 24th

The draw for the 2nd round of the Coca-Cola Cup pairs City with Wycombe Wanderers.

Friday 25th

MCIVTA 117 has news of important changes to the operation of MCIVTA, three reports of the Coventry game, transfer speculation and team news, an update on the forthcoming Internet Football Competition, opinion on Alan Kernaghan, a review of the Centenary Brochure and a Why Blue from Mal Lomax. Andy Hill joins Port Vale, the fee to be decided by a tribunal.

Saturday 26th

City lose 1-0 at QPR and have Michael Brown, making his début as a substitute, sent off just before the end. The performance is so poor that Alan Ball makes a public apology to the Chairman and the fans.

Tuesday 29th

MCIVTA 118 has three reports plus several other opinions of the Q.P.R. game, another view of the Coventry game, some transfer speculation, several opinions on how the future of MCIVTA could be secured, plus a Why Blue from Brian Wood.

Wednesday 29th

MCIVTA 119 includes an appeal for the DALEK Fund, team news, more opinions on City's current form (a distinct turn-round from the previous week's optimism!) plus a Why Blue from David Yates. City's poor form continues with a 2-0 home defeat by Everton, a result which sends the Blues to the bottom of the Premiership table.

SEPTEMBER 1995

Friday 1st

MCIVTA 120 has numerous reports and opinions of the Everton match, news of players recovering from injuries and of City's official WWW page on PremierNet, plus opinions on the current situation and what to do about it.

Sunday 3rd

Steve Lomas plays in Northern Ireland's 1-1 draw against Portugal in Oporto. Former City favourite Michael Hughes scores the Irish equaliser.

Tuesday 5th

MCIVTA 121 consists of transfer speculation and rumours, news of an interview with Francis Lee in the Mail on Sunday, a comparison by an Everton fan between City this season and Everton last season, opinion on the current squad and a Why Blue from Paul Whelan.

Wednesday 6th

Several City players are on international duty: Kit Symons plays for Wales in their 1-0 victory over Moldova at Cardiff, Niall Quinn and Alan Kernaghan play for the Republic of Ireland in their 3-1 defeat in Vienna and Georgiou Kinkladze plays for Georgia in their 4-1 defeat by Germany.

Thursday 7th

MCIVTA 122 is packed with transfer speculation and opinions, plus opinion on the club's financial sitation, a query on the origin of the term 'Academy' with reference to Maine Road and a Why Blue from Alan Foster.

Friday 8th

Gerry Creaney signs for City from Portsmouth, with Paul Walsh plus £400,000 going the other way. Further payments may be made, depending on appearances. MCIVTA 123 has news of the transfers, answers to the Academy query from the previous edition, opinions on the team and transfers, plus a Why Blue from Geoff Clarke.

Sunday 10th

City lose to a last-minute Ian Wright goal in their first `live' TV appearance of the season, at home to Arsenal.

Monday 11th

David Brightwell, back from Lincoln City, goes on a month's loan to Stoke City, again with a view to a permanent transfer.

Tuesday 12th

MCIVTA 124 includes two reports plus other opinions of the Arsenal game, transfer news and opinions, various views on City's current predicament and a Why Blue from Graham Mooney.

Thursday 14th

MCIVTA 125 has various newspaper quotes and transfer rumours, more views of the Arsenal game, some strong opinions on the `moaners' within the ranks of the City fans and a Why Blue from Ken Foster. Alan Ball announces that he is dropping Nicky Summerbee for his own good due to the criticism he is getting from City fans, which has affected his confidence.

Saturday 16th

City lose 3-1 at St. James' Park, a scoreline which rather flatters the Blues. Gerry Creaney scores City's consolation goal on his début; Richard Edghill is sent off for two bookable offences.

Monday 18th

Svenn Hanssen takes over the running of MCIVTA for a while; MCIVTA 126 contains news of the Newcastle match and the Fan on the Board situation, details of the new football-related WWW sites and some humorous items.

Tuesday 19th

City's first clean sheet of the season comes against second division Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park in the second round of the Coca-Cola Cup. However, the lack of confidence within the side is clearly evident and City are fortunate to escape with a goalless draw.

Wednesday 20th

MCIVTA 127 has two reports of the Newcastle match and one of the Wycombe match; there's also transfer speculation and news of an interim judgement from the European Court of Justice on the Bosman case, which could see the end of the transfer system as it currently stands.

Thursday 21st

Tony Coton plays the full 90 minutes in the reserves' 1-0 win at Hull City.

Friday 22nd

David Kerr joins Mansfield Town on a month's loan with a view to a permanent transfer. MCIVTA 128 is a short edition comprising team news, transfer speculation and some opinions on City's possible (probable?) relegation from the Premiership.

Saturday 23rd

City slump to their sixth consecutive league defeat, equalling the club's record. A far from impressive Middlesbrough side take the points with a solitary goal from Nick Barmby.

Monday 25th

MCIVTA 129 has many opinions of the Middlesbrough game and miscellaneous other things, transfer speculation and a call for votes for the Premiership Player of the Month.

Tuesday 26th

Niall Quinn and Alan Kernaghan are included in the Republic of Ireland squad for their forthcoming European Championships qualifier against Latvia.

Wednesday 27th

Steve Lomas is included in the Northern Ireland squad for their forthcoming European Championships qualifier against Liechtenstein.

Thursday 28th

A transfer tribunal decides that Port Vale must pay City £150,000 for Andy Hill. MCIVTA 130 includes news of this and of comments made in the media by Uwe Rösler and Kåre Ingebrigtsen; there are also opinions on Georgiou Kinkladze, City's tactics and the crisis the club is in plus a review of the second edition of CITY magazine.

Saturday 30th

City lose 3-0 at Nottingham Forest, a record seventh consecutive league defeat. Ian Brightwell is sent off for two bookable offences just before half-time.

OCTOBER 1995

Sunday 1st

Terry Phelan is added to the Republic of Ireland squad for the game against Latvia as a replacement for Denis Irwin.

Monday 2nd

MCIVTA 131 has two reports of the Forest game, news and rumours from ClubCall, a piece on City's Platt Lane Training Complex, an open letter to Alan Ball plus various opinions on City's playing style and the dire situation the club is in.

Wednesday 4th

City's first competitive win since Easter Monday is a 4-0 victory over Wycombe Wanderers in the Coca-Cola Cup. Two goals from Uwe Rösler and one apiece from Niall Quinn and Keith Curle seal a comfortable win for the Blues after some early scares.

Thursday 5th

City are drawn away to Liverpool in the 3rd Round of the Coca-Cola Cup. MCIVTA 132 has the full draw, a report and other views of the Wycombe match, the announcement of a Player of the Month poll plus the usual transfer speculation and opinions.

Monday 9th

MCIVTA 133 has another report of the Wycombe match, transfer speculation, a Why Blue from Andy McDevitt and a couple of humorous items.

Tuesday 10th

Uwe Rösler signs a new 3-year contract, saying he'll stay at City if they stay in the Premiership. Michel Vonk scores from the penalty spot for the reserves, watched by Sunderland manager Peter Reid. He is later reported to have signed for the Roker Park outfit for £400,000 but Reid denies this. Nicky Summerbee scores City's other goal in a 2-1 win over Leicester City.

Wednesday 11th

Georgiou Kinkladze hits Georgia's winner from the penalty spot in a surprise victory over World Cup semi-finalists Bulgaria. Wales lose 2-1 at home to Germany, the Welsh goal coming from a deflected Kit Symons header. Niall Quinn and Terry Phelan play in the Republic of Ireland's 2-1 victory over Lativa and Steve Lomas plays in Northern Ireland's 4-0 win in Leichtenstein.

Thursday 12th

MCIVTA 134 has a report of the reserve game against Leicester City, a transcript of Uwe Rösler's interview on ClubCall, news and rumours involving Michel Vonk, Georgiou Kinkladze and Kåre Ingebrigtsen, the result of the August/September Player of the Month poll, opinions on full-backs and Saturday's derby match and a Why Blue from Paul Muschamp.

Saturday 14th

City make it 8 defeats in a row, lsoing the derby at Old Trafford in front of nearly 36,000 United fans. With no tickets allocated to the Blues, there is a crowd of around 4,500 at Maine Road to watch the game on closed-circuit TV.

Monday 16th

City sign Scottish international defender Mark McNally on a two-week trial from Celtic. MCIVTA 135 has news of this, four reports of the derby match, opinions of the team plus rumours of Francis Lee's dissatisfaction with the club and a possible escape clause in Uwe Rösler's new contract. There's also a Why Blue from Douglas Youngson.

Thursday 19th

MCIVTA 136 includes rumours of a mass player exodous from Maine Road and of a possible £10,000,000 cash injection into the club by a group of local businessmen. There's another report of the derby, memories of Paul Lake, opinions on City's style of play, Alan Ball and Mark McNally, Ten of the Best from Paul Howarth and a Why Blue from Kevin Mutch.

Saturday 21st

City's record sequence of league defeats ends with a goalless draw at home to Leeds United.

Monday 23rd

MCIVTA 137 has a report and other opinions of the Leeds match, rumours of another consortium apparently willing to inject cash into the club, a Red view of the recent derby match, an explanation of Niall Quinn's on/off transfer to Sporting Lisbon over the summer, a view from a Blue exiled in Sunderland and recollections of a trip to Ipswich.

Wednesday 25th

City crash out of the Coca-Cola Cup, losing 4-0 at Anfield.

Thursday 26th

City take striker Thomas Christiansen on a week's loan from Barcelona, with a view to a permanent transfer. There's news of this in MCIVTA 138, which also includes reports and opinions on the Leeds and Liverpool matches, other transfer rumours and opinions, a poem by Ken Foster, a review of the 3rd issue of CITY magazine, Ten of the Best from Dave Clinton and answers to a TV commentary query from the previous edition.

Saturday 28th

City are thrashed at Anfield again, losing 6-0 this time, in a league match.

Monday 30th

Despondency is rife amongst contributors to MCIVTA 139, which features some background information on Thomas Christiansen and many opinions on the club's dire situation.

NOVEMBER 1995

Wednesday 1st

Manchester City FC take over the running of the Maine Road Souvenir Shop after previous proprietor Eddie Phillips finally moves out. Niall Quinn, Terry Phelan and Alan Kernaghan are named in the Republic of Ireland squad for their crucial match against Portugal in Lisbon. Steve Lomas is named in the Northern Ireland squad for their match against Austria in the same group.

Thursday 2nd

MCIVTA 140 is the biggest edition to date and includes a report of the Liverpool game, transfer news and rumours, praise for the Blues' fans at Anfield from a Liverpool fan, a report from the training ground plus a multitude of opinions on possible signings, tactics, management, life, the Universe and everything!

Saturday 4th

City secure their first league victory since Easter Monday with a 1-0 victory over fellow strugglers Bolton at Maine Road. Nicky Summerbee strikes the winner in the 11th minute of an entertaining derby match.

Monday 6th

MCIVTA 141 has two reports and other opinions of the Bolton game, news of prospective transfer deals, Paul Lake and the City Souvenir Shop, the usual mix of opinions on the style of play etc. plus a Why Blue from Kieran Daly.

Thursday 9th

MCIVTA 142 has the latest transfer news, details of the new Manchester Evening News Lounge in the Kippax Stand, revelations of a 40-year-old bribery scandal, the result of the October Player of the Month poll, more famous Blues and Ten of the Best from Jon Walsh.

Saturday 11th

Terry Phelan is sold to Chelsea for £750,000.

Monday 13th

MCIVTA 143 has plenty of variety with the latest transfer news and speculation, another report from the training ground, more on the 40-year-old bribery scandal, a letter to Francis Lee and his reply, an interview with Francis Lee from the Telegraph, more famous Blues, various opinions on City's current form, various City lists, Ten of the Best from Bill Chapman and a Why Blue from Milton Mendik.

Wednesday 15th

There are international appearances for Niall Quinn & Alan Kernaghan (Portugal 3 Republic of Ireland 0), Steve Lomas (Northern Ireland 5 Austria 3) and Georgiou Kinkladze (Moldova 3 Georgia 2)

Thursday 16th

MCIVTA 144 includes transfer news and rumours - involving the whole club(!), a confession from Peter Swales, various opinions, more famous Blues and a Why Blue from Michael Wild.

Saturday 18th

City win their first away point of the season with a 1-1 draw at Hillsborough, Steve Lomas equalising David Hirst's penalty. Martin Phillips is signed from Exeter City for an undisclosed fee thought to be in the region of £500,000.

Monday 20th

A Manchester court rules in favour of City in their legal battle with Brian Horton over his compensation. There's news of this in MCIVTA 145, plus three reports of the Sheffield Wednesday game, transfer news, more Pointers from Platt Lane, opinions on new signing Martin Phillips and City's current attitude plus a Why Blue from David Sweeting.

Wednesday 22nd

Niall Quinn's injury-time goal is enough for City to beat Wimbledon 1-0, a result which lifts the Blues off the bottom of the table.

Thursday 23rd

MCIVTA 146 has a report of the Wimbledon match, transfer news & rumours, a Platt Lane report, details of the London Branch of the City Supporters' Club, various opinions and replies to queries from previous editions, plus a Why Blue from Jon Walsh.

Saturday 25th

City goalkeeping legend Bert Trautmann officially opens the new Kippax Stand before the game against high-flying Aston Villa. Despite Keith Curle missing a first-half penalty, City record their third straight home win with an 85th minute strike from man-of-the-match Georgiou Kinkladze.

Tuesday 28th

MCIVTA 147 includes two reports of the Wimbledon match, three reports of the Villa match, transfer and suspension news, more Pointers from Platt Lane, more details of the MCIVTA Xmas get-together, various opinions and a Why Blue from Heather Fleming.

Wednesday 29th

Alan Ball is named Carling Manager of the Month for November after an astonishing turn-round in the Blues' form which saw them concede only one goal during the month (a penalty), the best defensive record in the Premiership.

Thursday 30th

MCIVTA 148 has news of Alan Ball's award, rumours about quotas on foreign players, opinions on a possible stadium move, a review of Issue 4 of CITY Magazine and a Why Blue from Nick Cavanagh.