The 1970s were awash with half-baked ideas for pre-season or early season tournaments and City were often willing participants.
Hot on the heels of the ill-fated Anglo-Italian Cup came one of three attempts to create a sort of British & Republic of Ireland Cup, featuring teams from England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Republic of Ireland and Scotland.
In years to come, this would become the Anglo-Scottish Cup – and City DNA are yet to bring you the Tennent-Caledonian Cup featuring the most bizarre penalty shoot-out in the Club’s history (all in good time, dear readers!).
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The Texaco Cup was a forerunner for the Anglo-Scottish Cup and City would feature in the tournament on two occasions in 1971 and 1974.
The inaugural competition started in 1970 and was won by Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The 1971 edition featured – among others - Joe Mercer’s City and Brian Clough’s Derby County and the Blues were drawn against struggling Scottish League Division One side Airdrieonians over two legs.
The home leg attracted just 15,033 fans for the September evening clash and reports suggest that City perhaps underestimated our Scottish cousins who were determined to make the most of trip to Maine Road.
Wyn Davies gave City a 29th minute lead before the visitors levelled six minutes later.
Ian Mellor restored City’s lead just before the break, but Airdrie levelled again after the break to take a 2-2 draw back to North Lanarkshire.
The second leg saw Mercer send a largely inexperienced side to take on Airdrie who were clearly angered by the perceived slight by City.
A pumped-up Airdrie would go on to win 2-0 in front of more than 13,000 fans and City’s participation was over.
The Scottish side would eventually meet Derby in the final, with the Rams winning 2-1 over two legs.
It wasn’t the end of the Texaco Cup, however.
City again entered the competition in 1974, with the group stages an all-English affair based on four regional groups of three teams, with four Scottish sides meeting the group winners in the quarter-finals.
Held in early August, City began with a 1-1 draw away to Blackpool with Dennis Tueart scoring for the Blues.
Mike Summerbee and Denis Law scored in a 4-2 defeat away to Sheffield United in the second game before Oldham Athletic were beaten 2-1 at Maine Road thanks to goals from Franny Lee and Tueart.
The Latics, however, had won their first two games and so qualified as group winners.
All four Scottish sides were eliminated in the last eight and, for the record, Newcastle beat Southampton over two legs to secure the Texaco Cup.
That was the last time the Texaco Cup was played and it’s never been seen since…
