Welcome to the latest edition of the Official Manchester City Magazine.
It's hard to believe we are in April already, but here we are, with the finishing line firmly in view.
How will it all pan out? We all know what we'd like to happen, and with this group of players and Pep Guardiola overseeing events, everything is possible.
It is very much going to be a month of destiny and no doubt there will be plenty of nails bitten along the way as we chase three more huge trophies.
It won't be dull, that's for sure.
On to the April City Magazine and we begin with our cover star, Jack Grealish.
Jack is a genuinely lovely lad, and he returns from injury at a crucial stage of the season - and no doubt he will have a big part to play in our remaining games.
We talk to Jack about being an icon for younger fans, his appreciative outlook on life and, of course, the big question most City fans want to know - why does he get booed by opposition fans whenever he plays?
There is also a fascinating battle going on for the Barclay's Women's Super League title and with that in mind, Laia Aleixandri discusses what will be another thrilling run-in.
We also take the opportunity to look back at another Manchester derby win towards the end of last month, with an exclusive behind-the-scenes feature of another memorable Etihad clash.e
And, of course, there is plenty more.
Among the many features in the pages that follow you'll find So Solid Blue, which pays homage to Joe Hart, an interview with Scots rockers Twin Atlantic, Cover Story, Kev Cummins' latest A to Z of Manchester (Kevin Horlock), Marc Riley's Mixed Grill, a vintage Q&A (Paul Futcher) and our find out which non-event of a game our Random Match Generator has selected for April.
All the above, plus Andy Morrison's score predictions, a Jack Grealish recovery gallery, and our regular EDS and U18s features.
So, without further ado, let's get on with the show!
All-round good guy, hero big brother and much-loved by those who know him best, CITY MAGAZINE sat down with Jack Grealish to talk about being a fashion icon, a hero to thousands of adoring youngsters and ask the question… why exactly do opposition fans boo him all the time...?
Jack Grealish is universally popular at Manchester City. Loved by his team-mates, coaches, and Club staff, what you see is what you get with Jack, a humble, generous, and loving guy who has always been incredibly close to his family.
Jack also goes out of his way to make others feel comfortable, and he is idolised by young football fans across the land.
And the nice thing is, it all comes very naturally to him, being a people person before all else - and with his playful, relaxed persona, it’s no wonder kids hold him in such high esteem.
“I think the way I was brought up, but also because we’ve always had lots of children around in our family growing up and I’ve always been very close to my family, but I think a lot of it is down to how I’ve been raised as a person,” reveals Jack.
On a recent Matchday Live, former QPR and Leicester boss Ian Holloway – father of three profoundly deaf daughters - commented on the empathy Jack shows to kids with disabilities and the natural way he is with them.
It is something Jack feels passionate about, with his younger sister Hollie born with cerebral palsy and forced to overcome numerous disability hurdles growing up.
“I think it’s a little bit easier for me because I’ve always been around my sister who is severely disabled,” says Jack.
“Whether that’s because her friends who often come around who are also disabled, I don’t know, but I’ve always been used to being around people with disabilities.
The humility and compassion Jack has for those less fortunate is something he doesn’t really think about, though clearly he takes a great deal of inspiration from his little sister and often uses it as a barometer for his own life.
“Disabled children are a lot less fortunate than the majority of people and can live difficult lives, so I think it’s important to show them lots of love and treat them really well.," he says.
Is, as you’d suspect, big brother Jack also Hollie’s hero?
“I think I probably am,” he smiles, “but she gets fed up with me as well because I’m always winding her up and stuff! I love her to pieces, and we are so lucky to have her because when she was born, they told us she wouldn’t be able to do a lot of things like talking and walking, but luckily she can do all that now.”
The humility and compassion Jack has for those less fortunate is something he doesn’t really think about, though clearly he takes a great deal of inspiration from his little sister and uses it as a barometer for his own life.
“I think it’s kind of natural,” he says. “We, as players, have bad days and even the last three months have been really difficult on and off the pitch, but I try and stay positive because – as I say going back to my little sister and the stuff she has to deal with every day – just because I might be having a bad day and not playing or training well, it pales in significance and puts everything into perspective, So I try and be grateful for everything and keep smiling.”
Jack has supported charitable causes such as Saving Lives, Children In Need as well as helping hospital fundraising initiatives and being an ambassador for the Great Britain Paralympics team – something he’s done without fanfare or seeking publicity – just because he wants to give back to those who need it most.
He is also a hugely popular player – and person - with the City fans, too.
Despite his superstar status, he manages to maintain an aura that in supporters’ eyes, he is very much ‘one of us’, and that’s something he’s been keen to do – to not lose touch with the fan on the terraces, because he has never forgotten that’s where he once stood as well.
“I think I get on well with fans because I was one myself once upon a time and feel I always would have had that relationship with them,” he says.
“The fans at City are so good and brilliant and when I see them around, I always stop and have a chat – I can’t praise them enough or fault them in anyway as people or supporters.”
Of course, you can’t have a captive audience with Jack Grealish and not talk about haircuts and socks…
You could argue he’s been one of the most influential footballers in England since David Beckham, with the Grealish haircut incredibly popular among youngsters up and down the land as well as his famously low socks and junior shin pad look now so common in professional football.
Whether he wanted it or not, he’s a fashion and style icon.
“I don’t sit down and see someone playing and say ‘oh yeah, that’s because of me’ – everyone wants to be different and so did I, that’s why I wore my headband, had my socks low and that’s part of who I am now and my swagger on the pitch,” he says.
“And If I see kids with the same hair or socks, it’s nice, because when I was their age, I used to idolise other players and want to do what they were doing – so if I see kids as I’m driving out of the CFA with a headband on or their socks a bit lower, it’s just nice to see.”
So, given how Jack is as a person, the hero big brother he is, plus the many things he does away from football to help others, it begs the question: what’s with the booing?
It seems that anywhere he goes - outside the Etihad – he is jeered by opposition supporters.
Jack, like his family, friends, and City fans, is perplexed as to why it happens at ground after ground.
“I always think about it,” he admits.
“I always wonder, ‘why do they boo me?’ – and my mum always asks me about it as well. But I don’t actually know why it happens. At every single away ground I go to now, I get booed and I’m not entirely sure why it is – I just have to try and take it as a positive or a compliment.”
Whatever the reason, it’s tiresome and without any foundation, but of course, that won’t make it go away anytime soon.
Perhaps Jack’s best way of hushing his detractors is to keep doing what he’s done since he joined the Blues in 2021 – winning trophies.
He’s won six major pieces of silverware since his move from Aston Villa and, with hopefully a series of niggling injuries behind him, he is hoping to play his part in the Blues’ attempts to win another three this season.
“That’s definitely my aim,” he says.
“I trained throughout the international break and didn’t have much time off. I trained with the Under-23s to try and get as fit as possible and try and be there with the lads in these final months and help them as much as possible – now is where the biggest games are coming because we have Real Madrid twice, Chelsea, Villa, and this where everyone looks at you and everyone has to perform.
“Hopefully, I can be there for the lads, the manager and for our fans and try and be successful in these last two months.”
Let’s hope he realises those ambitions and then goes on to have a fantastic Euro 2024 – he deserves nothing less.
Interview: David Clayton
More thoughts and scorelines from our former skipper Andy Morrison for the month of April…
Premier League
Weds 3 April 20:15
City v Aston Villa
Mozzer’s verdict: Were Villa that good in our first meeting or did we have a bad day at the office? Pep has cited them as being much better on the night and has mentioned it regularly throughout the season, which makes me think he and his players have been waiting for this game to redress the balance. I think we’ll look to give them a dose of their own medicine and expect us to dominate for long periods and win comfortably.
Mozzer’s prediction: City 4-1 Aston Vila
Crystal Palace v City
Premier League
Saturday 6 April, 12:30
Mozzer’s verdict: Though Selhurst Park isn’t one of our favourite destinations – it always feels like a hard venue to play at for us – we seem to be better against Palace away than we are at home, for some reason. They’ve become a bit of a bogey team at the Etihad, but I can’t see them being too much of a problem on this occasion.
Mozzer’s prediction: Palace 1-3 City
Real Madrid v City
Champions League, quarter-final, 1st leg
Tuesday 9 April, 20:00
Mozzer’s verdict: A huge game. Real Madrid wouldn’t have wanted us in the quarter-finals, but I guess we’d have liked to have avoided them at this stage as well. Obviously, they’ll see the first leg on home soil as their chance to take advantage of the tie, but I see us getting the same result as last season. They’ve only beaten us three times in 10 meetings – and I think this will make that stat three in 11.
Mozzer’s prediction: Real Madrid 1-1 City
City v Luton Town
Premier League
Saturday 13 April, 15:00
Mozzer’s verdict: Luton have impressed me because on paper, they should be bottom of the table and as good as down. But they have a wonderful fighting spirit about them, and they never give up – they can score goals as well, and I think they’ll get a couple at the Etihad – we’ll just score more.
Mozzer’s prediction: City 4-2 Luton
City v Real Madrid
Champions League, quarter-final, 2nd leg
Wednesday, 17 April, 20:00
Mozzer’s verdict: The way we swatted Real Madrid aside 4-0 last season will have hurt the Spaniards, and they’ll do all they can to avoid a similar outcome. I don’t see this being as emphatic and they may even peg us back at some stage – but we’ll be buoyed by a fantastic Etihad atmosphere that will carry us over the line and into the semis.
Mozzer’s prediction: City 3-1 Real Madrid
City v Chelsea
FA Cup semi-final
Saturday, 20 April, 17:15
Mozzer’s verdict: Chelsea have given us two hard games this season that have ended 1-1 and 4-4 and I think they’ll make this awkward again – we could even have to come behind, maybe needing extra time to see them off, but I think we’ll just edge it and book a place in another all-Manchester FA Cup final.
Mozzer’s prediction: City 2-1 Chelsea
Brighton v City
Premier League
Thursday 25 April, 20:00
Mozzer’s verdict: Brighton haven’t reached the heights of last season for one reason or another, but they’re still a great team to watch and a danger to any side home or away. They’ll be up for this, but if I’m anywhere near right about how we’ll tackle this month, we’ll have too much for them and just edge what is a very tricky re-arranged fixture.
Mozzer’s prediction: Brighton 1-2 City
Nottingham Forest v City
Premier League
Sunday 28 April, 16:30
Mozzer’s verdict: Forest are in trouble, and I'm not sure whether they will be able to get themselves out of the trouble they are in. They made it tough at the Etihad earlier this season when Morgan Gibbs-White got under Rodrigo’s skin and he ended up being sent off – but I think we’ll win this one easily.
Mozzer’s prediction: Forest 0-4 City
How did Mozzer get on last month?
Andy got three out of four results right and correctly predicted the 3-1 win over FC Copenhagen. We'll tally up his numbers at the end of the season!
Scottish rockers Twin Atlantic have teams north and south of the border – one half of the band, Ross McNae, is a Celtic and City fan – and here, Ross explains how and why that is, as well as some band background info…
CITY MAG: Ross, Twin Atlantic have been going a while now – where are the band currently at?
ROSS: We’ve been going since we left school around 2007. I’d never have imagined we’d still be getting to make music now, but here we are. We have a a lot to be grateful for. We’re split 50/50 between Canada and Scotland, where I am. We have a Londoner somewhere in that mix, too. Album #6 is out on August 9 on our own label - Staple Diet. We’ve been on indies, majors, and now we have our own label. It’s gone full circle.
You grew up a Celtic fan, so how did City enter the picture?
You’re right. I grew up and still am a Celtic supporter. For those who don’t know, when you’re north of the border you tend to have an English team. When I was young I loved Kinkladze. Maybe it was the name that sounded good and made my imagination run away, but whatever it was, I got a City top with his name on the back - a classic Kappa home shirt - and I never looked back.
What’s your first City memory?
It’s not my first, but my best was watching the Aguero league winning goal on tour in a hotel in America with my tour manager and a £20 bet won from him. At that point I felt like a millionaire!
Who was your first hero? City and what’s your favourite City-related music?
Kinkladze - a total magician. There have been a lot over the years. David Silva, now Bernardo, but the best of all time has to be Kevin De Bruyne. In music, '(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?' was one of the first records I bought - the first was either Daft Punk’s 'Da Funk' or Placebo’s 'Nancy Boy' - so 'Wonderwall!'. I grew up listening to anthems like that which made me want to make big sounding songs that could be sung loudly - passionate moments to bring people together.
What do Celtic fans think of your City allegiances?There’s actually a lot of crossover with players over the years so there’s an understanding there. Samaras, Kolo, Bellamy, Denayer, Patrick Roberts more recently - there’s a good few - and Joe Hart! I think it’s hard to dislike City as a fan of football - people get it.
Do you ever get to any games?
I actually had my stag do at the Etihad. 11 years ago. The players signed a top for me which I still have now. I live in Scotland and we’ve toured so much over the years that I’m usually watching at home, or on my phone or in a pub somewhere in the world - I rarely miss a game. Tuesday or Wednesday nights with a gig and the Champions League has somehow not crossed too many times!
Where can people catch you live?
We’re touring a good bit this year. UK tour this November when we’ll be at the Academy in Manchester.
As a musician, what’s your favourite City song of all time?
Blue Moon. Written in 1934 and still holds up against new music. A real song.
Who is the best City-supporting band (other than half of TA!)?
Oasis, of course, but one of my musical pseudo heroes - I hate the idea of putting people on a pedestal but this guy wrote some tunes - is Ian Curtis. There’s an anthology of his lyrics published about ten years ago called So This Is Permanence that is a must read. Love Will Tear Us Apart Again soundtracked my adolescence and it’s still fresh every time you hear it. My favourite feeling in the world is nostalgia for a time or place you’ve never experienced, and that takes me to the time when it was written every time I hear it.
We have an incredibly tough last 2 months – what do you see happening in the 3 comps we are in?
I don’t see why it’s not a double treble. Celtic did three in a row. I think City could do it again. If we get past Madrid then why not!
Describe your dream gig, venue and support acts…
My dad always says he’d pay a fortune to see a Paul Simon or Dylan at an 'evening with...', in a tiny gig, but wasn’t interested in going to see them and being miles back in an arena. I think more and more I’m realising that, too. I’m interested in how we transition to a point where we have a sustainable music industry - smaller gigs, more of them, less people travelling to each one with a lower carbon footprint - or maybe it’s online, streamed so everyone can be right there on the stage with the artists and not polluting the planet in the process. Dream venue - my living room, watching Max Richter play Sleep overnight, no supports. But if we’re talking City-based then the Etihad, Oasis reunion - we’ll play one song first on just so we can say we did it.
What’s your all-time best City XI + 7 subs, manager and formation? (can do half City/half Celtic if helps!)?
Gone for the Celtic connection on the bench and in goals - anyone who’s played at both - and the greats. It might not be the all time best, but it’s players that have meant something to me on my football journey.
Joe Hart was, without doubt, the best goalkeeper in the Premier League at the peak of his powers.
A pivotal part of the Club’s growth that took us from mid-table in the league to one of the game’s most feared opponents, Hart’s place in the long arc of Manchester City is secure.
The former England international ended his incredible 12-year association with City in 2018 and has since gone on to represent Burnley, Tottenham Hotspur and Celtic.
It’s with the Scottish giants where he will end his playing career at the end of this current season, having reached the age of 36.
Born in Shrewsbury, a town in Shropshire a few miles from the Welsh border, Hart excelled at sport from a young age.
In fact, he represented Worcestershire County Cricket Club’s academy sides in his youth before eventually deciding to focus his attentions on football.
He made his first team debut for Shrewsbury Town as a 17-year-old in 2004 but it was in the 2005/06 season that he truly caught the eye. He played every single match of the league campaign and was quickly attracting the attention of Premier League clubs.
It was City who won the race for his signature in the summer of 2006 although it seemed the teenager would have his work cut out making the team, with Sweden number No.1 Andreas Isaksson, Club favourite Nicky Weaver and fellow prospect Kasper Schmeichel already in the ranks.
He made his debut in October as injuries ruled out Isaksson and Weaver and looked solid in keeping a clean sheet. However, that was his only appearance of the season and he spent the second half of the term with loan deals at Tranmere Rovers and Blackpool.
With Weaver’s move to Charlton that summer, it was a three-way tussle for the goalkeeper’s shirt under new boss Sven-Goran Eriksson. It’s fair to say Hart won the war as he played 32 times, with Schmeichel playing on seven occasions and Isaksson six.
It was at the end of this season that he made his senior England debut, coming on at half-time of a friendly with Trinidad & Tobago.
He was rewarded with the No.1 jersey in 2008/09 under Mark Hughes and was undisputed first choice until Shay Given’s arrival in the 2009 winter transfer window.
Having his place in the side, Hart sought a loan move to Premier League side Birmingham City – a decision that proved transformational for his career prospects.
At Birmingham he was voted the club’s Player of the Year, named in the PFA Team of the Year and nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year.
Even still, upon his return to City there were no guarantees he would be Roberto Mancini’s first choice. Hart had been to the 2010 World Cup with England but not featured.
Heading into the opening day of the 2010/11 season at Tottenham Hotspur, speculation was rife as to which way Mancini would go.
He chose Hart and never looked back. It was perhaps the day that defined all of Hart’s best attributes.
The goalkeeper was named Man of the Match in a 0-0 draw, making an incredible 18 saves against a team that featured the likes of Gareth Bale and Luka Modric.
Unashamedly bold in coming off his line to collect crosses or smother strikers, Hart’s physical presence appeared to knock strikers off their game as they bore down on goal.
While he was agile enough to fly high across his line to tip shots over the bar, it is perhaps the way he spread his arms and legs in one-v-one situations to give players nowhere to shoot that was the outstanding aspect of his goalkeeping.
He went on to play every single Premier League game that season, winning the Golden Glove, and earning the complete trust of boss Mancini and Vincent Kompany, the leading figure in the defence ahead of him.
It was partly that relationship with his defence that saw us to a first major trophy in 35 years when we beat Stoke City 1-0 in the FA Cup final that season.
A mentality shift had also happened in Manchester on that run, as we overcame Manchester United in the semi-final.
There was no doubt that Hart was one of the main men and going to be pivotal for the 2011/12 title challenge.
Hart again played every game as we conceded just 29 goals, a fact that proved crucial in winning the league on goal difference.
We all know exactly how that title was won on that fateful day with QPR, but Hart’s celebration on his own at the other end of the pitch is an enduring image and one that is shown just as often as those of Sergio Aguero, Mancini and those fans lucky enough to have been caught on camera celebrating the greatest moment in their lives as football fans.
It was also his second Premier League Golden Glove and his second appearance in the PFA Team of the Year.
Hart again played every league match in 2012/13 and again kept more clean sheets than anyone else but it wasn’t enough for a successful defence of our trophy.
The arrival of Manuel Pellegrini as manager brought competition in the form of both Costel Pantilimon and Willy Caballero, but there was little doubting who remained favourite during the Chilean’s three years in charge.
Hart played 31 games in 2013/14 as we lifted a second title in three seasons, 35 in 2014/15 and 36 in 2015/16.
The summer of 2016 saw Hart struggle with England at the European Championships before returning home to find he was no longer guaranteed first choice under Pep Guardiola.
He was made captain of the side for the Champions League qualifier with Steaua Bucharest and received a huge ovation from all sides of the Etihad Stadium, with City fans suspecting it may be the last time he appeared for the Club.
He moved on loan to Serie A club Torino shortly afterwards before a spell at West Ham United in 2017/18.
With Ederson now firmly in place as the goalkeeper for Guardiola’s Centurions, Hart left in the summer of 2018 and signed for Burnley.
He was back at the City Football Academy a few months after leaving to witness as a training pitch was named after him.
At Burnley, he struggled for game time and after two seasons signed for Spurs, where he spent one year as understudy to France captain Hugo Lloris.
The move to Celtic revitalised Hart, playing as the recognised first-choice in a domestic Treble for Ange Postecoglou’s team.
Hart then announced in February 2024 that the current campaign would be his last.
Having always been an excellent communicator, it is unlikely that this will be the last we hear of Joe Hart.
However, this is the perfect opportunity to reflect on his monumental contributions to Manchester City.
Only 27 players have appeared for City on more occasions, with Hart ending on 348 City games. In that time he won 192 times and kept 137 clean sheets.
His five major trophies at City set the wheel in motion for the current era of domestic dominance we are enjoying.
Congratulations to Joe on an exceptional career!
Overcoming the demands and pressure of being an elite athlete is no easy task...
Physical, Technical and Tactical are all part of the four pillars model and the ones that are often thought about first when asked what areas are needed to develop in order to become a professional football player.
But the final pillar, and the one that is seeing continuous and quick growth to catch up with the other three, is psychology.
Mark Keep, the Professional Development Phase (PDP) Sport Psychologist for the City players in our Under-18s and Under-21s, sat down with City Magazine to discuss the importance of psychology in football.
CITY MAG: Hi Mark, this is a topic we are very excited to learn more about and shine a light on. For those who might be interested in following a similar and exciting career path such as yours, could you start off by talking us through how you became a psychologist and now continuing your career at City?
MARK: Yeah sure, so I studied psychology at A-Level which piqued my interest, I suppose. I was always passionate about sport and by the end of my A-Levels I thought it would be really cool to be a sport psychologist. I then went to university and completed an undergraduate degree in psychology before specialising in my masters in sport and exercise psychology. After that I became a chartered psychologist through the British Psychological Society which takes a minimum of two years, but it took me just over four as it did it alongside other work. Completing my chartership allowed me to be called a charted psychologist which gives you the most stature in the psychology world but also allows you to apply to Health and Care Professions Council to be a practitioner psychologist and get onto the HCPC register and the title all psychologists want to achieve.
I’ve worked in athletics, tennis, American football, I worked with a ballet dancer, too at one stage and motorsport. I then worked at a Cat One Academy for six years before I came to City and I’ve been here for two years, one as part-time and I recently celebrated one year as a full-time PDP psychologist for the Club’s Academy.
CITY MAG: What inspired you to pursue the profession?
MARK: I’m incredibly fortunate to be a full-time sport psychologist, there’s not many people, but thankfully full-time psychologists are becoming more popular now. In terms of what got me into sport psychology, I’m not sure to be honest! I think I was so passionate about sport, and I was always curious as to why some people are able to operate at an elite level. If we’ve all got the same technical proficiencies, if we’re all tactically astute, if we’re all physically great athletes, the mental side is obviously the bit that’s missing and just the thought of who can perform at their best in the most stressful of environments really sparked my interest. Penalty shoot-outs especially, are gold dust to me. I love seeing which players can cope with the pressure of dispatching their penalty versus those who are mentally going through their own personal process and struggle to take on the task at hand or whether they struggle under the pressure. And I guess ultimately, I wanted to be a small part of that and try and support players and staff in their development and prepare them for those moments as best as possible. My job is my passion.
CITY MAG: What does your role entail day to day - is it a bit different on a matchday?
MARK: Yeah, I suppose so. Overall I’m looking after the well-being of the whole squads across the Under-18s and the Elite Development Squad. We do well-being screening across the season, we have well-being forums with staff and we also have wellness ratings. I chat to players individually on things like football stress, external stress, fatigue and anything else that’s going on. Sleep is also a key area we work on with them. I’m currently working with some players on performance psychology which entails being more competitive in training and matches, whether that’s regulating their emotions a bit better or boosting their resilience levels and overcoming setbacks and how quickly we can stay in the present moment and focus on the next action.
Also working within the PDP all the players develop at different rates so we can see which players are more physically, mentally and socially mature and we just have to try and match the delivery to their personality and we need to understand each player’s peaks and troughs throughout the season and in turn tailor the support that they need. Some might need to be pushed, others might need more of an arm around the shoulder, some will be ready for that next big game, some might need more support before it.
CITY MAG: A slight misconception is that psychology and mental health fall under the same bracket but they differ a little don’t they? But with City’s set-up and support system, the players across the entirety of the Academy are provided with a plethora of types of support to cater everyone’s needs?
MARK: Yes, so we work in tandem really when we need to but also the potential to work separately to our mental wellbeing staff. It very much depends on what the topic is, is it on or off pitch, something more personal, something that could impact them on the pitch so we work together to find the best way to support each player. The important thing is that everyone has a role in supporting an Academy player’s mental health. We’re seeing a really positive shift in players becoming more comfortable speaking about their mental health which I think is because of the awareness that’s going round with the FA’s campaign, Premier League players talking about their mental health but also the support mechanisms we’re putting in place. For me now, it’s about the players becoming self-sufficient in seeking and using their social support network to process any setbacks on or off the field. And secondly, player’s exposing themselves to difficult scenarios, but having a set of mental skills which can support them to overcome any negative emotions or unhealthy negative emotions and still end up producing a performance.
And to answer the second part to your question, I think we’re really lucky here at City to have such a good link between all of the psychologists which mean the players are continuously looked after throughout their entire journey at City’s Academy. Jennie Killilea with the Under-15s and Under-16s is a really good link for me for when those players move up to the Under-18s or Under-21s. When players go into the first team I’ve got a good link with David Young the first team sport psychologist. And then below Jenniel we have Cassie Wood with the Under-12s, Under-13s and Under-14s. It’s a great system and it shows how important psychology is to Manchester City and its players.
Interview: Holly Percival
Gareth Taylor’s side made it 11 league wins in a row with a 3-1 victory over Manchester United in front of more than 40,000 fans at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday 23 March.
A brace from Jess Park and a third from‘Bunny Shaw – which also saw her become our record goalscorer – were enough to see City over the line.
It was our third Manchester derby win of the season, and an occasion which the Blue half of the city will never forget.
Club photographers Declan Lloyd and Isaac Parkin were there to capture every moment.
From arrival at the Etihad through to the half-time team talk in the changing room and incredible post-match celebrations, relive one of the greatest afternoon’s in our women’s team’s history- once again!
With his birthday on 25 April, what better way to shine a light on the outstanding work City’s Under-18s head coach Ben Wilkinson does with our rising stars by hearing from the players themselves? Here, they talk about what it’s like getting to develop under Wilkinson’s tutelage. ..
Over the course of the 2023/24 campaign, we’ve asked some of the Academy players about Ben Wilkinson and what he means to them. Here's what they had to say about their head coach…
Q: How good of a coach is Ben?
A: Jaden Heskey – Ben is really good at getting the best out of each player in each position. You could see on the weekend [against Blackburn] that we play free-flowing football and with confidence and that’s because Ben brings the best out of us.
Q: How much are you learning under Ben across the two seasons you’ve worked with him?
A: Charlie Gray – I’ve got to know Ben a lot more as time has gone on because last year was my first year with him and now in my second, I’ve got to know him ever better. He’s very understanding, he gets to know each player individually which is what is great. You feel comfortable around him and I think that helps us all perform better because you know what he wants from you and you take that into every game.
Q: What is Ben like as a coach?
A: Ezra Carrington – I think his communication with everyone is really good, especially in telling us what we need to do and how we can be better. He’s also got a great tactical mind.
A: Femi Fapetu – He likes to talk comfortably with you which helps because if he needs to help you out with something on the pitch, it’s good that he can just talk to you normally and it’s never awkward. He’s definitely helped me out if I’ve made a mistake or something and he’s made sure I’m not beating myself up too much about it and that I can still focus on playing properly.
Q: What’s it been like getting to know Ben as a coach?
A: Spike Brits – He’s a great coach. At the start of this season, with it being my first one in the Under-18s, I wasn’t too close to Ben but as the season has progressed I’ve got to understand why he is where he is and why the team has been so successful under his leadership. He’s also helped me improve massively.
Q: What’s it been like working with Ben in your first season with the Under-18s?
A: Divine Mukasa – It’s been great. Ben has helped me a lot in getting used to the way City play and how I can improve tactically and technically. He’s amazing to work with.
Q: You’re involved more with the Elite Development Squad this season but when you’ve played in the FA Youth Cup, what’s it been like getting to work with Ben again?
A: Jacob Wright – It’s great getting to continue working with Ben and learning from him. He’s helped me progress so much as a player in the last couple of seasons and he’s so dedicated to helping as many players as he can. I’m confident he’ll be able to lead the team to the FA Youth Cup trophy, too, this season because the team is really strong.
Interviews: Holly Percival
With just five matches remaining of the Barclays Women’s Super League campaign, the title race has developed into a two-horse race...
Although Arsenal could still force their way into the reckoning, it’d be safe to assume that the league crown will be making its way to either Kingsmeadow or the Joie Stadium in just under two months’ time.
The league’s most dangerous attack against its meanest defence, Chelsea and City find ourselves level on points at the summit, with only the reigning champions’ superior goal difference currently handing them the slenderest of advantages going into April.
However, it was Gareth Taylor’s side who came out on top when the two sides clashed in London in February, with Bunny Shaw’s early strike seeing the hosts lose at Kingsmeadow for the first time in more than three years.
City – so often lauded for our fluid attacking style and attractive play – dug deep to weather the Chelsea storm, earning a statement win that could yet play a huge part in the WSL title race.
City have developed the knack of ‘winning ugly’. That is, grinding out a result even if we’ve had to ride our luck, defend stoutly or the performance hasn’t been to our usual standards.
In the past, it had been the opposite scenario which had blighted Taylor’s side on a few occasions – so often putting in a display which would usually be enough to gain three points or claim a piece of silverware only to come up short at the final hurdle.
But things have seemingly changed and Laia Aleixandri – one of City’s most consistent performers across 2023/24 – believes that’s down to two things in particular: continuity, and a change in mindset.
“I think last season was hard because there were a lot of new signings,” the Spain international explains.
“We didn't know each other as much as we know this season.
“And also, I think we have a better winning mentality this season. That's also the key because we are pushing each other to keep our goal of a clean sheet, to score more goals and that's good for the team.
“I think for us this season, how we are playing is very important, especially how we are defending.
“Our mentality is very good to keep a clean sheet. I think we've done very well, and we need to keep doing this.
“This is the key to winning games and to win trophies.”
City had already shown glimpses of that mindset across 2023/24, particularly in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea despite being reduced to nine players and our comeback win at Old Trafford in the derby.
But February was the month where those outside the Club really started to take notice.
In the space of just nine days, Gareth Taylor’s side made three separate trips to London in three competitions against Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Chelsea. We won all three matches 1-0.
Against Spurs, a Yui Hasegawa stunner saw us progress to the Continental Cup semi-finals while, as already mentioned, it was Shaw who grabbed the decisive goal at Kingsmeadow in the WSL.
But sandwiched between those victories was an FA Cup fifth round win at Meadow Park, with a late Arsenal onslaught not enough to prevent City from registering a fourth successive clean sheet at the time.
The goalscoring hero for City? None other than Aleixandri!
She recalls: “I don't know how to describe it. I think it was really special for me and also it was an important goal to help the team.
“I don't have words to describe my second goal with this Club!
“I think it was hard to win against Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea, especially because they are good - they are top teams.
“We fought for every ball to win the games and it's the way that we need to keep going.
“I think it's important to win every game, but those ones are especially difficult to win.”
City’s last piece of silverware came in March 2022, when we came from behind to beat Chelsea 3-1 in the Continental Cup final.
But falling just short in the WSL last season, plus extra time exits in both the Conti Cup semi-finals and the FA Cup last eight, seem to have lit a fire under the team in our pursuits this time around.
For the likes of Aleixandri, coming to the end of her second full season at City, the prospect of lifting a trophy for a Club she believes is getting the best out of her is something she’s determined to make a reality.
The defender has already claimed silverware this season on the international front, playing the full 90 minutes as Spain got the better of France in the inaugural UEFA Women’s Nations League final.
La Roja, coming into the tournament as World Champions, cruised past the Netherlands in the last four, and followed that 3-0 win up with an equally dominant 2-0 victory over France in Seville.
That taste of silverware has given Aleixandri an appetite for more, and she’s hopeful that will come with City this season.
“Especially this early in the season when you win a trophy, it is always special because you're still playing for other trophies,” she explains.
“It's always like a motivation to keep going, to win more trophies and also help the team.
“With the mentality that I have, I'm always a competitive player and I always want to win. Hopefully we can celebrate [a trophy at the end of the season].
“I feel very good playing with City and also with the national team.
“I think it was my best decision to come here, play for City and play in this league, also. I feel really good and I also think I've improved a lot defensively and as a person. That is good for me and I'm really happy.
“I actually can't imagine how it would be [to win the league with City] but for sure, it’d be very special. I'm very excited to play this last part of the season.”
Interview: George Kelsey
The above could well serve as the subtext for Isaiah Dada-Mascoll’s experiences across a challenging and demanding 2023/24 season...
After having enjoyed a superb 2022/23 campaign with City’s Under-18s, helping Ben Wilkinson’s side to regional and national Under-18 Premier League title success, Dada-Mascoll was one of a phalanx of exciting young players elevated up to our Elite Development Squad last summer.
The expectation was that the England Under-17 international would kick on and become a key member of head coach Brian Barry-Murphy’s new-look Under-21 squad.
Fate however put paid to that.
A serious foot injury sustained during the summer pre-season preparations saw Dada-Mascoll forced into an elongated spell on the sidelines.
Then, just as the holding midfielder was setting his sights on a potential return to action early in the New Year, he suffered a fresh injury setback in January, putting paid to any hopes of a New Year comeback.
Now, at long last however, the 17-year-old is finally poised to make his long-awaited return to action.
Though the experience of being injured may have seen the City Academy graduate forced to navigate numerous ups and downs, he believes he will return all the stronger – both as a player and a person - for all that he has had to endure these past seven months or so.
And he says he will also return armed with an even greater appreciation for the defining role that football plays in his life.
“For sure, it's been frustrating at times, but my faith has allowed me to look at the positives,” Isaiah reflected.
“So I don't see it as a negative in that sense.
“I just saw it as an opportunity for me to develop my body, to get it back stronger and fitter than it was previously before my injury.
“In terms of the injury itself, I originally had a stress fracture on my left navicular, so my left foot basically, and that was in August, early September,” Isaiah reflected.
“I was recovering well, and I was due to be playing back again in January. Then as I was in team training at the start of January, I then picked up another issue.
“I saw a specialist and we found that effectively my kneecap on my right knee was sitting higher than it was supposed to.
“So, I had to get a few injections in my in my knee and in my hip to sort of loosen that area so I could focus on mobility and stability in that region.
“Every game I have been watching while out injured, I'm supporting my teammates.
“I'm doing the best that I can to support them, you know bring the support that my teammates need and yeah, just being an uplifting character within the dressing room.
“That's all I can do. I will 110% when I come back appreciating not only football, but life as well.
“When something that you hold so closely is taken away from you, it can be a bit uneasy at times.
“But then, as I said, thanks to my faith I've been able to like sort of understand and appreciate the gift of life in a way.
“I know that I'll be back stronger and better and that everything happens for a reason as well.”
Given such an extended period away from playing football, away from his intensive sessions of rehabilitation and careful recovery plan, Dada-Mascoll has sought to put his time away from the pitch to practical use.
For he revealed he had kept mind busy and active these past eight months, both discovering things new and something old.
“The time that I've missed, you know, like games and stuff, or when I haven't travelled with the team, I've tried to occupy my time,” Isaiah revealed.
“I've pursued reading and reading stuff, just like honing my skills and my knowledge. And yeah, definitely, as a person I feel like I have developed and improved.
“And I I feel like it's part of life growing up. If you learn new things, you pick up different things.
“I love music, so I play, I play an instrument, I play the guitar. I started playing when I was six, but I kind of like dropped off in COVID.
“But recently I've kind of picked it back up. So that's like a sort o fa cathartic release that I enjoy and also like producing music as well.
“I also attend a church and feel like that's a good community of people to be around.
“I also like cooking and going on walks - so there has been plenty to occupy me and keep me busy!”
Interview: Neil Leigh
The July 2011 City Magazine was a tribute issue to our first silverware in – gulp – 35 years.
It was an easy editorial decision and because of Club photographer Sharon Latham’s wonderful relationship with the players, it meant it could be picture-led with dozens of quality shots that hadn’t been seen anywhere.
It was also a chance to do a ‘collector’s issue’ – something we hadn’t had the opportunity of doing before (for obvious reasons!).
Though there were many options, there was only ever going to be one cover – that of captain Carlos Tevez kissing the FA Cup while looking at the camera.
It was a natural, spur of the moment shot taken in the Wembley dressing room after our 1-0 win over Stoke City ended that long, painful wait for a trophy.
It also gave us the opportunity of adding more pages for this one-off special and we increased to 88 on this occasion, keeping the price the same at £3.50.
The end result was a fantastic keepsake and record of a wonderful day to be a Manchester City fan.
Don’t you just love it when a plan comes together?
DC
This season I’m taking you on an A-to-Z tour of Manchester and possibly taking a few liberties with the alphabet. Expect lots of musicians, an occasional session with a footballer and whatever else I can find in my archive...
This issue we’re up to the letter H and who better than one of the Wembley Stars of 25 years ago: Kevin Horlock?
Yes, I realise you were expecting a piece about The Haçienda, but Becky Hook is currently editing a Haç book for later this year, and I have a lot of photos in it. Ideal Christmas present etc.
When I took these photos in August 2018, I took the opportunity to talk to Kevin about the Gillingham play off final.
KC: It wasn’t enjoyable at all. Wembley was a very cagey game …
KH: "It was rubbish, wasn't it?"
I was too nervous to take it in to be honest. I had no confidence in us winning, I’d watched City for too long …and when Gillingham scored two late goals to be 2-0 up after 87 minutes, I just accepted it. But as a player how did that feel? Do you feel similar? Did you think: ‘this is over. We’ve had it here.’?
“Yes, I did. If I said I felt any different I'd be lying. To be honest, I can’t remember much of the game apart from missing a sitter earlier on – a header which I should have scored. It was a really dull game. It was 2-0 and the ball went towards our corner flag I can't remember what minute it was, but I turned and saw the two Gillingham centre halves hugging each other and jumping on the spot as if they'd won the game. I thought – we’d blown it. We’d lost this game. Here we go again and, no disrespect to the teams we played that season, but I was thinking “we've got to go to York again, Wrexham again”. That was my thought process. But I knew there were still a few minutes left and as a team you always play to the final whistle… yes… maybe it was fate... but I scored – we didn't know how long was left – suddenly we felt we were on top. They’d taken their forwards off earlier to shut the game down – but would we get another chance and if so, would we take it – and thankfully Dickie did … it was mayhem.”
Extra time was weird. I can't remember anything happening.
“Neither can I. I have no memory of it at all."
Then it went to penalties. Why did you take the first one?
"I’d taken a fair few penalties in my career. You need your stronger characters to step up – so I wasn’t going to shy away. I said – look I want to take one. I think Joe Royle chose the order and he put me first. I started that long, lonely walk from the halfway line and my mind was in turmoil.”
If City had lost, we might never have recovered from that defeat It could have destroyed the Club. So how does it feel to have that level of responsibility?
"In retrospect we realised the importance. But at that moment we probably didn't realise how enormous it was. I felt very nervous. I'm not going to say I was full of confidence. I've watched it back on YouTube. I can see how ill I look. I can see it in my face. I felt sick to the pit of my stomach because I didn't want to let everyone down. It was a long, nervy walk. I changed my mind what felt like at least 15 times … but thankfully as I hit it the keeper dived the wrong way. Was it fate? Did we deserve to win the game? I don't know … and in all honesty, I don't care because the outcome was the right one for the football club. Looking back, we can all feel proud of that day and working so hard, but we still realised we'd put ourselves in that position in the first place.”
I first met Kevin Horlock when I was working on my final season at Maine Road book in 2002/03. I really liked him. He was hard working and very self-deprecating. He turned up for training one week in Nike boots one day and PUMA the following day. I asked him if it was a problem shooting him in these, and who his boot sponsor was. He laughed and said:” Boot manufacturers pay me not to wear their boots.”
The importance of that play off final is such that despite all the trophies and success over the past 13 years, we still talk about it regularly. It’ll be almost 25 years to the day, when the Champions League Final is played at Wembley this year. Now wouldn’t that be great symmetry?
Kevin Cummins
For this months Mixed Grilling I’ll now introduce you to Julie Phillips! Julie is a regular attendee of the Alkrington MCFC Supporters Club as as you can tell by her tales below is Blue through and through!
A little about Julie before we begin… from Julie herself!
“I’ve supported City all my life, since the day dad met his family from work, Saturday afternoon, 3 o’clock, at Maine Road. It’s always and only ever been City. Mancunian born, now living in the Yorkshire Dales, happiest when travelling to the Etihad.”
OK.. let’s get on it….
WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF GOING TO A FOOTBALL MATCH?
This is such a long time ago, and so a bit vague but I first went to football with mum, dad, and my brother. Mum, Dave, and I travelled by bus to Manchester then got the match bus to Maine Road. Dad worked at Dunlop, close to Maine Road so we met him from work, as he worked Saturday morning. I remember going to the match wearing my bob hat, scarf and I had a rattle, too. We sat in the Platt Lane end on the bench seats, being very close to the pitch. Harry Dowd was in goal when I first went to Maine Road. Something I try not to remember, but family have always teased me about it: sitting down on the front row benches, I asked dad which was the “Stretford End?” Never to be forgiven or forgotten. Brainwashed at school about the Reds. So, all I heard about was Old Trafford. My parents knew better, and I was brought up proper – I was taken to Maine Road, and I learnt that it was the best place to be. The Blues are the best, the rest is my blue history. Wouldn’t change it for the world. Oh, the innocence of youth!
WHAT IS THE MOST PECULIAR OR MEMORABLE THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU AT A CITY GAME?
Mum, Dave, and I travelled down to Wrexham, for a pre-season friendly. It was one of the first matches Joe Hart played in. We stopped at the services for a brew, and it seemed very strange there were no other supporters around. I think we were quite early but I did think we’d be the only supporters at Wrexham. Then I spotted one of our blue shirts - a bunch of guys sat in the services. Off I rush and asked, “Are you going to the match”. One of the guys looked at me as if I was a total idiot. Silence. I turned away from them and saw a City player walking towards me. I was stunned and turned slowly back towards the three men sat on the bench. I had only asked Joey Barton (and two other players) if he “was going to the match?. I wanted the floor to open and swallow me. Those were the days when the team met at a service station and travelled by coach to the match. Needless to say, the boys obliged me with a photo, which was e eventually gifted to me by mum, framed with the caption “Are you going to the match?' Needless to say we stopped off at the same services on the way home, but didn’t have any further adventures/faux pas! The match was a draw and Joe Hart let in three goals. We thought “who the flippin’ heck is he, pah!”. He settled in after Wrexham, a fine servant to our club.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME AND PREVENT ONE MATCH FROM BEING PLAYED -WHAT MATCH WOULD THAT BE - AND WHY?
Difficult to highlight anyone match, so I won’t. Any match against United where we lost. Ban those. Semi-final against Real Madrid, in Madrid. Lost 1 -0. We only needed one goal to go through to the final. I was there and was gutted.
WHAT IS THE MOST MEMORABLE CITY GOAL YOU HAVE WITNESSED (“Aguerooooooooo…” aside…)?
Neil Young’s goal in the FA Cup final. I was young myself (!) and we sat down for the match as a family, to watch together. We’d done all the house jobs in the morning, waited for dad to come home from work early afternoon, then the curtains were drawn, and we sat, me, mum, dad and my brother, and watched. It was tense, and when that goal went in, it was well... not sure really, I got a real sense of joy watching my team win a cup. I loved it. The first time I’d experienced that euphoria of winning. Never forgotten it, never forgotten Neil Young either. What a player.
HAVE YOU EVER MET ONE OF YOUR MAN CITY HEROES… IF SO - WHO…AND HOW WAS THE EXPERIENCE?
Tony Book – at Wembley and at a few MCFC events. He is such a lovely, humble man, a great ambassador, always willing to give his time, great to talk to, always a joy to see him
WHICH PLAYER WERE YOU MOST SAD TO SEE LEAVE CITY?
Mario Balotelli – I really loved him. The guy that sat behind me at the stadium used to shout, “earn your money” and Mario did just that for me, even threw some of it away. His antics off the pitch amused me, too. He was such a character and added that much needed “spark” to our team at that time. He was great. (Plus SWP – very sad to see him go, and to Chelsea, as well. Pah!. All those kids that just had his name put on the backs of their football shirts – think you paid per letter then – so sad).
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE CITY TERRACE ANTHEM? I never felt more like singing the Blues, City win United lose, oh, City you've got me singing the Blues!
WHATS YOUR MOST DISASTROUS AWAY GAME EXPERIENCE?
Middleborough We lost 8-1, and it was a bit unpleasant after the final whistle. Our away fans were fab, though.
Closely followed by losing 6-0 to Chelsea - unpleasant in a different way.
WHO IS YOUR MOST FAVOURITE CITY PLAYER OF ALL TIME?
Probably Mick Doyle – he gave me my first experience of showing his “Blueness” and making it OK. He so hated those 'others'. He never wavered. Sitting close to the touch line at Maine Road, I heard many a tackle he made – not for the faint-hearted! But it's a difficult question because the list could be endless, but it would also include: Colin Bell, Alan Oakes, Joe Corrigan, Kinkladze, Zaba, Vinnie, Silva, Yaya, Aguero, KDB, home grown Foden... really too many to mention.
IF YOU COULD PICK ONE CURRENT CITY PLAYER TO BE ON YOUR PUB QUIZ TEAM - WHO WOULD IT BE - AND WHY?
Jack, without a doubt, no hesitation – he is honest, upfront, and hilarious, and so cool in TV interviews, PR – the evening would be the best, whether we won or not. Probably not the quiz, but quality entertainment from “our Jack” would be fab!
Phil Foden’s superb 2023/24 season continued across the month of March, making him a crucial Fantasy Premier League asset in April.
So far this season, the England international has scored 18 goals and registered 10 assists for Pep Guardiola’s side in all competitions.
Of those superb numbers, he has netted 11 times and set up a team-mate on seven occasions in the Premier League.
Throughout March, Foden has scored twice in the league – helping our Academy graduate to 160 FPL points in total this campaign to date.
Both strikes came in our strong 3-1 win over Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium where we came from a goal down to collect three points over our arch-rivals.
Marcus Rashford broke the deadlock with an unstoppable, first-half rocket before Foden equalised shortly after half-time with a euphoric drive from the edge of the area.
The 23-year-old the helped Guardiola’s team to the lead when collecting the ball inside the box before coolly slotting into the net with 10 minutes remaining.
Erling Haaland then finished the scoring with a characteristic placed shot into the bottom corner in stoppage time.
Foden’s display against Erik ten Hag’s side earned him a fantastic 15 FPL points before he added two more to his tally in our 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield.
As a result, he is City’s highest scoring player in the game and sits fifth in the overall table across the division.
And with the Blues playing a minimum of five league matches in April as we enter the business end of the term, our forward may be an imperative purchase before the season’s end.
Words: Sam Cox
Here, we uncover another classic Q&A from days gone by with Shoot Magazine's 'Focus on Paul Futcher'. Paul sadly passed away in 2016, but was a classy, ball-playing centre-half who was once City’s record signing at £350,000 in 1978. He made 45 appearances before moving on in July 1980.
Full name: Paul Futcher
Birthplace: Chester
Birthdate: September 25, 1956
Height: 6" 0'
Weight: 11st 7lbs
Previous club: Chester, Luton Town
Married: Yes, to Collette
Children: None
Car: VW Golf
Favourite player: My twin brother Ron
Favourite other team: Don't have one
Most difficult opponent: Whoever I face next
Most memorable match: England v Wales U21 international
Biggest thrill: Being selected for the above game
Biggest disappointment: Missing part of last season through a car crash I was involved in
Best country visited: Yugoslavia
Favourite food: Liver and onions
Miscellaneous likes: Listening to music
Miscellaneous dislikes: Bad drivers and poor timekeepers
Favourite singers: The Beatles, Diana Ross
Favourite actors: Clint Eastwood and Katherine Hepburn
Best friends: I hope I have quite a few
Biggest influence on career: My parents, Harry Smith (a close friend), Harry Haslam, Cliff Sear
Biggest drag in soccer: Journey home after a loss
International honours: 10x England U21 caps
Personal ambition: To be happy and content with whatever I'm involved in
Professional ambition: To be happy and play as long as possible
If you weren't a footballer, what do you think you'd be? No idea
Which player in the world would you most lie to meet? Nobody, really
CITC MARK CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH WEEK
City in the Community recently marked Children’s Mental Health Week through a series of content including videos, story sharing and descriptive pieces.
Initially, the charity released a new video which showcases participants from the charity’s ‘Premier League Primary Stars’ and ‘City Careers’ programmes*, all promoting the message of speaking to someone if you don’t feel OK.
Commenting on the video, Community Mentoring Manager, Jason El-Kaleh, said: “This video shows the considerable impact that support networks can have on a young person’s mental health.
“Promoting help-seeking behaviour is paramount when supporting young people, as early intervention when experiencing poor mental health can directly influence recovery.”
You can watch the video here.
CITC’s mental health provision is split into two areas, City Thrive and Primary Care Networks (PCN).
The PCN mentoring programme, in partnership with the NHS, CAMHS RMCH, is for young people aged between 8-18 that present with mild to moderate mental health needs.
The mentoring offer involves 8-10 weeks of one-to-one mentoring, providing support and guidance to achieve a positive mental health outcome for each young person.
City Thrive, which is now in partnership with the NHS, has been delivered by CITC since 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The programme aims to promote positive mental health for young people aged 7-18.
Sessions harness the power of football to normalise stigmatised conversations around mental health subjects through a mixture of educational workshops and one-to-one mentoring.
A dedicated team developed a mental health curriculum, combining specially adapted football sessions with one-to-one mentoring and group workshops on mental health awareness to improve mental wellbeing.
If you have been impacted by any of the content in these notes and wish to reach out, please contact your GP for further support.
City in the Community empowers healthier lives with city youth through football.
To find out more, visit www.mancity.com/CITC or follow the charity on social media @CITCmancity.
This month our Random Match Generator has drawn a European tie with an instantly forgettable group stage game at the Etihad Stadium. Two of the continent’s most successful teams of recent years met for the first time 16 years ago, but it was a match that will have slipped from many people’s memories.
UEFA Cup group stage
City 0-0 Paris Saint-Germain
Wednesday, Dec 2008
Attendance: 25,626
Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Dunne,
Ben-Haim, Garrido, Kompany, Ireland, Elano (Benjani 49), Vassell (Hamann 76), Sturridge, Jo (Evans 65).
Subs Not Used: Schmeichel, Logan, Berti, Caicedo.
The basic facts suggests it should have been all set up for a classic European night under the lights at the Etihad Stadium.
Excitement surrounded only City’s second European campaign in 30 years and we were given a mouthwatering tie against Paris Saint-Germain.
Except the vagaries of the UEFA Cup that season meant it was essentially a non-event even before kick-off, a disappointing stop-off in what was an otherwise thrilling and varied European journey in the 2008/09 season.
Qualification had been secured via our Fair Play ranking, but meant we started in the qualifying round in mid-July with a now-infamous trip to the Faroe Islands to face EB/Streymur.
If that wasn’t glamorous enough, the second leg was played at Barnsley’s Oakwell because of a Jon Bon Jovi concert at the Etihad.
Having overcome them, a 1-0 defeat to FC Midtjylland threatened to disrail our campaign before it had barely started, but we squeezed through via a penalty shootout victory in Denmark before disposing of Cypriot side Omonia Nicosia.
That saw us reach a five-team group stage where sides would play two games at home and two away, with the top three going through to the knockout stages.
It was not a popular format, Guardian journalist Paul Wilson describing it as: “A mini-league that deprives ties of urgency on the night, and arbitrary fixtures.”
Still it was one that had to be navigated before reaching the excitement of the knockout stages.
Steve McClaren brought his Dutch accent and FC Twente to the Etihad and were beaten 3-2 before we travelled to Germany to secure an excellent 2-0 victory over Schalke.
Those two results meant that City had already qualified for the last-32 by the time the French giants rolled into town.
Mark Hughes took the opportunity to rest some of his bigger names with Tal Ben-Haim, Jo and Daniel Sturridge coming into the starting line-up along with Elano for his first start in a month.
PSG’s campaign had not started well with a defeat at Schalke and draw at home to Spanish side Racing Santander and they looked more than happy to take a point to keep qualification in their own hands.
City started brightly with Elano sliding a pass through to Sturridge but the teenager took a heavy touch with Mickael Landreau pouncing on the loose ball.
Unfortunately, that was to be the high point.
Elano curled a free-kick five yards wide and Darius Vassell slashed wildly from the edge of the box but there was little to get excited about.
PSG took slightly more risks in the final 20 minutes but the game dribbled out to a dismal stalemate.
After just three goals in 14 matches – two away in Cyprus and the other in a 6-0 victory over Portsmouth, Jo was having a particularly tough time.
The Brazilian was a big money signing in the summer but struggled following his move.
“Jo is a young player - the only way he'll improve and make an impact is by getting games and getting confidence in his play,” Hughes said after the game.
However, he went on loan to Everton a few weeks later and it would be another 20 months before he got his next goal for the Blues.
City’s European campaign gathered momentum in the New Year, going back to Denmark to beat FC Copenhagen and then Aalborg on penalties before suffering quarter-final heartbreak against Hamburg on a raucous night at the Etihad.
It was a memorable adventure for many reasons, but a dour 0-0 draw with PSG certainly wasn’t one of them.
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