1900/01 SEASON REVIEW
Further refurbishments to Hyde Road, which included a new 210 feet long new covered stand were completed pre-season. The fans showed their enthusiasm as well, as The Blues took in over £350 in advance season ticket sales. The club also announced that they would publish an official match programme for each game for the first time.
Manager Sam Ormerod strengthened his squad by bringing in Percy Slater from Blackburn, Herbert Hallows from Southport Central, Joe Cassidy from Newton Heath,’keeper Walter Cox from Millwall and Joe Davies, who had played for City twice before (once when they were Ardwick) joined from Reading.
City started the season playing newly promoted Sheffield Wednesday and came from behind to draw 2-2 at Hyde Road.
The Blues then played a friendly against Wellingborough, arranged partly out of consideration for the transfer of Herbert Darnell, who had moved to Hyde Road from the non-league club in April, The game was ‘slightly’ one sided, City winning 10-1.
Unfortunately in the league it was a little harder for City as they were beaten 4-0 at Bury, before they played a further friendly this time a benefit for Archie Freebairn at Bolton, The Blues’ won 2-0
Ormerod’s side then won their first league game beating Nottingham Forest 1-0 at Hyde Road.
City then played another friendly, travelling to the Lancashire coast for a benefit for Southport Central’s Smith and Tattersall, The Citizens lost 3-1.
Back to the league and another defeat, 1-0 at Blackburn, and a fourth friendly in the month saw The Blues draw 0-0 againt local rivals Newton Heath
On the day City played Stoke, the new stand was officially opened by guest of honour Prime Minister, Lord Arthur J Balfour who ceremoniously took the kick off, The Blues went on to win 2-0.
Moving into October and City were unbeatable at home but on their travels they couldn’t pick up a point, the month started with a 3-2 defeat at West Brom and a 1-0 win at Hyde Road against Everton, then a further defeat away, 3-0 at Sunderland and at home a 2-0 victory over Derby.
The Blues improved and were unbeaten in November, drawing 0-0 at Bolton, then beating Notts County 2-0 at Hyde Road, Preston 4-0 at Deepdale and Wolves 3-2 at home. After 13 games City were well placed in Division 1 sitting in sixth place, five points behind leaders Nottingham Forest.
After three victories, December started with three defeats, a 7-1 thrashing at Aston Villa, 4-3 at home to Liverpool and 2-1 at Newcastle and Ormerod’s side had slipped to tenth in the league.
A 2-1 victory at Hyde Road against Sheffield United took City into a winless Festive period, as they drew 1-1 at home against Sunderland on Christmas Day and 1-1 at Sheffield United on Boxing Day, three days later they lost 4-1 at Sheffield Wednesday. The Blues moved into 1901 exactly mid table, seven points from the summit of Division 1 and seven points from the relegation zone.
1901 started with a 1-0 win at Hyde Road against Bury, however three further league defeats followed, 4-2 at Nottingham Forest, 3-1 at home to Blackburn and 2-1 at Stoke. City were still mid-table but now only five points off the relegation zone with a third of the season left. In an effort to shore up the defence Ormerod brought in defender James Hosie from Blackburn.
City’s losing streak continued in the FA Cup as they were dumped out of the 1st Round at The Hawthorns, West Brom winning 1-0.
Back in the league and a further defeat, 5-2 at Everton.
A depleted side then lost 8-0 at home to Liverpool in a friendly game arranged as a benefit for City’s Bert Read.
It was turning into a ‘nothing’ season for The Blues, a 3-1 win at home to Preston, a 2-0 defeat at Derby a 1-1 draw against Bolton at Hyde Road and a 0-0 draw at Notts County left City still in mid-table with just five games to play.
City played a friendly at Chirk, winning 4-0, before an EGM was held where the board agreed that money must be invested in the team, with an urgent need to bring in a top class outside left. The Blues lost again in the league 1-0 at Wolves and had now slipped to just three points ahead of the relegation zone.
The Blues played just one league game over Easter, beating West Brom 1-0 at Hyde Road on Good Friday, then also in Manchester on the Saturday they beat Liverpool 3-2 in a friendly and on Bank Holiday Monday they beat Stockport County 5-1 in a friendly to decide the winners of The Manchester and Salford Charity Cup.
In their final away game in the League City were beaten 3-1 by Liverpool, then at Hyde Rd they beat Newcastle 2-1.
The Blues travelled to Grimsby for a friendly and were beaten 2-1, however they finished the league season with another victory, beating Aston Villa 4-0.
City finished 11th in Division 1 with 32 points.
After just one season at Hyde Road Joe Cassidy was sold to Middlesbrough for £75.