A tale of two cities battling to be the best
Nostalgia looks back at fight for football’s top spot between Manchester and Merseyside in the 1950s and 60s
THERE couldn’t have been a closer finish to a football season than the final, nailbiting matches of May 1968. City, United and Liverpool were all in the hunt for the First Division title, separated by just a handful of points.
City and United were tied on 54 points apiece with Liverpool breathing down their necks on 51 with a game in hand.
City’s final games were Tottenham and Newcastle away, and United were set to face Newcastle and Sunderland at Old Trafford. Liverpool’s opponents were Leeds United away, Nottingham Forest at Anfield and Stoke City away.
United took the initiative by hammering Newcastle 6-0 in front of a home crowd of nearly 60,000 on May 4. George Best scored a hattrick with the other goals coming from Brian Kidd (2) and David Sadler. Not to be outdone, City beat Tottenham 3-1 at White Hart Lane the same day with Colin Bell scoring twice and a third coming from Mike Summerbee. Liverpool kept up the pressure by defeating Leeds 2-1 at Elland Road.
There was high drama at City’s final match of the season a week later against Newcastle United at St James’s Park. Summerbee got the first in the 13th minute, but Newcastle were quickly level.
Neil Young made it 2-1 to City – and then scored again but his goal was disallowed for offside. Newcastle equalised again to level it up 2-2 at half time. After the break, Young again put City ahead in the 63rd minute and Francis Lee scored the fourth despite an appeal for offside. Newcastle pulled one back, but City won 4-3.
A home win was predicted for United’s last match against bottomhalf Sunderland. It was not to be. The Wearsiders pulled off a 2-1 victory, handing City their first championship since 1937.
As for Liverpool, they demolished Forest 6-1 at Anfield but then lost 2-1 to Stoke. The season ended with City on 58 points, United runners-up on 56 points and Liverpool third with 55.
It had not been as close the previous season. Matt Busby’s United were champions with 60 points, while Bill Shankly’s Liverpool were fifth with 51. City, under Joe Mercer, were 15th with 39 points.
Before that, it was a dogfight between United and Liverpool with City in Division Two. The Merseysiders triumphed in the 1963-4 season, and again in 1965-6, but the Red Devils nipped in to claim the title in 1964-5.
United finished on 61 points, 17 ahead of FA Cup winners Liverpool who were seventh.
It was a close call at the end of the 1963-4 season as Liverpool were champions with 57 points and United runners-up on 53. The gap between the two sides had widened
to 10 points in the 1965-6 season with Liverpool in first place on 61 and United fourth with 51.
The 1969-70 title went to Everton with Liverpool fifth, United eighth and City 10th. Everton also won the league in 1962-3 with Liverpool eighth, United 19th and City relegated.
United were dominant in the early 1950s when the Busby Babes were establishing themselves as the most exciting team in the league.
After winning the title in the 1951-2 season, the Red Devils were back-to-back league champions in 1955-6 and 1956-7. Liverpool were languishing in the Second Division for the two seasons, and City came fourth and 18th respectively.
The Busby Babes, as their name suggests, were mostly in their late teens and early twenties. In 1955-6, they won the league by 11 points over nearest rivals Blackpool and Wolves. The next season saw United legend Bobby Charlton break into the team, making his league debut against Charlton Athletic in October 1956. He scored twice.
As league champions, United contested the European Cup – but played all their home matches at City’s Maine Road as there were no floodlights at Old Trafford.
Undeterred, the Red Devils reached the semi-finals of the competition, losing to the eventual winners Real Madrid. They narrowly lost the FA Cup Final too, going down 2-1 to Aston Villa after an injury to goalkeeper Ray Wood forced defender Jackie Blanchflower to go between the sticks.
● Many more Manchester football highlights are recalled in Clive Hardy’s three Around Manchester books covering the 1950s, 60s and 70s.
● Each book is packed with around 300 past images of Manchester along with fascinating insights and commentary from the author. The price is £14.99 per book, with all postage and packing paid.
● Just go to inostalgia.co.uk to place your order or telephone the order hotline on 01928 503777.