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On This Day: Manchester City sign strikers almost 30 years apart

By Jason Bardwell

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 02: Manchester City striker Denis Law (c) raises a smile before the 1974 League Cup Final between Manchester City and Wolves at Wembley stadium on March 2, 1974 in London, England. (Photo by Don Morley/Allsport/Getty Images)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 02: Manchester City striker Denis Law (c) raises a smile before the 1974 League Cup Final between Manchester City and Wolves at Wembley stadium on March 2, 1974 in London, England. (Photo by Don Morley/Allsport/Getty Images) /
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This season, Manchester City have been an attacking force. Sergio Aguero eclipsed Eric Brook to become the club’s top scorer, and is currently only one goal away from his 200th goal for the club. Aside from him you have Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and Kevin De Bruyne who all have got into double figures themselves.

That wasn’t always the case though. In seasons past, clubs have relied primarily on their main striker, or strike pairing, to get the bulk of the goals. Two such players were signed on this day, almost 30 years apart, who would provide goals for the blues.

Denis Law

16th March 1960: Denis Law (sitting) signs for Manchester City FC at Hudderfield watched by Les McDowall (left) (Manchester City Manager) and Doug Hamer (back) (Manchester City Director). Manchester City FC and Scottish International soccer Player Denis Law, who went on to win 55 caps for Scotland (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
16th March 1960: Denis Law (sitting) signs for Manchester City FC at Hudderfield watched by Les McDowall (left) (Manchester City Manager) and Doug Hamer (back) (Manchester City Director). Manchester City FC and Scottish International soccer Player Denis Law, who went on to win 55 caps for Scotland (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images) /

March 15th 1960 saw Manchester City sign a young Scottish International, Denis Law. It was a tug of war between both Manchester clubs, with City beating out Busby and United for the youngsters signature. Signed for a then British record fee of £55,000 he quickly made an impact.

Having only just turned 20, Law scored in his first two appearances, both his debut and home debut. That would be it for his first partial season with the blues, who avoided relegation for the second season in a row.

The 1960-61 season saw Law start the majority of the games, and score 23 goals in all competitions. It could have been 29, but his six goals (yes six!) against Luton Town in the FA Cup were wiped out as the game got abandoned with twenty minutes to go.

Manchester United would then get their man, via Torino, and he stayed at Old Trafford for more than a decade before then heading back to City for a second spell. It would be that second spell which most City fans remember, and his back-heel. Scoring a cheeky goal against his old club, United, the reds were relegated, although that was inevitable even had Law not scored.  That did however prove to be his last game for the Blues. Despite still being under contract with the Blues, Manager Tony Book informed him he would only be playing reserve team football. SO, in 1974, he retired from football.

Niall Quinn

26 Dec 1994: Niall Quinn of Manchester City in action during an FA Carling Premeirship match against Leicester City at Maine Road in Manchester, England. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. \ Mandatory Credit: Clive Brunskill/Allsport
26 Dec 1994: Niall Quinn of Manchester City in action during an FA Carling Premeirship match against Leicester City at Maine Road in Manchester, England. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. \ Mandatory Credit: Clive Brunskill/Allsport /

Just over fifteen years after Law’s last game for City Niall Quinn joined the Blues. Signed for £800,000 by manager Howard Kendall, the Irishman also scored on his debut.

Scoring in a draw against Chelsea in a 1-1 draw and ended the season with four goals. Manchester City never lost a game that season when Quinn scored, and finished only five points above the relegation zone. His four goals from nine games put him third top highest scorer for the blues. He is behind Clive Allen (10) and David White (8) for that season.

The following season, Quinn was an ever-present and scored twenty League goals, finishing two points outside the top four. That would be a theme for Quinn as he scored 78 over his six years at the club.

Next: Derby Day: By The Numbers

However, one of the most memorable moments actually came at the other end of the field in that second season. With goalkeeper substitutes not often named, Tony Coton saw red after fouling Dean Saunders. Quinn took over the gloves, and saved the resulting penalty with the blues eventually winning 2-1 against Derby. It also needs to be noted that the tall Irishman had also scored prior to going between the sticks.

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