Here’s the story of how the Clarks were entrusted with the temporary care of the most famous club trophy in the world...
Michael Brown now lives in Perth, Western Australia and has been a City fan since the day he was born, but his grandparents harboured a family secret that can only now be revealed.
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Michael has followed City religiously through all of the highs and lows and even now, every morning when he gets up, he goes on to the City website and checks up on the latest news.
His memories are all from City’s days at Maine Road where he sat in the Platt Lane Stand as a Junior Blue.
When he left to go to university, he relinquished his season-ticket, but has never lost his love for the Club despite being thousands of miles away, whether in Japan, USA or Australia.
Michael’s grandparents, Harry and Gladys Clark, were stewards at Maine Road from the 1920s until close to the end of the Second World War.
They lived in Moss Side, in a house close to the stadium and Michael’s mother spent her youth running around the terraces of Maine Road.
Michael says his grandparents loved their time working there. His grandfather was part of the team that helped clean up the stands after the 1934 FA Cup record attendance of 84,569.
His mum remembered waking up one time during the war and a barrage balloon was floating around the stands. His grandmother used to tell him stories of cooking good English breakfasts for the players and mentioned what a gentlemen Alec Herd was.
He was told that after the 1934 FA Cup final and City’s 2-1 win over Portsmouth, his grandfather Harry was entrusted with looking after the cup that night - but he hardly got a wink of sleep as he listened out for burglars!
Michael says: “He was there at Wembley, he had the ribbon and was given two photographs of the reception dinner.
“The ribbons from when City won the cup have been sitting in a box for the past 40 years and might be faded, but you can just about make old the gold lettering ‘Manchester City’ at one end and ‘Wembley 1934’ at the other.”
Michael says it has been in his family for more than 80 years, but that it was now time for it to come home.
He has generously donated the ribbon, photograph and yearbook to the City archive for us all to enjoy again.
Michael’s grandmother had two brothers, called Bill and Alf Clarke. Alf was a journalist for the Manchester Evening Chronicle and Bill (he thinks) worked for the Sporting Life.
Alf was killed in the Munich Air Disaster along with many of the famous Busby Babes. He was on the plane in his role as a journalist.
Michael also found the Yearbook when he was looking for pictures of his grandparents.
He remembered that his brother - who is a United fan - drew on the faces of some of City’s most senior directors when they were children.
It led to a huge fight, Blue vs Red! The Blue brother won and he stopped him defacing it more!
Do you have any rare City treasures you’d like to share with the Club - we’d like to hear from anyone who has any items of special or personal interest....
