There are so many. September 30, 1967 at Maine Road. My birthday present from my brother was a match ticket. Bell scored after 5 minutes which shook us up a bit but then Bobby took the game by the scruff of the neck and scored two goals to put us into the lead before half time. The game livened up when Stan Bowles, making a rare appearance for City, took a lump out of Brian Kidd who responded with a punch. Both players went into the book and the game petered out.
September 27, 1975. Back in the old First Division and a bunch of reds bought tickets from White and Swales and so ended up in the blue half of the Kippax. All went down in the first half. Jimmy Nicholl put through his own goal before David McCreery and Lou Macari put us ahead. Joe Royle equalized after 31 minutes and that was the end on the on-field action.
January 24, 1970. Wilf was in charge for our 4th round cup tie. 63,000 all ticket crowd and City were confident of victory. Malcolm Allison was mouthing off in the MEN about how they would rub our noses in it but the game was a tense affair until just before half time when Bobby broke into the City area and was brought down by Glyn Pardoe. Willie Morgan slotted the penalty past Mulhearn for a 1-0 half-time lead. 2nd half and United attacking the Stretford End. Stepney punted the ball up the pitch. Bobby ran down the middle but Brian Kidd outstripped Tommy Booth to score our second. A few minutes later and a Francis Lee free kick was charged down. The ball flew into the empty City where Kidd chased it down, chipped the keeper and it was 3-0.
The Fergie years saw may great derbies but the ones from my school days and college days stand out in the memory. The city was divided and the days leading up to the game were electric. Bobby has gone and many of my derby memories featured the great man and how he loved to beat City. I hope we can win one for him this time round.
