Football Dynasty-Chapter 20: The Youth Enter the Stage

Manchester City's hopes of a return to Wembley were dashed as Ipswich edged out the Blues 3-2 at Maine Road in the Full Members Cup, deepening the gloom that had settled over the club.

Off the pitch, major changes were unfolding for the second half of the season. New manager Jimmy Frizzell, entrusted with the task of steering City clear of relegation, made bold moves to reshape the squad.

One of his first significant decisions was to accept an offer from Chelsea for Clive Wilson. However, as part of the deal, Wilson would remain a City player until the end of the season.

Using most of the transfer fee, Frizzell secured striker Paul Stewart from Blackpool for £200,000—a signing that brought hope but came too late for the Ipswich clash, as Stewart wasn't registered in time to play.

Without Stewart leading the line, City slumped to yet another defeat, leaving them third from bottom with just a quarter of the season remaining. The situation worsened as City suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Leicester, followed by a goalless draw at Aston Villa.

Goals had dried up, confidence was low, and relegation seemed inevitable. After relentless draws and disappointing results, now City could almost be certain.

With only four games left, they needed a miracle—and for a brief moment, it looked like they might just find one. But football has a way of offering hope when all seems lost.

The Blues finally broke their winless streak, beating Arsenal 3-0 at Maine Road in a stunning performance. This was their first win since the January defeat to Ipswich Town in the Full Members Cup.

That was followed by a hard-fought 0-0 draw away to table-topping Everton and a narrow 1-0 victory at home over Nottingham Forest. Suddenly, survival seemed within reach. The final day of the season saw City travel to the Boleyn Ground, needing results elsewhere to go their way.

The Blues sat second from bottom on 39 points, with Charlton and Leicester just above them on 41. It was out of their hands, but hope still lingered.

In the end, the mathematics didn't matter.

West Ham beat City 2-0, sealing their fate.

The Blues were relegated along with Aston Villa—ironically managed by Billy McNeill, City's former boss. McNeill's unfortunate legacy was cemented that season, having managed two top-tier sides that were relegated in the same season.

Oxford United – 46 pts

Charlton Athletic – 44 pts

Leicester City – 42 pts

Manchester City – 39 pts

Aston Villa – 36 pts

1986–87 Manchester City F.C. relegated to the Second Division.

This relegation didn't faze Richard, nor did it trouble his senior colleagues Ted Davies and Glyn Pardoe, or even his direct superiors, Tony Book and Ken Barnes. The reason?

Manchester City's youth team was preparing for something far greater—the chance to face Manchester United in the 1986 FA Youth Cup Final.

It was the first-ever All-Manchester FA Youth Cup Final, a historic clash between the city's two biggest clubs at the youth level. While it wasn't the first all-Manchester FA final, this showdown carried a special weight.

The disappointing performance by the main squad had left the fans disheartened. Now, with the young talent stepping into the spotlight, hope flickered once more.

The youth team carried the dreams of the club and its supporters, offering a chance at redemption amidst the gloom of relegation.

The match would be played over two legs: the first at Old Trafford and the second at Maine Road.

Richard joined Tony Book, Glyn Pardoe, Jimmy Rouse, and John Collins. Remember when he first arrived at the office for the first time?

There were four desks lined up in close quarters, papers scattered on them.

These desks belonged to the four staff members of the Manchester City youth team: Tony Book, the manager; Glyn Pardoe, the assistant; Jimmy Rouse, the dressing room caretaker; and the last one, John Collins, another youth coach.

When Richard arrived, he had been on sick leave and missed the chance to meet them right away. But now, the two had become colleagues. There was also another colleague from the scouting department, although Richard often found himself working closely with Ken Barnes and Ted Davies.

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Richard stood on the sidelines. Turning his gaze, he noticed United's side.

Arms crossed, he watched as his players gathered around, no doubt Eric Harrison, their manager, offering his own set of pre-match talk. He didn't know what they were saying on their side, but it didn't matter. He turned his attention back to his team.

"I don't think you need me to say anything more, do you? Do you all know what I like?"

"Victory!" Redmond growled, and his teammates immediately agreed loudly.

"Very good! Manchester United is not weak, surely, but we are also very strong. Do you want to disappoint your fans, family, and everyone who's watching this game?"

Although the players were shaking their heads, the excited looks on their faces were obvious.

"That's right! The United boys didn't think of it either! Go and give them a surprise, lads!"

"City! City! Victory!" The players roared together in a huddle and ran out to the field.

Manchester United: Gary Walsh, Tony Gill, Lee Martin, Ian Scott, Steve Gardner (capt), Jon Bottomley, Aidan Murphy, Mark Todd, Dennis Cronin, David Wilson, Paul Harvey.

Manager Eric Harrison.

Manchester City: Steve Crompton, Steve Mills, Andy Hinchcliffe, Ian Brightwell, Steve Redmond (capt), Andy Thackeray, David White, Paul Moulden, Paul Lake, Ian Scott, David Boyd.

Manager: Tony Book

Referee: Vic Callow

Attendance: 7,602

After the start of the match, both teams played cautiously. Many of their usually successful coordinated plays turned into misses, likely due to the unsettling sight of the overwhelming crowd gathered along the sidelines, making it hard for the youngsters to calm their nerves.

Redmond and Gardner, both captains, did their best to settle the nerves of their teammates, constantly urging them to focus and stay composed.

As the first half wore on, the match became less about brilliance and more about resilience. Neither team managed to break the deadlock, and signs of frustration began to show.

As the whistle blew for the end of the first half, the score remained 0-0. The players trudged off the pitch, heads down, fully aware that the battle was far from over. Whoever found their rhythm first in the second half would have the best chance of breaking the deadlock.

The second half kicked off, and once again, young Manchester United showed their class. Their ability to remain calm and composed under pressure was impressive.

In the 49th minute, Aidan Murphy, Manchester United's silencer, received a long pass from captain Gardner and found a pocket of space just outside the box. With a quick glance and a precise strike, he sent the ball flying past the City goalkeeper, breaking the deadlock.

Old Trafford erupted as United took the lead 1-0.

Murphy's goal was a testament to United's poise and quality in such a high-stakes match. City now had to dig deep if they hoped to stay in the tie.

Even Book couldn't stay quiet. "Moulden! The left!" he began to roar, giving instructions.

Manchester United settled into a more relaxed rhythm. The pace of their attack slowed as they passed the ball around in the backfield. Meanwhile, the increasingly frustrated City players surged forward, hoping to capitalize on any mistakes they could exploit.

"What are you doing?! ATTACK!!" Eric Harrison, United manager shouted from the sideline as he saw his team losing their intensity.

Winning 1-0 at Old Trafford was no reason to relax. After all, there was still the second leg to come at Maine Road.

Both managers urged their players to push forward, and the tempo quickly picked up again. Aidan Murphy, who had scored earlier, made an off-ball run down the right wing, replicating the exact same scene that led to the opening goal.

This time, however, City's players had anticipated the move. left-back Steve Mills positioned himself, ready for the challenge. However As Murphy charged forward, City's left midfielder, Andy Thackeray, trailed behind him, trying desperately to catch up and block him from the back.

Thackeray lunged from behind, tackling Murphy and sending both players tumbling to the ground. As they tried to get back on their feet, Murphy, still fuming from the rough tackle, instinctively nudged Thackeray. Fueled by adrenaline, Thackeray, though momentarily stunned, wasn't one to back down. He squared up to Murphy, and the crowd erupted—a fight was brewing.

WOAH!

No one expected such drama. The atmosphere on the pitch grew chaotic, with tension at an all-time high as Aidan Murphy and Andy Thackeray clashed. Pushing and shoving ensued, their frustrations boiling over. Teammates rushed in to separate the two, signaling for them to stop.

Suddenly, a sharp whistle sliced through the air. The main referee blew his whistle forcefully. "Oi, enough!" he shouted, rushing over and stepping between the players.

"Everyone, back off! Now!" His voice rang out, stern and commanding. "You two—out!" he declared, raising his hand and showing a red card.

Murphy and Thackeray exchanged one last, heated glare before being pulled apart by their teammates and the officials.

"Calm down!" Manager Book shouted at Thackeray. "This is football, not a street fight. Get it together!"

The other party could only scowl and storm off toward the dressing room. Richard, noticing the situation immediately, stepped forward, offering to lend a hand.

"Coach, I got this," he said.

Book couldn't divert his attention from the game, so Pardoe, his assistant. Sometimes they would sit down briefly to discuss tactics before making any strategic changes.

With this, the acting coach fell to Collins, as he often served as the bridge between Book and Pardoe, communicating with the officials and looking out for any emergencies that might arise

It was Richard who stepped in to calm Thackeray down. He followed him from behind, sensing the turmoil within the young midfielder, and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, it happens," Richard said gently. "I know you're upset, but you need to keep your head in the game. We've got another leg, and we can still turn this around."

Thackeray looked up, his eyes red with frustration. "I just... I lost my cool. I let the team down."

"No," Richard replied firmly. "You didn't let anyone down. We're all in this together, and there's still a chance to fix things. Focus on the second leg. It's not over until the final whistle blows."

"Can I still play in the second leg?"

Richard paused for a moment. If this were the real FA Cup, it would be impossible, he thought. But since this was the youth cup, both clubs could likely appeal the red cards. After all, no one wanted to leave a scar on these young players.

Richard sighed, glancing at Thackeray. "I don't know."

Hearing this, Thackeray looked dejected, his shoulders slumping.

"But," Richard continued, "there must be some leeway," he said and continued, "especially if we believe it was too harsh. We can appeal the red card, and I believe Manchester United will definitely make an appeal too. If we handle this right, there's a good chance you'll be cleared to play in the second leg."

Thackeray's eyes brightened with hope. "You think it could work?"

Richard nodded. "Based on my experience, yes."

With that, Thackeray began to calm down. If it had been Book or Pardoe trying to talk to him, he might not have opened up. But Richard, freshly retired and not much older than him, offered a different kind of connection, making communication feel easier for both.

"GOAAAALLL!!!"

Unknowingly, a sudden roar echoed through the stadium, and both of them looked at each other.

Thackeray's nerves spiked, and though Richard felt it too, he was anxious inside but knew better than to let it show.

"I'll go check," Richard said, not waiting for a response as he hurried off.

The waiting felt unbearable. Thackeray's mind raced—this moment felt like the weight of the world was on his shoulders.

If United scored again, City would be trailing 2-0. Even though both teams were down to ten men, the guilt of letting his teammates down gnawed at him.

Unable to sit still, Thackeray paced back and forth, his heart pounding as he waited for Richard's return.

TAP TAP TAP

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hall. Thackeray's heart skipped a beat.

Richard came running, breathless but beaming with excitement. "Huff... huff... PAUL SCORED! It's 1-1 now!"