CITY 2 WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1
League Division 1
14th March 1981
attendance 36,581
Scorers
City McDonald(10), Tueart(39)
West Brom Robson(89)
ref Michael Lowe
City Williams, Ranson, McDonald, Reid, Caton, MacKenzie, Gow, Tueart, Henry, Power, Reeves – sub Buckley(8)
West Brom Godden, Bennett, Statham, Moses, Wile, Robertson, Robson, Brown, Deehan, Owen, Barnes – sub Mills(70)
BOBBY MCDONALD SCORES HIS THIRD GOAL IN TWO GAMES
FROM THE ARTICLE ‘ONE TO REMEMBER – ALEX’S BIG DAY’ PUBLISHED IN THE CITY PROGRAMME 27TH NOVEMBER 1996
This would be a game to remember for young Alex Williams as he made his league bow in place of the injured joe Corrigan.Alex was certainly City’s and possibly the Football League’s first black goalkeeper. Corrigan’s absence was only his fifth missed game in six seasons. The match also had several coincidences tucked away in the personnel of West Bromwich Albion. Their side contained former City favourites Peter Barnes and Gary Owen.
If the tales handed down are to be believed, these two were transferred unwillingly on their part, the theory being that Malcolm Allison sold them to Ron Atkinson’s club to finance some of his other City wheeling and dealing.
… But let’s get back to the guest of honour for this article. Manchester-born Alex Williams attended Wilbraham High School, a stone’s throw from Maine Road from 1973-78. He was spotted by City scout John Collins turning in some excellent performances for Manchester Boys. and on John’s recommendation. he was signed up as an apprentice professional in July 1978.
… He started the 1978-79 season with the ‘A’ team and kept blank sheets in each of his first three games as the Blues won the lot.
When Keith Macrae left for Portland Timbers in March 1981, AIex was promoted to the reserves on a permanent basis. And suddenly there was that emergency call-up. Alex was staggered.
“I knew joe had taken a nasty crack in a mid-week match.” he recalled later, “but the only instructions l‘d received were to go to Maine Road on the Saturday morning just in case he wasn’t fit.
“Then, just as I was leaving the house, the ‘On The Ball’ soccer programme on ITV said that Alex Williams was playing for City. It didn’t sink in until I got to the ground where l bumped into joe and he confirmed
the news.”
The game itself was described by one critic as “overwhelmingly forgettable”, but for the young man in question, it was a major milestone in a promising career.
… Midfield man Gerry Gow received a knee injury after only eight minutes against Albion and was replaced by Gary Buckley. The Blues began in bright fashion and went ahead after ten minutes through full back Bobby McDonald, his third in two games.
Williams then had to prove himself when he was on the receiving end of a header from Ally Brown.
He saved it acrobatically, and City celebrated by scoring again through Dennis Tueart .
Buckley had a shot cleared off the line by Martyn Bennett and the game tended to amble along until West Brom pushed on David Mills for Owen.This sparked some life into the visitors and they took a bit of gloss off Alex’s big day when
Robson headed home from a Barnes corner in the last minute. No matter, City had won.
“l enjoyed the afternoon and I think l played reasonably well,” said a modest Alex. “Everybody was so kind afterwards, and the lads were saying how well I’d done. It was a great experience.”…
This would be a game to remember for young Alex Williams as he made his league bow in place of the injured joe Corrigan.Alex was certainly City’s and possibly the Football League’s first black goalkeeper. Corrigan’s absence was only his fifth missed game in six seasons. The match also had several coincidences tucked away in the personnel of West Bromwich Albion. Their side contained former City favourites Peter Barnes and Gary Owen.
If the tales handed down are to be believed, these two were transferred unwillingly on their part, the theory being that Malcolm Allison sold them to Ron Atkinson’s club to finance some of his other City wheeling and dealing.
… But let’s get back to the guest of honour for this article. Manchester-born Alex Williams attended Wilbraham High School, a stone’s throw from Maine Road from 1973-78. He was spotted by City scout John Collins turning in some excellent performances for Manchester Boys. and on John’s recommendation. he was signed up as an apprentice professional in July 1978.
… He started the 1978-79 season with the ‘A’ team and kept blank sheets in each of his first three games as the Blues won the lot.
When Keith Macrae left for Portland Timbers in March 1981, AIex was promoted to the reserves on a permanent basis. And suddenly there was that emergency call-up. Alex was staggered.
“I knew joe had taken a nasty crack in a mid-week match.” he recalled later, “but the only instructions l‘d received were to go to Maine Road on the Saturday morning just in case he wasn’t fit.
“Then, just as I was leaving the house, the ‘On The Ball’ soccer programme on ITV said that Alex Williams was playing for City. It didn’t sink in until I got to the ground where l bumped into joe and he confirmed
the news.”
The game itself was described by one critic as “overwhelmingly forgettable”, but for the young man in question, it was a major milestone in a promising career.
… Midfield man Gerry Gow received a knee injury after only eight minutes against Albion and was replaced by Gary Buckley. The Blues began in bright fashion and went ahead after ten minutes through full back Bobby McDonald, his third in two games.
Williams then had to prove himself when he was on the receiving end of a header from Ally Brown.
He saved it acrobatically, and City celebrated by scoring again through Dennis Tueart .
Buckley had a shot cleared off the line by Martyn Bennett and the game tended to amble along until West Brom pushed on David Mills for Owen.This sparked some life into the visitors and they took a bit of gloss off Alex’s big day when
Robson headed home from a Barnes corner in the last minute. No matter, City had won.
“l enjoyed the afternoon and I think l played reasonably well,” said a modest Alex. “Everybody was so kind afterwards, and the lads were saying how well I’d done. It was a great experience.”…
.
