MAINE ROAD DIARY - SUMMER '95

This diary covers the events from the end of the '94/95 season in May until the start of the '95/96 season in August.

MAY 1995

Tuesday 16th

Following intense media speculation, Brian Horton is sacked as the team manager. MCIVTA 84 reflects the speculation and has the late news of the sacking. There's also a report of the final game of the season against QPR and plenty of opinions on what was a very disappointing performance. There's also opinion on Brian Horton & Alan Kernaghan and who should stay and who should go during the Summer break, congratulations for Blackburn Rovers on their Premiership win and more on the question of City players with European Cup winners' medals. Alan Kernaghan plays in a testimonial for Stephen Pears at Middlesbrough. Uwe Rösler is voted Supporters' Club Player of the Year and Scott Thomas wins the Young Player of the Year award.

Wednesday 17th

A deluge of opinions on Brian Horton's reign and speculation on his successor result in the early appearance of MCIVTA 85. There's also more on the European Cup Winners' medals from Ian Copping of the Nottingham Forest list.

Thursday 18th

The flood of comments continues and MCIVTA 86 is issued. It includes another report of the QPR game, the latest rumours and opinions on the sacking, who the new manager should be and what transfer deals should be undertaken during the Summer. There's also a rumour of a change at the souvenir shop and a piece on ex-Blues at Crewe Alexandra.

Friday 19th

There is a record 4th edition in one week as MCIVTA 87 appears, including news of the League Managers' Association Manager of the Year poll, a new City Souvenir Shop and the result of the WWW/MCIVTA City Player of the Year poll, opinions on players and the sacking of Brian Horton, a Why Blue from Stewart Lucas and an FA Cup Final drinking game.

Saturday 20th

Former City favourite Trevor Francis is sacked from his post as manager of Sheffield Wednesday.

Tuesday 23rd

MCIVTA 88 goes out to 279 subscribers and includes news of season ticket sales, of various managers changing jobs, speculation and opinion on City's manager and the team, plus a review of Mike Doyle's book Manchester City: My Team.

Wednesday 24th

City win the Littlewoods-sponsored Premiership award for Community Club of the Year.

Thursday 25th

John Foster is named in the England Under-21 squad for the European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Latvia at Burnley on 7th June.

Friday 26th

MCIVTA 89 has various news updates, transfer speculation, details of a feature on Uwe Rösler on German television, opinions on the dismissal of Brian Horton, the new manager and City's goalkeepers, a Why Blue from Matthew McCurrie and a few jokes at our neighbours' expense.

Tuesday 30th

Niall Quinn is reported to have been sold to Sporting Lisbon for £1,700,000. MCIVTA 90 has news of this, plus speculation on the new manager and that Peter Swales may be poised to take control of Altrincham F.C., the club he controlled before joining City in the early seventies. There's also opinion on summer transfer dealings and a Why Blue from Dave Bradbury.

Wednesday 31st

A Manchester City page appears as part of Virtual Manchester. Maurizio Gaudino plays for Guido Buchwald's Dream XI in his testimonial at Stuttgart.

JUNE 1995

Thursday 1st

MCIVTA 91 has a match report for the Guido Buchwald testimonial, more news and rumours about the new manager, opinion on the Quinn transfer, out of contract players & Gaudino plus a Why Blue from Sean Bechhofer.

Friday 2nd

MCIVTA 92 includes more speculation about City's new manager, news of Maurizio Gaudino's legal problems and that Uwe Rösler has added the Sky Sports City Player of the Year award to similar honours from the City Supporters' Club and MCIVTA subscribers. There's also comment on out-of-contract players (the Bosnan case), the manager, team & full-backs plus a Why Blue from Nizam Idris.

Saturday 3rd

Niall Quinn plays in the Republic of Ireland's goalless draw in Liechtenstein.

Monday 5th

Sporting Lisbon pull out of the Quinn transfer deal, saying that City are refusing to pay £300,000 owed to Quinn under the terms of his contract.

Tuesday 6th

MCIVTA 93 has news of the Quinn situation, a match report from the Liechtenstein vs. Ireland game, opinion on Niall Quinn, Garry Flitcroft & Arsenio Inglesias, former coach of Deportivo La Coruña, who has been linked to the managerial vacancy at City, plus still more speculation on the manager and that work on the Kippax may have stopped, opinion on City's full-backs & Paul Gascoigne's transfer to Glasgow Rangers and a brief Why Blue from Alberto Blois in Brazil. John Foster dislocates his shoulder whilst training with the England Under-21 squad.

Thursday 8th

MCIVTA 94 carries news of John Foster's injury and the appointments of Bruce Rioch and Steve Coppell at Arsenal and Crystal Palace respectively (which rules them out of the running for the City job of course), continuing speculation about the new City manager and that the Quinn transfer may still be on, comment on the Club's finances & the Quinn deal, an anecdote about Andy Dibble and a Why Blue from Howard Pheby.

Sunday 11th

Niall Quinn plays for the Republic of Ireland in their 3-1 home defeat against Austria in the European Championships.

Monday 12th

MCIVTA 95 has the usual speculation about the new manager, opinion on the lack of activity from City and on the spiralling transfer prices, a review of Don Revie's book Soccer's Happy Wanderer and a Why Blue from Peter Gibson.

Wednesday 14th

Steve Finney joins Steve McMahon's Swindon Town on a free transfer.

Thursday 15th

Youth team skipper Michael Brown and midfielder Lee Crooks sign new 3-year contracts.

Friday 16th

MCIVTA 96 has the news that orders are now being taken for the MCIVTA T-shirt and of Steve Finney's transfer, continued speculation and opinion on both the manager situation and possible transfers, plus a Why Blue from Dave Smith. Youth team players Chris Greenacre and Aled Rowlands sign new 3-year contracts. David Gardiner is signed on a free transfer from Manchester United.

Tuesday 20th

The fixtures for the 1995/96 season are published; City are at home to Spurs on the opening day of the season.

Wednesday 21st

MCIVTA 97 has an order form for the MCIVTA T-Shirts, news of City's fixtures for the 1995/96 season, a delay in the availability of the new home kit and the Manchester Evening News player ratings for the 1994/95 season. There's also opinion on the youth policy and the manager situation plus a Why Blue from Andy Birkin. Maurizio Gaudino decides to remain at Eintracht Frankfurt rather than make his loan period at City a permanent deal.

Friday 23rd

MCIVTA 98 goes out to 300 subscribers and contains yet more news and speculation about who is and who isn't in the running for the City manager's job, plus the news that Maurizio Gaudino won't be at City next season and Brian Horton will be managing Huddersfield Town. There are reminiscences of past pre-season friendlies and requests for programme collectors and social Blues in the south of England to make themselves known, opinion on Garry Flitcroft and Francis Lee plus a Why Blue from Justin Hooker.

Wednesday 28th

MCIVTA 99 has more news, speculation & opinion on the managerial situation, news of the BSkyB matches involving City in the first half of next season and that Brian Horton is reluctantly going to sue City over his severance settlement. There's also opinion on City's long-term strategy and a Why Blue from Roger Haigh.

Thursday 29th

Southampton give City permission to talk to manager Alan Ball about the managerial vacancy.

Friday 30th

Mike Quigley joins Hull City on a free transfer.

JULY 1995

Saturday 1st

Alan Ball, on holiday in Spain, agrees to a three-year deal at City, following a telephone conversation with Francis Lee.

Monday 3rd

Ball's 3-year deal is announced to be worth £150,000 per year. Former City striker Wayne Clarke becomes Telford's player-manager.MCIVTA 100 has news of Alan Ball's appointment, opinion on the appointment and on youth policy plus a Wht Blue from Jamie Evans.

Tuesday 4th

MCIVTA 101 has numerous opinions on Alan Ball's appointment and on other subscribers' reactions to it, plus a Why Blue from Jim Walsh.

Thursday 6th

MCIVTA 102 includes news that two players with City connections are to be imprisoned and also details of three pre-season friendlies - in England. Of course, there's also a multitude of opinions on Alan Ball's appointment and another Why Blue, this time from David Humphreys.

Saturday 8th

Former City midfield star Asa Hartford becomes City's new Assistant Manager.

Monday 10th

Now that the managerial speculation is over, thoughts turn to transfer speculation. MCIVTA 102 has some of this, plus news of Asa Hartford's appointment and another opinion of Alan Ball. There's a review of the Match of the Day: Manchester City video and a Why Blue from Peter Kewley.

Tuesday 11th

The City Store opens in Manchester's Arndale Centre, with many of the first team present. City's new home shirt is on sale for the first time.

Thursday 13th

Uwe Rösler is reported to have signed a new contract that should keep him at City until 1999. The report later turns out to be false.

Friday 14th

MCIVTA 104 includes details of a further 2 pre-season friendlies, this time in Ireland, plus the news that Uwe Rösler will be staying at City. There's also transfer speculation, another opinion of Alan Ball and a Why Blue from Huw Thomas. Compensation for Alan Ball is agreed with Southampton and he is officially installed as City manager. Georgiou Kinkladze, a young Goergian international midfielder with a reputation for scoring spectacular goals is signed from Dynamo Tblisi for £2,000,000.

Monday 17th

MCIVTA 105 has news and opinion of Kinkladze's signing, more transfer speculation, a Why Blue from Rob Kerr and a request for information on any general football mailing lists that may exist. Eamonn Salmon resigns as City's physiotherapist to return to his private practice in Burnley.

Thursday 20th

Roy Bailey is re-appointed to the post of City's physiotherapist after an absence of 3 years. He had previously been with the club for 25 years.

Friday 21st

MCIVTA 106 is Ashley's last for a while as he returns to England for a 3-week holiday and Paul Howarth takes over the reins for the next few editions. There's news of the change of physiotherapist and that Andy Hill has gone on strike! There's also news of potential opposition for an MCIVTA XI (should one be formed, that is), transfer speculation, opinion on the state of Georgian football, Georgiou Kinkladze and the goings-on at the club, plus a Why Blue from Patrick Bedell.

Monday 24th

Alan Ball's first game in charge of City results in a 3-0 win over Galway United, with goals from Paul Walsh, Fitzroy Simpson and Niall Quinn. Steve Lomas, recovering from his shin injury, plays the whole 90 minutes.

Wednesday 25th

MCIVTA 107 has a report of the Galway game, news of another pre-season friendly, the youth team and the membership scheme, transfer speculation and opinion on the squad, plus a Why Blue from Matt Varley. City win again, this time 2-0 at Cork City, with goals from Niall Quinn and Carl Griffiths.

Monday 31st

MCIVTA 108 has two reports of the Cork City match, news of possible work permit problems for Georgiou Kinkladze and a Why Blue from Philip Gregory. There's another win for the Blues in the evening, Niall Quinn scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win at Stockport County.

AUGUST 1995

Tuesday 1st

City receive approximately £700,000 as their cut of the £1,500,000 transfer of Gerry Taggart from Barnsley to Bolton, having insisted on a sell-on clause entitling them to 50% of the profits of a subsequent sale when selling him to Barnsley in 1989.

Wednesday 2nd

MCIVTA 109 includes a report of the Stockport game, news of the Taggart transfer, a rumour about Alan Ball and a Why Blue from Malcolm Plaiter. Later, City suffer their first defeat under Alan Ball, losing 2-1 at Wolves, with Paul Walsh scoring City's goal. There's more bad news as Keith Curle breaks his ankle and Martyn Margetson breaks a thumb.

Friday 4th

Frank Talia is signed on loan from Blackburn Rovers as cover for the injured Tony Coton, Andy Dibble and Martyn Margetson. City's new goalkeeping coach is to be former United 'keeper Alex Stepney. MCIVTA 110 has news of these signings and the worsening injury situation, two reports of the Wolves game, an announcement for the new season's Predictions League and a Why Blue from Tony Farrar.

Saturday 5th

City lose 2-1 at Burnley, Carl Griffiths scoring City's goal. Paul Walsh picks up a groin strain during the game.

Tuesday 8th

MCIVTA 111 has a report of the Burnley game plus some opinions from the Wolves viewpoint of the game at Molineux. There's news of the injury situation and opinions on goalkeepers and the scoring system for the Predictions League, plus the announcement of a project to collate an index of `friendly pubs' for away trips.

Thursday 10th

David Brightwell goes on a month's loan to Lincoln City, with a view to a permanent move. City draw the first match on their Scottish tour 2-2 at Raith Rovers, with goals from Garry Flitcroft and Fitzroy Simpson.

Friday 11th

MCIVTA 112 has some news of the Raith match, transfer and team speculation, opinions on the goings-on at Manchester United and the delay in getting Georgiou Kinkladze's work permit, expectations for the coming season and a Why Blue from John Clarke.

Saturday 12th

In the final pre-season warm-up match, City are hammered 5-1 at Hearts, the consolation goal scored by Nicky Summerbee.

Tuesday 15th

MCIVTA 113 has reports of the Raith and Hearts games, transfer speculation, opinions on pre-season form, expectations for the comming season, merchandising & the purchase of Georgiou Kinkladze, a request from an Italian fan for help collating details of City's international record plus the announcement of a football tournament for e-mail list members. Steve Lomas is named in the Northern Ireland squad to face Portugal.

Wednesday 16th

Unsettled striker Adie Mike is sold to Stockport County for £60,000 plus 25% of any sell-on fee.

Thursday 17th

It's a busy day in the transfer market as Kit Symons joins City from Portsmouth in a deal valued at £1,800,000. City pay £900,000 cash, with both Fitzroy Simpson and Carl Griffiths joining Pompey in exchange. Also joining City is Eike Immel, the former German international goalkeeper, valued at £400,000 from VfB Stuttgart.

Friday 18th

MCIVTA 114 has all the week's transfer news, rumours and opinions, plus team news, more opinion on merchandising, quotes from newspaper interviews with Alan Ball & Francis Lee and the final rules for the 1995/96 Predictions League.