Newsletter #611


This would have been out earlier had we not been using the worst email system in the world, crashing out three times when I was ready to press the “send” button (memo: urgent new investment for work). I can tell you the air was blue – so my apologies for delay.

This issue contains Peter’s news summary, news of NZ action, details of a Sky poll, some fun for Euro 2000, thoughts on new songs, a few requests and plenty of opinion.

Only 10 days now until England’s opening game in Euro 2000, 11 weeks until start of the Premiership, and 19 days until Kevin Kennedy releases his first record (so the man on the radio keeps informing me). A useless bit of Blue Trivia for you there.

Ashley is back in the hot seat from issue 612 so please send your contributions to him at: mcivta@tollbar.u-net.com.

Read on and enjoy.

Heidi

Next game: To be announced

NEWS SUMMARY

Gudjohnsen to Pick City Over Chelsea?

Eidur Gudjohnsen is a wanted man, attracting interest from several Premiership clubs including City and Chelsea. And Soccernet on Thursday reports that the Bolton striker’s preferred destination would be Maine Road. The Icelandic international is set to leave the Reebok Stadium after the Trotters failed in the play-offs, and it’s claimed that he’d prefer a regular place with City to a squad rôle at Stamford Bridge. The Blues are also being linked with Liverpool defender Phil Babb, available on a Bosman free transfer, but the weekend link with Derby’s Seth Johnson has been rubbished by Rams’ boss Jim Smith.

Royle Plays Down Hignett Talk

Manchester City have been strongly linked with Craig Hignett after Barnsley’s play-off failure. But Joe Royle has denied that he’s interested in bringing the free-scoring midfielder to Maine Road. Hignett was a target for Royle in the autumn of 1998, but moved to Yorkshire after the Blues failed to agree a fee with Aberdeen for the player’s services. The ex-Middlesbrough star notched over 20 goals last term and has been linked with City and Bradford. However, while the City boss admitted that he’s been interested in Hignett in the past, he says that the Blues are not in the running now.

Weaver Looking to Take Next Step

The form of Nicky Weaver helped Manchester City back into the Premiership. And the England under-21 player believes he can improve in the top flight. Weaver, who is rated at 16 million by City goalkeeping coach Alex Stepney, has ambitions to follow his friend and rival Richard Wright into the full England set-up. And the 21-year-old is backing himself to continue his startling progress of the last two years. “My progress has been rapid. Every month I look at my last few games and how I’ve played,” he reflected. “and I’ve felt over the last two years I’ve got stronger and stronger every month.”

Peacock Set to Stay

As speculation over who may leave Maine Road this summer gathered pace, one report claimed that Joe Royle could be prepared to listen to offers for Lee Peacock. But the striker seems set to stay at the club. Peacock failed to find the net for the City first team after his move from Mansfield in November, but there’s no truth in the rumour that the Blues are prepared to let the player leave for half the £500,000 Joe Royle paid for him. And that may disappoint Queen’s Park Rangers, who tried to sign the Scot from Mansfield and were said to be ready to step in again if Royle decided to cut his losses. Rangers may now switch their sights to Gareth Taylor, who went on loan to Loftus Road towards the end of the season. The ex-Sheffield United forward is also the subject of interest from two unidentified foreign clubs.

Fenton to Head Clear-Out?

Nick Fenton could be the first of several Manchester City players to leave Maine Road this summer. Bournemouth are said to be on the verge of making a bid for the 20-year-old. Joe Royle says he’s in no hurry to sell the young defender, but with a central defender set to be brought in this summer, Fenton’s first-team chances will be limited next term. And if the Cherries follow up with a firm offer of around £300,000, the City boss could be tempted to sell. “If we brought in another central defender it would push him further down the line,” explained Royle, “and if an acceptable bid comes in for him, it will be considered.” Fenton had spells on loan last term at both Bournemouth and Notts County and the Midlands club could also enter the bidding after trying to sign the player before the March transfer deadline.

Cit Ladies go Online

The unofficial City site at http://www.mancity.net/ is constantly looking for ways to improve. And the latest addition is a section featuring the latest news, reports, and information about the City women – compiled in co-operation with the team’s staff. Already, the site offers information about all last season’s games, and profiles on every member of the squad. As the months go by, results – complete with match reports and regular news updates – will be featured in this new section, which is located at http://www.mancity.net/womens/.

Morrison Steps Up Fitness Battle

Andy Morrison played only twelve league games for Manchester City as the Blues returned to the Premiership. But the big defender is keen to make up for lost time in the top flight next season. Morrison is so determined to be in peak fitness that hes booked himself into the National Rehabilitation Centre at Lilleshall for three weeks over the summer. “I will be stronger and fitter than ever for the start of next season,” he told the Manchester Evening News. “In fact, I will be combat fit!” The City skipper’s comments appear to put paid to dubious and unsubstantiated Internet rumours that he’d played his last game for the club.

Boss Set to Wield the Axe?

Joe Royle has yet to make his first signing of the summer as City prepare for life in the Premiership. But new arrivals are expected soon and that could mean some of the current playing staff leaving the club. Royle has reportedly returned from his holiday in Magaluf and will be looking to add quality to his squad. But the Blues’ boss is aware that he can’t allow the payroll to expand to unmanageable proportions, which could mean bad news for some of the Maine Road fringe players. “I would rather have a squad of around 18 or 20 who are up for it, rather than a 30-man squad which can be a bit congested,” he explained.

Royle Delighted With Bishop Decision

Joe Royle is stepping up the hunt for new blood as Manchester City prepare for life back in the Premiership. But the City boss feels he’s already made a crucial signing after Ian Bishop accepted a new one-year deal. Bishop has been joined by Tommy Wright in accepting the offer of a fresh deal, and Royle is delighted that both men are staying. The City boss feels that the midfield man in particular could have a vital rôle to play next term even though the former West Ham man has reached the veteran stage of his career. “He has been a big part in whatever has happened here in the past two seasons,” Royle told the official club website at http://www.mcfc.co.uk/. “He is a great lad and has the respect of all the other players. You can see that when he has come on, he has always passed the ball and made us play.”

Trio to be Given Extended Break

Manchester City’s players are due back for pre-season training on July 10. But Joe Royle may allow three of his stars extra rest after international duty in the summer. Mark Kennedy is due to play for Ireland against Scotland and on a three-match tour of the USA, while Danny Tiatto has commitments with Australia and Nicky Weaver is featuring for England’s under-21 side in the European Championships. And Royle says he’ll be sympathetic if any of the three wants to report back slightly later than their colleagues, but he’ll weigh up all the relevant factors before making a decision. “If Mark has been travelling around the world and not playing then there is no reason for him not to report back on time,” the City boss told the Manchester Evening News, “similarly with Danny, while Nick’s international involvement could be over later this week.”

Steve Named City’s Top Fan

Congratulations to MCIVTA contributor Steve Kay, who has been named City’s ‘Fan of the Year’ in a competition run by Nisa Today’s in the Manchester Evening News at the end of March. Steve had to state in 25 words why he deserved the award and wins £1,000, which will be presented on the pitch before a home game next season. In addition, an article will appear shortly in the Manchester Evening News – Steve and his wife were photographed on the hallowed turf in the pouring rain last Saturday.

Peter Brophy (peterbrophy@mancity.net)

PLEASE NOT THE RED AND BLACK KIT!

There seems clearly to be two opinions to this debate. Those for our away kit being red and black stripes (i.e. our current third kit) and those against it. I have noticed recently that those for it are having most of the say in the matter so I thought I’d chip in with my two pence worth.

Please, please, please can next season’s away kit be anything but red and black! They’re not our colours! I can’t think of anything worse than pulling on the same colour shirts as those Rag b*****ds! OK, so we’ve had success with the red and black shirt in the past and recently (Blackburn) but we are the Blues! Can you imagine United wearing a sky/laser blue shirt or Liverpool in navy blue, or Tottenham in red, Arsenal in white, Sunderland in black and white stripes!?!?!?! Don’t think so!

In a world where certain footballers are starting to wear skirts and women’s underwear, let’s at least try to keep certain things different!

RN Springthorpe (rs8139@bristol.ac.uk)

MUSICAL INTERLUDES

I’ve just read the responses to Mrs. Mather’s request (in MCIVTA 609) about the first Sky match featuring City. I missed this game completely as I had had a car accident in Stoke the same day, so I was naturally interested to read about the way Sky dealt with the occasion. Just one thing though, David Blyth mentioned in MCIVTA 610 that the band was called “Underworld” and were singing “Baker Street” during the exaggerated Sky pomp and opening ceremony and that their (Underworld’s) pretentious egos took a pasting on the day, dooming them to obscurity forever.

Now, is this the same Underworld who released the single-cum-drinking-anthem which later became the hugely popular theme music for the film “Trainspotting” or am I mixing all sorts up here? True about them being a bit up their own starfish though (assuming we’re talking about the same band). Without wanting to keep the subject going forever I’m wondering why were they singing Baker Street (the Gerry Rafferty song?) at Maine Road anyway, was it a single of theirs?

Shoutin’ Sherlock, Sherlock, Sherlock, Sherlock… etc., not quite the same ring to it as Lager.

Ahhhh Mark Kennedy. You know, he’s probably (quite rightly) expecting us to have got our acts together regarding “the missing song” when he returns after the close season. During last season a fair number of MK-songs were bandied around but never seemed to come to anything where it matters, in the stands. Below are some of the MK-songs I’ve heard suggested before and some others which, although they may have been thought of before, I thought up all over again during the past few evenings. Some are just ideas for songs which may or may not get picked up on, you decide…

To the tune of Chanson la (“sounds like” Moor?)… (french is not a required skill here thankfully) [chanson d’amour – your french speaking Ed]:

Mark- Kenn- e- deeee
Rat ta tat ta tahhhhhhhhh
Onnnnn the winnnnnnnng…

(you get the idea, now give it an ending)

I can’t lay claim to this next set of lyrics, although I was involved in the “first draft” (which was basically thrown together one morning back “in the day” on BlueView). Unfortunately I can’t remember the BV tags of the other three lads / lasses who contributed verses or, for that matter, how the other verses went – sorry. Anyway, here’s the bit I could still recall…

To the theme music to “The Wombles”.

Up the line, down the line
Mark Kennedy
The finest left winger that you’ll ever see
Win the ball, beat the man
Cross it with glee
He used to be Wimbledon
Now he’s City * (clap x3)… City (clap x3)… etc.

(at this * point, drop the Wombles tune and chant your lungs out and clap your hands raw)

Another possibility, although probably a bit complicated, due to need for a second singing section for the bits in brackets. To the tune of D.I.S.C.O.:

One- Mark- Kenn- e- dy
One- Mark- Kenn- e- dy
One- Mark- Kenn- e- dy
One- Mark- Kenn- e- dy
On the left wing (Super Kennedy)
Swing the ball in (Feeding Shauny)
Take the man on (Skin him real good)
Spit his bones out (Nasty Nasty)
Woah- ohh- ohh

Just a couple of other possible player / general songs while we’re at it… how about:

For Spencer Prior

Hey big Spencerrrrr
(Hey big Spencer),
Smile… a cheesy smile for me

(naturally to the tune of Big Spender)

Or, to have an immediate witty retort on hand to answer the “you fat b@stard” chants which will inevitably be directed at slender Nick. Counter-singing tactics if you will. To the relevant tune by the Hollies…

He ain’t heavy…
he’s our ‘keeper.

(we can’t just leave it at that obviously so someone else should maybe think about the other words)

Next, and a bit of a stretch but most of you know the tune to “J’taime” by Serge Gainsbourg don’t you? The bits in brackets are supposed to indicate the corresponding beat from the original tune (just so you understand how I see the words fitting to the tune):

J’taime Man Cityyyyyy (da da da-daa daaaaa)
J’taime Man Cityyyyyy (da-da daa daaaaa)
J’taime Man Cityyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy (da da daa daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa)

I reckon if everyone sung at full volume it would sound very special at MR when sung to the whole team. Anyone else think so? For those who can’t / won’t sing in french you could hum or “la-la” along as accompanyment – or better still do the bass line. Filthy fun.

Now then finally. Have yourselves a hearty breakfast of (original 70’s) Golden Nuggets, dig out those super-flammable togs of yesteryear, stick an afro comb in the back pocket of your hipsters, shake some life into the long-dead goldfish living in your see-through “Disco Stu” platform shoes, slide across the bonnet of your “Starsky and Hutch” liveried Ford Cortina Mk.1 and climb in through the window, there are choons on the eight track, grooves to be grooved, shapes to be thrown… this is the Mark Kennedy song I personally would love to hear next season. It came to me last night and I haven’t stopped humming it all night and most of the morning. The fact that it isn’t doing my head in yet after hours of repetitions make it my personal front-runner. Enjoy…

To the tune of “ABC” by The Jackson 5

A, B, C…
let’s hear it for Kenn- e- dy…
he swings them in
1, 2, 3…
A, B, C…
Kenn- e- dy plays for Man City, yeah… (repeat)

Some rhythmic clapping for this one should enhance the overall sound, get us all into the mood and hopefully get Mark quickly back into the groove he’s tirelessly ploughed down the left wing without any musical assistance all through last season.

Incidentally, my attempts at making a shadow puppet of the famous Jackson 5 dancing silhouette were unsuccessful as I was unable to hold all five snooker balls at once and we just don’t have enough bobble hats at home with bobbles still on (i.e. to cut off) Can anyone out there do better?

Altogether now…

Cathal Whelehan – wheelie on BV (wheelie@mancity.net)

OPINION – TEN MILLION TO NOTHING

I know it’s fashionable to use Martin (Buster) Phillips as an example of Alan Ball’s lack of football management skills, but despite that I still felt a pang of disappointment on hearing the news that he’d been released on a free transfer by Portsmouth.

It seemed to me that in this case Alan Ball was right, Phillips did have the potential to become a great player but he suffered as one of the dozens of players who went in and out of Maine Road’s revolving door at that time. The whole club was so unsettled that it was always going to be impossible to get the best out of him, and Alan Ball was one of the least likely managers to do so.

In hindsight it’s easy to see how he was simply caught up in the whirlwind spiral of decline, and his career never recovered from it.

So bad luck son – I think in summary the early promise of your career was blighted by Alan Ball, but it wasn’t your fault, and it doesn’t mean you had no talent.

Steve Maclean (stm1@stm1.freeserve.co.uk)

PREDICTION RESULTS

As at Monday Evening 29th May 2000, The predictions competition reached its close with the final piece of the jigsaw being Ipswich Town as 1st Division Play-off Winners. The final players’ table looks like this:

  • Andrew Gibbens takes the Number 1 spot with 32 points.
  • Gary King takes 2nd place with 29 points.
  • Chris Jones takes 3rd place with 27 points.
  • Duncan Madden-Ross takes 4th place with 24 points.
  • Scott Thompson takes 5th place with 19 points.
  • Kevin McMeeking takes 6th place with 18 points.

Well done to each of you and thanks for taking part.

This competition was only for fun, but next season sees the same competition being played for cold, hard cash as part of the fund-raising strategy of the Essex & Suffolk branch of the CSA.

Entry into the competition is £5.00 per prediction sheet and is open to any MCIVTA reader who wants to have a go. Our target is 100 entries which would give a payout of £250.00 and will also raise £250.00 for the branch to enable us to subsidize travel to games and junior tickets. 50% of all entries received will be paid out in prize money, so the more people who play, the bigger the pot.

There will be a weekly update in MCIVTA, so you can see how you are doing.

Those interested can drop me a line and I’ll send you the prediction sheet and the details.

Closing date for entries is 30th July 2000.

Paul Gallagher, Secretary, Essex & Suffolk CSA (paulg@mancity.net)

NEW ZEALAND ACTION

NZ 2 South Africa 3 (Olympic play-off match in Auckland, NZ). Don’t know if any of you saw the match or highlights, but I thought Killen was impressive… big, strong, quick, a real thorn in the Africans’ side. He set up the first goal and had a few cracks himself, also covered a lot of ground to harass defenders who had the ball. The other highlight for me was skipper Ryan Nelson who tackled superbly even after picking up an injury and stopped a couple of certain goals with class last ditch tackles when strikers were one on one with our ‘keeper.

Both deserve their call-ups to the full national side and I reckon it would be worth Royle giving Nelson a trial just like he did with Killen. Note Jonathan Perry (a pretty good right back for the Auckland Kingz) has a trial with Stockport County coming up. Has a hell of a right foot shot on him… 3 ripper goals this season in the Aussie league.

Chris Loveridge (hawkeye@clear.net.nz)

EURO 2000 PREDICTION GAME

Anybody fancy a go at this?

Organiser: Steve Kay (stevemcfc@tinyworld.co.uk).
Entry deadline: Tuesday 9th June 2000.
Winners notified no later than 9th July 2000.
Two ways of playing:

  1. Play to win. £1.50 per entry. 1st prize = 60% of fund, 2nd = 25%, 3rd 10%, 4th = 5%.Enclose £1.50 with application. Post entry to: 17 Kershaw Road, Failsworth,Manchester, M35 9PU. Enclose e-mail address for confirmation of receipt.
  2. Play for fun. E-mail entry to stevemcfc@tinyworld.co.uk by abovedeadline.

Group Matches

5 pts for each correct result (H,D,A). Bonus 5 pts for correct score. Use your predictions to complete final placings. 10 pts for each correct placing.

Note: I cannot find anything official, but I think positions of teams finishing with same points are decided as follows:

  1. Goal difference.
  2. Goals scored.
  3. Head to head result.
  4. Drawing of lots.

Use your final group placings to complete the last 16 knock-out fixtures.

Quarter Finals

Predict the score after 90 minutes, placing an asterisk (*) against the eventual winner if you predict a draw. 25 pts for each correct result in fixture (H,D,A) after 90 minutes (as long as at least one team is correctly named in the fixture), 25 pts bonus for correct score at 90 minutes.

Semi-Finals

50 pts for each correct result at 90 minutes (H,D,A). 50 pts bonus for the correct score at 90 mins, as long as at least one team is correctly named in fixture.

Final

100 pts for the winner, and 75 pts bonus for the score at 90 minutes, as long as at least one team is correctly named in the fixture.

Group A

12th Germany v Romania
12th Portugal v England
17th Romania v Portugal
17th England v Germany
20th England v Romania
20th Portugal v Germany
Group A Final Table
1.
2.
3.
4.

Group B

10th Belgium v Sweden
11th Turkey v Italy
14th Italy v Belgium
15th Sweden v Turkey
19th Turkey v Belgium
19th Italy v Sweden
Group B Final Table
1.
2.
3.
4.

Group C

13th Spain v Norway
13th Yugoslavia v Slovenia
18th Slovenia v Spain
18th Norway v Yugoslavia
21st Yugoslavia v Spain
21st Slovenia v Norway
Group C Final Table
1.
2.
3.
4.

Group D

11th France v Denmark
11th Holland v Czech Rep
16th Czech Rep v France
16th Denmark v Holland
21st Denmark v Czech Rep
21st France v Holland
Group D Final Table
1.
2.
3.
4.

Knock-Out Stages

QF1 June 24th
B1
A2
QF2 June 24th
A1
B2
QF3 June 25th
C1
D2
QF4 June 25th
D1
C2
SF1 June 28th
QF2
QF3
SF2 June 29th
QF1
QF4
Final July 2nd
SF1
SF2
Winners:
Your Name:
e-mail address:

Steve Kay (stevemcfc@tinyworld.co.uk)

SKY VOTE

Quick, everybody log onto http://www.sky.com/sports/football/bigsave/index.htm and register your vote for Nick Weaver, who is 28 votes behind Wright as we speak (1658 – 1630).

Steve Kay (stevemcfc@tinyworld.co.uk)

REQUEST – FLORIDA BLUES

Just read the piece about the Florida reunion in June, and though we won’t be there in June, we will be on holiday in July, so I thought I’d ask all you Florida Blues for any tips and advice you can give me, as we’re going to Orlando for a 2-week family holiday on July 22nd, and it’s the first time we’ve been. Were staying at the Marriott Grande Vista (very swish), which I believe is right in the middle of all the attractions. There will be my 17 year old son and his two friends, my 14 year old daughter, and my wife and I.

If any other Blues are planning on being around Orlando at the time, get in touch, and we’ll try to meet up for a drink.

I would welcome any suggestions of the best places to eat, visit, shop, and the approximate costs. We’ve been told to buy all our clothes out there? We’re hiring a 7 seater minivan, and fancy a day out at Cape Kennedy and Busch Gardens, and are thinking about pre-buying the theme park tickets. Is this the best thing to do?

Look forward to hearing from anyone out there.

Steve Kay (stevemcfc@tinyworld.co.uk)

REQUEST – MCVITTEE FOOTBALL TEAM

This email is for the current players of McVittee FC and those people who are interested in playing 11-a-side football next season. As most of you are probably aware, there is an 11-a-side football team which represents this mailing list – there are over 60 football teams representing teams all over the country from Man City and Arsenal to Grimsby and Scunthorpe. There is a league run all season and there are around 6 tournaments, some containing 40 football teams run over the summer and during the season. It is a great way to show how fans from different clubs can meet, play football without the aggression associated with football supporters. A lot of the matches/tournaments raise a lot of money for charity.

I run the city team and over the last 2 seaons have had a lot of different players coming and going which means I have a list fairly out of date in terms of who wants to continue to play, and also who would be interested in turning out for us. Last season we won 11 and lost our last match, finishing us runners-up in the league. This season has been difficult for finding matches with us playing a lot on Friday nights! This has left us unbeaten all season with 7 wins and a draw but other teams in the Premier have played more.

Next season will be different so I need to find players who are willing to turn out regularly and allow us to play regularly. Look at http://www.moonfish.co.uk/ifa/ for the football league and information about it. Everyone who wants to play please email me.

Everyone must do this, even those who have played before as it is only these people I will be contacting to see if they are interested in playing when matches occur. See you next season!

Dave Barker, Manager – McVittee FC (dave.barker@moonfish.co.uk)

REQUEST – AUSTRALIAN BLUES

I am visiting Australia this week and have just discovered that the legendary Danny Tiatto will be playing for Aus on June 9th in Sydney.

Any Blues going to the match or can you recommend any Blue bars to watch the game?

Ian Reeves (glk11@dial.pipex.com or mcfc@dial.pipex.com)

WHY BLUE?

I am 57 years old and started supporting City in 1952. I was unlucky to have been born in London during the war as my dad worked for an aircraft company in Hendon; although my family are true Mancs, my first football game was Charlton vs. Burnley in 1948 at the Valley, which took ages to get to from North London.

We often went to Manchester to see my family and each visit included a football match, which may have been Burnley or City or even (please forgive me) “The Rags” as they were called in those days. I became a true Blue after watching a derby game in the F A Cup when Allenby Chilton was sent off. My father used to take myself and my brother to watch City and United on alternative weeks but my best recollection was watching Bert Trautmann in goal. Jimmy Meadows, Roy Clarke and the “wizard” Bobby (roll out the barrel” Johnson, captained by the hard man Roy Paul. I remember going to Villa Park in 1955 to watch a semi-final against Sunderland in the pouring rain in a coach which leaked so badly we used umbrellas inside the coach (it was a Leaches coach) from Collyhurst. This was where Colin Barlow lived amoungst others. Nobby Clarke scored the only goal with a diving header but unfortunately was not fit for the final against Newcastle. My dad went to Maine Road and queued up all night for the tickets but only got one ticket so he gave it to me and off to Wembley went I (with uncles, cousins et al). Unfortunately we lost to Wor Jacky a.k.a. Milburn. But the following year we beat Birmingham despite my childhood hero Bert Trautmann breaking his neck (happy days).

Nobody else in my family was a Blue, they all supported the other lot, so I set a trend, and as I now have five children who are all true Blues; at least I have continued the crusade. Remember the old days of “Bring back Dave (Ewing)” to save us from relegation, signing Dennis then selling him, and worst of all seeing him sign for the Rags. I suppose the real reason for supporting City was that they were always different to other teams, such as inventing the “Revie plan”, later the “M Plan” under Les McDowell – remember losing about 9-1 to ? and 5-1 to Preston? The M stood for Marsden, a nondescript player who played centre half. I also went to school with two ex City players, Mike Batty who finished his short career with a broken leg, and Dave Wagstaffe who later caused much grief for City in the 1974 League Cup Final.

One good but true story concerns my uncle Les Batley, a renowned Blue and drinker who went to watch an away game at Sheffield on a Saturday after going to Jack Crow’s pub in Collyhurst (a.k.a. The White Swan) – got home on Sunday night and on explaining to my auntie Mable why he was so late said “I’m sorry love but we played extra time” – in a league I ask myself? Another reason to be a Blue.

If I had to choose which team to watch I would find it hard to choose between the 1956 Cup winners as I was 13 years old at that time, and the 1968-1970 glory team. In the sixties I was playing football rather than watching so I remember the fifties teams (good and bad) with affection, because we were always up at the top or just avoiding relegation, but a joy to watch. Also I met most of the players at the youth club or just because they all lived in “ordinary” areas such as Collyhurst or Moston etc. Remember Stan (the bookies’ friend) Bowles etc.

Regards, Colin Blake (Byfurs@cs.com)

WWW MANCHESTER CITY SUPPORTERS’ HOME PAGE:
http://www.uit.no/mancity/


MCIVTA ADDRESSES:
Contributions: Ashley – mcivta@tollbar.u-net.com
News & Rumours: Peter – brophy_peter@hotmail.com
Subscriptions: Steve – sbolton@buxtonrd.u-net.com
Technical Problems: Paul – paul@city-fan.org


DISCLAIMER
The views expressed in MCIVTA are entirely those of the subscribersand there is no intention to represent these opinions as being thoseof Manchester City Football Club, nor of any of the companies anduniversities by whom the subscribers are employed. It is not inany way whatsoever connected to the club or any other relatedorganisation and is simply a group of supporters using this mediumas a means of disseminating news and exchanging opinions.


[Valid3.2]Heidi Pickup, heidi@dratex.co.uk

Newsletter #611

2000/06/02

Editor: