March 2nd - City have performed well on this date over the years and have played nine games on it over the years. There have been five wins, two draws and two losses, and a few other notable City-related events too.
Here’s some highlights...
1955
Bobby Johnstone signs for City. Johnstone soon earned the nickname ‘Bobby Dazzler’ for his exceptional skill on the ball. Born in Selkirk, the Scottish international arrived at Maine Road in March 1955 from Hibernian for a fee of £20,700. He made a sensational start to his Scotland career when he scored against England at Wembley, establishing him as one of the hottest properties of his generation.
He quickly became a popular figure on the terraces, too, with his attacking instincts and ability striking the right chords with the Blues’ supporters. He made his debut against Bolton Wanderers and was soon making his way into the the Club’s history books, becoming the first player ever to score in consecutive FA Cup finals, those of 1955 and 1956. Bobby is second from the left as City lift the FA Cup in 1956.
In all, he played 138 times for City, winning four of his 17 Scotland caps while at Maine Road, and rifled in 50 goals before he was transferred back to Scotland, rejoining Hibernian for £7,000 in 1959.
1968
City travelled to Turf Moor on this day 48 years ago to face Burnley in the old First Division. The Blues were seven points behind leaders Manchester United and were looking to close the gap with the two games they had in hand.
Franny Lee scored to help City squeeze past the Clarets by one goal to nil. The win moved City within four points of the leaders and in a good position to mount a title challenge.
It would prove to be a challenge that the team were up for, making up the ground on United and pipping them to the title by two points. This was the second time that City won the First Division title after previous success in the 1936/37 season.
1973
Trevor Sinclair was born in Dulwich, south London, on this day in 1973 . He would go on to play over 560 times during his career, including 82 appearances for City with five goals.
He joined the Blues in 2003 for £3.3million from West Ham, who had just been relegated. Sinclair’s scored City’s first competitive goal at the City of Manchester Stadium in a UEFA Cup tie against Welsh side TNS.
He played on the left wing, where he had performed for England at the 2002 World Cup, at the start of his time with the Blues but the departure of Shaun Wright-Phillips in 2005 gave him the chance to play on his preferred right wing. Sinclair left the club at the end of the 2006/7 season and moved on to Cardiff City.
2014
On this day in 2014 City faced Sunderland at Wembley in the final of the Capital One Cup. The Blues were favourites to lift the trophy but a spirited performance from Sunderland in the first-half had given them a 1-0 lead, with Fabio Borini scoring in the tenth minute.
City came flying out of the blocks in the second half, with Yaya Toure dispatching a rasping drive past Vito Mannone from 30 yards to restore parity. Barely a minute had passed and the Blues were ahead through a strike from Samir Nasri. The second goal knocked the wind out of the Sunderland sails, and in the 90th minute Jesus Navas sealed victory and a first League Cup victory for City since 1976.
