When City were struggling in England's 3rd Division 20 years ago

The year 1996 is one of the saddest in Manchester City's history. Now it's all shiny signings and domestic titles everywhere, but that year ended badly for the sky blue team. In the same season, up to five coaches (two of them interim) were on the bench at City: Alan Ball, Steve Coppell, Frank Clark, Asa Hartford and Phil Neal.

All the good work Peter Reid had done at the head of City in the early years of the Premier League fell apart. Not only did the team not climb up after their relegation to the competition now known as the Championship, but they were relegated to Division Two. In other words, they were relegated to the Third Division of English football.

City equaled a negative record: they became the second team with European titles to be relegated to this category. In Germany, FC Magdeburg had done so before. While in 99 City played in a category that was essentially semi-professional, they great city rival Manchester United were winning the Champions League.

The season ended with City managing to climb up. In the club's books, the penalty win over Gillingham in the Division Two's playoff is described as one of the most dramatic games ever played. Paul Dickov's goal and the draw that led to the final round is pure iconography of City.

A few years later, the managers set in motion a feasibility plan to renovate the publicly owned Manchester City. A £35 million renovation that gave City a new home. A decade later, in 2008, Abu Dhabi's money arrived... and the rest is history.

 

30 May 2019