MAINE ROAD DIARY - SPRING '97

This diary covers the events from the start of March 1997 through to the end of the season.

MARCH 1997

Saturday 1st

City's run of good form continues with a 3-1 win at Bradford City, completing the Blues' first "double" of the season. The match springs into life in the second half when the home 'keeper Jonathan Gould is sent off for a professional foul on Paul Dickov; Uwe Rösler scores from the spot and again with a header 20 minutes later. Kevin Horlock scores City's other goal, with Edinho grabbing a late consolation for the home side from the penalty spot.

Monday 3rd

Tommy Wright completes his move to City from Nottingham Forest after playing one last game for his old club at the weekend (and keeping a clean sheet). New Chief Executive Mike Turner takes over from Colin Barlow. MCIVTA 277 has three reports of the victory at Bradford, rumours of transfers and legal action against Crystal Palace chairman Ron Noades, a Manchester City Icon Collection, opinion on policing and Steve Coppell plus a Why Blue from Jon Poole.

Wednesday 5th

The club's official Web site, CityNet, is launched. City's winning streak comes to an end but the Blues remain unbeaten in the League in 1997 after a 1-1 draw against Portsmouth at Maine Road. Kevin Horlock scores his third goal in consecutive games to give City the lead but former Blue Fitzroy Simpson scores with a late free kick to give Pompey a deserved share of the points.

Thursday 6th

MCIVTA 278 has a couple of views of the Portsmouth match, news of Eike Immel, of rearranged fixtures and a new attitude towards spectators at Platt Lane, opinions on City's play-off hopes, policing and the squad's fitness, a disturbing tale of a racist City fan plus a Why Blue from Ian Renard.

Saturday 8th

A poor showing by City is not enough to prevent a 1-0 victory over Oldham Athletic at Maine Road, Uwe Rösler scoring the only goal in the 58th minute. The game is watched by the Nationwide League's highest crowd of the season so far, 30,729.

Monday 10th

MCIVTA 279 has three reports of the Oldham game plus a belated view of the Portsmouth game, transfer news, a review of the latest CITY Magazine, more on racism, a review of CityNet plus a Why Blue from Sven Östlinger.

Tuesday 11th

City's unbeaten run comes to an end with a 2-0 defeat at St. Andrews. The Birmingham goalscorers are Paul Furlong (from the penalty spot) and Kevin Francis.

Wednesday 12th

City sign midfielder Ged Brannan from Tranmere Rovers for £750,000. He can also play in defence, which is where he is likely to make his début in view of the defensive crisis at City (injuries and suspensions). Meanwhile, Andy Dibble joins Glasgow Rangers on loan until the end of the season.

Thursday 13th

City sign Dutch defender Gerard Wiekens from Veendam for around £400,000. He'll join City on 1st July when his current contract expires. MCIVTA 280 has several views of the Birmingham game plus a belated report of the Oldham match, transfer news, details of the playing career of Barney Daniels, details of the club's shareholdings, yet more on racism plus a Why Blue from Andy Muirhead.

Friday 14th

City are refused a work permit for Millwall's Aussie full back Jason Van Blerk, effectively ending the Blues' interest in signing him.

Saturday 15th

Gio Kinkladze returns after a 5-match absence through injury but it's not enough to inspire the Blues to three points against a struggling Grimsby Town at Blundell Park. The home side take the lead through Michael Appleton (on loan from Manchester United) but Mikhail Kavelashvili earns City a point with his second goal of the season.

Monday 17th

MCIVTA 281 has two reports of the Grimsby game, transfer news, opinion on CityNet, Andy Dibble, Stuart Hall and behaviour at football stadia, plus a Why Blue from Gary King.

Tuesday 18th

A late own-goal by Liam O'Brien saves City a point at Tranmere. Rovers had earlier taken the lead through Gary Jones on a wet and windy night on the Wirrall which was not conducive to good football.

Wednesday 19th

City get clearance to play Dalian Atkinson in a reserve game at York and he scores the only goal of the game.

Thursday 20th

MCIVTA 282 has a report and a poem about the Tranmere match, more transfer news, the announcement of the inter-list football tournament Euronet '97, opinion on Radio 5 & Moonchester and a Why Blue from Keith Norris.

Saturday 22nd

City get back on the winning trail with a 2-0 win over Stoke City at Maine Road. The opening goal is scored by Dalian Atkinson on his full début, followed three minutes later by a Steve Lomas strike.

Monday 24th

MCIVTA 283 has two reports of the win against Stoke, transfer rumours as Tbursday's deadline approaches, a call for votes for the Player of the Year, a defence of City's extraterrestrial mascot Moonchester and an interesting comparison between City and Racing Club of Argentina.

Tuesday 25th

Young players Michael Brown, Jeff Whitley, Jim Whitley, Lee Crooks and Chris Greenacre agree extended contracts with the Blues. An experienced reserves side is watched by many scouts as they beat Burnley 3-1 at Maine Road, with Paul Dickov and Peter Beagrie amongst the goals.

Thursday 27th

It's transfer deadline day and the biggest move in England is Steve Lomas's £1.6 million move to West Ham United. Three of City's younger players go out on loan: Michael Brown to Hartlepool, Sammy Harris to Altrincham and Nathan Freeman to Fulham. MCIVTA 284 has news of the transfer moves and the reserves game plus a Why Blue from Glyn Owen.

Saturday 29th

Tommy Wright is the hero for Northern Ireland as he makes some great saves to earn the Irish a 0-0 draw against Portgual in Belfast in a World Cup qualifier. Kit Symons is in action for Wales but they lose at home to Belgium.

APRIL 1997

Tuesday 1st

Tommy Wright and Kevin Horlock are in action for Northern Ireland but the Irish go down 2-1 to the Ukraine in Kiev, effectively ending their World Cup hopes.

Thursday 3rd

After a week's break for Easter, MCIVTA 285 has transfer news and rumours, a report from the latest meeting of the Prestwich and Whitefield Branch of the Supporters' Club, opinions on the sale of Steve Lomas plus a Why Blue from Carol Darvill.

Saturday 5th

Ged Brannan scores his first goal for City as the Blues draw 1-1 at Charlton. Carl Leaburn had earlier given the home side the lead.

Monday 7th

MCIVTA 286 has three views of the Charlton game, team and injury news, a review of City fanzine The Fightback, opinions of Steve Lomas and Nicky Summerbee plus Why Blues from Brian Lenehan and Alex Pooley.

Wednesday 9th

Bolton Wanderers clinch the Nationwide League title with a 2-1 win over City at Maine Road. Gio Kinkladze gives City the lead but Mixu Paatelainen equalises before the break and Scott Sellars wins the visitors the points with a fine solo effort in the second half.

Thursday 10th

MCIVTA 287 has a report of the Bolton game, opinions on recent football events, news of a new web site for City's Centenary Supporters' Association run by Shaun Sefton plus a Why Blue from John Simmonds.

Saturday 12th

City get back into winning ways with a 3-1 success at West Bromwich Albion, all the goals coming in the first half. Uwe Rösler scores twice and Kevin Horlock grabs the other, with Shaun Murphy scoring a consolation for the Baggies just before the break.

Tuesday 15th

MCIVTA 288 has a couple of reports of the win at West Brom, news of contract offers and of a song about City due for release in early May, opinions on the squad and CityNet plus Why Blues from Tom Sweetman and Kolin Ibrahim.

Wednesday 16th

City make a second half comeback to win 3-1 against Grimsby Town at Maine Road after the Mariners had taken a shock first half lead through Craig Shakespeare. City's blushes were saved by a goal from Dalian Atkinson and two from Nicky Summerbee. The result means City are mathematically safe from relegation.

Friday 18th

MCIVTA 289 has a report of the Grimsby match, opinions on the squad and City's future, a review of the latest CITY Magazine, news of F.A. bureaucracy forcing the postponement of Euronet'97, plus an offer of live audio over the Internet of City's game at Norwich on the 25th. City defender Paul Beesley suffers whiplash and a cut to the head in a car crash on his way home from training.

Saturday 19th

City suffer a humiliating 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Queens Park Rangers. All the goals come in the second half, two as results of defensive blunders. The goalscorers are John Spencer (twice) and Steve Slade.

Monday 21st

Frank Clark appeals to City fans not to get on the backs of individual players following jeers aimed at Nigel Clough and Alan Kernaghan during the past week.

Tuesday 22nd

MCIVTA 290 has plenty of comments (mostly scathing) on the QPR game, news of City's membership scheme for 1997/98, some amusing footy quotes and a Why Blue from P. Howe. In the first of two East Angian trips in the space of four days, City lose 1-0 at Ipswich Town, a Steve Sedgley penalty deciding the game. The result finally condemns City to another season in the Nationwide League.

Thursday 24th

MCIVTA 291 has three reports of the Ipswich game, news of an appeal to Gio Kinkladze to try to persuade him to stay at Maine Road, the result of the February Player of the Month vote, plus a few requests for information.

Friday 25th

City's last away game of the season ends in a goalless draw at Carrow Road, Norwich. Both sides are below strength and produce typical end-of-season fare.

Monday 28th

MCIVTA 292 has two reports of the Norwich game, more on the will he stay or will he go saga of Gio Kinkladze including a translation of the petition letter, more ranting from Martin Ford and a Why Blue from Neil Henderson.

Tuesday 29th

Young goalkeeper Nick Weaver is signed from Mansfield Town for £200,000. City reserves draw 1-1 against Stockport County reserves at Maine Road, watched by a crowd of around 4,000 for the first Kids on the Kippax family event. Kevin Horlock has a goal disallowed in Northern Ireland's goalless draw in Armenia.

Wednesday 30th

Reserve team coach Kevin Bond leaves the club to make way for another Frank Clark appointee during the summer. Gio Kinkladze is injured in Georgia's 2-0 defeat against England at Wembley.

MAY 1997

Thursday 1st

The Internet-based campaign to persuade Gio Kinkladze to stay at Maine Road reaches the wider public when the back page of the Manchester Evening News carries the story. MCIVTA 293 has news of the arrival and departure of Nick Weaver and Kevin Bond respectively, transfer speculation and opinion, plus reports of two recent Supporters' Club meetings. City's reserves clinch promotion to the First Division of the Pontin's League behind Champions Grimsby Town with a 1-0 win at Carlisle United.

Saturday 3rd

City come back from 2 goals down against Reading at Maine Road to win 3-2 in their final game of the season. A cross by Michael Meaker deflects off Ged Brannan to give the visitors an early lead, and a Kit Symons own goal doubles it before strikes from Paul Dickov, Uwe Rösler and substitute Neil Heaney earn City the points. Groundsman Stan Gibson retires after over 30 years at City.

Sunday 4th

The rest of the Division 1 sides complete their fixtures, leaving City in a final position of 14th, the lowest finishing position in the club's history.