To celebrate the anniversary of the Academy, we take a look at some of the best games over the past decade.
With so many memorable matches, narrowing a list down to the best 10 was from easy and some classic games miss out.
But here’s 10 to remember from our first game right up to a huge victory earlier this season.
Schalke 2015
City EDS 5-1 Schalke | 18 January 2015 | Premier League International Cup
Fans arrived in their thousands to attend the Academy Stadium for the first official match and it was an impressive start to life at our new home.
Fireworks blasted into the air before kick-off and there was more entertainment to follow once we were under way.
Thierry Ambrose, now a full international for Guadeloupe, scored the first goal with a far post header from Olivier Ntcham’s cross.
Ntcham, Brandon Barker, Jack Byrne and Jordy Hiwula were on target as we moved in, in style.
It was an impressive performance against a German squad that boasted a certain Leroy Sane in their ranks.
“It’s really exciting, and to see so many people come out to support us because it means a lot to the football club and it means a lot to the young players,” said EDS coach Patrick Vieira.
Chelsea 2016
MCWFC 2-0 Chelsea | Sunday 25 September 2016 | Women’s Super League
A record crowd turned out to see City lift the WSL title for the first time with victory over Chelsea.
After clinching a crucial 1-0 victory at Arsenal, City welcomed the reigning champions knowing that avoid would secure the league crown.
Gill Scott broke the deadlock in the first half with a deflected header from Toni Duggan’s corner.
And the provider then turned goal-scorer in the second half, as Duggan despatched a penalty after Lucy Bronze had been brought down by Gilly Flaherty.
It was a marvellous season as we remained unbeaten through the WSL campaign and going onto win the Continental Cup.
“It’s amazing to be WSL champions,” Duggan said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted and a dream has come true.”
Arsenal 2018
City EDS 6-5 Arsenal | Saturday 11 August 2018 | Premier League 2
Paul Harsley’s side kicked off the campaign in remarkable fashion with an incredible 11-goal thriller against the reigning champions.
Striker Nabil Touaizi put City ahead inside seven minutes but an Arsenal side that included current Premier League stars Emile Smith-Rowe and Eddie Nketiah led 3-1 at the break.
And there was more drama when the assistant referee was taken off on a stretcher after failing ill in the first half.
Adrian Bernabe and Touaizi scored early after the restart before the Gunners retook the lead.
Both sides got penalties at the start of the second half with Taylor Richards scoring for the young Blues and Nketiah missing for Arsenal.
Rabbi Matondo, then put City back ahead, Stephy Mavididi equalised before Touaizi calmly rounded the keeper to claim his hat-trick and a dramatic victory.
Stoke 2020
City U18s 6-0 Stoke City | Tuesday 10 March 2020 | U18 Premier League Cup
City won the Premier League Under 18 Cup for a second successive year with an emphatic victory over Stoke.
The previous year we won the trophy with a 1-0 at Middlesbrough, so it was a special night to be at home in front of the fans.
It was a talented young side that included Premier League regulars Oscar Bobb, James McAtee, Cole Palmer, Liam Delap and Samuel Edozie.
In fact, all five were on target in a devastating display by the teenage Blues.
After Edozie’s deflected strike gave us a first half lead, City turned on the style after the break scoring five more – including four in just nine minutes.
It was a proud moment too for boss Gareth Taylor who has gone onto enjoy many more memorable occasions at the CFA.
Spurs 2021
City EDS 4-1 Tottenham | Friday 30 April 2021 | Premier League 2
The newly-crowned Premier League 2 champions marked the final home game of the season with an impressive win.
Then managed by Enzo Maresca, the EDS had not lost a Premier League 2 game in just under six months, in a run stretching 17 games.
With the trophy secured, they wanted to make sure they were able to lift on the back of a victory.
Unbeaten at home all season, there was no taking the foot off the gas for the visit of Spurs.
Tommy Doyle and Ben Knight scored first half goals before Delap and McAtee each added a goal after the break.
And the victory was followed by a joyous trophy lift on the Academy Stadium pitch after a fabulous season.
Leicester 2021
City EDS 5-0 Leicester City | Saturday 16 October 2021 | Premier League 2
Cole Palmer had achieved a lot already in his burgeoning career but that Saturday three years ago will still be a special memory.
The forward featured for Pep Guardiola’s side in a 2-0 victory over Burnley in the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium.
He then made the short journey across to the CFA to play for the EDS just a couple of hours later.
And in typical laid-back fashion, he scored a superb hat-trick in an outstanding team performance with Luca Barrington and Sammy Robinson also on target.
“Playing with the first team at three and scoring a hat-trick and getting three points - yeah a good day,” he smiled at full-time.
“Everyone wants to play games, so when I saw the opportunity, I thought I might as well come and play so that’s what I did.”
Manchester United 2022
MCWFC 1-0 Manchester United | Sunday 13 February 2022 | Women’s Super League
In our 10 years at the CFA, City’s women have not lost any of our six matches at the Joie Stadium, winning five of them.
United came to our home in the second half of the 2021/22 season above us in the table and challenging for the title.
A sellout crowd wasn’t disappointed with an exciting clash that looked like it would remain goalless despite City having 18 attempts on goal.
It would take something special to break the deadlock and up stepped Caroline Weir.
The Scotland international pushed forward before floating an outrageous chip over England goalkeeper Mary Earps.
Nominated for the Puskas Award for best goal of the season throughout the world, it is possibly the most iconic goal scored at the CFA… so far!
Borussia Dortmund 2022
City U19s 3-2 Borussia Dortmund | Wednesday 14 September 2022 | UEFA Youth League
Brian Barry-Murphy’s side were heading for defeat against the German side until a dramatic turnaround in injury time.
Oscar Bobb and Joel Ndala both scored beyond the 90th minute to secure a superb victory.
Both Bobb and team-mate Nico O’Reilly are now regulars in Guardiola’s squad and both featured in our first home game of the 2022/23 campaign.
It was the latter who put us ahead, with a neat finish after good work from Carlos Forbes.
But two goals in nine second half minutes from Vasco Walz and Julian Rijkoff turned the game in Dortmund’s favour, with less than 10 minutes remaining.
Bobb then equalised from the penalty spot in the 91st minute before substitute Joel Ndala turned in the winner three minutes later.
West Ham 2024
MCWFC 5-0 West Ham United | Sunday 21 April 2024 | Women’s Super League
Apart from an emphatic and entertaining victory over the Hammers, it was also a landmark occasion.
City set a new record for consecutive Barclays Women’s Super League wins in a single season as we made 13-in-a-row.
Our sensational sequence of wins began with a 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford five months earlier.
But the Joie Stadium has become an imposing home and seven of those were won there with victories over Spurs, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Leicester, Everton and Manchester United.
Our 13th win was over West Ham and we did it in style with another fantastic performance.
Leila Ouahabi scored after just 24 seconds of kick-off and a before a brace from Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and goals from Laura Blindkilde Brown and Jess Park.
BARCELONA 2024
MCWFC 2-0 Barcelona | Wednesday 9 September 2024 | Champions League
A record Joie Stadium crowd was rewarded with a brilliant performance as we returned to Champions League action in style.
Holders and winners on three of the last four occasions, Barca are possibly the toughest opponent in world football.
The Catalan side included Aitana Bomati, who won the last two Ballons d’Or, Alexia Putellas, who won the two before that, England and former City great Keira Walsh to name just three.
But City pulled off a statement victory to show we can challenge the best sides in Europe.
Naomi Layzell opened the scoring with her first City goal from a corner before ‘Bunny’ Shaw added a second half second.
It helped Taylor’s side qualified for the knockout stages at the earliest opportunity with four wins from our opening four matches.
