Bits and Pieces

1960 January 20: Three-year-old Linda Torkington tows her 10-month-old sister Susan in a home-made sledge during the winter snowfalls.

The sisters, from Stockport, were playing on the slopes of Lyme Park in Disley.

Temperatures in the winter of 1959-60 were not as severe as the ‘Big Freeze’ of 1962-3, but areas were still cut off in January and February.

The Winter Olympics took place in Squaw Valley, California, in February 1960.

Great Britain’s team of 17 failed to bring home a medal.

1967

January 17: The referee signals the fight is over for ‘Manchester Midget’ Tony Barlow in his bout against John McCluskey.

The contest for the vacant British Flyweight title took place at Manchester’s Free Trade Hall.

A brilliant amateur, Barlow won 39 of his 57 professional fights, losing 14 and drawing four.

He retired in 1969 and later ran the Failsworth Boys Amateur Boxing Club.

1984

January 14: City take on Crystal Palace in a Division Two match at Maine Road in front of a 20,144 crowd.

The Blues, managed by Billy McNeill, won the encounter 3-1 with goals from Graham Baker, Steve Kinsey and Paul Power.

Defender Power, born in Openshaw, played 365 matches for City scoring 26 goals. The Blues just missed out on promotion for the 1983-4 season, finishing fourth with 70 points – 10 points behind third-placed Newcastle United.