Josh: You are a football historian & writer, primarily focusing on Manchester Football and in specific, Manchester City. Could you tell us some of the projects you have worked on and what your role entails?
Gary James: Yes, I’m a City fan and started wanting to know more about my own club when I was growing up. I was frustrated by a lack of writing on City and so decided to do something about it. It’s a long story, but put simply I got an opportunity to work on a pictorial book on City’s history which was published when I was 21. Since then I’ve written the only authorised biography of Joe Mercer the former City manager and Arsenal captain; The Pride Of Manchester (history of the Manchester derby, published in 1991); Manchester A Football History; Farewell To Maine Road (the history of City’s old stadium, published 2003); and lots more.
I’m currently researching for a PhD on the early history of Manchester football and have already had a paper published which can be downloaded for free, here. I’m self-funded, so financially it’s tough at the moment. I also write articles for the City’s match programme and for occasional FA match programmes.
J: How much access and insight do you get from Manchester City as a football historian?
GJ: I’ve interviewed lots of people connected with the club and have helped on various projects, but contact varies over time. I’d never try to claim I was aware of what’s happening behind the scenes as it’s important to remain professional.
J: What can you tell us about the formation of Manchester City, having previously been known as ‘St Mark’s of West Gorton and then Ardwick FC?
It’s a great story and lots to interest fans. In fact now that my in-depth history of City is available as an eBook on Amazon, it’s possible to read the opening chapters covering this period here via Amazon’s look inside feature for free, here.
J: Through conducting your research into the club’s history, have you found anything interesting about City as a club which many City fans won’t be aware of?
GJ: There have been lots of stories which I’ve included in my books that have stunned me at times. These include – the news that a City director went to United in the 60s and suggested a merger with the merged club playing at Old Trafford – his logic was that Manchester wasn’t big enough for 2 clubs! Another was the support given to United by City decade after decade to help the Reds survive – happened in 1902 (City officials donated money to keep the club in business); 1930s when City helped prevent a 3rd Manchester club (Manchester Central) from joining the League because it could have killed off the Reds; and plenty of other occasions including the ground shares etc. It is all covered in my book Manchester – A Football History.
J: Looking at the glory days in the late 60’s and early 70’s, just how good do you think that side was and do you think there are similarities between that side and the current batch of players?
GJ: It’s difficult to say. Football changes each era and so the greats from one period will probably always be eclipsed by the next in many ways but that doesn’t mean they are more significant in the longer term. I’ve interviewed fans who claimed that the 1930s team was better than the 1960s because that was what they grew up with. For me the real test of how great players are is whether they are remembered generation after generation. There are some names like Meredith, Swift, Doherty, Johnson, Trautmann, Revie, Johnstone etc. that are well established as major names in our club’s history from before the Mercer-Allison era and I reckon Oakes, Bell, Lee, Summerbee, Corrigan, Young, Book and possibly some of the others will remain legends for ever more.
J: In that era, what would you deem to be the biggest triumph of all the successes brought by Mercer, Allison and the players?
GJ: The League in 1968 was all about consistency and was a bit like the 2011-12 success in terms of what it meant and how it happened. However 1969-70 saw City win a major European trophy (viewed as the 2nd most important at the time), so that has to be viewed highly. I think though that consistency, for City has to top everything else and so the League was the greatest achievement.
J: As good as a stadium the Etihad is, most of the older generation of City supporters much prefer Maine Rd and the memories it brought. What is your favourite memory from Maine road?
GJ: Walking through the tunnel between the Main Stand and Platt Lane when I was about 4 for a night match and seeing the bright lights and green pitch. My dad took me to Maine Road from being a baby, but I vividly remember walking down that tunnel and the anticipation I felt as I saw this brilliant light and fantastic stadium.
In terms of games, the 5-1 against United in 1989 will always be significant due to my age at the time and the fact that City had comprehensively beaten the most expensive team ever assembled in British football at that point. Promotions were always special as well, such as Charlton in 1985.
J: Bert Trautmann sadly died last year, but remains a cult hero with City supporters, particularly those who watched him play. What stories can you tell us about him?
GJ: An odd one really… I wanted to interview him for one of my books and although I’d met him before I had never actually interviewed him. I wrote him a letter and then at about 8.30am on a Sunday morning the ‘phone started ringing at home. My daughter was only about 5 but answered the phone. She shouted ‘Dad, there’s a funny man on the phone for you’. I picked up the phone and the voice said in his mixture of German and Mancunian “Tell your daughter that funny man is Bert Trautmann!” Then he laughed. It actually broke the ice. He was a wonderful man and a great hero for football. His story is absolutely incredible and I hope that one day someone makes a film of his life. He deserves it.
J: You previously wrote the authorised autobiography of Joe Mercer, titled: ‘Football With A Smile’, what have you learnt about Joe as a character and do you think he is similar to current boss Manuel Pellegrini in many ways?
GJ: By the time Joe arrived at City he had been ill. He’d had a stroke and was suffering with hypertension. This meant he couldn’t be as active as he had previously been. As a young manager he had pushed and worked himself hard and, he later admitted, that he had been like Malcolm Allison on the training ground, which is why he brought Malcolm to City. At City his health meant he had to be a different sort of manager. He’d been successful elsewhere (winning the League Cup & Second Division at Aston Villa) but he still felt he needed to achieve something significant as a manager. At City he managed it. I think that Pellegrini, although successful elsewhere, had a similar desire. I also think he has a good way of dealing with the media, just as Joe did. Joe used to look for humour but both men seem to know exactly what to say and when to say it. While Mancini used to be outspoken at times, a bit like Allison, Pellegrini is more of a diplomat. Something that is perfect for City now – our football can do the talking.
J: In 2003 you set up the club’s award-winning museum and tour, just how important is it to provide that sort of experience for fans?
GJ: I think it’s important to learn about the club’s history so that we can understand the soul of the club. The old museum cost £350,000 in total to create, which is a small fraction of the cost of almost every other football museum, and so it punched above its weight in terms of what it offered and how it was perceived – it was the first football club museum to be nominated for a national museum/heritage award for instance. It helped with the transition from Maine Road to the new stadium before closing in 2009, but a new-look tour/heritage attraction now exists. Looking to the future I think the issue will be that City will need to remember the past while also enjoying the present. The past should be used to help anchor our place in football and Manchester, but should never be allowed to be what we all focus on. I’m a historian who believes that the past helps promote the future. There was a time when all City had was its past. Thankfully we now have a past, a present and a future to be positive about and proud of.
J: What is the most bizarre thing which has happened to Manchester City?
GJ: Apart from some of our most ridiculous signings in the late 70s to mid 90s? It’s difficult, but I have to say one of the most painful bizarre moments was the relegation in 1996 when Alan Ball thought we’d done enough to stay up based on scores elsewhere and told us to hold the ball in the corner, while Liverpool tried to open up play and give us a chance!
J: If you had to pick, what would be your favourite Manchester City shirt of all-time?
GJ: Plain sky blue with white collars and cuffs, white shorts.
J: To your knowledge, what has been the most significant match in the whole of City’s history?
GJ: It would be easy to say 1999 play off due to what could have happened had we stayed down. But each era will produce its own most significant, so for example the 1904 FAC final cemented City as Manchester’s club and lifted us to a status that we may never have reached; the 2011 FA Cup Semi-final V United ensured we overcame our fears and helped lead on to everything that has followed.
J: Finally, who is your favourite City player of all-time and why?
GJ: It’s difficult to say. My first hero was Rodney Marsh, then Dennis Tueart and then it sort of stuck with Dave Watson. I have interviewed all 3 since and loved each interview for different reasons. I think Watson will always be my proper hero, but Pablo Zabaleta isn’t too far behind!
We thank Gary for taking the time out to take part in this interview.
