Welcome to the August edition of the Official Manchester City Magazine.
August and, as a famous Italian journalist often says, 'Here we go!'
Over this and the September issues, we'll be seamlessly blending in some new features we hope you'll enjoy.
'Tales From the City' and 'Moment in Time' make their debuts this month, while Marc Riley's Mixed Grill and Cover Story make their farewell appearances.
We'll have more new features from September, while old favourites will all get another outing for the 2025/26 campaign.
Back to the August edition and one of our exciting summer signings Tijjani Reijnders is our cover star and lead interview.
Judging from his displays at the FIFA Club World Cup, he is going to be a crowd favourite for sure and in his first City Magazine interview, he talks about his childhood and family influences.
Sydney Lohmann is one of several new arrivals in our women's team and we get to know her a little better as she talks about her move to England as well as looking back on Euro 2025.
Our Best XI is a City Hardmen selection - see if you agree - with a team made up of gnarly, no-nonsense characters who were loved by our fans.
Andy Morrison is back to take on the City YouTubers, with a couple of new signings taking on our former skipper in the This Month predictions league.
We also celebrate 15 years since Mario Balotelli joined City and Kevin Cummins shares a fitting tribute to the much-loved Ozzy Osbourne who sadly passed away in July.
And, as always, there's plenty more including Gary Bennett in Sometimes They Come Back, a season-opener for Random Match Generator and DJ Oliver Heldens shares his memories of spinning the decks at City's Treble open top bus tour.
Our youngsters are well covered as always with Stephen Mfuni, Matty Henderson-Hall and Teddie Lamb all under the spotlight and, of course, we have a fitting tribute to our sky blue Lionesses.
So, without further ado, let's crack on!
Tijjani Reijnders has already made a huge impression on City fans – and there is so much more to come from a player who is still pinching himself his boyhood dream has come true…
It took just a few minutes of Tijjani Reijnders’ debut for City in the FIFA Club World Cup to realise that the club has brought in a player who will be a huge asset in the years to come.
Our summer signing from AC Milan immediately looked at home in our 2-0 win over Wydad AC, moving from box to box with effortless energy.
Having just turned 27, the Dutch midfielder is approaching the peak of his powers – and he looks made for Premier League football with his intensity and speed.
It’s obviously early days, but the thought of Reijnders alongside Rodri is an exciting prospect and one that will help reenergise the Blues after last season’s largely disappointing campaign – at least compared to what we’d achieved over the past six years or so.
Reijnders started out life with his hometown club PEC Zwolle before signing for AZ Alkmaar’s reserve side, breaking into their first team – managed for a time by Liverpool boss Arne Slot - and then moving to AC Milan where his reputation began to rocket.
Voted the Serie A midfielder of the year and voted into the Serie Team of the Season, it’s clear City have signed a player whose stock is very much on an upward trajectory.
"what we had
was just in
our genes."
The likeable Netherlands international is grounded, family-focused and has a sharp intelligence off the pitch that matches his performances on it.
The son of former PEC Zwolle legend Martin Reijnders and the older brother of Eliano Reijnders, who currently plays for the same club, football is in his blood.
As a youngster, Tijjani admits it was football pretty much all the way.
“From what my mother tells me, we were always in the stadium - but also that my brother and I were often running around the stands playing, as well,” smiled Reijnders.
“But as soon as we hit maybe the age of four or five, we were always out in the garden kicking a ball to each other.
“My father didn’t push us, and what we had was just in our genes, I think.”
The tight-knit Reijnders family might have cause to brag about their successes in sport, but that is the last thing they would do.
Half Dutch by their father’s side, they are also half Indonesian through their mother.
The Indonesian side of their family were particularly keen to imprint humility and humbleness on Tijjani and Eliano, and that caring, considerate attitude is evident in everything they do.
“Family is the most important thing in Indonesian culture, and that’s what my mother and grandparents were teaching us from a very early age,” says Tijjani.
“They taught us to be humble, never feel too good and relate to people who might not be as fortunate as you at a particular time or moment – those are the things we were taught from a very early age.”
Of course, no son of a footballer can ever fully be free of their father’s shadow or influence – not that the Reijnders brothers would want to be – but the comparisons with dad are inevitable.
“My father was more a striker/winger, and my mother always says how I run is more like my dad, but mentally, I’m also more like my dad,” Tijjani revealed.
“My younger brother is just coming into his own, but we both have things that are common to our dad.”
Schooled at the FC Twente academy, Reijnders was taught the basics of Dutch football that thousands of youngsters learn from an early age.
‘Total Football’ is the DNA of footballers from the Netherlands, and its influence is as strong today as it was when it was popularised by the great Ajax team of the 1970s – one that contained the biggest influence on Pep Guardiola’s football management career - the legendary Johan Cruyff.
“When we played at the academy in Holland, you quickly learned how important possession is in games, about passing and movement and how important the tactics are,” he said.
“Most Dutch players have that ingrained within them because they learn it at such an early age.
“As for Johan Cruyff, he’s one of the greatest players our country has ever produced and what he left behind you can still see it on the football pitch, and you can also see it here at Manchester City.
“In many ways, he set the blueprint for Total Football and it’s also why I chose No.14 – the number he worse for club and country - at AC Milan and also in the Dutch national team.”
No pressure then, Tijjani!
At the time of writing, his squad number at City was yet to be confirmed, but he is champing at the bit to play Premier League football and is already setting his sights on helping City win back the trophy that Liverpool won comfortably last season.
From his days as a youngster back home where he would watch English football religiously on a Sunday, the realisation that he will now be part of the best league in the world on a daily basis is still sinking in.
“I always dreamed of this and I think it was always on a Sunday morning that I saw the highlights on TV,” he beamed.
“I’d obviously have a lot if interest in the Dutch players who were over here, of course – Robin van Persie and Denis Bergkamp in particular -they were the sort of players you were looking at because they were huge stars in our country and as a kid, you want to emulate them.
“Now, being here with City and to be soon playing in the Premier League, it genuinely is a dream come true.”
Interview: Sam Cox/David Clayton
MEET SYDNEY LOHMANN...
Off the back of her participation at the UEFA Women’s European Championships in Switzerland, Sydney Lohmann’s attention will turn to Manchester as our newest recruit gears up for her maiden Women’s Super League season...
After being named in Germany’s squad for the tournament, the 25-year-old helped her national team out of the group stages as they finished runners-up in Group C to Sweden.
Following their qualification to the knockout stage, Lohmann’s Germany fought past France by pushing them to extra time and eventually penalties, before facing Spain in the semi-finals.
Lohmann’s involvement in the clash saw City’s latest summer signing feature for Germany when she replaced Sophia Kleinherne on 97 minutes, and the midfielder proved to be a bright spark as Germany sought a late equaliser, but it wasn’t to be for the eight-time European Championship winners as Spain progressed to the final.
Now Lohmann’s focus turns back to club action as she joins up with her new teammates at the CFA.
Upon signing for City our newest midfield addition described her emotions of joining the Club and moving to a new country.
“I’m really excited, but also a little bit nervous for everything that is coming now,” Lohmann explained.
“But, I think it’s the right step for me and after playing for Bayern Munich for a long time, I’ve never played abroad or further away from home, so I’m quite nervous but excited. I have a really positive feeling here.”
After playing for Bayern Munich for a solid nine years, Lohmann decided it was time for her to test herself in a new league and push herself to the next level.
“I’ve always had the thought to playing abroad at some point,” City’s new midfielder added.
“I just had the feeling that this year was the right time. Just for my personal development, on the pitch but also off the pitch.”
Aside from her participation in this summer’s Euros, Lohmann also has a plethora of international experience under her belt.
From being crowned U17 European Championship winners in 2016 and 2017 with Germany, to receiving a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, she believes this success can propel her club career.
“Every tournament, every game for the national team is good on that big stage no matter whether it’s for club or country,” the 25-year-old said.
“Especially for something like the Olympics, it’s a different tournament, but it’s so big, the pressure is always high.
“Competing with the best is just what we want playing football. It helps over time to handle the pressure and to get more relaxed and develop yourself.”
Perhaps unknown to some and even Lohmann herself, she was on the receiving end of one of the most iconic moments during the 2022 Euros final between England and Germany, as former City player Jill Scott shared a few words with her.
“I wasn’t aware [of how big it became],” Lohmann shared.
“I actually didn’t know it after the game, a few weeks later when I met Georgia Stanway she came to Bayern and we spoke about it again.
“She told me how big it was, I’ve just seen the video and it was actually funny. I had to laugh.”
Our latest addition also discussed how conversations with former City midfielder Stanway influenced her to make the switch.
“We spoke in the beginning about how things were going here and she was kind of in the same position like me just the other way around.
“She was at City for a long time and also said she needed something new but was speaking really positively about the Club and everything around it.
“It was also always her home, like in my case. Probably we can speak in a few months again and chat about how it’s going.”
Finally, she had a message for the City fans ahead of the upcoming 2025/26 WSL season.
“First of all, I’m really excited. I can’t wait to meet everyone, I can’t wait to play in the stadium. I loved it the first moment I saw it. I’m really passionate, I really hope I can show that and just bring good results. Wins, a lot of wins to the Club.”
Interview: Alice Wright
It’s back! One of City Magazine’s most popular features returns as our resident Predictor-in-Chief and former captain Andy Morrison takes on three City YouTubers.
Last season, Mozzer lost by the narrowest of margins – and now he wants payback. Esteemed Kompany is back for a second season, joined by fellow City vloggers JSM44 and Typical City.
Who will triumph this season? Can Andy level the series at 1-1? Remember, it’s one point for a correct result and three for a correct score. So, without further ado, let battle commence as Mozzer takes on JSMHD44 for our opening fixtures…
WOLVES v CITY
Premier League
Saturday 16 August, 17.30 kick-off
Molineux Stadium
Mozzer view: Wolves ended the season as one of the in-form teams of the Premier League and Vitor Pereira has had a full summer to prepare for the upcoming campaign. They’ve lost Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri of course, and that will have been a big blow to his plans. I think Wolves will make a game of it, but I also think we will be sharper and hungrier at Molineux.
Mozzer score prediction: Wolves 1-3 City
Vlogger view: Tough game to start the campaign, Wolves away has always been a difficult game for us. It took a last second winner to grab three points last season and I’m expecting another close affair. Wolves will battle but have lost Cunha their star man – and Ait-Nouri - so I’m going a narrow City victory to begin the season.
Vlogger score prediction: Wolves 0-1 City
CITY v SPURS
Premier League
Saturday 23 August, 12.30 kick-off
Etihad Stadium
Mozzer view: We are well aware of how Spurs have a habit of turning up when they play us and last season’s 0-4 home defeat was probably the lowest point of the season. Thomas Frank is now in charge, and I think we’ll see a much more organised, less gung-ho Spurs, but it will take time to shape the team in his image so I’m going for a home win.
Mozzer score prediction: City 3-1 Spurs
Vlogger view: Our bogey team… Tottenham. With Big Ange gone, it’s hard to know what type of Tottenham will show up, as I haven’t seen them under Thomas Frank yet, but his sides are usually organised and disciplined, and Frank was the only manager to come to the Etihad in the Treble season and take a win. Hopefully, the new signings should be cooking at this point, and I’m expecting Cherki to bend one past Vicario. But, cautiously, I’m going for a 1-1 draw.
Vlogger score prediction: City 1-1 Spurs
BRIGHTON v CITY
Premier League
Sunday 31 August, 14.00 kick-off
American Express Stadium
Mozzer view: Can Brighton kick on and do as well as they have done for the last couple of years? Possibly. They have a habit of unearthing gems of players, and they will be a tough nut to crack, especially so early in the season. We lost 2-1 there last season, but I fancy us to leave the Amex with a hard-fought victory.
Mozzer score prediction: Brighton 0-2 City
Vlogger view: Brighton away, always a tough place to go, but I think City will win this one comfortably on this occasion – though I could be wrong! These are the games we need to win if we are going to challenge for the title again this season, so I’m going for a big win on the south coast for the boys in blue!
Vlogger score prediction: Brighton 1-4 City
We continue our look at goals scored in particular minutes, this time combining six and seven minute goals. It seems scoring a goal in the sixth minute is rarer than hen’s teeth!
April 11, 2012
With City and United both in action in midweek, the Blues need to keep winning games and hope the Reds slip up in a thrilling all-Manchester title race. Sergio Aguero ensures this game gets off to a flying start as he picks the ball up just inside his own half, skips past a couple of challenges before lashing a 25-yard shot past Ben Foster to put the Blues in front.
April 3, 2010
City's blistering start at Turf Moor just gets better as Carlos Tevez scores the Blues' third inside seven minutes. When Emmanuel Adebayor fires a low shot on goal, Burnley keeper Brian Jensen spills a relatively easy save into the path of Tevez who is on hand to tap the ball home - his 20th goal of the campaign - and all-but wrap up the points with only seven minutes played. Incredible stuff.
September 27, 2014
Another fox-in-the-box goal for Sergio Aguero. A corner from the left is swung across and Pablo Zabaleta climbs highest on the edge of the box to head the ball down to Aguero, who spins on the edge of the six-yard box and rasps a shot into the corner of the net to give the keeper no chance as City go 1-0 up away to Hull City.
September 23, 2023
A wonderful team goal sees City take an early lead against Nottingham Forest. Jeremy Doku jinks in from the left and finds Rodri – his ball over the top into the box finds Kyle Walker who volleys a pass back to Phil Foden who sweeps a low shot past the keeper to put the Blues in command.
April 22, 2025
Omar Marmoush takes on the full-back on the left flank before sliding a low cross into the middle where Bernardo Silva connects with a low shot that Emiliano Martinez allows to squirm past and into the net to give City a 1-0 lead at home to Aston Villa.
These were the men in sky blue you didn’t want to mess with…
Tony Coton
A terrific goalkeeper who represented the club in the early 1990s. ‘TC’ was happy to let opponents know he wasn’t afraid of getting hurt via his ‘death stare’…
Pablo Zabaleta
A defender carved out of Argentine granite and a right-back who shed more blood for Manchester City than any other.
Mike Doyle
Former skipper who had blue blood running through his veins – happiest when playing Manchester United and winding the Reds up, he was a fearsome competitor.
Andy Morrison
Leading the City Hardmen XI is the indomitable Andy Morrison – the man Joe Royle claimed helped drag City out of the third tier ‘kicking and screaming’. A powerhouse of a centre-half.
Stuart Pearce
Though we only had Pearce as a player for one season, his reputation preceded him and ‘Psycho’ didn’t disappoint!
Gerry Gow
The tough-tackling Scot who became a cult figure at City during the early 1980s. King of the bone crunching tackles which was quite something given his slight frame.
Peter Reid
The old warrior warhorse who became player manger, Reid patrolled the midfield like a pit bull!
Fernandinho
The silk and steel behind many of our successes during a wonderful stay at the club. A natural leader and a player who loved a good ruck and clean out tackle. - not to mention the odd tactical foul!
Nigel de Jong
The Dutch Enforcer who took no prisoners. As the City fans sang, ‘Oh when De Jong, goes sliding in’ – with the added line that there was only going to be one winner! Enough said.
Carlos Tevez
Another Argentine who learned to survive on the tough back streets of Buenos Aires, what can you say of a player who emerged from a place called Fort Apache? A fighter in every sense of the word.
Francis Lee
Club legend and former chairman, Franny was feared and respected on the pitch for his never-say-die attitude and who could forget his punch-up with Leeds United's Norman Hunter (albeit while at Derby) tells you all you need to know about Franny.
Subs:
Trautmann, M Brown, Kompany, M Summerbee, Thatcher, Dickov. McCarthy
Formation: 4-4-2
Manager:
Peter Reid
We caught up with Marketing Manager Duncan Millin, a popular figure among the CFA staff, to discover what his role entails...
CITY MAG: Duncan, thanks for chatting to us. First off—Marketing Manager at Manchester City. What does that actually involve?
DUNCAN: It’s a bit of everything really, which is what makes it interesting. I work in the Personalised Marketing team, and a big part of my role is looking at how we can engage fans and grow our fanbase—particularly through Cityzens and our logged in experience. That means planning campaigns, building digital experiences, collaborating across departments like International Content, Product, and Social, and making sure fans feel more connected to the Club in ways that feel relevant to them.
We’ve done everything from personalised season wrap-ups and AR trophy content to surprise-and-delight campaigns like our Christmas Cityzens Surprise, where we recognise fans who’ve had a tough year. The aim is always to make fans feel seen, valued, and part of something bigger.
CITY MAG: How long have you been doing what you’re doing?
DUNCAN: I’ve been at City 10 years in September! I started back in 2015 in what was then the Digital/Tech team. I worked under Sanj for five years, on a number of projects including the development and launch of the Man City Kids app, which was a great full-circle experience—from idea to live product. I’ve been part of the Personalised Marketing team since January 2022, but my career path through sport was definitely a zigzag.
Before City, I worked in marketing comms roles at Salford Red Devils and British Cycling, and before that I started out in a recruitment firm in London. Along the way I did a master’s and focused my dissertation on sports media. So yeah—it’s been a bit of a journey, but one I’ve enjoyed.
CITY MAG: What does a typical day look like for you?
DUNCAN: The honest answer is—it depends where we are in the season. Some days are campaign-heavy, others are about reacting to big moments like signings or cup runs. I usually start by catching up with the team and checking the campaign calendar. From there, it might involve building Cityzens features, briefing graphics or social teams or agencies, analysing engagement data, or connecting with the International or Product teams to align activity.
Some of the best days are the ones where we’re working quick and light across the team, preparing something special for fans—whether that’s a Player Appearance Day or our festive fan surprise campaigns. Those are the kind of moments you really feel the impact of what you’re doing.
It's a pretty tight group in Personalised Marketing; from Andy who works with me across Cityzens and Campaigns, as well as the Campaigns team with Charlotte, Anna and Josh. We've the benefit of an in-team Analytics specialist, Josh who I work particularly close with, under the guidance of Chris our Team Head and Richard our Senior Manager. It's an exciting time ahead, as our team is joining with the FXAI Team, which really emphasises the role data and analytics play in everything we do.
CITY MAG: How do you measure success in your role?
DUNCAN: A mix of things. First and foremost, how fans respond. Are fans engaging with what we’ve made? Are they sharing it? We measure things like registrations, sessions per user, click-throughs from campaigns—but it’s not just numbers. Sometimes it’s about whether the campaign feels memorable, or whether it’s helped someone feel closer to the Club.
We also look at whether our campaigns support broader business goals. For example, can a campaign or feature help drive interest in App downloads, CITY+ subscriptions or Memberships, or support an International team initiative? And we’re always trying to push the envelope a bit—can we try something new? That kind of innovation matters too.
CITY MAG: Name a project you’ve been most proud to be associated with.
DUNCAN: I have a few. The Man City Kids app was a real career highlight—being involved from inception through to delivery, testing the look, feel, and content strategy with real kids was incredibly rewarding.
More recently, I was proud to be part of our team’s record-breaking growth and engagement during the Treble season. I didn’t go to Istanbul, but I was at CFA working with our Editorial and International teams to activate our post-match campaigns in real time—launching the trophy selfie and more, which is always a buzz to get things live in real time, and moments like that!
Oh—and I somehow ended up as the DJ and barman on the tram journey to the parade back with the players, which is a more personal highlight, but one I won’t forget in a hurry!
CITY MAG: What would you say is the most rewarding part of your job?
DUNCAN: When you see fans genuinely connect with something we’ve done. That moment where a fan shares their personalised Season Wrapped, or tells us the Cityzens Surprise made their year—it makes the work feel very real. Whether it’s a lifelong local fan or someone following us from across the globe, those touchpoints matter. It’s also really rewarding when colleagues across the Club appreciate the value of what we’re trying to do and how it supports their goals too, like when we work on International campaigns and activations, like Trophy Tour or our Eid & Ramadan campaigns.
CITY MAG: If anyone wanted to follow a similar path, what would your advice be?
DUNCAN: Start early, have a plan and a thick skin, and then get stuck in! My career didn’t follow a straight line. I started on a grad scheme in London at The Telegraph, ended up in recruitment, then pivoted into sport through a work experience role at Salford Red Devils one day a week. That turned into matchdays, then my first full-time role at British Cycling, and eventually led to City.
I tailored my studies and CV toward sport because I knew that’s where I wanted to go. So my advice would be—know your goal, say yes to small opportunities, and don’t be afraid of starting somewhere that may not reflect you idealised role - it's easier to get experience and opportunities once you've a foot in the door, and you'll be sure to have an interesting journey to where you want to get too.
I probably wouldn’t have said out loud 15 years ago that I wanted to work in Media & Marketing at City—people might have laughed—but it was always the ambition.
Interview: David Clayton
15 Unforgettable
Mario Moments
He was adored by the City faithful and the talk of world football, both on and off the pitch. Back in 2012, City Magazine selected 15 Mario Moments - which we are rediscovering to celebrate the 15th anniversary of his signing. Sit back and enjoy…
1 - Quintessential Mario
No striker quite exudes effortless cool to the same extent as Mario and this moment summed his personality and confidence in his own ability perfectly. Clever link-up play sent Mario through on goal, but his first strike was smartly saved by Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy.
With Ruddy immobilised from the diving save, the ball looped up into the air and Mario followed it towards the goal. While most players would probably choose to head the ball into the empty net, Mario chose the unique option of shrugging the ball home with his shoulder, sending the Etihad Stadium into suitable reverence. Only Mario could score with a shrug!
2 - THAT back-heel
Balotelli gave City the lead from the penalty spot during this summer's pre-season friendly versus LA Galaxy but caught the headlines for a different reason entirely.
Presented with a goal-scoring opportunity after a defence-splitting pass from David Silva, Mario attempted an intricate back-heel pirouette to place the ball past the goalkeeper. Unfortunately, he missed. Roberto Mancini was far from impressed and immediately substituted his Italian protégée. Mario protested with the manager, claiming that he was thought he was offside before attempting the fanciful effort – with body language from the incident itself perhaps backing up the striker's story. An eventful end to the America tour regardless and a lesson learned, perhaps.
3 - Why Always Me?
Demonstrating an astute sense of self-deprecating humour, Mario scored the opening goal in the recent derby at Old Trafford, before revealing a t-shirt with the slogan 'Why Always Me?'
Effortlessly placing the ball past the helpless David de Gea after James Milner's clever pass, Mario turned, lifted his shirt up to reveal the three revered words which would spark a trend of memorabilia featuring the simple yet poignant question.
4 - The chicken hat
Always the innovator, Balotelli sparked a fashion craze in Manchester when Sky TV cameras caught the player wearing a unique item of headwear prior to last season's home game against Everton. Mario made his way into the home dressing room wearing a hat not dissimilar to the disguise evil penguin Feathers McGraw used in the Wallace and Gromit classic 'The Wrong Trousers'.
The chicken hat became so in-demand that leading City fan forum Blue Moon had a designated topic where supporters could purchase blue and white versions made-to-order. Back then, it was hard to go a single City match without seeing a vast amount of these adorning and warming the heads of the Etihad faithful.
5 - Mancini celebration
Mario has become noted for his non-celebrations, with the striker even commenting on the matter. Balotelli told the club's official website "I am always happy, even when I don't smile. But I feel a striker has to score. It is my job. That is why I don't smile. I am still happy and I can score more."
But upon opening the scoring against a stern Everton side, he let loose a rare piece of pure, unbridled joy. Striker-less Everton had successfully frustrated City for two thirds of the match before Mancini called upon his super-sub. Balotelli took just eight minutes to break the deadlock and he then set off on a 40-yard sprint down the field to embrace his mentor.
6 - Angel of North
The battle of Stamford Bridge was only two minutes old when Balotelli struck his 11th goal of the 2011/12 campaign. Sergio Aguero twisted between the Chelsea midfield before sending a pass which broke the high defensive line. In a situation similar to the one which saw Johnny Evans given his marching orders at Old Trafford, a panic stricken Branislav Ivanovic lunged at Balotelli's feet, but the Azzurri striker outmanoeuvred the flying Serbian, potentially saving the Chelsea defender from conceding a penalty and a red card. All that was left for Mario to do was to side-step a hopelessly isolated Petr Cech before sliding the ball into an empty net. A barrage of missiles descended towards Mario as he stood with his arms raised to his sides, in front of the irate Chelsea supporters - a celebration which mirrored the Angel of the North monument in Newcastle.
7 - International Mario
On 10 August 2010, Balotelli made his debut for the Italian senior national team aged 19 years, 11 months and 29 days; on Friday 11 November 2011, he struck his first international goal.
Receiving the ball 35 yards from goal, Mario took two touches to open up his body for the shot, before hitting a fierce chipped effort which looped over the stranded Poland and Arsenal number one, Wojciech Szczesny. Azzurri manager Cesar Prandelli lavished praise upon Mario after his match-winning performance: "This great game by Balotelli counts for a lot because other than the goal he played an excellent match. Compliments to him and the team."
8 - Wanna piece of me?
There could be no protestations when Newcastle United left-back Ryan Taylor began a torrid afternoon by blocking Yaya Toure's goal-bound effort from close range, but Toon goalkeeper Tim Krul did his best to put off City's new designated penalty taker, slyly kicking the ball from the penalty spot in an act which went unpunished by referee Chris Foy and seemingly unnoticed by the TV cameras. It takes more than that old trick to break the focus of Balotelli who, with an icy cool expression and nonchalant run up gently stroked the ball home with consummate ease. What happened next was straight from the school of Mario as he celebrated by folding his arms and staring straight through the exacerbated Dutch goalkeeper.
9 - The problem with bibs…
Mario wrestled with a bib in the pre-match warm up to City's crunch Europa League quarter-final second leg against Dynamo Kyiv last season. Struggling with arms flailing for a full 30 seconds as he attempted (and failed!) to put a training bib on correctly, Mario then threw the offending item onto the floor in frustration, before receiving help from a coach for a further 30 seconds in a second attempt.
Eventually he trained without one...but not before the incident had been uploaded to various social networking sites! Edin Dzeko couldn’t resist winding his team-mate up at the next training session…
10 - The Rio wink
Mario's performance in City's FA Cup semi-final victory at Wembley was widely lauded as his best performance in a blue shirt. Choosing to celebrate reaching the final by showing the badge on his shirt to the emptying red stands caused quite an on-pitch stir, however., but a cheeky wink at Rio Ferdinand proved too much for some United players, who then grappled with Mario as he stood nonchalant at the epicentre. Vincent Kompany, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Roberto Mancini and David Platt came to Mario's aid as the maddening Ferdinand and Anderson tussled with our enigmatic Italian who looked suitably innocent!
11 - We’ve been expecting you, Mr Blond...
Hairstyles have become a hot topic when it comes to our Mario as he seems to be the only person who can come out of the hairdressers with more hair than when he went in!
Constant redesigns of his now-trademark 'tyre-tread' make appearances on a regular basis, but no one expected what was to come next – or did they? Hiding his head from the early morning cameras didn't keep City’s photographer at bay for long, with the revelation that Mario was now a bleached blond! What next? Watch this space…
12 - Mario the hero
Mario participates in a lot of charity work, with the Casa del Sole Onlus rehabilitation centre in Mantova receiving a visit from the forward last June. Raising awareness for the centre as well as the spirits of the children, Mario even got into the saddle of one of the horses his donation helped buy that are used for rehab! But it does not end there; students in the Cuey Machar school in South Sudan will now be studying in the 'Mario Balotelli Wing' after Mario financed the building. Kon Kelei was just four years old when he was forced to fight for the Sudan's People's Liberation Army. Mario was moved by 'The Silent Army' (a film of Kelei's life) and offered to help finance the building of a school in his country. "He could have built a new life but he wanted to help his country, so I have helped him."
13 - Lucky dog!
Mario may be a superstar striker for the top team in the Barclays Premier League, but he has a soft spot, far from the mischievous celebrations and brushes with opponents and officials! Adopting a homeless stray Labrador, Mario brought the dog into his home and made him one of the family:
“He was a stray that was found wandering the streets, so they took him to the kennels. I was looking for a dog and when I went to the kennels, there he was. He’s like a black Labrador – I think. I paid them some money and named him Lucky. He’s my dog and I love him.”
14 - Villa goal and stare
Balotelli has quickly become the bane of Aston Villa due to a league hat-trick at Christmas 2010 and a superb goal in City's FA Cup victory in March 2011.
But there’s more…
Chasing an ambitious pass from Nigel de Jong, Mario reached the ball before former City skipper Richard Dunne, but was unable to get the ball under control as his momentum took him off the pitch, sliding in front of the advertising hoardings. A cheer from the away fans followed, which Mario responded to with fingers to his lips in a shushing suggestion.
A corner on the half hour mark hit Micah Richards and bounced in front of Balotelli, the striker improvised with a stunning overhead finish, giving City their first goal of the day. Pushing his onrushing team-mates aside, Mario returned to the area in front of the Villa supporters, and delivered a telling glare in their direction.
15 - Golden Boy
The prestigious Tuttosport Golden Boy award is handed out every season to the most promising youngster in European football. Past winners include Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Aguero. The Turin-based sports newspaper awarded the 2010 prize to Mario Balotelli, who spoke to Tuttosport upon claiming his prize, including the revelation he had never heard of fellow nominee and Premier League player Jack Wilshere! A typically robust Mario acceptance speech followed his presentation: "I am delighted to receive this award. Who should have won this award but me? Two years ago I finished sixth and a year ago fourth. It was finally my turn. I don't know who Jack Wilshere is but the next time I play against Arsenal I will keep a close eye on him. Perhaps I can show him (Wilshere) the Golden Boy trophy and remind him that I won it!"
The stories and thinking behind some of the City Magazine covers over the years…
The October 2005 cover remains the only City Magazine without any football imagery of any kind.
It was a marketing campaign by the Club - called This Is Our City, funnily enough - and it was a request from high up that we ran the messaging on the cover.
The thinking resonated with City fans during a long run of trophyless years because our crowds were still huge and, at that time, mostly from Manchester.
Of course, our global fanbase is now huge, so this was a cover of the time.
Did it work as an advert for the October 2005? Probably not, because you can't really tell what it is - and if memory serves, an alternative cover was revealed when you opened the first page.
It certainly stood out on the shelves, but it was an exception to the rule... thankfully.
Feature: David Clayton
OZZY OSBOURNE
In May 2013 Kevin Cummins wrote about an encounter with Ozzy Osbourne for the City Magazine.
In light of the recent death of the great Metal hero, we thought we’d ask Kevin to revisit the piece and share his memories of the Black Country’s finest.
Friday 14 April 1989: bizarrely I find myself in Madrid with Ozzy Osbourne and his band for an NME feature.
We were to go to the gig – not my kind of music at all – and the following day I’d get my photo session with Ozzy.
I hadn’t realised how big Ozzy was in Spain. I hadn’t realized how big he was. Period.
The gig was in Pabellón de la Ciudad Deportiva del Real Madrid – home of the Real Madrid basketball club.
Personally, I’d have preferred to go to a basketball match, but tonight it‘s full of near-hysterical Spanish ‘Metal’ fans.
We were taken backstage to meet Ozzy before the show. I was expecting his dressing room to resemble the Torture Garden, so I was disappointed to find it looking like something from a DFS catalogue.
Ozzy was immediately very welcoming. He told us about the gig the previous night in Barcelona. He was midway through a song when he spotted a mouse ‘staring’ up at him from the front of the stage. He wanted to pick it up to rescue it but he was aware that a photo of him holding a mouse would attract negative headlines along the lines of ‘Ozzy Osbourne bites head off a rodent.’ He gestured to side stage to get one of the road crew to pick up the frightened creature. The guy looked puzzled so Ozzy pointed to it and mouthed, “Get rid of the mouse.”
Finally the roadie understood the message and came on stage, he stood by the mouse, and then kicked it as hard as possible into the audience. Ozzy just stood there aghast. This was even worse than the headline he’d envisaged. He may have been exaggerating, but he was still upset by the event. Or at least that’s what he intimated. We later learned that none of this happened. That he told us this story to show us how much he’d recently changed for the better.
No more lurid tales of biting the heads off live bats onstage. No more urinating on public monuments in the USA. This was ‘new, improved’ Ozzy. A lover, not a fighter.
He invited me to stay in the dressing room to watch his pre-show routine. He said he had to be fit to get through a two-hour gig, so he had a small gym on the road with him, which was set up in another dressing room. We went into ‘the gym’. I thought some photos of Ozzy working out might be fun. Ozzy got on a cycling machine and started to pedal. He made no more than five pedal revolutions before appearing to be exhausted. He helplessly looked at the rest of the equipment, and silently walked out.
I thought maybe he was getting ‘in the zone’ and I waited expectantly for him. He never came back. I found him back in the original dressing room, beer in hand, chatting happily to Geezer Butler his longtime bass guitarist.
I finally took some photographs as he half-heartedly applied some eyeliner a few minutes before going onstage.
The gig came and went. I only knew two songs. The anthemic ‘Sweet Leaf’ and the early Sabbath hit ‘Paranoid’ which was the final song of the night.
Ozzy was right. He did need to be fit to get through the gig. He could barely speak after the show.
The following day, his Tour Manager told me that Ozzy wouldn’t go outside to do the photos. I’d have to do them in the hotel. When Ozzy arrived and asked what I wanted to do for the pictures, I told him my idea was to photograph him outside La Ventas Bullring –a kind of visual pun on the Bull Ring in his hometown of Birmingham. He loved the idea and said he’d do it - much to the Tour Manager’s annoyance, as he now had to drive us there.
When we arrived at the bullring in Madrid, I asked him to pull his T-shirt sleeve up so I could get part of his tattoo in shot. “This is better” he said and ripped it from the neck, revealing the whole tattoo.
He was great to work with. He knew what’d make a good photo and he ensured I got plenty of options I could use.
There were loads of teenagers near the arena and as news of Ozzy’s arrival spread, they rushed over and began crowding round him while we were shooting the session. He stopped and raised his hand, telling them to stand back and watch if they wanted then he’d sign autographs for them when we’d finished, so long as nobody bothered us for 15 minutes. He appointed two of the kids as ‘crowd-monitors’ and they were all pretty good-natured and did as they were told.
When I’d finished the photos, I looked behind me and there were now at least 300 people there. Ozzy, true to his word, stood there patiently and signed everything for them.
He was a real pro to work with and despite his recent illness, I was still shocked to hear he’d died on 22 July. 76 is still pretty young these days, but what a life to have lived. RIP Ozzy and in the words of the great man:
“Well I got one life and it's mine to live,
Ain't gonna make it workin' nine to five…”
Kevin Cummins
In the final ever Mixed Grill before we kick-off a new series, let me introduce you to a certain Josh Slater. A true Blue - man and boy?
Take it away, Josh...
Hi… I’m Josh Slater from Reddish. I’ve been a season ticket holder since 1999 from being five years-old. I previously used to sit in the North Stand at Maine Road (K Block) and now in the Colin Bell Stand with the good folk of 326.
WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF GOING TO A FOOTBALL MATCH?
My first game actually! It was a 2-2 draw at Maine Road against Burnley in 1998 in that one season in Division 2. My dad and uncle took my brother and I to our first game and put their hands over our eyes as we came up the stairs onto the Kippax’s terrace, I just remember seeing a sea of green and not knowing what the man in black was for! We got hooked and had season-tickets the next year and onwards!
WHAT IS THE MOST PECULIAR OR MEMORABLE THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU AT A CITY GAME?
Hamburg at home, 2008. All Blues who were there know the atmosphere was the most electric it’d been since the stadium move. My grandad took it a step further: he got that excited after our first goal that he accidentally spat his false teeth into the hood of the person in front of us! Fishing his teeth out of a hood discreetly was a peculiar experience!
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME AND PREVENT ONE MATCH FROM BEING PLAYED -WHAT MATCH WOULD THAT BE - AND WHY?
Spurs at home, Champions League 2019. Need I say any more?
WHAT IS THE MOST MEMORABLE CITY GOAL YOU HAVE WITNESSED? (“Aguerooooooooo…” aside…)
There’s so many since being in the new stadium, so I’ll go for an old one. Shaun’s Goater’s second against United in 2002. The relief of going two up against them made us believe it was our day!
HAVE YOU EVER MET ONE OF YOUR MAN CITY HEROES… IF SO - WHO…AND HOW WAS THE EXPERIENCE!?
Never meet your heroes!
WHAT ARE YOUR MEMORIES OF THE LAST MATCH AT MAINE ROAD?
My dad filmed much of the day (and the club have used this footage from time to time) so a lot of my memories are quite vivid considering I was nine! I don’t remember much of the game itself, but I remember being in awe of how loud and raucous the atmosphere was, Blue Moon drowned out the post-match performers!
AS YOU LEFT THE GROUND WHAT WERE YOUR EMOTIONS?
The emotion as we left one last time has never left me. We left really late, having one last look at the old pitch. Sadness but excitement as we felt like we were going places as a club. The result didn’t really matter that day, it was all about giving the ground a good send off, and we did!
WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT MAINE ROAD?
Being able to smell the pitch! We were so close to the action back then, whereas now in 326, you have (in my opinion) the best view, but you’re not close to the action. It’s a trade off!
WHATS YOUR MOST DISASTROUS AWAY GAME EXPERIENCE?
Goodison Park, January 2012. The game kicked off late as a man handcuffed himself to a goalpost in protest of his daughter being sacked by Ryanair, meaning we nearly missed our train back en route home, and we lost 1-0. We lost only five league games that season and of course the one away day I did that year was one of them!
WHO IS YOUR MOST FAVOURITE CITY PLAYER OF ALL TIME?
Sergio Aguero. I was fortunate enough to be pitchside during his last game at the Etihad against Everton (due to COVID we had a balloted 10k in the ground that day in random places) and seeing him work his magic one last time was special, I was so glad he got a brace.
IF YOU COULD PICK ONE CURRENT CITY PLAYER TO BE ON YOUR PUB QUIZ TEAM - WHO WOULD IT BE - AND WHY??
KDB - I know he's sadly left now - but his intelligence on the pitch will translate to a pub quiz, I’m sure.
GARY BENNETT
With Sunderland back in the Premier League for the first time in eight years, we take a look back at a former City player who became a Black Cats legend.
Born in Longsight and schooled in Burnage, Gary Bennett joined Manchester City in the late 1970s as a teenager, but he would find his footballing home in the north east.
A City fan as a kid, he followed in the footsteps of older brother Dave by joining the Club as a youngster, and in a time when racism plagued football, he found a place where he could grow as a player.
Our training ground in Moss Side was in the heart of Manchester’s Black community while City had many young Black players, including Alex Williams, Clive Wilson and Roger Palmer who would go onto the play for the first team.
Despite appearing in the Central League, Gary never made it into the first team but his career took off after moving to Third Division Cardiff City along with brother Dave where they helped them to promotion.
But it was at Sunderland where he would become a big hero following his move in July 1984, making 443 appearances in more than 11 years.
He appeared in the League Cup final against Norwich City in his first season and the FA Cup final against Liverpool seven years later, losing both.
However, his career was more defined by fighting relegation and chasing promotion as Sunderland bounced between the top three divisions during his time at the Club.
And it was during a fight for survival that the Black Cats arrived at Maine Road for the final game of the 1990/91 season, needing a result to stay in the top-flight.
Sunderland and Luton were level on points and goal difference going into the last Saturday with the Hatters having the easier clash at home to already-relegated Derby County.
That didn’t curb the hope of the away fans with more than 10,000 descending on Manchester for the match with around 40,000 people inside Maine Road generating a fantastic atmosphere.
City, meanwhile, were chasing a fifth-placed finish. It wouldn’t secure a European place then, but would see us finish above Manchester United for the first time in 13 years.
An exciting strike partnership of David White and Niall Quinn had been hugely productive for City all season with the former scoring six goals in our previous four games ahead of the visit of Sunderland, including four in a 5-1 win away to Aston Villa.
It took just 10 minutes for Quinn to poke us ahead, latching onto a long ball and chesting down for an easy finish.
But the goal didn’t kill off visitors’ hopes and five minutes before half-time Marco Gabbiadini thumped home a header to equalise.
Incredibly they got a second before the break and it was Bennett who was on target. City failed to deal with a corner and when Peter Davenport’s shot miscued to the defender, he somehow squeezed a header over the line via a despairing Tony Coton.
It was a special moment for the former City player – not because of revenge against his old club, more his love for Sunderland.
However, the joy didn’t last long with Quinn, who would ironically go onto to be a Sunderland legend himself, getting a third goal in five minutes to bring the sides level before half-time.
White’s late header for a 3-2 City win coupled with a Luton defeat sealed Sunderland’s fate but for a very brief period, Bennett had given them hope.
In 2023, he was given the Freedom of the City of Sunderland in recognition of his work in combatting racism with Show Racism the Red Card.
A Manchester-born star, who became a hero in the north east and almost brought them a magic moment at Maine Road. Almost.
Words: Jonathan Smith
Our series on City players who were adored in east Manchester but often ignored beyond visits the career of a man who would have been a star in most generations…
As one of just 20 men to score 100 times for City and part of a select group to have lifted trophies domestically and on the continent, fans of a certain vintage need no introduction to Neil Young.
A cultured left foot and hard worker in the brilliantly expansive teams of Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison, Young’s name can sometimes get lost when discussing the likes of Colin Bell, Mike Summerbee and Francis Lee.
It’s no sleight on him that three of the best players ever to wear sky blue dominate thoughts of that successful era in the second half of the 1960s but ‘Nelly’s’ contribution should never be underestimated.
Not only that, sharing his name with one of the 20th century’s leading singer-songwriters can’t have helped when it comes to making the case for furthering our man’s reputation.
As well as being amongst an exclusive club of men to find the net 100 times for City, Young had a penchant for big goals on the grandest of stages too.
He netted the only goal in the 1969 FA Cup final as we beat Leicester City at Wembley to lift the famous old trophy for the fourth time.
A year later, he grabbed the opener in the 1970 European Cup Winners’ Cup final as we beat Gornik Zabrze 2-1 in Vienna.
When you add 21 goals in 48 appearances during our title-winning 1967/68 season, Young had a direct role in what, before Pep Guardiola, was the Club’s golden era.
Any player who does so much for a club would be loved by fans, but Young’s story had extra meaning for those on the Kippax as he grew up less than a mile from Maine Road – with the stadium’s iconic roof visible from his bedroom window.
Performances for Manchester Boys against those two years his senior caught the eye of scouts and, in the days before academies as we currently know them, he became an apprentice in 1959.
Further adding to his legend, reports suggest he turned down Manchester United at the time – a decision that Jimmy Grimble would replicate on the big screen more than 40 years later.
He turned professional in 1960 and made his first team debut in November 1961 at the age of 17.
Managers Les McDowall and George Poyser guided him through his early career before Mercer and Allison took over the reins in 1965.
At that point, Young’s character and spirit was pivotal to the team but he was by no means a prolific centre forward.
His first term under the guidance of Mercer and Allison, with Young still in his early 20s, saw our man net 17 times – almost twice more than the previous season.
That earned us promotion to the top-flight, with Bell joining Young and Summerbee at the Club in 1966 before Lee came in 1967.
By 1967, we were stabilised in the top tier and a young, exciting side were prepared to take on the might of Liverpool and Manchester United who had shared the last four titles between them.
Bell, Lee, Summerbee and Young played almost every game they were available for in 1967/68, but Young was the top scorer.
He netted 19 goals in the league as we won 26 of our 42 games including an 11-match unbeaten run in the middle of the campaign that proved the backbone of an historic success.
A strike followed in the Charity Shield at the start of the 1968/69 season as we thrashed West Brom to keep the silverware coming.
A drop-off in the league over the next two years made way for cup success, with the 1968/69 FA Cup, 1970 European Cup Winners’ Cup and 1969/70 League Cup all coming back to Maine Road.
As previously mentioned, Young’s role in all of that was immense. The success of the era would have been unimaginable without him.
Yet an England call-up eluded him.
Studious readers will note this was a particularly golden patch for the national side too, with Sir Alf Ramsey’s side winning the World Cup in 1966.
Bobby Charlton, Geoff Hurst, Jimmy Greaves and Roger Hunt were just some of the names Ramsey favoured, as well as Young’s City team-mates Bell and Lee.
The legacy of an international career can often largely be dictated by fortune and there’s no doubt that Young’s ability would have seen him play a starring role for his country in almost any other era.
Still, that didn’t change the strength of feeling and outpouring of love for him at Maine Road where he remained a fan favourite until leaving in 1972.
With 108 goals in total, only 16 men have ever scored more for City than Young and with six major honours, he was one of our most decorated stars before the recent wave of unprecedented success.
Young passed away in 2011 at the age of 67.
City fans travelling to an FA Cup tie at Leicester were given red and black scarves as a tribute to one of the Club’s most elegant home-grown talents.
Summerbee perhaps summed up Young’s status better than anyone else could: “They always say it was Bell, Lee and Summerbee who were influential when they talk about those successes under Mercer and Allison – but is should have been Bell, Lee, Summerbee and Young.”
Words: Jack Mumford
West Ham 0-2 Manchester City
Premier League
Saturday 11 August 2007
West Ham: Green, Spector, Ferdinand, Upson, McCartney (Ashton 63), Ljungberg, Bowyer (Mullins 46), Noble, Boa Morte (Etherington 46), Zamora, Bellamy.
Subs Not Used: Wright, Gabbidon.
City: Schmeichel, Richards, Corluka (Onuoha 62), Dunne, Garrido, Elano (Geovanni 80), Hamann, Johnson, Petrov, Ireland, Bianchi (Bojinov 61).
Subs Not Used: Hart, Gelson.
Att: 34,921
As we start another season, the Random Match Generator recalls an opening day fixture from the none-too-distant past....
There was an air of excitement when Manchester City kicked off the 2007/08 season under sunny skies at Upton Park.
The Club had undergone something of a transition in the summer with a new owner, new manager and a host of new players arriving.
Thaksin Shinawatra appointed the experienced coach Sven-Goran Eriksson to take charge as he returned to club football after six years in charge of England.
It was something of a coup to land the Swede who made his name as a hugely successful boss in Portugal and Italy before leading the Three Lions.
With a wealth of experience, Eriksson opened up his contacts book to help bring a number of new signings that whetted the appetite of City fans for the campaign.
He went back to Serie A to sign promising young Italian striker Rolando Bianchi from Reggina and Valery Bojinov from Fiorentina. The Bulgaria forward was the youngest foreign player to appear in Italy – just before his 16th birthday.
From Atletico Madrid, we signed the rapid Bulgarian winger Martin Petrov with Javier Garrido joining from Real Sociedad at left-back to play behind him.
Croatia defender Vedran Corluka moved from Dinamo Zagreb and Swiss midfielder Gelson Fernandes from FC Sion, while we added the X-factor with the arrival of two elegant Brazilian midfielders – Elano, from Shakhtar Donetsk and Geovanni, from Cruzeiro.
Six would make their debuts against a West Ham team that had finished one place below City’s 14th in the previous season.
Along with those new faces, Eriksson was happy to trust players from our Academy with the homegrown talents of Micah Richards, Stephen Ireland, Michael Johnson, Nedum Onuoha and baby-faced rookie goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Concerns that the team might take time to gel were dispelled inside 18 minutes when Elano set off on a majestic solo run before squaring a cross to the backpost for Bianchi to tap home.
It sent the sun-baked away fans into delirium, with hopes they would see an opening day victory for the first time in four years.
The Hammers tried to fight their way back into the game with Freddie Ljungberg and Bobby Zamora going closest for the hosts.
But City sealed the three points three minutes from time as Geovanni hitting a thunderous low shot before a mini-samba celebration in front of the travelling supporters.
However it was Onuoha that provided the skills more associated with Brazil, with an audacious run and assist.
Seemingly going down a blind alley, the City defender raced past three West Ham players, checked back with a dummy before ghosting past another to set up his team-mate.
"I'm delighted. My first match in the Premier League and three points away - that's really good,” Eriksson reflected.
"If we are talking about points then it was the perfect start but we won't get carried away."
Returning to Manchester for our next two games, it was difficult not to get carried away though.
Our first home match was a 1-0 win over Derby County with Michael Johnson scoring the delicious winner with the outside of his foot.
And we were top of the Premier League four days later when Geovanni’s long-range strike saw us beat Manchester United by the same score-line.
Things would unravel later in the season, culminating in a disastrous 8-1 defeat at Middlesbrough, which would see Eriksson lose his job.
But on a sunny day in the capital in August, the Swede had at least given us the chance to dream.
Words: Jonathan Smith
Next to sit down with City Magazine, tasked with building his ultimate Academy 5-a-side team, was Elite Development Squad defender Matty Henderson-Hall.
The rules for his team were as follows: he could only select Academy players he has played with during his time at City’s Academy and he had to choose one goalkeeper, one defender, two midfielders and one striker.
Let’s see who he selected…
GOALKEEPER:
I’d probably pick Jack Wint. I’ve been playing with him since Under-9s and we’ve both been improving each year and know how to play with each other.
DEFENDER:
Max Alleyne. He’s calm on the ball and press-resistant. No one can get in behind him.
MIDFIELDER:
Jaden Heskey is my first one. He can run forever; he’s just a beast.
MIDFIELDER:
And then Charlie Gray to complete the midfield. He’s great technically on the ball and can always find good pockets of space. I think he’s underrated.
FORWARD:
Got to go for Divin Mubama. He just scores goals. Simple!
Feature: Holly Percival
In a new regular feature, we look at moments in time that have stayed in the memory banks for one reason or another…
It was a meeting of different worlds, and after a lot of organisation, it finally happened – the MCFC Darts Masters 2016.
Let’s rewind a little.
Alan ‘Chuck’ Norris has made it known that he was a lifelong City fan and with a televised nine-darter under his belt and a place in the PDC World Top 20, he was at the peak of his powers.
Meanwhile, it was discovered that Kelechi Iheanacho was a huge darts fan, so we floated an idea to him – how about taking on a professional?
Of course, our Nigerian striker was definitely up for it and when Norris was approached to take part, he was only too happy to agree.
A board was purchased, an oche created and finally, the day of filming arrived.
A changing room at the Etihad was the backdrop and all we needed to complete the shoot was a top darts commentator… who better than the legend that was John Gwynne?
Gwynne was also a City fan and was delighted to participate, so without further ado, the best of five legs contest began.
With Gwynne commentating and scoring on each throw, he decided to add Iheanacho’s squad number – 72 – to each of his visits to the board.
Norris took the first leg comfortably, but with his boosted score, Kelechi – or ‘Nine Dart Nach’ as he was named for the day -needed a double 12 to level the games – and he did exactly that!
And it got better for the young striker in the third leg.
After missing double seven to take the lead, Norris took his turn and failed to finish, resulting in Gwynne claiming the darts pro was trying to be “too clever”.
Kelechi nailed double 12 at the first attempt to go 2-1 up in legs.
Norris sent a 180 maximum in his first throw of the fourth leg and then effortlessly hit a double 10 to seal the fourth leg and make it 2-2 meaning a fifth and final deciding leg.
It was a thriller, too, with Kelechi having two goes at double nine to win the game, before Norris found double 15 to win with his final dart.
It was a hugely enjoyable contest and one you can watch again below.
We may never quite see the like of this again!
Words: David Clayton
Elite Development Squad defender Stephen Mfuni says he is already counting down to sampling the Premier League International Cup as City prepare to return to the format after a 10-year absence.
The competition, which debuted in 2014/15, allows English Under-21 teams to gain valuable experience from playing top European youth teams.
Now entering its 11th season, the format sees the top 16 finishers in the Premier League 2 take on 16 international clubs who are invited to compete with the group stage consisting of four groups with eight teams: four PL2 and four international.
For City, it will be the first time we will have competed in the tournament since the 2015/16 season.
And speaking from his own perspective, EDS defender Mfuni says it’s one of the challenges he is most looking forward to ahead of the advent of the new campaign.
“Yeah, I'm excited because it's not only the UEFA Youth League that we can play against international teams but also with the Under 21s too, so it'll be an even bigger step,” Mfuni said.
“So, it will be a harder, faster tempo than compared to the UEFA Youth League because it's an older age group of course.
“And I think that will improve everyone you know, because if you think about it, most of the players that play in that tournament eventually go to the first team and become big players.
“So, I think in games like that, you want to perform the best.
“The international matches are one of the things I’m really looking forward to, because we've not played in it as a club for a long time.
“I don't think anyone in the Under 21s has taken part before, so it will be a really good experience.”
The City youngsters will return to action on the back of what was a quite magnificent 2024/25 campaign by any metric.
Ben Wilkinson’s squad both topped the Premier League 2 league phase before then going on to be crowned champions via the subsequent end of season play-offs, clinching what was a fourth PL2 title in five seasons.
Mfuni more than played his part, playing in all four of the knockout phase games, including City’s 2-0 final win over Southampton, as well as featuring seven times in the league itself.
But asked on how he and his colleagues would seek to maintain their motivation to success and prosper, Mfuni delivered the perfect answer.
“In terms of the motivation to go again – you’ve just got to look back at, like, the reason you're here,” he pointed out.
“You’ve got to see like the dream the younger me had and you’ve just got to keep fulfilling that because at the end of the day, that's where you want to be.
“You want to achieve your dream. So, I think I just have to keep reflecting about why I'm here.
“And I think that motivates me each day.
“I also think that's motivating me more because we know we can do it [achieve success].
“Like [looking to] last season we may not have thought that at the start of the season that at the end of the season we would go on to get both trophies, but we showed that anything is possible.
“So, this season we [know] we can win it again. The message from Ben and the coaches has just been to keep going.
“To remember the expectations from last season, how we won it, to just keep pushing, you know, and focus every minute of the match.
“To know, whatever happens there that can change the outcome of the game.”
Words: Neil Leigh
With the new season on the horizon, it means another set of fresh, young faces will join Oliver Reiss’ Under-18s cohort for the 2025/26 campaign.
One of those faces isn’t just new to the Under-18 Premier League North, but he is also ready to experience his first full debut campaign at Manchester City.
Striker Teddie Lamb, joined the Club’s Academy earlier this year from Leyton Orient and is raring to go in facing the challenge of competitive football.
“It’s been a good start with pre-season and getting to know everyone on and off the pitch,” began Lamb in his first interview since making the change from red to blue.
“We’re really focused on trying to win all three trophies, which we just missed out on last season. Oliver [Reiss] is also a brilliant coach; he’s helped me out a lot already in getting settled and I’m just really excited to work with him.”
Lamb is a forward who can do it all. Whether that’s holding up play, making darting runs in behind or dragging defenders out of position, the energetic striker has often been referred to as an old-fashioned number nine.
And despite being at City for just six months, he’s already created strong connections with his team-mates.
“Wingers are my main source in the box, so I’d say I’m linking up well with players like Chris [Dunbar-McDonald], Timio [Whisker] and Kylan [Midwood] who are getting the ball into the box for me to finish off the attack,” said Lamb.
“And I’d say my relationship with the midfielders is developing too. Linking up with Finlay [Gorman] and Harrison [Miles] is really helpful for the way we play.”
Despite being one of the youngest players in the Under-18s, Lamb is one of the tallest.
Over six feet tall, he is a commanding presence who isn’t going to let any pressure of playing his debut season impact his ambitions.
“I want to aim to get above 15 goals. I want to aim high and push myself. It’s a positive, I have to see it as an opportunity.
“To play on this stage at such a young age, I have to take it in my stride and use it to motivate me. I’ve got lots of staff helping me on my journey and help me achieve my dreams like winning titles.
“The ambition is always the same, we are Manchester City so we want to be pushing ourselves to develop and win silverware.
“We know how good the squad is this season so we’ve got to give it our all.”
Interview: Holly Percival
The best images from Euro 2025
After three weeks of twists, turns and dramatic late England turnarounds, the curtain has closed on Euro 2025.
Ten members of the City squad were out in Switzerland representing their nations this summer, with five of our stars competing in the final between England and Spain.
The Lionesses eventually took home the trophy on penalties, becoming only the second side to retain the title and the first English team – men’s or women’s - to win a major tournament on foreign soil.
Indeed, Khiara Keating, Alex Greenwood, Jess Park and Lauren Hemp return to the City Football Academy with the esteem of being crowned European Champions.
Leila Ouahabi also helped Spain reach their first-ever Euros final, while host nation Switzerland – and new City recruit Iman Beney – captured the imagination on their march to the quarter-finals, their first knockout stage appearance.
Elsewhere, Rebecca Knaak and Sydney Lohmann helped Germany reach the semi-finals, and while Kerstin Casparij and Vivianne Miedema’s Netherlands were knocked out in the group stages, the latter became the first Dutch player to score 100 senior international goals.
Relive a memorable tournament via the gallery below…
George Kelsey
In a new series, we find classic imagery of yesteryear with a brief note explaining the particular moment in time…
Circa 1970: Meeting of great minds
City’s legendary manager Joe Mercer has a quiet chat with Liverpool’s legendary boss Bill Shankly. Believed to be near the players’ tunnel at Anfield, these two great football men and great friends share a quiet moment together ahead of kick-off. It’s a wonderfully captured snapshot of a bygone era, when everything about football was different. It’s also a rare shot of Mercer and Shankly together and we can only imagine what their discussion was about, but one thing is for sure – it would have been about football!
Internationally renowned Dutch DJ Oliver Heldens was on the decks inside the open top bus tour for City’s Treble-winning homecoming – here he tells CITY MAGAZINE a bit more about his background in our Q&A session…
CITY MAG: Name three motivational matchday tracks for the Etihad matchday playlist?
HELDENS: “I’d say TRYM x ARMA – In My Mind; Oliver Heldens, Becky Hill – Gecko (Overdrive) Felix Leiter, Ango Tamarin, Dominica – Gotta Let You Go.”
One City player can join you on stage. Who would you choose?
“I would say Jack Grealish; he’s a great entertainer! Or Erling Haaland dressed as a Viking would be epic to have with me on stage at a big festival.”
Do you watch football and have you ever seen Man City play?
“Yes, I watched Man City beat RB Leipzig with 7-0 in the Etihad in the Round of 16 in the Champions League, which was a fantastic game! Generally I prefer playing football myself though, I play around 2.5 hours of pick-up football and futsal per week, and sometimes up to 5 hours. “
Who are your favourite players?
“From Man City my all time favourite player is Kevin De Bruyne. At this moment some of my favourite players across the world are Vitinha, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Mo Salah, Virgil Van Dijk and Tijjani Reijnders. I have a lot of high hopes for Reijnders at City - he’s phenomenal!”
Have you played live in Manchester? (where and when?)
“I have played at Manchester Warehouse Project a few times, last time was under my techno alias HI-LO, closing the Drumcode event in the main room. But my personal highlight in Manchester was playing on the parade bus with the whole City squad after they won the Treble in 2023. I will never forget that day!”
How was it performing in this wonderful city?
“I love it! Since 2014 I’ve always had an amazing time performing in northern England, my music just seems to resonate very well over here.”
Pep Guardiola loves his music. Which one of your songs would you play to impress the boss?
“I think I would first introduce him to my biggest song in the UK ‘Gecko (Overdrive)’ [with Becky Hill], cause he might recognize that one already. However I’m working on a new Latin house track with Spanish vocals, so I think he’s going to like that one.”
City players prepare thoroughly for matches. How do you prepare for a show?
“I’m constantly working on new tracks, remixes, mashups and edits for my shows, and during every show I get live feedback that I can take into account for future shows, so it’s an ongoing process. Before most shows I try to come up with a specific gameplan or several different ones and try out new transitions on my computer before I do them live, but I can still be very flexible live and switch it up. The more prepared I am, the more flexible I can be on stage.”
The likes of Nathan Ake and Nigel De Jong have represented the club. Has that raised City's profile in Holland?
“For sure! Especially with the insane amount of trophies that City won in the last eight years. With Dutchies like Ake, and now with Tijjani Reijnders joining that will definitely catch a lot of extra Dutch attention as well.”
How popular is the Premier League in Holland?
I personally watch the Premier League a lot more than the Eredivisie and there are definitely many more fans like me. Still the Eredivisie is more popular here, because people like to support their club or their city, but I personally care more about high quality football.
If you were asked to give a team talk to City’s players in the dressing room before a game, what would you say to motivate them?
“I would say if they won, they can all come party with me in Ibiza.”
What was it like performing with Jack Grealish? “That was a lot of fun! I really enjoyed teaching him some things about DJing, because he was very interested in it and he was eager to learn, and I like his energy.”
Would you like to perform with any other players from the team?
“It could be pretty funny to be a DJ duo with Ilkay Gundogan, cause people think we lookalike! Also he was very nice in person when I met him on the parade bus in 2023.”
Oliver Heldens’ latest single ‘Ruins’ with Julia Church is available to stream now.
CP Company & CITC team up to create new youth community spaces
Manchester City’s charity, City in the Community (CITC), has announced a new multi-year partnership with Italian fashion brand, C.P. Company
The Club’s Official Fashionwear Partner is supporting CITC’s Healthy Goals campaign, helping to empower healthier lives through football and further strengthening their ongoing multi-year partnership.
Funds raised through Healthy Goals uplift the physical and mental health of local young people by creating new community football pitches in Manchester, where the charity’s youth-led programmes are delivered.
C.P. Company’s investment will enable City in the Community to renovate three community or school pitches over the course of the partnership.
This builds on the Club’s partnership with C.P. Company starting in July 2024.
C.P. Company President, Lorenzo Osti, said:
“At C.P. Company, communities have always been at the heart of what we do. For several years, we’ve promoted a project called There Is No Us Without You, which uses sport — especially football — to foster inclusion, break down barriers, and serve as a powerful force for social cohesion.
“That’s why we’re proud to partner with City in the Community on a project that brings people together and drives meaningful, lasting change.”
The first pitch to be regenerated through the partnership is located at Bradford Park, just steps from the Etihad Stadium. C.P. Company’s support will enable City in the Community to renovate three community or school pitches in total.
For this first initiative, C.P. Company and City in the Community worked with local school children to design the artwork, with one child’s drawing selected as the final inspiration.
To celebrate, Manchester City’s Jack Grealish surprised the winner, Waiden Jones, during an assembly at St Brigid’s Primary School.
You can watch the video of the surprise here.
Commenting on the surprise, Waiden said:
“We went to assembly to do some hymn practice, but they paused it and said we weren’t actually there for singing, there is a special person coming in. Then Jack Grealish came in. I then got to show him my picture that I made from the Grange.
“It’s amazing that something that I’ve made is actually going to be in a local park.”
City in the Community CEO, Mike Geary, added: “We are delighted to be regenerating Bradford Park this summer and would like to thank C.P. Company for their support of the 2024/25 Healthy Goals campaign.
“This latest project will be the eighth community football pitch we have regenerated since May 2023, when we opened brand-new multi-use games areas in Scotland Hall Road and Ladybarn Park.
“We look forward to working with C.P. Company on a special opening event once the pitch is complete, when we will also reveal Waiden’s inspired design.”
City in the Community exists to empower healthier lives with city youth through football.
The charity uses the hook of the Club to engage Greater Manchester in meaningful programmes, which are categorised by three outcome-based pillars: healthy people, healthy futures and healthy communities.
For more information, visit www.mancity.com/CITC.
You can be the first to hear about City in the Community's events and news! Manchester City's charity is delighted to now be providing fans with regular email updates, including announcements of exciting initiatives before anyone else.
To sign up and hear more all you need to do is click here and fill out some simple details.
Built with Shorthand