1965-68
Poyser's resignation gave Manchester City the perfect opportunity to get it right and appoint a manager who the players and supporters could respect. Chairman Albert Alexander and the other directors had little experience of selecting managers, after all Poyser had only been the second appointment since 1950, but the pressure to find the right man was immense. The Board looked at all the candidates and then decided their best choice would be the former England and Arsenal captain Joe Mercer.

Mercer had already proved his ability as a manager turning a rather average Aston Villa side into Second Division champions and League Cup winners. At Villa, and at his previous club Sheffield United, Mercer had developed sides that came within a whisker of reaching Wembley in the F.A. Cup. His teams always seemed to save their best for cup competition, although it's true to say he had suffered personally in his last year at Villa Park. The Villa faithful had been presented with promotion and the League Cup in Joe's first two full seasons and naturally expected glory at the highest level. However, the appalling winter of 1962-3 which helped relegate City also affected Mercer's reign at Villa. Twelve months later, his health suffered and Mercer was forced out by the Villa board. Taking the City job was a major gamble. With concern over his health, Mercer was forced to consider the support he needed from his backroom staff before accepting. At Villa he had taken on too much; at City he knew he needed a strong assistant who would be able to control the training of the players. He remembered a young coach he'd seen at the F.A.'s training centre at Lilleshall: "I 'phoned an extrovert, ebullient, but brilliant coach called Malcolm Allison. Like me he was out of work - sacked by Plymouth Argyle. It took me two days to find him, but he said he would join me if I took the job. Secretly, I met the Manchester board and accepted the job, telling them of my plans for Malcolm."

For Malcolm Allison the opportunity was one not to miss. He had been a player with West Ham in the mid-1950s and had moved into management with Bath City and Plymouth Argyle. He was full of new ideas and when his position at Plymouth became impossible - the directors overruled his team selection - he found there were plenty of other clubs keen to secure his services. For Allison though, there was only one team and they were based in Manchester: "Manchester City had always been my team. When I was a kid I listened to a Cup Final when I was about six or seven. City were beaten by Everton, 3-0, just before Joe played for them. Anyway, from that moment on City were my team. When I went to Manchester I saw Joe and agreed to stay there because that was my team."

In addition to Mercer and Allison, another vital member of the City set up was chief scout Harry Godwin. When Mercer arrived at Maine Road, he put his arm around Godwin and said: "I've heard you're good at nicking one or two youngsters. Nick a few for me, will you?" It wasn't long before the Mercer-Allison partnership made changes to the City squad. Almost immediately Malcolm Allison tested inside-forward Derek Kevan: "I used to do these training sessions whereby I'd create a space for him to make runs through, and I used to say to Joe that he just didn't want to make it. I used to work out training schedules whereby if people really wanted to play or work they would do it, whereas if you just play a normal game it's hard to pick out who isn't really trying. I said to Joe, 'We've got to sell Derek Kevan.'" By the end of July Kevan had been transferred to Crystal Palace. The move surprised many supporters, especially as Kevan had been City's top scorer for the previous two seasons, but Allison was convinced and, looking at the player's career post-City, indications are the new coach had perfect judgement. Nevertheless, the Blues' first friendly under the Mercer-Allison partnership was not a pleasant experience and prompted many to again question the departure of Kevan, especially as a replacement had not yet been found.

The game at home to Scottish First Division side Dundee on 7th August ended in a 2-1 defeat and afterwards all Mercer would say to the waiting media was: "I've got a lot to say about this!" But presumably he meant to the players, not to the Manchester press, as he stormed off towards the dressing room.

After that he stepped up attempts to sign a new striker, but before he could secure the services of a new player City drew 1-1 at Walsall in another friendly. The following day the announcement was made that Mercer had signed the exciting Ralph Brand from Rangers for around £25,000. Unfortunately, Brand's career took a nose-dive more or less as soon as he walked into Maine Road. At Rangers he had scored 128 goals in 207 League games and had scored eight goals in eight games with Scotland, but in two seasons with the Blues, Brand only found the net on two occasions!

It was no surprise when the player moved to Sunderland, exactly two years to the day after signing for City.

Mercer's second signing occurred after a 3-2 victory at Tranmere and, like the friendly, was rather more successful than the previous one, even if the player's £35,000 arrival brought back painful memories for the majority of City supporters. Mike Summerbee arrived at Maine Road from Swindon after featuring in that infamous match earlier in the year. His father George had played with Mercer for Aldershot during the war, and Joe had kept a close watch on the career of the young Mike, determined that one day he would bring the player to his club. Summerbee was delighted to be in Manchester: "As soon as I drove into Manchester, I could sense something about the place. Even though City were in the Second Division, they were a huge club. The ground is an awe-inspiring place. It reeks of tradition and great players. Although I could not compare City to anything I had known before, I soon realised what a privilege and pleasure it is to be able to play for a club like that."

Gradually, Mercer and Allison prepared City for the new season. When they arrived in Manchester they quickly became aware of how dire the situation was. The club had lacked direction for some time and across the city United were dominant. The Blues' supporters had grown tired of playing second fiddle to the Reds and Malcolm Allison quickly became aware of how miserable life had become: "United quickly became an object of hatred to me when I moved into the city. I loathed the bumptious, patronising tones of their players, their hangers-on, and many of their supporters. It became a challenge to me when I drove past city parks and saw ninety per cent of them wearing red shirts."

Allison's feelings intensified when his son, Mark, was picked on by an older United supporter who wanted to teach him a lesson for having a father who worked for "that useless team City". Allison admitted in his autobiography he wanted to punish everyone connected with United, especially after he was forced to listen to the glorification of United at a dinner to celebrate the Reds' championship success: "Matt Busby turned and said, 'I believe there is room for two First Division clubs in Manchester'. And I thought to myself, 'yes, baby, and you're going to get two teams'."

Later he told Matt Busby's son: "Your father has got a 20 year start, but I'll pass him in three."

Allison's approach was typical of the man and he had the kind of attitude City supporters wanted. His comments may have seemed rather brash and cynical at times, but with the genial Mercer smoothing the way, Allison's views were listened to and respected.

The two men arrived at City when the club was in its worst ever state, even the decimation of the 1904 Cup winning side and subsequent struggles did not leave the Blues as low as in 1965. In fact, even the poor position of the club in 1996 when Frank Clark was appointed as City manager, cannot be compared with the immediate pre-Mercer period. Clark's City were in a lower position in the League, however the loyalty of City's supporters ensured that the club remained a strong one, whereas in 1965 support had diminished and caused the new men serious concerns. Allison later admitted that either he, or Mercer, would walk down the tunnel prior to their earliest games to check if anybody had bothered to turn up. Soon the partnership helped to guarantee that the Blues would be rediscovered.

City's first League game under the new partnership was an away trip to Middlesbrough on 21st August. To Allison and Mercer this game was vital as it would help highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the side. Allison's view was the opening ten games would really demonstrate how right his methods and approach to the game were, and that those matches would put the Blues into a position of strength ready to challenge for promotion. On the training pitch he had assessed each player and considered what tactics to employ. He had watched David Connor quite closely and decided he would be perfect to block out Ian Gibson, Middlesbrough's chief play-maker. He'd also noticed the aggression of Mike Doyle and felt he should be in the side immediately. Doyle was also aware Joe Mercer had been paying him close attention:
"I always felt that Joe was more critical of me than he was of others in the team, because I played at wing-half... his position. Joe appreciated my enthusiasm, but whenever I was in action I had the feeling Joe was watching me more closely than other members of the side." Allison's plan of using Connor to shut out Gibson worked a treat and the Middlesbrough man never really got into the game. The match ended 1-1 with Jimmy Murray supplying the Blues' first League goal under Mercer. The following game four days later gave the Manchester public their first chance to assess City's promotion chances as they faced a Wolves side relegated the previous season. The crowd of over 25,000 witnessed a hard earned 2-1 victory. A week later the two sides met again with City achieving their first double of the season, winning 4-2. One of City's goals came from the delighted Doyle who, on the coach afterwards, was collared by a laughing Joe Mercer: "You took that goal well, you young devil... but you should never have been in that position in the first place, leaving us open at the back."

No doubt Joe recognised the young Doyle played a similar 'attacking wing-half' roving role to the one he himself operated at Everton - and was admonished for in years gone by.

City's progress continued and the Blues remained undefeated in their first seven games. In fact Mercer and Allison saw their side lose in only one of the first fifteen League games, although the Blues did steal a few results along the way. Nevertheless the two men were beginning to give the Manchester folk what they needed most of all - pride. For years it had been embarrassing supporting the Blues, especially with United doing so well, and City's followers had suffered continual ribbing. Now, as Mercer and Allison stamped their influence on the club, City supporters walked taller and wore their scarves with pride. Crowds had increased and for the occasional game actually bettered title challenging United. An incredible 34,091 attended a Wednesday night visit of Norwich, while United's Saturday game with Fulham four days earlier was watched by 32,716. These figures were significant as they proved that in attendance terms the Blues were capable of matching the Reds. They were also significant to Malcolm Allison as, at United's Championship banquet, he had been forced to take part in a bet with Pat Crerand, the man recalled by City fans for his part in the relegation battle of 1963. According to Allison, Crerand stated City were a dying club and the Blues would never again attract an attendance of over 30,000 at Maine Road. Allison bet him £10 and, only two months into the season, the City coach collected.

By this time City had dipped into the transfer market, securing the services of 25 year old George Heslop, Everton's reserve centre-half, and 20 year old Stan Horne, a wing-half Joe remembered from his time at Villa Park.

When Horne signed Joe, turned to Mike Doyle and said: "You'll have to pull your socks up - because Stan's a wing-half too." This was all a bit of psychology on Joe's part to keep his players on their toes, but for a while Horne did indeed replace Doyle.

By the end of October City were top of the division and full of confidence. Gone were the days of fear, confusion, and panic. Mercer's steadying influence and Allison's training methods had brought new life to the club and everybody connected with the Blues benefited.

Allison remembers how many of the staff who had been there for a while noticed the difference: "The place was really buzzing. People like Harry Godwin told us how the club had changed so quickly. It was a fantastic achievement. Years later I also heard that the other staff would eavesdrop on my tactical talks. I've heard that Johnny Hart, my assistant, would gather the youngsters around the door to listen in to my talks. He'd tell them to listen and learn from a real visionary!"

Both Allison and Mercer had brought qualities to the club that had been missing for some time. Allison's ideas seemed as revolutionary as McDowall's Revie Plan had been a decade earlier, while Mercer's manner gave the club dignity and respect. Together they worked well and turned the club around, although City supporters have been divided for many years about which one offered most. In reality, they both had strengths and achieved tremendous success away from the club, but when they worked together at City they combined to produce an even greater force.

City maintained a top three position for most of the period leading up to Christmas, then on New Year's Day 1966 a crowd of over 47,000 gave a tremendous ovation as the Blues overcame division leaders Huddersfield Town 2-0. The Blues were quickly marked out as promotion certainties, with a brand of football that excited. But it wasn't simply performances in the League that grabbed the headlines, it was their progress in the F.A. Cup.

In the third round the Blues defeated Blackpool 3-1 in a replay watched by 52,661 - the largest City crowd for six years - then followed that by beating Third Division Grimsby 2-0. In the fifth round they faced a team they would get to know quite well over the following four seasons - Leicester City. The Maine Road tie ended 2-2 with City winning the replay 1-0 thanks to a mistake by England 'keeper Gordon Banks which led to a goal by Neil Young.

City's opponents in the quarter-final were Mercer's old club Everton. At Maine Road a crowd of 63,034 - a figure higher than any domestic attendance at Old Trafford that season - watched a tense goalless affair. Three days later a similar game and a similar result at Goodison forced a second replay at neutral Molineux. Despite the optimism within the City camp, Mercer's men were unable to seize the initiative and the game ended with a 2-0 victory to the Merseysiders. Had City won, they would have faced Manchester United in the semi-final.

Although progress was made in the Cup, it was promotion that really mattered to the Blues. Both Mercer and Allison realised the Cup run had stretched their playing resources to the limit and new blood was still required. Allison, in particular, had an idea of which players to go after, the only problem was a lack of money. City were still relatively short of cash after the struggles of the late fifties and early sixties and any investment had to be absolutely perfect. For Allison money hardly mattered, whereas Mercer felt he had to keep a tight rein on finances. Despite showing an interest in Bolton's Wyn Davies, it was Bury's Colin Bell that Allison was most taken by. Knowing the club remained cash-strapped, the energetic coach attended a Bury match to watch the young player and determine what kind of a bid the Blues could make. When Allison arrived at the game he realised there were a few other coaches and scouts from leading First Division clubs ready to watch Bell. This deterred him a little, but once the game started Allison criticised the player, making out he had little to offer. Every mistake was picked up with Allison exclaiming how he'd wasted his evening. In actual fact, Allison was considerably impressed with almost everything the player did.

On Allison's recommendation, City managed to raise enough cash and signed the player for a figure of around £42,000 just before the transfer deadline in March. His debut game was against Derby County on 19th March when he scored a goal to help the Blues to a 2-1 victory, although the strike was not the most spectacular ever seen. Basically, the ball hit him and entered the net.

Over the weeks that followed the rather introverted Bell fitted into the City side, helping the Blues to maintain their challenge for the division title. On 4th May, he provided the only goal of the game at Rotherham which secured promotion for the Blues. Nine days later City defeated Charlton 3-2 at the Valley to win the Second Division Championship. With typical City inconsistency, the Blues were leading by three goals before allowing Charlton to fight back. On 18th May City played their final game of the season before a Maine Road crowd of 34,653. Naturally, this was a day of celebration when the result hardly mattered. Understandably, it was not City's best performance of the season and the game ended goalless, but the celebrations continued throughout the night.

One of the key players during this season had been City captain Johnny Crossan - a player Mercer had tried to sign in the late fifties for Sheffield United. The skilful Irishman had played in 40 League games that season, scoring on 13 occasions, and had certainly developed since his arrival in January 1965. He was now one of City's heroes and his natural humour helped mould team spirit in the dressing room. He was an appropriate choice for captain. As the whole of the country knows, 1966 was a good year for English football for two reasons. England staged and won the World Cup for the first time in its history, and Manchester City regained their rightful place in the First Division. As a result of these two events, Mercer and Allison became instantly recognisable faces throughout the country commenting on international and domestic football. It was all good publicity for the resurgent Blues and with the World Cup exciting many non-football followers, City's promotion seemed perfectly timed to cash in on all the positive aspects of the game.

With Manchester buzzing, Mercer and Allison were determined to turn City into a great force. The Cup run had shown the Blues could live with the best - they'd defeated two First Division sides and took a third to two replays before succumbing - but there were still weaknesses. There seemed to be an abundance of talent in attack - Young, Summerbee, Crossan, Doyle and Pardoe had provided a good rate of return - but City needed a stronger defence if they were to stay in the First Division. Heslop had already settled into the centre-half spot, Oakes was a dependable wing-half, and Dowd had overcome the disappointments of 1964 to become City's first choice 'keeper, but Mercer and Allison realised they needed a dependable full-back.

After a short discussion, Malcolm Allison convinced Joe Mercer he knew the perfect man for the job, someone he'd coached before - Plymouth's Tony Book. Mercer was put off by the player's age, after all he was almost 32, but was reminded he himself had been a fraction older when he moved from Everton to Arsenal in the 1940s to embark on what became the greatest years of his playing career. Could Book find similar success?

Moving to City for £17,000 was the first chance of Division One football for Book and, despite initial concerns, he felt able to perform to the level required: "I felt a bit of an impostor coming into the First Division so late. I was nearly 32 when City signed me. I wasn't exactly a late developer. Long before Malcolm took me to Plymouth, I had trials with Nottingham Forest and Chelsea. In fact, I played for Chelsea's 'A' team and Reserves for 18 months while I was in the Army doing my National Service. Then I got a letter from the manager, Ted Drake, telling me he thought I'd get a living out of the game at a lower level.

"I had a great apprenticeship in the Southern League. I always felt I had a chance of making the grade as a pro, if I could get a break - and Malcolm was the one who gave it to me. Where I was really fortunate was in coming to City just when the place was about to take off! People must have been wondering 'what's this 32 year old going to do for us?'"

Mercer had not needed much convincing about Book. He'd seen him play against the Blues and, once in City's colours, Mercer enjoyed watching the player, even if it made him a little envious: "I didn't mind him playing well and having plenty of skill, but what made me green with envy was his speed. I mean, it's not right for the over thirties to be skinning the youngsters. It's meant to be a young man's game! We used to hear these First Division coaches shouting from the bench - 'Take the old man on!' No chance! He was a great athlete."

Book made an impressive debut in City's opening game, a 1-1 draw at Southampton. Johnny Crossan had missed that game following injuries in a car crash close to Roker Park, although the player did return for the first home game of the season. Much to City's surprise, the fixture list produced an enormous test with reigning Champions Liverpool arriving for what looked an easy two points for the Merseysiders. Ominously, two days earlier on home territory Liverpool reserves had defeated their City equivalents 9-0. The footballing public expected the Blues to be humiliated, but they were wrong as goals from Bell and Murray helped City to a 2-1 victory before a crowd of 50,320. The Blues were back!

A 1-0 win over Sunderland followed before the club's first setback - a 2-3 defeat in the return fixture with Liverpool. Two further defeats followed then Glyn Pardoe provided a goal to help City secure a point against Arsenal on 10th September. The following game would provide the biggest test of all for Mercer's men - the Old Trafford derby. This game mattered more than any other, unfortunately City simply failed to perform. Allison was angry. He believed the players had fallen for the hype that had developed around United since the late fifties and this had seen them freeze in the so called 'Theatre of Dreams'. He told them he would never again tolerate any player curling up and dying in front of United's supporters, instead he wanted to see City players go out there to humiliate the Reds.

The game had not been without controversy. As with the last derby in 1963, Denis Law was at the centre of it all. At one point players squared up to each other, fists flew, and yet referee Jack Taylor took no action. Six minutes later Law upset the City players further by scoring the only goal of the game. It was a major disappointment.

Seven days later City defeated Blackpool 1-0 with a goal from Johnny Crossan, but the visit of Chelsea on 1st October brought City crashing back down to earth. Joe Mercer: "We started well with three good results and seemed set for a fine life among the top-class teams. We were confident. Then Chelsea came north to Maine Road and ripped all our fancy notions to shreds. They took us apart on our own ground. They exposed flaws. They set us thinking. We wanted to survive in the First Division. This became our priority. Tony Book was installed as a sweeper behind the rest of the defence; a negative move that was mere insurance against further good hidings."

Chelsea had humiliated City 4-1 at home, and Mercer and Allison agreed the positional change was a vital one. In addition the two men discussed ways of increasing fitness - an area Allison was determined to see improved. They agreed to bring in Derek Ibbotson, an England athlete, to help develop City as one of the fittest sides in Europe. The move was a good one as Ibbotson took the players on tortuous nine mile runs, then challenged them to various races. It was all hard work, but each session tried to end in a light-hearted fashion. After one particularly gruelling session Ibbotson challenged any two players, splitting the distance between them, in a 440 yards race. The race started with every City player making what Ibbotson described as a false start, then a dozen of the players boxed the athlete in, resulting in the sub-four minute miler finishing last!

Alongside the improvement in fitness, Allison tried out many of his new coaching methods as the Blues tried to find their feet in the division. A few good results in November helped, especially a win over Everton thanks to a solitary goal from Colin Bell. This was a significant game as, prior to the match, much of the talk centred around the two midfielders Alan Ball and Colin Bell. Future City manager Ball had played a significant part in the 1966 World Cup final and received world wide recognition, whereas Bell had barely been heard of outside of the north-west. Nevertheless, the media likes to make comparisons and the clash with Everton provided that opportunity. Even the City programme became embroiled in the story: "It will be interesting to compare the two players today. For in the last few weeks Bell has emerged as one of those non-stop players with as much heart as ability and a good helping of both. Ball, with red hair and spectacular skills, will always catch the eye. Bell, with far less First Division experience behind him, and 18 months Ball's junior, is just as priceless an asset to City. "In the last six months Ball's fame has spread far beyond Britain. The Spanish press after Everton's recent Cup Winners' Cup defeat in Zaragoza called him, 'La bomba con dos piernas' - the bomb on two legs. Colin Bell's are longer - and at 6ft tall he will be out to prove that a good big 'un is better than a good little 'un."

Bell's 73rd minute match winning goal seemed proof enough City possessed a player capable of controlling any game, or any opponent, although the match itself had not been a particularly good advert for English football. Both Bell and Ball received injuries - Bell a cut knee and torn ligaments, Ball was reported to have six stud marks on his thigh after a tackle from Alan Oakes - but they were not the only ones as players from both sides mixed it throughout the match.

Ten minutes after Bell's goal the protests really began as Everton had an equaliser disallowed. According to the Daily Mail the goal, netted by Jimmy Gabriel from a corner, was disallowed as the referee was busy clearing away toilet rolls behind the goal which the "hooligan Everton supporters" had thrown onto the pitch. The report basically stated the result was a fair one, because the toilet roll throwing hazard had come from the Everton fans. It seemed a perverse comment, but City needed the points, so most Mancunians agreed.

By mid-December, Mercer and Allison were presented with a problem they always hoped would arise - the question of who to leave out. Mike Summerbee, after missing games against Nottingham Forest and West Bromwich Albion through suspension, was ready for selection, but his replacement Altrincham born Chris Jones had played well and scored his first League goal in a victory at West Brom. There was no way Jones could be dropped. In the end Mercer and Allison took the difficult decision to drop Neil Young instead, although Young did return for the following game. Allison and Mercer were keen to have players fighting for places and with so many developing at the same time, it was inevitable decisions would be taken that would, in turn, force players to consider their futures.

By the time of the Maine Road derby with United on 21st January City were 19th after 24 games. A pick-me-up was urgently needed. The game was played in atrocious conditions and ended 1-1 with both goals coming in the last fifteen minutes. It had been an exciting match and helped boost confidence, although Johnny Crossan was far from happy - he'd been dropped. Crossan had not had the best of times during this season. His pre-season car crash had affected him but foolishly he attempted to disguise an injured knee. He also suffered from a grumbling appendix. This all combined to give the false impression he simply wasn't trying and led to the crowd barracking him. Despite being upset at the time, he remained philosophical: "I heard the jeers but that's football. You are king one day, a peasant the next!"

By the time of the Maine Road derby with United on 21st January City were 19th after 24 games. A pick-me-up was urgently needed. The game was played in atrocious conditions and ended 1-1 with both goals coming in the last fifteen minutes. It had been an exciting match and helped boost confidence, although Johnny Crossan was far from happy - he'd been dropped. Crossan had not had the best of times during this season. His pre-season car crash had affected him but foolishly he attempted to disguise an injured knee. He also suffered from a grumbling appendix. This all combined to give the false impression he simply wasn't trying and led to the crowd barracking him. Despite being upset at the time, he remained philosophical: "I heard the jeers but that's football. You are king one day, a peasant the next!"

Eventually, Allison convinced Mercer he could control the player and the two agreed to give him a try. The Coleman signing was proof, if any was needed, how Mercer and Allison worked well together. If one of them was convinced about someone the other would back that judgement and the player would be signed. Sometimes Mercer would find a player, sometimes Allison. It didn't matter who found him, all that mattered was he could fit into City's plans. Coleman did settle into the City side, although there were a few 'adventures' along the way. In later years Mercer would laughingly boast that he was the only manager Coleman didn't hit!

Coleman's Maine Road debut came on 12th April when a Colin Bell hat-trick defeated one of Coleman's old clubs Stoke at Maine Road. Afterwards the Liverpudlian gave his view of the game: "I really enjoyed beating Stoke. They gave me a free transfer - or they sacked me if you look at it another way. The differences that players talk about between the Fourth and First Divisions look to be perfectly true if I can judge from two games. The players here are obviously much better than I ever played with and it makes it more enjoyable.

"My first job is to get fitter. I'm not as fit as the players at Maine Road yet and I'm working on that but it will take a little time. I'm in digs around the corner from the ground which suits me. I don't know Manchester but I've got the feeling I shall be here a long time."

City hovered above the relegation places for some while, although games in hand gave a false impression for much of March, April and May. By 19th April the Blues were 17th on 32 points from 36 games with two games in hand over four of the five teams below them. They were still not safe, however a draw against Mercer's former side Aston Villa, and a 3-0 win over Fulham eased the pressure. At the season's end City finished 15th, ten points more than Aston Villa, relegated in 21st place. It was a satisfactory position and one that in later years might be called a vital season of consolidation, although at the time it was more like an end of season fight to avoid relegation. Of the last seventeen games only four ended in defeat and Mercer was content. The turnaround had also come as the result of yet another fine Cup run.

On 28th January City defeated Leicester 2-1 in the third round of the F.A. Cup, then faced Cardiff at Ninian Park. The game ended 1-1 - bringing back memories of the Cup run in 1961 when it took two replays to separate the sides - then the replay at Maine Road finished 3-1 with goals from Bell, Crossan and Young. Another replay was needed in the fifth round as the Blues beat Ipswich 3-0 after a 1-1 draw at Maine Road. Then came the biggest test of all, an away trip to Don Revie's clinically efficient Leeds.

Mercer looked back on this game as a turning point: "The entire football world expected us to play it tight. But they reckoned wrong. They overlooked the moral courage, the gambling streak, the spirit of adventure that was always just below the surface of the Mercer-Allison partnership. We did precisely the opposite to what was expected. We attacked them! We threw everything in. We decided, in just as few words, 'What the hell have we got to lose?' City were brilliant that day.

"We gave Leeds a lesson and with the most outrageous luck lost by a solitary goal that should have been disallowed. We had been so much on top the result was unbelievable. Still, we had found ourselves. We were on our way, we started to stretch defences. Fear was scoffed at!" City took the game to Leeds. A side previously rooted in a defensive style of play, broke forward and played exciting, attacking football. Revie's Leeds were not used to teams arriving at Elland Road in a positive frame of mind. The only goal came five minutes into the second half, following Leeds' first corner of the game. When Eddie Gray floated the ball towards the goal, Jack Charlton appeared to impede Harry Dowd, playing his first game since November. Charlton headed in, and City complained, unsuccessfully. It was a rough result.

Afterwards there was sympathy for the Blues from the Leeds camp. Captain Billy Bremner: "City played magnificently. No honest man would attempt to deny it." Don Revie admitted: "it was our toughest game of the season - and that includes our defeats."

ABC TV, producing the match for the ITV network, described it as "the most exciting match of the season", while the Sunday Mirror simply stated: "It was City who should have gone into the semi-finals." The Sunday Times proclaimed: "Leeds were beaten for speed of thought and action from the start. To lucky, lucky Leeds a place in the semi-finals. To magnificent City all the honours in defeat."

The whole football world was now starting to realise City were edging closer to success. Their style of play was exciting and, with Mercer and Allison, the direction of the club was near perfect. It was certainly better than at any other time since the mid-fifties. All associated with the game now recognised Manchester, once again, had two sides worth talking about. United still gained the lion's share of headlines, but the Blues were catching them up, especially whenever Allison was prepared to speak.

Allison's boasts began to excite the City faithful and naturally made great news. The 'papers loved his comments, although it often led to trouble with the F.A. In November he was given a 28 day ban for 'expressing his feelings' and throughout his time at Maine Road he was regularly in trouble with the establishment. The fans loved it!

During the close season City went on an enjoyable tour to West Germany and Belgium. It was all a laugh a minute as Johnny Crossan spent the whole trip ribbing everybody at one time or other, while Tony Coleman explained how his lack of goals was down to the fact he didn't like being kissed by men. At Standard Liege Coleman scored the winner and the rest of the team smothered him with affection!

During a 2-1 victory over Eintracht Braunschweig Chris Jones caused much amusement after scoring a fine goal. Apparently, the German announcer stated the goal had been netted by Mike Summerbee, and so Jones rushed around the pitch pointing to his number nine to indicate that he'd scored. He wouldn't let the game continue until the announcer corrected himself. The tour was typical of the bubbling team spirit Mercer and Allison had striven so hard to build.

When the new season commenced on 19th August both Mercer and Allison recognised the side still needed strengthening, this time in attack. Tony Coleman was an exciting forceful player but the Ralph Brand signing had been a failure, and Johnny Crossan's time in Manchester had come to an end. Both Glyn Pardoe and Mike Doyle had been pulled back into defence and midfield respectively, leaving Mercer and Allison to try different combinations. As the season got under way, they struggled to find the right blend and results suffered. Only one point - a goalless game with Liverpool - was obtained during the first three games.

After that the youngster Paul Hince was tried at number seven. Hince, who in later years became the Manchester Evening News' City reporter, had made one appearance the year before, scoring twice, and was given his chance to shine again against Southampton at Maine Road. The Blues won 4-2 and Hince kept his place. Malcolm Allison remembers how Hince particularly enjoyed his next game: "We were playing Nottingham Forest and Hince played quite well at outside-right. In this particular game he absolutely mesmerised the Forest full-back - he was running him inside and outside and totally slaughtering him. Anyway, this full back got involved in an incident and the referee sent him off. Paul Hince went, 'Oh, don't send him off - he's easy! I'm enjoying it!"

Hince's arrival coincided with a five match unbeaten run and the Blues moved into the top five, but Allison doubted whether Hince could become a permanent fixture in the side. On 30th September Hince was replaced by the exciting Stan Bowles for the Maine Road derby match. Bowles had already appeared in City's first team, scoring four goals in his first one and a half games (The half was when he came on as substitute, replacing Young, in a League Cup tie against Leicester and scored twice), and was certainly ready for the derby match. Sadly, the game ended 2-1 to the Reds despite the Blues taking the lead in the fifth minute via a low firm shot from Bell.

The game also marked the arrival of goalkeeper Ken Mulhearn. Harry Dowd had dislocated a finger in training and Mulhearn was forced to make his debut in the derby. He arrived at the ground early and was incredibly tense: "I turned up ridiculously early - it must have been an hour and a half before any of the other players. Malcolm Allison took one look at me and locked me in the medical room! He obviously saw how white faced I was. I must have been the most nervous person ever to appear at a football ground, so he just locked me up out of the way until the rest of the team reported and were getting changed. There were something like 63,000 at the game, and not many days earlier I'd been playing for Stockport in front of a few thousand. The noise and the atmosphere were unbelievable, the first time I'd sampled anything like it."

Despite the result and debut day nerves, Mulhearn retained his place for the rest of the season, and City quickly returned to form. After losing 1-0 at Sunderland the Blues were undefeated in their next eleven League games. This great run coincided with the arrival of Bolton's Francis Lee.

Both Allison and Mercer remembered Lee from his games for Bolton against City in the Second Division, and from a Bolton-City League Cup tie in September 1966, when Lee had scored. The two men went to watch Bolton's game with Liverpool in the same competition during 1967 and the player was outstanding, despite enduring a difficult relationship with the Bolton management.

Lee was dissatisfied with the terms of a new contract he had been offered and was generally disenchanted with the club. On Friday 29th September 1967 he told manager Bill Ridding he was walking out. Quickly, Bolton decided to transfer him to City. The move was ideal as the player had business interests in the Bolton area and needed to remain close by. Even so, the move was not a smooth one.

Mercer and Allison travelled to Bolton to meet Ridding and Lee but there were still problems at Bolton, much to Lee's disbelief: "The next day was a Friday, and I went back to Maine Road and signed. Already Bill Ridding had told the Manchester City officials that I would not get my ten per cent of the transfer fee because I had asked for a move. But even he did not bargain for the Football League reaction. I had my boots with me and was all set to move out with the team to play at Sunderland in a First Division game the following day. But the League refused to rush my registration through, and just as I thought my future had been settled Joe Mercer came out of his office to say, 'It's all off, the League won't accept the registration!' Finally, however, it was ironed out and the following Monday I signed. I remember Joe's words. 'I hope you will sign,' he said when we first met. 'We feel we've got the start of a good side. We are just one player short, and we think you are that player. The odd goal or two will turn us into a great team."

From the moment Lee signed on 9th October City were a more powerful side, and the newcomer slotted in perfectly: "After an unhappy end to my days with Bolton, it was a completely different atmosphere at City. As soon as you got into coaching sessions all they were interested in was attacking. I was used to Bolton's theory of building performances on defence, this was exactly the opposite; we had five great forwards and for a goalscorer such as me, it couldn't have been easier to slip into a side like that."

By the end of the eleven League game unbeaten run, City had also reached the Fourth Round of the League Cup, although a 3-2 reverse at Fulham ended the Blues dreams of success in that competition. In the League, City continued to perform well with one game in particular catching the attention of the football world - the home match with Tottenham Hotspur on 9th December.

It was a real classic, enjoyed by around five million on BBC television's Match Of The Day programme, and was regarded by many as the match of the season. At first many doubted the game could go ahead as the pitch was covered with snow, however Stan Gibson and the rest of the City groundstaff worked hard to make it playable. Sadly, in the seventh minute Jimmy Greaves snatched the first goal for Tottenham.

Tottenham's lead wasn't to last though, as City tore into the Londoners. With the snow still falling, Colin Bell levelled the scores. It was just what the Blues deserved as they mastered the conditions and proved how wise Malcolm Allison had been to really push them hard during training.

Tremendous pressure from Young in particularly almost gave City the upper hand in the first half, but it wasn't until the second period that the Blues took a deserved lead when Young crossed from the left and Summerbee scored from six yards with a brilliant header. In the 64th minute Tony Coleman scored the third when he followed up a Francis Lee shot that had hit the left post. Neil Young made it four with one from close range. City continued to push forward, overwhelming a Spurs side that included internationals Alan Gilzean, Joe Kinnear, Dave Mackay, Pat Jennings, and of course Jimmy Greaves. Shot after shot went towards the Spurs goal with City's forwards in outstanding form. In one attack, Coleman latched on to a pass from Bell. His shot hit the left-hand post, and then Young followed up by hitting the right-hand post. It was a game that fully confirmed the growing strength of the City side.

Afterwards, the Blues made all the headlines and received praise from all over the country. Indeed, almost thirty years later a similar performance by City against Tottenham screened by the BBC prompted the re-showing of the 1967 match. It was one of those games that will never be forgotten.

Letters flooded into Maine Road from all over the country with one appearing in City's programme from Bobby Greenroyd of Halifax: "Not withstanding the address, I am a regular Manchester United fan, but after Saturday's game your next home gate will be increased by one."

A group of Tottenham supporters from Walthamstow wrote: "We would like to pay tribute to your team not only for a wonderful display of football but also for the clean and sportsmanlike way you played the game."

Personalities from within the game also contacted the club. The great Dixie Dean, a Maine Road regular thanks to his relationship with former Everton team mate Joe Mercer, believed City the 'best workmanlike team' he'd seen since his own playing days thirty years earlier. He was also convinced a number of the City players, in particular Mike Summerbee, were destined to play for England.

Another admirer was Bill Shankly, the Liverpool manager. Prior to City's game at Anfield on 16th December the canny Scotsman turned to Malcolm Allison and proclaimed: "You're not going to tear our team apart like you have torn the others apart, you know!"

That game ended 1-1, prompting the Liverpool Echo to concede: "The frequency and power of the City shooting was amazing... This was a game between two of the greatest League clubs in the country - and it looked like it."

Now, at the half-way stage of the season, City were in third position on 28 points. Liverpool were second with the same tally, while old foes Manchester United were top with 30 points. The difference between these teams however was that all the time City were still developing as a unit. They were also still learning as two defeats against West Bromwich Albion over the Christmas period proved. Francis Lee remembers the first of these games: "We lost 3-2 at their place on Boxing Day. But even then, we murdered them!"

In the second match City were defeated 2-0 with Malcolm Allison claiming responsibility for the result: "We should have played it as tight as possible, not attacked. This mistake on my part could have cost us the title."

Former Stockport Boys' player John Clay made his first and last full appearance for the Blues in this game, although he had already made a sub appearance against Wolves in October. With so many outstanding players at the club it was difficult for Clay to become established at City, and he moved on to Macclesfield during the following close season, although he did return to City over twenty years later to perform a public relations role.

On 31st January City once again displayed their prowess, this time with a 7-0 thrashing of Reading at Elm Park in the F.A. Cup Third Round replay. As the players left the field the tannoy announcer claimed: "Ladies and Gentlemen, you have just seen one of the greatest teams England has produced in a long time." Again dozens of letters arrived at Maine Road commenting on City's performance. Many Reading fans wrote in saying they could have watched the Blues all night. Other letters arrived commenting on how well behaved the City supporters were, while City fans themselves commented on the cheerfulness of the Reading police. These points may seem trivial today, but in 1968 football had already begun to enter its hooligan problem period. Football supporters had started to be seen as trouble makers and incidents of violence, or of vandalism, soon found their way into national newspapers. Although City supporters were never totally blameless, during the late 1960s Blues fans continued to gain commendations rather than condemnation.

City's cup run ended in the next round where Leicester City once again faced the Manchester Blues. This time, after a no score draw, Leicester won 4-3 in the Filbert Street replay. This was Leicester's first victory in cup competition over the Blues in six meetings since March 1966. To say the two sides knew each other well is an understatement. In both cities supporters were already making predictions how the two sides would meet again in 1969. From late February onwards City were able to concentrate on the League where success was now a serious possibility. A 1-0 victory at Burnley on 2nd March left the Blues in third place, four points behind leaders United although City had a game in hand. Apart from the two Manchester clubs Liverpool, Leeds United and Newcastle also posed a threat, and any of these teams were capable of snatching the title. City, however, had the chance to upset two of those teams - Leeds and United.

On 23rd March City arrived at Elland Road looking for victory. The Blues were now top of the division on goal average after defeating Fulham 5-1 seven days earlier, and felt they had the initiative. Sadly, a tough, determined approach from Leeds ended with City suffering a 2-0 defeat. It was vital the Blues rediscovered their form in the next game - the 78th Manchester League derby.

It was a re-arranged fixture, played before a crowd of over 63,000 on Wednesday 27th March. To many Reds this was to be the night when City would be humiliated, and taught a footballing lesson by England's so-called biggest club. For City supporters the Manchester derby had become a difficult game to watch, especially at Old Trafford, where the Blues had only won once in twelve years. Malcolm Allison: "The Manchester United thing was still the great barrier across our progress. I was told in the city that we were doing well, but that we would never catch Manchester United!"

The game commenced with Joe Mercer, Matt Busby, and England manager Sir Alf Ramsey seated close to each other in the directors box. Mercer didn't realise it at the time, but it would later turn out to be the greatest place from which to witness the game. However, the opening moments were not pleasant ones for the City manager as George Best gave United the lead after only 38 seconds. Tony Book felt he was to blame. He believed he should not have allowed Best through, and it affected the City captain for some time, before the rest of the team brought him back into the game.

For the first ten minutes life was hell being a Blue as all the old concerns flooded back then, just when it was needed most, Colin Bell began to control midfield, Mike Doyle won important tackles and City gradually gained the upper hand. After 15 minutes Bell started a right-wing move and then ran yards to reach the final pass and blast the equaliser past United 'keeper, and future City coach, Alex Stepney.

City, in rampant mood, dominated from then on. They pushed forward time and time again, and were appropriately rewarded with a second goal after 57 minutes. Tony Coleman, City's loveable rogue, curled across a free-kick and centre-half George Heslop scored his first goal for the Blues with a firm downward header.

Mercer and Allison were delighted as the Blues powered forward. Colin Bell, by far the best player on display that night, raced clear and headed for goal but was dramatically hauled down by Francis Burns. Francis Lee scored the resultant penalty, but the excellent Bell was carried off on a stretcher with an injured knee. City's most important player would miss the next four crucial games.

The game ended 3-1 with Mercer enjoying his post match discussions with Ramsey and, of course, Busby. Another man who enjoyed his chat with Busby was Allison: "Matt Busby was as urbane as ever. But I sensed that we were beginning to get through to him. He is a man who hates to be second anywhere, and for it to happen in Manchester was quite a new experience."

Allison also understood the feelings of the City faithful: "There was so much happiness among the City fans that evening. Years of humiliation had been, if not wiped away, at least eased. The balance of power was beginning to swing strongly in our direction. If you are not too tightly involved in football you may discount the feelings of the down trodden supporters. In fact their team becomes an expression of themselves; their moods, their hopes, are tightly interwoven into the fate of the team. And that night at Old Trafford the supporters of Manchester City walked out of the wilderness."

The City assistant manager was right. City fans were now able to walk tall and at last felt their club was capable of great success. The supporters even composed poems about the great night, one 'City's Night Of Glory' had eleven verses and covered almost every incident of the game. It was a truly proud moment for the Blue population of Manchester and one which only people associated with City can understand. In no other British city does the rivalry match that of Manchester. In Glasgow the derby game is a matter of life and death, but it has too little to do with football. In any case, neither Glasgow Rangers nor Celtic have ever received the national media attention that Busby's United received.

In Liverpool, Sheffield, London, Birmingham and Bristol, no side has ever had to face as much hype as City had encountered with the Reds. When United are dominant, City's suffering becomes a national joke with media personalities laughing at the Blues simply because they are not United. No other club in British sport suffers in this way. Malcolm Allison recognised this and was determined to turn the situation around. Some of his boasts may have seemed outlandish but City supporters wanted to hear them. The Blues had suffered enough. Joe Mercer also recognised this but preferred to play a more diplomatic role. Instead of criticising or humiliating the Reds he would talk about United's strengths before stating the obvious - that City had won. Joe gave the club the respect it deserved and realised the best way to tackle the crowing of City's rivals was on the pitch. That attitude, combined with Allison's approach, ensured City were at least on a level with United. Most Blues would say above.

After the derby both Mercer and Allison tried to keep the momentum going. It wasn't easy, especially as many felt the derby was proof the Blues were the team of the season. Missing Colin Bell, City lost to Leicester and Chelsea in two of the next four games. Then on 20th April they gained a point at Wolves.

It looked as if the title was slipping away from City. There were now four games left - two at home followed by two away. City's destiny was at stake.

The Blues were in third place at this stage, four points behind United but with a game in hand. Leeds were second only a point behind United after the same number of games as City. Mike Doyle remembers how both Allison and Mercer were keen to push the players to the limit: "We'd got one point out of two games. From there we went to Southport for four days, and got the biggest bollocking from Mercer we'd ever had. He said, 'The Championship is there to be won, either you want to win it or you don't. You'll train together tomorrow morning and then I don't want to see you again. It's up to you after that.' He knew we'd get together and talk it out. One night there was me, Neil Young, George Heslop, Belly, Mike [Summerbee], Oakesy and Glyn Pardoe discussing the situation. We reckoned we could do it, and I don't think we lost another game from then on."

Against Sheffield Wednesday, a lucky deflection gave the Blues the only goal of the game. At Maine Road, Tony Book and Tony Coleman scored the goals in an easy 2-0 victory over Everton, leaving the Blues a mere two games from glory. These two matches, however, were tough ones away at Tottenham, then at Newcastle. Both sides had performed well throughout the season, although as the League programme neared its end both were out of contention. Nevertheless, Spurs remained a top six side, while Newcastle were a few places lower. Mercer recognised the difficulties: "It'll be like climbing Everest and K2 in one week."

The first of the games resulted in a terrific 3-1 victory at White Hart Lane. Colin Bell scored twice, Mike Summerbee the other as City first attacked, then defended in numbers. Brian James, in the Daily Mail, stressed City's power claiming their success was down to "bloody hard and selfless running." He also claimed City were "a side of fair quality, brilliantly inspired." He went on to say "City's output should be rewarded by not less than the title."

Sadly, at least two of City's players were now struggling to be fit for the Newcastle match. Colin Bell and Mike Summerbee had pulled out of England's midweek match against Spain, a game both were keen to take part in, and were doubtful for the Saturday match at Newcastle, while Mercer admitted many members of City's squad had played when they really were not 100% fit: "This has been true at times of Alan Oakes, Glyn Pardoe, Tony Book, and Mike Doyle as well as Colin Bell and Mike Summerbee. There have been games in which they have gone out with pain-killing injections, games before which we have left the final decision with the player himself. It has taken moral courage for them to put the good of the side before personal discomfort and, on many occasions, to insist on playing when decisions about their fitness to do so were not easy to arrive at."

Mercer went on to outline his admiration for the City players: "People often talk very disparagingly about modern professionals and try to make out that they don't give quite so much to the job as they did in the old days. They claim that everybody today wants things easier. But never in all my long association with football have I seen greater dedication than that of these Manchester City players. In the old days fear of unemployment was undoubtedly a motivating factor. Today with these players, pride is the driving force - pride in their performances, pride in what they are trying to accomplish."

Despite the fact City's squad was one of the smallest in the division, the Blues had maintained their challenge right to the end. Mercer was right about the commitment to the Blue cause shown by his players, and with City and United now level on 56 points after the same number of games, the biggest test of all would prove the value of each and every member of the City squad. United still had the upper hand. Not only did they have the better goal average, but they were also playing lowly Sunderland at Old Trafford, whereas City were up against tenth placed Newcastle United at St. James Park.

Neutrals expected the rather more experienced United to retain the title, although a few leading voices suggested City had the ability to snatch the trophy. Bill Shankly, the great Liverpool boss, held the view City were the side to watch: "I regard City as favourites now. Any team that can do what they did at Tottenham must have a great chance."

Liverpool, themselves, still had a chance of pinching the Championship. They had a game in hand over both Manchester clubs and could take the title by a point if results went their way. Incredibly, Footballer of the Year George Best was another man who believed City were certain to take the trophy from United in style: "When they came to Old Trafford and beat us, I'd only seen them a couple of times before that and didn't think much of them. But that night we never saw the way they went. I've never seen a team run and achieve the workrate they did. I felt like demanding blood tests on them afterwards. They may lack United's individual ability, but if they can keep working and running they must be in with a great chance of beating Newcastle United on Saturday. It won't be easy, but I fancy them to do it."

Best went on to admit he would love the chance of playing alongside his great friend Mike Summerbee: "I'd like to play a game in the City attack just to see what it's like." It's a little known fact that a few years later, when Best was in conflict with the United management for his off the field activities, Malcolm Allison almost brought the player to Maine Road. If that had occurred the early 1970s history of the two clubs, and indeed the player, may have been different. Naturally, there is no way United would have accepted Best playing for the Blues. While neutrals felt certain City would win at Newcastle, those connected with the match itself seemed less convinced. George Heslop: "Frankly, I am a bit prickly about this match. If City win, I think we're going to be among the top teams for years. But I have told my team mates to watch out for Newcastle. The old club hasn't changed. If they are in the mood anything can happen. As for Wyn Davies - the man I will be marking - I think he is absolutely great. We must be on our toes. Newcastle are the most dangerous when you least expect it."

Newcastle's Jim Iley was another convinced City would find it tough: "This match will be a good opportunity to give ourselves a lift. We've had some disappointing results lately, but it would be a great thing if we could get it out of our system against Manchester City."

As the days passed, the media became more interested in Manchester's Blues. This attention was completely new to the majority of people connected with the Maine Road club. On the Monday following the Tottenham game Mike Summerbee walked into the stadium and noticed there were considerably more photographers and reporters than normal. He took a long lingering look at the group before calling across to Joe Mercer in a mock serious tone: "What's happened, Boss? Has there been an accident?"

Mercer himself took delight in telling those media men who would listen that City would win the Championship and he had been practising the walk from Maine Road to Stretford ready to collect the trophy from the reigning Champions: "I shall personally take great pleasure in walking down to Old Trafford on Sunday morning to pick up the trophy."

On the day of the game over 20,000 City supporters travelled to the North-East for what was to be one of the most significant days in the club's long history. The Newcastle manager, Joe Harvey, could not believe the size of City's travelling support and prior to the game he turned to Malcolm Allison: "This is the first time I have been beaten at home before the game has started."

The match commenced with City appearing rather nervous. Heslop, perhaps remembering his own comments about Newcastle, froze for a while, but he was not the only one, especially when Newcastle's Jim Scott hit the City crossbar in the third minute. Nine minutes later, however, City made their mark on the game when Mike Doyle took a quick free-kick. Colin Bell raced towards the Newcastle goal, swerving round full-back and future City manager Frank Clark before pulling the ball back. Doyle shot towards goal and Mike Summerbee flicked the ball into the net. The vast City following went wild but, as the celebrations continued, Newcastle came back. A defensive slip up allowed Jackie Sinclair to gain possession. Sinclair fed a pass across the goal area where Glyn Pardoe found himself facing three Newcastle players. Bryan 'Pop' Robson was the one who scored. The Geordies seemed to have the composure that City desperately needed. Tony Book played a true captain's role and tried to calm his players. After about half an hour Book saved the Blues when he cleared a header from Wyn Davies that looked an absolute certain goal. Then, within two minutes, the Blues took the lead again. A quickly taken throw-in by Summerbee was pushed goalwards by Colin Bell. Alan Oakes tried a shot, but the ball spun towards leading scorer Neil Young who volleyed a glorious goal with his left foot.With typical City unpredictability, the Blues allowed Newcastle to fight back. Heslop, still struggling, cleared the ball, but only as far as Jim Iley, the man who'd confidently predicted a Newcastle resurgence. Iley fed Sinclair, who scored with a fine 15 yard shot. Despite Neil Young getting the ball in the back of the net again - Francis Lee was adjudged offside - the score was still 2-2 at half time. When the interval came, Malcolm Allison was determined to tell the players what he thought. He had not been impressed with City's failure to keep a clean sheet: "I was going to go in at half time and give them a right going over in the dressing room. When I got there, though, I could see that they were all tensed up. So I just told them that they had had 45 minutes to get used to it, and now they had to go out and play."

The second half started with a more composed City side and it wasn't long before the goals came again. After only four minutes Colin Bell slipped the ball across the penalty area to Neil Young, who powered it in from 12 yards to give the Blues a 3-2 lead. From then on City showed the class, determination, and style that had thrilled the whole of football.

They were perfect in every sense of the word, although Francis Lee had one effort ruled out. Deservedly, he later scored with a 12 yard shot in the 63rd minute, after Doyle and Bell had worked well to get the ball to him. Immediately after scoring Lee went straight to the crowd with his arms aloft. Naturally the crowd were delighted, even a few Newcastle fans were hoping the Blues would win the Championship.

However, with the game nearing its end, John McNamee scored Newcastle's third. The Blues were still ahead but with four minutes to go the pressure was on. The final moments were extremely tense and then referee John Thacker put his whistle to his lips and the celebrations began. The supporters chanted, "Champions, Champions", as many of them swarmed onto the pitch to greet their heroes.

Across at Old Trafford, as United were beaten 2-1 by struggling Sunderland, the Championship trophy vanished. Daily Express reporter Alan Thompson set off on a mission to track it down. He started questioning the Old Trafford staff: "Secretary Les Olive was under the impression that a League official had taken it earlier in the week, Matt Busby was not at all sure what had happened to it, and for a minute or two it was lost until a member of the female staff admitted that it had been locked up 'in the vault'. You are at liberty to allow full rein to your imaginations in concluding exactly where the 'vault' is at Old Trafford. But the centre of the boardroom table, where the League Championship Cup has stood proudly for the last 12 months was occupied by five shillings worth of flowers. Sit down the City fan who says symbolic." Back in Newcastle the celebrations really began. The champagne corks started popping in the dressing room, while the supporters danced in the streets. It really was a remarkable atmosphere on an incredible day. This was the moment all City supporters had waited for. The day when the Mercer-Allison combination brought success to a club desperately trying to leap out of the shadows. Life had been particularly grim for City fans for over a decade and only a couple of years earlier supporters had started to desert the club. The managerial partnership had brought the Blues a new image, and had also enticed many exciting players to the club. Malcolm Allison's coaching techniques had also helped develop some of the younger players into true First Division stars. It was an incredible story.

James Mossop writing in the Sunday Express summed it up perfectly: "There could be no more popular, sentimental success story. City are - were - the poor relations of the Manchester clubs. Three years ago discontented fans were throwing stones and abuse at the boardroom windows. The crowds had dwindled to a starvation level of 8,000. But in an amazing spell of hard work and dedication Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison have lifted ordinary players into the Champions of the Football League. They are just a grand set of lads, mostly young, and the best all-round team in England. It is desperately difficult not to get emotional about Manchester City, about such a major success born out of honesty, bravery and complete dedication. This victory was the pinnacle of the season. An afternoon coloured with skill, blessed with fair play and above all applauded in the end by every man, woman, and child in the 50,000 crowd. These people will never forget it. Many thousands of them swarmed on to the pitch in a dancing, swirling sea of blue and white at the end. They were cheering for the new champions. For 90 minutes City, the team that has won more friends than any other in a season of imaginative attacking football, turned on the style."

Every newspaper was equal in its praise, that the Blues really were worthy victors. As the champions journeyed back from Newcastle, supporters surrounded the team bus to cheer their heroes. Every player deserved the acclaim, for even those that had struggled early on had improved as the game progressed. Vince Wilson in the Sunday Mirror rightly claimed every player added value to the performance and the Blues played as a true team. No individual stood out above the rest, nor did any of the players try to claim they had contributed more. Manchester City won the Championship as a team, together.

Frequently, on the journey away from St. James Park the team bus struggled to move forward. Understandably, there were queues of traffic on all the major routes out of the city and the bus frequently had to stop. At one point Malcolm Allison jumped out and started to dance in and out of the line of traffic waving to many City supporters along the way. On the bus Joe Mercer orchestrated the singing and everybody joined in.

The following day City held a press conference at Maine Road. It was a light hearted affair with Mercer, Allison and Book talking openly about City's success and their hopes for the future, in particular their first venture into Europe. Mercer stated he believed City would do well in the European Cup and they should survive the first two rounds at least. Allison believed the Blues would go further, stating he didn't really rate continental coaches: "I think a lot of foreign teams win despite their coaches. If we had played Continental opposition every week we would have won the Championship by 80 points."

He went on to boast that the European coaches were "cowards" and City would "terrify Europe to death". Only a few months later, these comments would come back to haunt Allison, but at the time the English footballing public loved his brash statements. Another quote appeared under the headline "It's Mars Next Stop" in the Daily Express the next day: "I think we will be the first team to play on Mars."

A friendly against Bury was hastily arranged for the Tuesday following the Newcastle game to enable the Championship trophy to be presented. Normally, the trophy was presented at the League's annual dinner but as City would be on tour in America, the League agreed to present it at Maine Road. The presentation took place before the game, with Tony Book and the rest of the players going on a lap of honour before Mercer was handed the trophy to lift above his head. The crowd roared with delight and then witnessed a 4-2 victory.

Bury's two goals were scored by Bobby Owen who, two months later, signed for the Blues. The game was noteworthy for it also included an appearance by Malcolm Allison. For much of the game he'd sat, wearing his familiar red tracksuit then, with about ten minutes left he substituted George Heslop and entered the field himself wearing the number 8 shirt. This caused a little confusion as Colin Bell remained on the pitch with the same number but nobody complained, after all it was a night to enjoy especially when Allison threw himself into the game. He forced a great save from Neil Ramsbottom, the Bury 'keeper, and had a goal disallowed. The City supporters chanted 'Allison for England', and even called for Mercer to take to the field.

This was a great time to be a Blue. Allison: "I felt acutely that we had come up with some original football. We had thrashed Manchester United, we had become a power in the land."