MAINE ROAD DIARY - WINTER '94/'95

This diary covers the bleak period without a league victory from December until the end of February '95.

DECEMBER 1994

Thursday 8th

City's first AGM since the takeover is held at the Gordon Thomas Suite at Manchester Airport. A detailed account of the meeting is included in issue 29 of City fanzine Electric Blue.

Friday 9th

MCIVTA 28 includes an Ipswich view of the historic victory in East Anglia, some good news on the injury situation, an opinion on the bust-up between Brian Horton & Jack Charlton and some reminiscences about the legendary Bert Trautmann.

Monday 12th

City's unbeaten home record ends as Arsenal earn a 2-1 win at Maine Road. City are hampered with injuries and illness forcing the absence of Richard Edghill, David Brightwell and Terry Phelan; Keith Curle and Peter Beagrie pick up injuries during the course of the game. The City mailing list is mentioned in the programme.

Wednesday 14th

MCIVTA 29 reaches 93 subscribers and has 2 reports of the Arsenal defeat, speculation on outgoing transfers which will reduce the wage bill and a summary of the now-worsening injury situation. City's A team draw their match at Carlisle 5-5.

Thursday 15th

Ashley returns to England for the Christmas break, so Svenn temporarily takes over the running of MCIVTA. John Burridge returns from a spell at Falkirk and plays for the reserves against Mansfield Town.

Friday 16th

MCIVTA 30 is Svenn's first edition; he renames it Man City Info Via The Arctic in view of its northerly origins. There's another view of the Arsenal game plus plenty of speculation that City are to sign a german international midfielder on loan.

Saturday 17th

With full-backs Richard Edghill, Andy Hill and Terry Phelan all unavailable, John Foster makes his first appearance of the season as a late substitute for David Drightwell. Tony Cottee scores a hat-trick as West Ham beat City 3-0. Issue 42 of King of the Kippax includes an edited version of a letter from James Nash about MCIVTA & the City-WWW.

Monday 19th

MCIVTA 31 has a report of the West Ham game, some background information on Brian Horton and details of the publicity given to MCIVTA in King of the Kippax. German World Cup squad member Maurizio Gaudino (28) signs on loan until the end of the season from Eintracht Frankfurt for £200,000.

Wednesday 21st

Gaudino makes his City début and John Foster makes his first start of the season as a patched-up City side gain an unexpected victory at St. James' Park in the Coca-Cola Cup, the first time the Magpies have lost at home this season. Uwe Rösler and Paul Walsh are the scorers.

Thursday 22nd

MCIVTA 32 brings lots of Christmas cheer with two reports of the Newcastle game and some details of City's new german signing. The City youth team win their FA Youth Cup 2nd Round Replay at Walsall 4-1 on penalties after the match finishes 1-1 at the end of extra time. The reserves' match against Huddersfield is postponed due to a waterlogged Maine Road pitch.

Monday 26th

City lose at home again as title contenders Blackburn win 3-1. Niall Quinn starts the game in place of the injured Paul Walsh and scores City's goal. Terry Phelan makes an impressive return to the side as a second-half substitute.

Wednesday 28th

Paul Walsh returns to the side but City lose again at Anfield. Andy Dibble saves a Robbie Fowler penalty but is powerless to prevent a Terry Phelan own goal and a brilliant strike by Fowler. City are allocated only 450 tickets out of an attendance of 38,122.

Friday 30th

With most subscribers apparently internet-less over the Christmas period, MCIVTA 33, the New Year's Special, has no match reports but does include an article on Niall Quinn's visit to the Leamington Spa ISA and a Why Blue from Svenn.

Saturday 31st

Maurizio Gaudino is rested after playing 3 games in his first week in England; compatriot Uwe Rösler scores twice but Villa come from 2 goals down to save a point at Maine Road.

JANUARY 1995

Monday 2nd

Andy Dibble saves another penalty, this time from Ruel Fox as City keep another clean sheet at St. James' Park. Michel Vonk replaces latest injury victim Ian Brightwell in the goalless draw with Newcastle.

Wednesday 4th

Ashley is back as editor of MCIVTA; Issue 34 includes match reports for the Newcastle and Liverpool games, some news of injuries and derby tickets plus some comments on refereeing inconsistency.

Friday 6th

No team news in MCIVTA 35 as the next match isn't until Sunday, but there are reports of the Blackburn, Villa and Newcastle games, comment on City's possible involvment in the Inter-Toto Cup and a Why Blue from Miles Webber.

Sunday 8th

City come from behind twice to scrape a draw with Notts County in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup. Peter Beagrie and David Brightwell, on as half-time substitute for brother Ian, score City's goals. The turning point of the game is the 62nd minute introduction of Niall Quinn. The draw for the 4th Round gives City or County a home tie against Aston Villa.

Monday 9th

MCIVTA 36 has a report of the Notts County game plus ticket details for the replay. There's also a report from Ashley on his visit to Maine Road for the Villa game and some comment on the squabbling between the fanzines.

Wednesday 11th

MCIVTA 37 includes another report on the Notts County game, team news for the evening's game at Selhurst Park, news of Andy Cole's transfer to Manchester United (fuelling speculation that Mark Hughes may join City) and a Where Are They Now? of Peter Barnes. Keith Curle returns to the City side after missing 7 games but is clearly not 100% fit and City lose 4-0 at Palace in the Coca-Cola Cup Quarter-Final. Niall Quinn limps off with a thigh strain and Steve Lomas swallows his tongue and suffers a cracked fibula to complete City's misery.

Thursday 12th

Former City boss Howard Kendall becomes the manager of Notts County. One of his first tasks will be to lead his side out for the FA Cup replay at Maine Road.

Friday 13th

MCIVTA 38 has 3 reports of the Palace game plus opinion on what went wrong. There's also speculation that Carl Griffiths is to be sold to Southampton.

Saturday 14th

Maurizio Gaudino and David Brightwell return to the City side for the visit of Coventry City but City fail to score for the first time at Maine Road this season. Uwe Rösler misses a hatful of chances and Coventry have a late penalty appeal turned down. The 29th Edition of Electric Blue includes James Nash's letter about MCIVTA & the City-WWW, reproduced in full.

Monday 16th

MCIVTA 39 carries news of more injuries and an update on the ongoing merger negotiations between the Offical and Independent supporters' clubs. There's speculation that City are to sign Bulgarian defender Ivanov and that Ron Atkinson is to replace Brian Horton. All that plus opinion on the team and a Why Blue from Jeremy Poynton.

Wednesday 18th

120 subscribers receive MCIVTA 40, which has a report on the Coventry game, team news for the evening's game against Notts County, intense speculation about the managerial position at City, a report on the recent meeting of the Leamington Spa ISA and lots of forthright opinions on just about everything! Further recollections of poor showings in front of the cameras leads to the creation of the City 'Live' on UK TV page. City book their place in the 4th Round of the FA Cup with a 5-2 demolition of Notts County. German duo Rösler (4) and Gaudino score all of City's goals. Despite the emphatic scoreline, County offer sterner opposition than their league position would suggest, and City struggle for long periods.

Friday 20th

MCIVTA 41 has a report of the Notts County game, team news for Saturday's sold-out game at White Hart Lane, more opinions on who the manager should be and a Why Blue from George Larcos.

Saturday 21st

City's match at White Hart Lane is the victim of the weather, being postponed at 1:55pm due to a waterlogged pitch. John Burridge, in line to play because of an illness affecting Andy Dibble, says "That pitch was playable. I've been in football over 25 years and it's become a game for poofters."

Monday 23rd

Despite the postponement of the Spurs game, MCIVTA 42 has two match reports! There's a Why Blue from John Pearson, some background information on Maurizio Gaudino and a description of the four (count-em!) hat-tricks scored by City players (prior to Uwe's 4 goals against Notts County) in the last five years.

Wednesday 25th

MCIVTA 43 includes yet another report of the (postponed) Spurs match(!), in which Rob Clarke gets to meet Francis Lee himself. There's a piece on the geographical distribution of MCIVTA's 125 subscribers, some more statistics on Maurizio Gaudino, a Where Are They Now on Dave Connor, more opinion and the announcement of Mysterious Meg's Results Service. In a match affected by heavy rain, City suffer an embarassing home defeat at the hands of Leicester City. Former United player and ex-Junior Blue Mark Robins scores the only goal on his début for the Foxes. Meanwhile at Selhurst Park, Eric Cantona attacks a spectator as he is leaving the pitch after being sent off.

Friday 27th

MCIVTA 44 has three reports of the Leicester game plus plenty of opinion on the squad, the manager and the Cantona incident.

Saturday 28th

Tony Coton makes a surprise return to the side after missing the last 21 games. He makes several excellent saves to keep a clean sheet in the FA Cup 4th Round victory over Aston Villa. Paul Walsh scores the only goal of an enthralling game in the 7th minute.

Sunday 29th

City are drawn away at Newcastle in the 5th Round of the FA Cup for what will be the third trip to St. James' Park in the space of two months.

Monday 30th

MCIVTA 45 has a report of the Villa match, speculation that Niall Quinn and Terry Phelan are set to leave the club, many opinions on the Cantona saga, an opinion on the team and its tactics and some ticket news for the forthcoming derby match.

Tuesday 31st

Niall Quinn, Terry Phelan and Alan Kernaghan are in the Republic of Ireland squad for the forthcoming friendly against England at Lansdowne Road.

FEBRUARY 1995

Wednesday 1st

The City youth team draw their 3rd Round FA Youth Cup game at home to Portsmouth 2-2

Friday 3rd

MCIVTA 46 covers many diverse issues, including three queries from subscribers, more transfer speculation regarding Niall Quinn and Terry Phelan, news on the imminent start of Paul Lake's comeback in the A team plus opinions on the squad, attendance figures and many other topics. There's also a Why Blue from Roger Sharp, some background information on former City player George Smith, whose nephew David Smith is a subscriber and a letter from the Spurs list regarding an incident in their recent match against Aston Villa.

Saturday 4th

Alan Kernaghan returns from suspension and scores his first league goal for City. It isn't enough to extend City's run of 3 straight wins at The Dell though as two own goals gift the lead to Southampton before Garry Flitcroft scores a late equaliser. Paul Lake plays 45 minutes for the A team at Blackburn.

Monday 6th

Nineteen year-old full-back Joe Harkin is selected for the Northern Ireland B squad for their game against Scotland in Edinburgh.

Tuesday 7th

MCIVTA 47 has two reports of the Southampton game, more speculation about Niall Quinn (this time linking him to Crystal Palace and Celtic), Shaggy's views on the City squad and a Why Blue from James Nash.

Wednesday 8th

MCIVTA 48 goes out to 117 subscribers and includes a further two Southampton reports, news of Paul Lake's A-team comeback, answers to some of the queries in recent editions (e.g. the origins of various players' nicknames, who the players on the WWW team photograph are etc.), a Why Blue from Adrian Bates and a complete list of all the post-war matches in which a City player has scored 4 or more goals.

Friday 10th

MCIVTA 49 has team news and opinions, some background information on Jimmy Currier who played for City during the second world war (scoring an amazing number of goals) and a collated list of all nicknames mentioned in previous editions.

Saturday 11th

Despite heavy morning rain, the 122nd Manchester league derby goes ahead at Maine Road and City are convincingly beaten once again, this time 3-0. A knee injury rules Tony Coton out, Andy Dibble deputising again. Maurizio Gaudino experiences his first derby, replacing Michel Vonk as City play with a 4-4-2 formation.

Monday 13th

Former City player Ray Ranson is forced to retire as a result of a persistent achilles tendon injury which has kept him our of the Reading side this season.

Wednesday 15th

MCIVTA 50 has two reports of the derby plus various opinions on the match and the crowd disturbances. There's a transcripion of the Financial Minefield article from The Pink, season ticket prices for next season, the announcement of the MCFC Predictions League, some background information on David Oldfield and yet more on nicknames. Phew! Alan Kernaghan, Terry Phelan and Niall Quinn start for the Republic of Ireland in the friendly against England at Lansdowne Road. The Republic are leading 1-0 through Wolves' David Kelly when the match is abandoned after 27 minutes due to crowd trouble.

Thursday 16th

MCIVTA 51 has a report of the reserves' defeat by Sheffield Wednesday, Flixton Red's view of the derby, news of rearranged matches, Ray Ranson, Ron's Atkinson's appointment at Coventry and Steve Lomas' contract dispute, speculation about moves for Niall Quinn and Maurizio Gaudino, miscellaneous opinions and a Why Blue from Lars Ivar Naess.

Friday 17th

MCIVTA 52 goes out to 155 subscribers and has further news of Steve Lomas' contract dispute and also of the events in Dublin. There are comments on various matters, particularly the derby and yet more nicknames. City's youth team win their FA Youth Cup 3rd Round replay 1-0 against Portsmouth at Fratton Park. The match had twice been postponed earlier in the week due to a waterlogged pitch.

Saturday 18th

Mike Quigley starts a month's loan at Wrexham in their 1-1 draw at Leyton Orient.

Sunday 19th

City go out of the FA Cup at St. James' Park as Newcastle win 3-1. Uwe Rösler scores City's goal; former City youth player John Beresford scores his first goal for the Magpies, whose other goals are scored by former United player Keith Gillespie.

Tuesday 21st

MCIVTA 53 has three reports of the Cup defeat, speculation that Millwall manager and former City captain Mick McCarthy will be City's next manager and various opinions, particularly on Brian Horton and Steve Lomas. Joe Harkin is an unused substitute as Northern Ireland B lose 3-0 in Edinburgh. The City youth team win their FA Youth Cup 4th Round match at Highfield Road 3-2, giving them a quarter-final tie against Sunderland at Roker Park.