.CITY 4 BURY 2
Friendly
14th May 1968
Attendance 34,000
Scorers
City Young(62, 64, 77), Connor(?)
Bury Farrell, Owen
City Mulhearn, Book, Pardoe, Doyle, Heslop, Oakes, Lee, Bell, Summerbee, Young, Coleman – Subs Allison(77), Connor(45)
Bury Ramsbottom, Parnell, Tinney, Kerr, Turner, Lindsay, Farrell, Owen, Dawson, Parry, Grundy
The Championship trophy was presented to Tony Book prior to the friendly with Bury. The players then went on a lap of honour with the crowd celebrating the end of a 30 year wait. When the players returned to the Main Stand side of the stadium Joe ran onto the pitch to hug Malcolm. Tony Book then gave the trophy to Joe who lifted it above his head to the roar of the crowd. Joe returned to the director’s box for the game. City won 4-2, with most of the excitement coming in the closing ten minutes. George Heslop was substituted and his replacement was none other than Malcolm Allison. Allison quickly 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 then called for Joe to take the field. Joe sat smiling in the stand. He realised his playing days had long gone. FROM JOE MERCER FOOTBALL WITH A SMILE BY GARY JAMES |
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City:
Mulhearn, Book (captain), Pardoe, Doyle, Heslop, Oakes,
Lee, Bell, Summerbee, Young, Coleman.
Subs: Allison (for Heslop, 77), Connor.
Goals: Young 3 (62, 64, 77), Connor.
HT: 0-0
First game I ever went to.
Yes, I remember going to this night match as a 14 year old. Our dad would have been on crowd duty as this was pre-steward days. Large attendance that day and the game was played largely at exhibition pace. Malcolm coming on as sub was hilarious, he was carrying a bit of timber as they say. Bobby Owen was bought from Bury that summer.