MAINE ROAD DIARY - SUMMER '97

This diary covers the events from the end of the 1996/97 season right through the summer.

MAY 1997

Monday 5th

MCIVTA 294 has three reports of the Reading game, news of Stan Gibson's retirement, City's close-season fixtures and a few people in trouble with the law, transfer speculation, the result of the March Player of the Month poll, plus a Why Blue from Lindsay Dunbar.

Tuesday 6th

It is announced that former City captain Paul Power is to become City's Youth Development Executive. To nobody's great surprise, Gio Kinkladze retains the Supporters' Club Player of the Year award, with Lee Crooks picking up the Young Player of the Year award.

Wednesday 7th

The summer clear-out of unwanted players begins with the announcement that Nigel Clough, Neil Heaney, Mikhail Kavelashvili, Gerry Creaney and John Foster are all available for transfer. City draw 2-2 at Barnsley in a testimonial game for Gary Fleming, 2 goals from Buster Phillips cancelling out efforts from Neil Redfearn and John Hendrie. An MCIVTA select XI plays in a charity game at Valley Parade, Bradford.

Thursday 8th

City legend Colin Bell, along with Neil McNab, Terry Farrell and David Willis are sacked as Frank Clark begins to establish his new youth development team. Also available for transfer are Peter Beagrie and Alan Kernaghan, despite both being offered new contracts. Dalian Atkinson's loan will not be made a permanent move. MCIVTA 295 has two more views of the Reading game, all the week's news, details of more forthcoming Internet football matches plus a Why Blue from David Atkins.

Friday 9th

Colin Bell takes home the England cap he had presented to the club for display at Maine Road, as a protest about the way he has been treated by the club.

Monday 12th

MCIVTA 296 has a report of the charity football game at Bradford, opinion on the sacking of Colin Bell, transfer rumours, the result of the City Internet Player of the Year poll, news of a TV documentary about F.A. beaurocracy plus a Why Blue from Dave Griffiths.

Saturday 17th

Gio Kinkladze ends the speculation about his future by agreeing a new three-year deal with the Blues which will make him the highest-paid player in the club's history.

Sunday 18th

MCIVTA 297 has the good news about the Georgian maestro plus much of the rumour that preceded the official announcement. There's also transfer rumours, opinions on youth development, several City players, English international selections and pay structures plus the result of the April/May Player of the Month poll.

Thursday 22nd

MCIVTA 298 has ordering details for the second MCIVTA T-Shirt, more transfer speculation, a questionnaire regarding the proposed setting-up of an International Supporters' Club, opinion on the squad plus a Why Blue from Clive Tysoe.

Monday 26th

Jim Cassell, formerly Chief Scout at Oldham Athletic, is appointed Youth Development Officer at Maine Road.

Wednesday 28th

Kit Symons plays for Wales in their 1-0 friendly victory over Scotland at Kilmarnock.

Thursday 29th

MCIVTA 299 has the latest transfer speculation, details of the pre-season fixtures, a request for people to join a new Supporters' Club branch in Holland plus a review of Peter Doherty's autobiography Spotlight on Football.

JUNE 1997

Monday 2nd

MCIVTA 300 has the latest transfer rumours, news of a forthcoming book on the history of the club, the first part (covering the last 50 years) of an extensive piece by Martin Beckett about the running of the club, opinion on various Norwegian prospects plus a Why Blue from Samantha Alexander.

Thursday 5th

MCIVTA 301 has more transfer and summer fixture news, a release date for the new kits, details of this year's Open Day, a possible source for Georgia shirts, the second part of Martin Beckett's piece (the next 50 years!) plus a Why Blue from Geoff Collins.

Friday 6th

City's attempt to sign Ipswich defender Tony Vaughan collapses after personal terms cannot be agreed.

Saturday 7th

Gio Kinkladze converts a penalty to complete a 2-0 win over Moldova in a World Cup qualifier in Tbilisi. The other Georgian scorer is rumoured City transfer target Shota Arveladze.

Monday 9th

MCIVTA 302 has news of the collapsed (or not?) Tony Vaughan deal, more transfer speculation, news that City's reserves will play their home games at Altrincham next season, a review of the latest CITY Magazine, a request for details of City songs and chants, old City shirts and a copy of the famous Wales vs. Georgia video which led to the signing of Gio Kinkladze, plus a Why Blue from Howard McCarthy.

Thursday 12th

MCIVTA 303 has the latest transfer news, opinions on proposed signings and a Why Blue from Hazel Brewer.

Friday 13th

Tony Vaughan finally signs for City, though a fee is not agreed with Ipswich. It may go to a tribunal.

Saturday 14th

Shota Arveladze gives Georgia a 24th minute lead against Poland in Katowice but the Poles hit back to win the game 4-1.

Monday 16th

The fixtures for the 1997-98 season are published; City will open the season with a home game against Portsmouth. MCIVTA 304 has news of the fixtures and the signing of Tony Vaughan, much rumour, speculation and opinion about prospective signing Shota Arveladze and the new City kits, plus a Why Blue from Roger Spruce.

Tuesday 17th

City are drawn against Blackpool in the first round of the Coca-Cola Cup.

Thursday 19th

City announce an innovative (in the UK) new youth scheme aimed at attracting the top young players in the Greater Manchester area. MCIVTA 305 has more transfer speculation, news of the first fixture changes and the new youth scheme, an offer of free programmes, plus a Why Blue from Anthony Catterson.

Friday 20th

Paul Lake's testimonial game is postponed due to a lack of available quality opposition.

Monday 23rd

MCIVTA 306 includes news of the postponed testimonial, transfer and contract news and rumours, more on the International Supporters' Club and the availability of Georgian shirts plus a Why Blue from Steve Gordon.

Tuesday 24th

Former Bury winger Ian Miller is appointed City's new Youth Team Coach. Some new City kits are stolen from a lorry in Trafford Park, less than 48 hours before the official launch.

Thursday 26th

City announce a major kit sponsorship deal with Italian Sportswear company Kappa worth at least £5 million over three years, and also the new home and kits for the forthcoming season. There's also a new club crest featuring an eagle. MCIVTA 307 has news and opinion of the new kit deal and of Ian Miller's appointment, transfer rumours, details of a proposed new Phoenix League to replace the First Division, some comments attributed to Frank Clark's daughter(!), the announcement of a new City web site from a couple of Dutch City fans, a review of the May edition of CITY Magazine, the latest odds for the First Division title plus a Why Blue from Ismael Carreras.

Friday 27th

MCIVTA reaches 1,500 subscribers.

Saturday 28th

Nicky Summerbee, out of contract at the end of the month, if offered a trial with French club Bordeaux. An MCIVTA team win the Euronet 97 Charity Quiz.

Sunday 29th

Denis Law F.C., an amalgum of the City and United Internet football teams, is controversially knocked out in the quarter-finals of Euronet 97 by Birmingham City. The tournament is eventually won by Bradford City.

Monday 30th

Transfer target Shota Arveladze decides to sign for Ajax instead of City. MCIVTA 308 has news of this and further transfer speculation, two reports of Euronet 97 in Middlesbrough, rumours of league reorganisation, a full pre-season schedule, opinions of the new kits and crest, opinion on players' wages and the pros and cons of the club seeking a stock market flotation, a review of the 1996/97 season's review video plus a Why Blue from Ollie Claffey.

JULY 1997

Tuesday 1st

Demand for the new City home kit is much higher than expected, and with 3,500 shirts sold in the first few hours after going on sale, the City Stores sell out of adult sized shirts. Nicky Summerbee finally signs a new contract. The majority of the first-team squad return for pre-season training, the exceptions being those involved in International games after the end of the season: Georgi Kinkladze, Kevin Horlock and Jeff Whitley.

Wednesday 2nd

Peter Beagrie is sold to Bradford City for a bargain £200,000.

Thursday 3rd

MCIVTA 309 has news of Summerbee's signing and of Beagrie's move, transfer speculation, an updated fixture list, another review of the 1996/97 season's review video, opinion on the new kits and their availability problems, on transfer target Ole Martin Årst, plus a Why Blue from Roy Grindrod.

Friday 4th

Former City 'keeper Eike Immel announces his retirement due to a persistent knee problem.

Monday 7th

Opponents have finally been found for Paul Lake's testimonial - Manchester United. The game will take place sometime after the start of the season. MCIVTA 310 has news of this and Eike Immel's retirement, transfer speculation and opinion, a sighting of the elusive new goalkeeper's jersey, more on City in the City by Martin Beckett, praise for CityNet, comments on the Frank Clark's Daughter article from MCIVTA 307 and of the coming season, plus a Why Blue from Gareth Foster.

Thursday 10th

MCIVTA 311 has more transfer news and speculation, directions to the grounds on the Scottish tour, news of a conference to organise Euronet'98, the final part of Martin Beckett's City in the City piece, opinion on Frank Clark and the new City crest, more on the Frank Clark's Daughter piece plus a Why Blue from Ben McDermott.

Friday 11th

Mikhail Kavelashvili goes on loan to Grasshoppers of Zürich for a year. City get £50,000 from the deal, which also gives the Swiss club an option to buy the Georgian for £700,000 next year. Peter Edwards is appointed as fitness trainer to the club.

Sunday 13th

MCIVTA 312 has opinion on possible strikers, yet more comment on Frank Clark's Daughter, an update on the International Supporters' Club, plus Why Blues from Les Saul and Samuel Green.

Monday 14th

Work commences on a temporary uncovered stand in Windy Corner to increase the Maine Road capacity for big games.

Wednesday 16th

City are ordered to pay Ipswich £1.35 million for Tony Vaughan by a tribunal. In the first pre-season warm-up game, City draw 1-1 at Blackpool, Nigel Clough equalising after Phil Clarkson's goal for the home side. 2,500 City fans are at the game, and there are around 40 arrests, mainly for drunken behaviour.

Friday 18th

City beat Macclesfield Town 1-0 at Moss Rose in the second pre-season friendly. Uwe Rösler scores with a diving header from a Nicky Summerbee cross early in the second half. Australian left-winger Danny Tiatto, on trial for a week or so, plays for the first hour.

Sunday 20th

MCIVTA 313 has details of the Blackpool game, all the week's news (including a possible change of use for the City social club), a review of the July edition of CITY Magazine, plus a Why Blue from Steve Potter. City decide not to pursue their interest in Danny Tiatto.

Tuesday 22nd

City open their Scottish tour with a 4-0 drubbing of Second Division Livingston, all the goals coming in the first half. Paul Dickov opens the scoring against his home town club in the first minute and Uwe Rösler grabs a hat-trick. Kit Symons limps off with a foot injury which looks serious at first but turns out to be nothing more than a bruised foot.

Thursday 24th

MCIVTA 314 has reports and opinion from the Blackpool and Macclesfield matches, ticket information for the forthcoming season, more on the new MCIVTA T-Shirt, details of the upcoming open day at Maine Road, the reserves' fixture list for '97/98, a suggestion that City should sign Leeds' out of favour striker Tony Yeboah, an advert for a Blue pub in Great Yarmouth(!) plus a Why Blue from Steve Cox. City's Scottish tour continues with a goalless draw at Stirling Albion in which young defender Dave Morley makes an impressive first appearance for the first team.

Saturday 26th

There's another 4-0 win for City, this time against Scottish Cup holders Kilmarnock in their first home game since lifting the trophy. Uwe Rösler scores twice to give the Blues a 2-0 half-time lead and Kit Symons, back from injury, scores twice in the second half. Off the field, City are linked with Portsmouth's Lee Bradbury and Celtic's Tommy Johnson as Frank Clark's search for a striker continues.

Monday 28th

City are held to a 1-1 draw at Falkirk. Paul Dickov gives City the lead midway through the first half but Albert Craig equalised with an 80th minute penalty. More bad news for City as Tommy Wright suffers a hamstring strain and is likely to miss the start of the season. MCIVTA 315 has details and reports of all of the Scottish tour games, an interview with new fitness coach Peter Edwards, transfer rumours, some positive opinions, plus a Why Blue from Paul Banzai-Burns.

Wednesday 30th

City smash their transfer record by signing 22-year-old striker Lee Bradbury from Portsmouth for £3,000,000. The fee could rise to £3,500,000 depending on appearances. He'll have to fight for his place though, as City thrash Mansfield Town 7-1 at Field Mill without him. The City scorers are Rösler, Heaney, Jeff Whitley, Clough, Dickov (2) and Brannan, with the Stags' lone reply from Christie. Two more City web sites are announced: the MCIVTA F.C. site and the International Home Page.

Thursday 31st

MCIVTA 316 has reports of the Falkirk and Mansfield games, news of the big signing, Paul Walsh's (and others') opinions of Lee Bradbury, comment on the Scottish tour plus a Why Blue from Carl Hogan.

AUGUST 1997

Saturday 2nd

Lee Bradbury makes a great start to his City career, scoring twice in the first seven minutes as City overwhelm Burnley 3-0 at Turf Moor. City's other scorer is Kit Symons.

Monday 4th

The second Maine Road open day attracts around 6,000 fans on a bright, sunny afternoon. Former City star Peter Beagrie is convicted on two charges of indecent assault on Jersey, following the club's tour there near the end of last season. He is fined and ordered to do 120 hours community service. MCIVTA 317 has news of this, a few views of the Burnley game, news that the City Social Club has been closed down, the youth team fixtures for the coming season, a letter from a Torino fan, opinion on Lee Bradbury and the other new signings plus a Why Blue from Lee Grime.

Wednesday 6th

International call-ups for Kevin Horlock, Tommy Wright and Kit Symons mean that the away game at Sunderland (their first league game at the Stadium of Light) has to be brought forward to the evening of Friday 15th August. In an interview in the Manchester Evening News, Francis Lee reveals that he would not only like to see City move to the new Millennium Stadium, he would like to see the club own it!

Thursday 7th

MCIVTA 318 has news that City could be set to sign Aussie defender Jason van Blerk after all, Francis Lee's comments on the Millennium Stadium, news that Paul Walsh is in trouble over Lee Bradbury's move to City, views of the Open Day, a review of the pre-season tour of Scotland, plus a Why Blue from Ron Smith.