..

..

..

Games against Manchester City had been few and far between in County’s history. A League Cup game at Maine Road in 1960, and prior to that the previous game had been back in 1910 in the Second Division. Since 1960 City had played a few friendlies at EP, playing the part of the avuncular neighbour, and if some of their adherents are to be believed saving us from oblivion. As I write this on April 20th 2021 the news has exploded over the past 48 hours about the European Super League. Manchester City, far from slumming it in the second tier, and indeed only a season after the trip to EP really having to do the hard yards a tier below County, had the unprecedented fortune of seeing an oil rich Sheikh appear on Ashton New Road. Eye watering cash came with him; the whole soul of the club was ripped out; and a global franchise was born. The news about the ESL has had City fans aghast, (not realising of course that the success that comes from supping with the devil brings with it a stiff bill), and many were declaring that, as their local club, they would be coming to EP. County had always been their team when their beloved cast of players on hundreds of thousands a week weren’t playing. Can’t say that I saw much evidence of them at places like Lowestoft; North Ferriby and Blyth in the NLN years….

After the heady days of promotion the previous May the initial introduction to Tier 2 football hadn’t been a particularly fruitful experience. Without a win in the first seven league games, a victory over Huddersfield had been followed by three more, and by the time City arrived at EP in the last days of November it was clear that Megson had put together a squad which would compete at the northern rather than the southern end of the table. Jones’ promotion team had changed – Paul Jones and Todd had gone to Southampton but we had seen the arrival of Martin McIntosh and Paul Cook. the latter was to make an indelible impact in the City game.

The City team made the short trip down the A6 in dismal form. Four wins in 18 league games saw them lying 19th in the table, 11 points and 12 places below County. The formbook said a banker home win. But I am sure that the County fans turning up that day could never have envisaged what was to unfold.

Richard Harnwell on the video of the game put into words the thoughts of what did unfold. “I’ve waited all my life for this!!” Barely 5 minutes had passed when Alum Armstrong challenged for the ball; it fell to Brett Angell who prodded it sideways and rushing onto it was Paul Cook. He hit it first time and it flew past Margetson. Three sides of the ground erupted, whilst the Railway End was silent. A truly stunning goal, and County were in the lead. If that was a joy for County fans then 2 minutes later it had turned to delirium. A near post corner from Cook fell to Armstrong inside the 6 yard box, and he pirouetted and stabbed it home. And … it got better. County were running riot – Armstrong and Angell went close and then a cross from Damon Searle hit the post. On the half hour a ball into the box was controlled by Angell. With a quick turn he took two City defenders out of the game and then calmly slotted it past Margetson. 3-0, and the delirium grew, Never in their wildest imagination had any County fan dreamed of this.

..

..

It stayed that way at the break, and the conversation was how many it would finish up. As City fans threw abuse at their own players proclaiming that they ” …weren’t fit to wear the shirt’, they got one back early in the second half through Brannan. And that was that … a truly memorable afternoon

It was the start of a run against them which will live long in the memories of those who were privileged to witness them. Six league games, three wins, two draws and just the single defeat. The last of the games was also one fondly remembered, as City, well on the way to a return to the top flight and running away with the league, came to EP with County already relegated. It was in March 2002. City went into the last 5 minutes 1 up. It was John Hardiker’s game. Two goals from him gave us an epic and one that warmed the cockles as we headed for the 3rd Tier.

Our paths have diverged significantly since then. Within a decade of the last meeting Aguero was firing home the Premiership winning goal. Right at that moment County’s season had finished. Nearer the bottom than the top of the National League we would be falling into NLN within 12 months. But …. no-one can ever take away from those games against Manchester City. All captured in the video below

..

..

Memories of trips to Maine Road

..

THE GAMES

..

Where the date is in bold click for highlights of the game

..

	Date	Venue	Ground	Competition		F	A	Att:
Sat	29/11/97	h	Edgeley Park	Nationwide Football League – Division 1 (Tier 2)	W	3	1	11,351
Sat	04/04/98	a	Maine Road	Nationwide Football League – Division 1 (Tier 2)	L	1	4	31,855
Tues	07/12/99	a	Maine Road	Nationwide Football League – Division 1 (Tier 2)	W	2	1	32,686
Tue	21/03/00	h	Edgeley Park	Nationwide Football League – Division 1 (Tier 2)	D	2	2	11,212
Sat	13/10/01	a	Maine Road	Nationwide Football League – Division 1 (Tier 2)	D	2	2	34,214
Tue	19/03/02	h	Edgeley Park	Nationwide Football League – Division 1 (Tier 2)	W	2	1	9,547

..

Back to Opposition Team Index