Tommy Booth

Personalia: Born: 26/2 1946 Birthplace: Manchester Nationality: England (0/0) Height: 6`1" (185cm) Weight: 11st. 2lb (70kg) Position: Centre Back/Midfield Playing Record:     League FAC LC Season: Club: App Gls App Gls App Gls 1968-1969 Manchester City 28 1 7 1 1 0 1969-1970 Manchester City 41 0 2 0 6 0 1970-1971 Manchester City 26 1 3 0 1 0 1971-1972 Manchester City 40 4 2 0 2 0 1972-1973 Manchester City 34 5 5 1 2 0 1973-1974 Manchester City 40 2 2 0 11 2 1974-1975 Manchester City 18 2 0 0 0 0 1975-1976 Manchester City 26 6 2 2 4 0 1976-1977 Manchester City 15 1 0 0 1 0 1977-1978 Manchester City 39 3 2 0 6 0 1978-1979 Manchester City 20 0 0 0 5 1 1979-1980 Manchester City 24 0 0 0 2 0 1980-1981 Manchester City 30 0 2 1 5 0 1981-1982 Manchester City 1 0 0 0 0 0 1981-1983 Preston North End - - - - - - Total: 382 25 27 5 46 3

Described by Joe Mercer as the perfect Centre Half, Tommy Booth was great in the air, had perfect temperament and could play the ball too. He showed great control with the ball, could get past the opponents without loosing it, and start an attack with a drilling pass from behind. He was one of Mercer's favourite players and proved to be a vital member of the City side that won everything from 1968 to 1976.

Together with Joe Corrigan he was the only member of the great side of the 70ies that survived Malcolm Allisons big clear-out in 1979. He even figured in City's attempt on the FA Cup in 1981, helping City reach the final scoring the only goal against Peterborough in the 5th round. Sadly he never made the line-up for Wembley, who knows what would have happened if the great defender had been in place to command the ranks against Spurs.

Under Bond it became clear that Tommy was nearing the end of his City career, and on 19th of September 1981 he made his final league appearance in a 3-0 defeat at Birmingham. Shortly afterwards he was transferred to Preston NE for £30,000, where he later become Manager for a spell.

Tommy was one of the longest serving players in City's history, and with a total of 478 games under his belt he is 7th in the overall statistics of most appearances for City. He was a typical local hero, with a career that spanned the magic of Joe Mercer to the flamboyance of John Bond. It covered periods of great success and major upheaval, yet through it all he managed to adapt and prove his worth to many different personalities. He may often have been underrated, but to any true City fan Tommy will always bee a true City great!

After he stopped playing football he had an interest in a Trophy shop in Middleton. I think the name continues but he's no longer involved. In the 90ies he was employed by television company Granada as a Satellite and TV installation technician.

Provided by: Svenn A. Hanssen, svenn@hanssen.priv.no