1906/07 SEASON REVIEW
Following the previous seasons debacle where most of City’s players and staff were banned for life from being employed by the club, ex Derby manager Harry Newbould was given the job of building the squad from the eleven players that were left at Hyde Road which included George Stewart who had been signed from Hibernian at the end of last season for £650.
Recruitment started as Newbould splashed out £1,000, the second highest transfer fee ever paid at the time, to bring in England International winger Jimmy Conlin from Bradford City. A new goalkeeper joined the club, Walter Smith from Leicester Fosse, who then injured his wrist in pre-season. Two players joined from Greenock Morton, Robert Grieve and William Eadie and another Scottish recruit, Tommy Kelso, joined from Third Lanark and finally Albert Fisher moved to Hyde Road from Brighton.
The team were nowhere ready for the start of the season and in amazing scenes at Hyde Road in temperatures well over 90 degrees, Woolwich Arsenal beat City 4-1. The Blue’s players were unfit and before half-time they were down to 9 men, then in the blistering heat of the second half City’s players dropped like flys and The Cityzens ended the game with just six players on the pitch.
A ‘burnt’ out City side had to play just two days later and were slaughtered 9-1 at Everton.
Having conceded 13 goals in two games City brought in a new ‘keeper, William Hall, who made his debut in a 3-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday. A further player was added to the squad as Welsh International Horace Blew moved across the City from Manchester United.
As the new players began to gel there was a slight improvement on the pitch as City drew 2-2 at home to Bury then 2-2 at Derby and then won their first game under the new regime, 3-2 at Middlesbrough. The early table saw Newbould’s side in 17th place with four points from six games.
In an effort to get last seasons decisions on banned players overturned, a petition signed by 4,182 fans was presented to the Football Council, however it was rejected and the bans stayed in place, and with regards to Billy Meredith who had tried to move to Manchester United, but City were trying to block the move, however the Football League now ordered them to complete the move by 13th October or they would be fined one guinea for each day after that date until they agreed the completion.
City then drew 1-1 at home to Preston, lost 2-0 at Newcastle and beat Aston Villa 4-2 at Hyde Road. With a quarter of the season gone The Blues had moved up to 16th position in Division one on seven points.
October finished with a thrilling 5-4 defeat at Liverpool and November started with another defeat, 1-0 at home to Bristol City.
In an effort to strengthen the defence Newbould brought in Percy Hill from Everton and he made his debut in a 0-0 draw with Notts County at Trent Bridge, City’s first clean sheet of the season. However another home defeat followed, 2-0 against Sheffield United.
Some good news for Newbould was the return to the team of custodian Walter Smith who had recovered from the injury that had kept him out of the side since he arrived at Hyde Road, in addition inside left James Blair was purchased from Woolwich Arsenal. Both players made their debut in a 1-1 draw at Bolton, and then played in front of a packed Hyde Road crowd as City beat Manchester United 3-0.
The fate of the last of City’s suspended players was then decided as Burgess and Bannister completed their moves to Manchester United, Hynds moved to Woolwich Arsenal, Booth and McMahon joined Bury and Edmondson moved to Bolton.
Although The Blues then lost 3-0 at Stoke they then drew 0-0 at home to Blackburn and 1-1 at Sunderland, moving in to the Festive period their position was call for concern, they were 17th just two points above the relegation zone.
Home victories over Birmingham, 1-0 on Christmas Day and Everton, 3-1 on Boxing Day moved City up to the heady heights of 13th in Division 1.
The last game of 1906 finished in a 4-1 defeat at Arsenal. However 1907 started with a 3-1 at Hyde Road against Middlesbrough.
Two further players suspended last season, Sammy Frost and Jack Hillman, had their transfer away from Hyde Road completed as they both joined Millwall.
City were still certainly not safe from relgation as they lost 1-0 at home to Sheffield Wednesday and slipped to within five points of the drop zone.
The Blues didn’t win again in January, in the FA Cup 1st round they forced a replay drawing 2-2 at Blackburn, however in the replay at Hyde Road Blackburn triumphed 1-0.
With just Division 1 status to now fight for they lost 3-1 at fellow strugglers Bury and drew 2-2 at home to Derby to stay five points clear of the relegation zone.
Two further players were added to the squad as Bruce Rankin moved to Hyde Road from West Brom and David Ross moved from Norwich.
February was a mixed back for City as they beat Preston 3-1 at Deepdale, then drew 1-1 at home to Newcastle and lost 4-1 at Aston Villa.
March started with a great 1-0 win at home to Liverpool, then despite losing 2-0 at Bristol City, The Blues beat Notts County 2-1 at Hyde Road and Sheffield United 4-1 at Bramall Lane.
On Good Friday City lost 4-0 at Birmingham and so with The Citizens having just five games left to play, relegation was still mathematical possibility, they were six from bottom on 29 points, however 19th place side, Notts County had 20 points but had three games in hand over The Blues.
Easter Saturday brought a 1-1 draw at home to Bolton. The rest of the holiday was taken up with three friendlies; a 3-3 draw at Ilford, a 2-2 draw at Norwich and a 4-0 win at Kings Lynn.
With a 1-1 draw at Manchester United City all but secured their Division 1 safety, they were now six points clear of Derby who now held 19th position with both clubs having three games to play, all City needed was a point to be sure, and they gained it in a 2-2 draw at home to Stoke.
The Blues lost their last two games, 4-0 at Blackburn and 3-2 at Hyde Road against Sunderland.
City finished in 17th position with 32 points, considering the tremendous problems Harry Newbould had inherited, he and the team had performed a minor miracle to retain their Division 1 status.
The team played one final friendly game losing 4-0 to a Northwich and District XI.
With all major first teamers retained Newbould added three further players, bringing in defender Bert Jackson from Luton, outside right Tom Callaghan from Glossop and forward John Woog from Derby.