MAINE ROAD DIARY - AUTUMN '97

This diary covers the events from the start of the 1997/98 season right through to the present day.

AUGUST 1997

Saturday 9th

City open the new season with a disappointing 2-2 draw at home to Portsmouth in front of a crowd of 30,474. John Aloisi gives the visitors an early lead but Uwe Rösler and Gerard Wiekens on his League début hit back for the Blues before Paul Hall grabs a deserved equaliser for Pompey.

Monday 11th

Australian international left back Jason Van Blerk is signed from Millwall on a free transfer. MCIVTA 319 has several reports of the Portsmouth game, news of the new signing, another transfer rumour, another view of the Open Day, an account of the opening night of the Stretford and Urmston branch of the CSA plus a Why Blue from Paul Connelly.

Tuesday 12th

City sign another player - Irish U21 international winger Tony Scully from Crystal Palace. City's tradition of poor results in Cup competitions against lower division sides continues with a 1-0 defeat at Blackpool in the Coca Cola Cup, Andy Preece scoring the only goal of the game.

Wednesday 13th

The second leg of the Blackpool Cup tie is brought forward a day to Tuesday 26th August and will be screened live on Sky TV. Young Irish striker Barry Conlon signs for City after serving a traineeship with Q.P.R.

Thursday 14th

MCIVTA 320 has views of the Blackpool defeat, another report and other opinions of the Portsmouth game, news of the new date for the second leg and the signing of Tony Scully, the (un)official MCFC Excuse List for 1997/98, opinions of Jason Van Blerk, plus a Why Blue from Richard Brandon.

Friday 15th

City are the first team to visit Sunderland's new Stadium of Light for a League match. The Blues lose 3-1 to the Wearsiders in front of a crowd of 38,827, with former City hero Niall Quinn opening the scoring early on. Then Alan Kernaghan is sent off for his second bookable offence but City hang on and manage to equalise through a Gio Kinkladze penalty. However, the home side finish strongly and despite heroic efforts from Martyn Margetson in goal, Kevin Phillips and Lee Clark score late goals to secure the points for the home side.

Monday 18th

Chris Greenacre goes on loan to Cardiff City to gain experience of first team football. MCIVTA 321 has many views of the Sunderland game, a view of the reserves' 3-2 defeat by Sunderland, plus an alternative Why Blue from the Cayman Islands.

Tuesday 19th

Ray Kelly is a second-half substitute for the Republic of Ireland U21s in their 2-0 win against Lithuania in Dublin.

Wednesday 20th

Kevin Horlock plays in Northern Ireland's 3-1 defeat by Germany in Belfast. Former City winger Michael Hughes scores the Ulstermen's goal.

Thursday 21st

MCIVTA 322 has transfer rumours and denials, more views of the first three games of the season, opinion on Francis Lee's reign as Chairman, plus a Why Blue from Noel Bayley.

Friday 22nd

Paul Lake's testimonial game is set for Sunday October 5th at 2:00pm against Manchester United. City draw another home game, this time 1-1 against Tranmere Rovers in front of the Sky TV cameras. City open the scoring through Kevin Horlock in the first minute of the second half but some sloppy marking allows Lee Jones to equalise in the 61st minute.

Saturday 23rd

Chris Greenacre scores for Cardiff in their 2-1 win over Mansfield Town.

Monday 25th

MCIVTA 323 has three views of the Tranmere game, news of the Paul Lake testimonial game, the first instalment of Noel Bayley's Diary of a Madman, opinion on Lee Bradbury, Frank Clark & his tactics and Gio Kinkladze, details of a web site with video clips of City's goals, a review of the latest City Magazine plus a Why Blue from John Roughton.

Wednesday 27th

The call-ups of Kevin Horlock, Tommy Wright and Gio Kinkladze for international duty cause the rearrangement of the forthcoming home League game against Crewe Alexandra. Ray Kelly and Tony Scully are called up into the Republic of Ireland U21 squad too. City crash out of the Coca Cola Cup in the First Round for the first time in the club's history. Kevin Horlock's late goal levels the aggregate score but there are no further goals in extra time and the visitors win the penalty shoot-out 4-2. Lee Bradbury's miserable run in front of goal continues when he mis-hits City's last penalty.

Thursday 28th

MCIVTA 324 has a couple of views of the Blackpool game, news of the rearranged Crewe game, a request for players for an MCIVTA F.C. away game at Q.P.R., many views of the poor start to the season and what can be done to remedy it plus a Why Blue from Steve Norris.

Saturday 30th

City lose again, this time 2-1 against Charlton Athletic at The Valley. Gerard Wiekens gives the Blues the lead but two goals in two second half minutes (a Jason Van Blerk own goal and a bobbling shot from Keith Jones) result in a home win and increasingly disgruntled mutterings from the 3,000 away contingent.

SEPTEMBER 1997

Monday 1st

MCIVTA 325 has six views of the defeat at Charlton plus another view of the Blackpool game, an appeal for members for a prospective Dutch supporters' club branch, more of Noel's Diary of a Madman, a view of Chris Greenacre from Cardiff, more depressed musings and opinions, an appeal for opinions on the commercialisation of the game plus a Why Blue from Nigel Gibson.

Wednesday 3rd

City's first League win of the season comes at, of all places, the City Ground Nottingham; Forest had previously won all six of their games this season. The Blues play with just Lee Bradbury up front and Gio Kinkladze behind him (Uwe Rösler being with his expectant wife) and take the lead in the 20th minute through Ged Brannan as the new formation pays dividends. Brannan scores again midway through the second half with a speculative lob from 30 yards and although tension rises when Kevin Campbell pulls a goal back for Forest with 10 minutes left, Paul Dickov seals the win with a close range effort just before the end.

Thursday 4th

Kit Symons, Martyn Margetson, Ged Brannan, Tommy Wright, Jason Van Blerk and Paul Dickov have their heads shaved in aid of the "Christies against Cancer" appeal. MCIVTA 326 has four opinions of the Forest match, transfer speculation, news of the charity event, more requests for information, opinions of the squad, fans, the Charlton game and the chairman, plus a Why Blue on behalf of Stuart Ward, who was tragically killed along with his girlfriend Natalie whilst on their way home from the Blackpool game.

Saturday 6th

City have a weekend off due to the international games.

Monday 8th

MCIVTA 327 includes ticket office news, some comments from Mikhail Kavelashvili about his time at Maine Road, more of the Diary of a Madman, details of the November Tribal Gathering, an interesting tale (with a moral) from Australia, a Forest view of City's last game, opinion on Frank Clark and the poor start to the season plus a Why Blue from Bob Narindra.

Wednesday 10th

Nigel Clough joins Sheffield Wednesday on a month's loan. Tommy Wright (captain) and Kevin Horlock are in the Northern Ireland side that loses 1-0 in Albania.

Thursday 11th

MCIVTA 328 has plenty of speculation over the future of Uwe Rösler, some interesting results from a national survey on football shirt sales, ticket news for the Paul Lake testimonial, a preview of the Bury game, reviews of Oasis in Norway and the October edition of Match of the Day Magazine, opinions of transfer targets and Frank Clark, plus a Why Blue from Paul Rawling.

Friday 12th

City are back in front of the Sky TV cameras for the 1-1 draw with Bury at Gigg Lane. In an exciting encounter, Gio Kinkladze wins then misses a penalty, David Johnson gives Bury the lead and then with 9 minutes to go, defender Dave Morley scores City's equaliser on his début.

Monday 15th

Uwe Rösler rejects the new contract offered by City and is transfer-listed. MCIVTA 329 has six reports of the Bury game, the latest news, the final(?) instalment of Diary of a Madman, a proposal for a 60's-themed fancy dress occasion, more opinions, plus a Why Blue from Roy Waddington.

Thursday 18th

MCIVTA 330 has a reports from Wednesday's 1-0 reserves victory over Wolves, news of an expanded City Store at Maine Road, more on the Tribal Gathering, a plea for changes in the behaviour of some City fans plus a Why Blue from Lucas Sheard.

Friday 19th

Gerry Creaney goes on loan to Burnley (who have only scored 1 League goal thus far) for a month. Chris Greenacre's loan spell at Cardiff City is extended for another month.

Saturday 20th

City's fortunes hit a new low when Norwich City win 2-1 at Maine Road, their first win at Maine Road since 1964. Lee Bradbury finally breaks his goalscoring duck but the Canaries equalise through Neil Adams and then win it through Adrian Coote after a costly mistake by Kit Symons.

Monday 22nd

MCIVTA 331 includes three reports of the Norwich defeat, news of players on loan, transfer speculation, opinion on Lee Bradbury, Gio Kinkladze, Uwe Rösler, Oasis' latest gig, racism at City, current form and more, plus a Why Blue from David Matthew Gilbert.

Wednesday 24th

Deposed Youth Development Officers Colin Bell and Terry Farrell are to sue the club for unfair dismissal. City's Annual Report to Shareholders reveals that the club made a £3.8 million loss for the year, but thanks to the rights issue, the overall debt was nearly halved to just under £14 million. Gio Kinkladze is one of three players sent off in Georgia's 1-0 win in Moldova.

Thursday 25th

MCIVTA 332 has another report of the Norwich game, the latest news and transfer speculation, opinion on "Bouncy Castle Maine Road", "real" football, current form, Uwe Rösler's goalscoring record, the squad, formation and captaincy, Statto's corner, plus Not Really a Why Blue from Simon Jones.

Friday 26th

City's away game at West Bromwich Albion is switched from Saturday 11th October to Tuesday 2nd December. Aussie trialist Jimmy Tsekinis is released despite turning in some impressive performances for the reserves.

Saturday 27th

City finally record a home League win, but do it in style with a 6-0 thrashing of Swindon Town. The goalscorers are Gio Kinkladze, a Chris Casper own goal, Kevin Horlock, two for Paul Dickov and Lee Bradbury.

Monday 29th

MCIVTA 333 has six reports of the Swindon game, transfer rumours, Noel Bayley's diary, a qualified view of the club's recently-published accounts, more reaction to Saturday's unexpected result, opinion on Uwe Rösler and Lee Bradbury plus a Why Blue from Ged Parker.

OCTOBER 1997

Thursday 2nd

Ray Kelly goes on loan to Wrexham, and Alan Kernaghan to St. Johnstone. MCIVTA 334 has more views of the Swindon game, including one from the visitors' perspective, a report of the reserves' 2-2 draw against Grimsby Town on Tuesday, news that City are now offering discounted tickets to students (and opinion on this), news of the players going on loan, another view of City's accounts, some background information on Barry Conlon, a plea to AOL Blues plus a review of the Goethe Institut's video Kick off in German with Uwe Rösler.

Saturday 4th

City dominate possession in the game at Ipswich without really trying but the home side score the only goal of the game through Alex Mathie. On loan Gerry Creaney scores twice for Burnley who draw 2-2 with Wycombe Wanderers.

Sunday 5th

Paul Lake's testimonial game against Manchester United is watched by a crowd of 21,262, largely as a result of police restrictions on ticket sales until a few days before the game. United take an early lead through Paul Scholes but Gio Kinkladze levels the score before the end of a dull first half. Both sides make several changes for the second period, which is played somewhat more competitively; Uwe Rösler heads City into the lead but United grab an equaliser with a few minutes to go and the match ends at 2-2. The new 3,500 square foot superstore in what used to be the Social Club opens before the game.

Paul Howarth, paul@city-fan.org