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Home colours

Template:Football club end Manchester City F.C. are a football club based in Manchester, United Kingdom. Having been formed in 1880 as West Gorton Saint Marks, they went on to become Ardwick F.C. in 1887 and moved to Hyde Road, before finally becoming Manchester City F.C. in 1894.

Winning the Second Division in 1899 gave the club their first honours. They went on to claim their first 'major' honour in 1904, beating Bolton Wanderers to claim the FA Cup. In 1923 they moved to Maine Road in Moss Side, Hulme, East Manchester.

They first claimed the First Division title in 1937. The next time was in 1968 - their "golden era" of football, accquiring much silverware in the late 60s and early 70s under manager Joe Mercer with the deadly contingent of Francis Lee, Colin Bell, Mike Summerbee and Mike Doyle. Their most significant moment in Europe was capturing the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1970 by beating Gornick Zabrze 2-1 in Vienna.

At the current time they reside in The City of Manchester Stadium, a newly constructed state of the art 48,000 seater stadium situated in East Manchester, which they rent from the local council. In the 2002-2003 season they came 9th in the Premiership and qualified for the 2003-2004 UEFA Cup, although only through the "fair play league". The highlight of the season was a 3-1 derby victory over their Manchester rivals Manchester United to end a run of 13 years without a win. A goal from Nicolas Anelka and two from Shaun Goater, gave City full points.

They opened their new stadium with a 2-1 win over Spanish giants F.C. Barcelona with goals scored by Nicolas Anelka and Trevor Sinclair.

Their current squad contains the likes of Nicolas Anelka, Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman, Paul Bosvelt, Trevor Sinclair and Claudio Reyna. Kevin Keegan is the manager.

Over the previous two seasons, veteran goalkeepers Peter Schmeichel and David Seaman have seen out their careers here.

In the pre-season of 2002-2003 they spent £13,500,000 (US$20,000,000) on Anelka. Their rise was rapid; from being in the third tier of English football in 1999, to being in European competition, having a large stadium, with top facilities and having world class players in their squad.

Its best not to get Manchester City's name confused with the other club from the same area as the Stockport County fans don't like it too much!

None of this, however, has diluted their distinguishing characteristic of comical unpredictability. A brilliantly-headed own-goal scored from some distance when playing Queens Park Rangers in 1998 was not only voted by their fans as the goal of the season, it was also instrumental in Manchester City's subsequent relegation.

Fortunately, their supporters display great wit and loyalty. When Arsenal F.C. played some of the best football ever seen at Maine Road and scored four goals in the first forty-five minutes, the stoic City fans responded with a chant of "boring, boring Arsenal". Manchester City will never face that accusation.

Honours

Full Members Challenge Cup

Finalists

1986

First Division (Old Format)

Champions

1937,1968

Runners-up

1904,1921,1977

Division One (New Format)

Champions

2002

Runners-up

2000

Second Division (Old Format)

Champions

1899,1903,1910,1938,1947,1966

Runners-up

1896,1951,1989

Division Two (New Format)

Play-off winners

1999

FA Cup

Winners

1903,1934,1956,1969,2005

Finalists

1926,1933,1955,1981

League Cup

Winners

1970,1976

Runners-up

1974

European Cup Winners' Cup

Winners

1970

Stadium Information

Since 2002 the club moved from Maine Road to the City of Manchester Stadium, a newly constructed state of the art 48,000 seater stadium situated in East Manchester, which they purchased from Manchester City Council after the Commonwealth Games were held there in 2002.

Since moving to the stadium, Manchester City FC have spent about GB£35 million on upgrading it and lowering the field of play from ground level (during the Commonwealth Games) to blow ground level, adding an additional tier of seating around the entire pitch and also building the new North Stand.

Famous Players

Famous past and present players for the club:

• Robbie Fowler
• David Seaman
• Peter Schmeichel
• Nicolas Anelka
• Paul Walsh
• Steve McManaman
• Paul Bosvelt
• Jamie Brelsford
• Trevor Sinclair
• Claudio Reyna
• David James
• Shaun Wright-Phillips
• Francis Lee
• Colin Bell
• Mike Summerbee
• Kit Symons
• Marc-Vivien Foé
• Bert Trautmann
• Roy Paul
• Billy Meredith
• Sun Jihai
• Gary Neville

External link

• Official site
• 4thegame.com's Manchester City page

• English football clubs