Manchester City On This Day: Main Stand Fire
For a club with no history I am certainly finding a lot to write about. Back on this day, 97 years ago, Manchester City suffered a devastating fire of the Main Stand at Hyde Road. City had been looking to either expand or move so, when the fire happened, it forced the hand.
Initially starting out as Gorton in 1880, the club had a number of grounds up until 1887. As the club started to progress and grow it was clear that their current ground was going to be too small. With the game starting to become more professional, and the introduction of a League in 1888, the decision was that a move had to be made.
It was actually club captain, Kenneth McKenzie, who had identified a potential piece of ground. Although tragically, he would pass away aged 29, before a decade of football had been played at the new ground. Hyde Road was good for the club for a number of reasons, not least the fact it was very close to the origins of the club, St Marks church.
That first decade had seen the club grow as had been hoped, and possibly expected. In 1892 Ardwick became founding members of the Division Two, winning their first match 7-0! Two seasons later and Ardwick became Manchester City, missing out on promotion in 1896 after defeat in a test match.
Back then the top two sides in Division Two would play the bottom two sides of Division One, home and away. The best two teams played the next season in the top-tier, Manchester City were not one of the best two.
Funnily enough though, 1896 was also the year Manchester City were judged to be the third best supported side. Everton and Aston Villa, in the Division above took spots one and two. In 1899-00 season was the first for City in the top flight, where they spent three seasons.
Just as the club grew, so did the prestige of the Hyde Road ground. Alongside hosting England versus Ireland and the 1905 FA Cup Semi Final, it was also the first ground in the provinces to be visited by a reigning Monarch. King George V had been to Cup Finals and grounds in London, but not outside of that.
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He had chosen Hyde Road because he felt that was the best way to meet the most Mancunians, and watched City beat Liverpool 2-1. Two goals from Horace Barnes for City on that afternoon of March 27th made for a positive impression on the King.
Bare in mind his visit to Hyde Road happened in 1920, and Old Trafford had been erected in 1910. Just let that sink in a while, then share it with your United friends. Eight months after his visit, around 11pm November 6th fire destroyed the Main Stand.
Again, as with their move to Hyde Road initially, the club had been looking to expand. Once more the decision was taken out of their hands and in 1923 we pitched up at Maine Road. If you are any good at math, you will see a three-year difference there.
City had asked United if they could use Old Trafford to play their home fixtures. Back then when City were playing away, United were home and vice versa. As a result it wasn’t uncommon for fans to go see Manchester City at home one week, then United at home the next.
Next: On this day: Hyde Road Fire
The fact is that United were less than sympathetic and actually tried to use our situation to their own benefit. Demanding an outrageous payment for hosting City games it was decided the Blues would just soldier on at Hyde Road until a new stadium was found.
Ironically, when United needed a stadium to play on after Old Trafford was bombed during the Second World War, City stepped up. The local newspapers didn’t look on United’s actions in 1920 as very sporting and said it could hurt their popularity among the Mancunian people. Back then it was true, and the Manchester public grew their appropriate opinions of both clubs.