1944/45 SEASON REVIEW
With World War II still raging on, City played a friendly at Maine Road one week before the The Football League Northern Region kicked off, the game ended in a 2-2 draw against Manchester United.
As in previous years the League would be played as two distinct competitions. The first would end on Christmas Day and the second would end in May and certain games would also be included in the League War Cup.
The Blues got off to a good start with a 4-1 win against Tranmere at Maine Road and then a 4-0 win at Prenton Park also against Tranmere .
City were deprived of the services of Frank Swift for their visit to Anfield as the custodian was called up to play for the Combined Services, and The Blues could only manage a 2-2 draw against Liverpool . Swift was missing again for the return game against Liverpool in Manchester due to England playing Wales at Anfield the same day, City drew 2-2 again.
Swift was back betwen the sticks for City as they beat Stockport 6-2 at Edgeley Park, however the big ‘keeper would miss nearly half the season due to playing in a glut of National and Forces representative matches.
The Blues put Stockport to the sword again, this time beating them 5-1 at Maine Road, this was followed by a 1-1 home draw with Crewe and then a fine 6-1 win at Gresty Road also against Crewe .
City’s unbeaten run was extended to ten games with a 1-1 draw against Wrexham at The Racecourse Ground, and then they beat Wrexham 2-1 in Manchester to go second in the league.
City started November with their first defeat of the season losing 3-1 to Everton at Maine Road, indeed a week later Everton beat City again, 4-1 at Goodison Park.
Manchester United snatched a late winner at Maine Road to beat City 3-2, however, again at Maine Road, The Blues overturned the defeat to beat United 4-0 to move into December in seventh place with just four games left to play in the first period of The League North season.
City beat Bury 4-0 at Maine Road, but at Gigg Lane Bury won 2-1.
In the last two games of the Leagues first Championship period City suffered a heavy defeat at Chester losing 7-1, however at Maine Road the tides were turned as Chester were well beaten 6-0 to see The Blues finish in tenth position on 22 points.
The second half of the season started with a 1-1 draw at home to Blackpool on Boxing Day, for the rest of the season games would count towards the League North War Cup.
The first of the League War Cup qualifying games saw City beat Bury 3-2 at Maine Road, then draw 1-1 at Halifax, however Halifax then won 3-2 at Maine Road to leave City in 33rd place, one place outside the qualifying mark.
Severe weather meant The Blues had to wait two weeks to play their next game, a 4-3 win at Oldham, then two good wins against rivals Manchester United, in the ‘away’ game (played at Maine Road due to Old Trafford’s bomb damage) The Blues won 3-1 and seven days later, again at Maine Road United were beaten 2-0, City were now 27th in the qualifying period, however then lost 3-1 at Huddersfield, but with a 3-2 win at Maine Road against Huddersfield they progressed to the next qualifying period where they would have to finish in the top eighteen to qualify further.
City then lost 4-2 at Bury, however a 3-2 win over Oldham left them in 15th place on 13 points.
The Blues then lost 4-1 at Stockport, won 5-1 against Crewe at Maine Road, then lost 2-0 at Crewe and and 5-1 at home to Stockport. Despite the loss of form City qualified for the 2nd Round of the Cup.
City played Liverpool in the 2nd round and lost 3-0 in the first leg and couldn’t turn it around in the 2nd leg at Maine Road where Liverpool 3-1.
The Citizens finshed the year with a 1-0 defeat at home to Blackpool and at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool made it a double with a 4-0 win.
As in previous years the League would be played as two distinct competitions. The first would end on Christmas Day and the second would end in May and certain games would also be included in the League War Cup.
The Blues got off to a good start with a 4-1 win against Tranmere at Maine Road and then a 4-0 win at Prenton Park also against Tranmere .
City were deprived of the services of Frank Swift for their visit to Anfield as the custodian was called up to play for the Combined Services, and The Blues could only manage a 2-2 draw against Liverpool . Swift was missing again for the return game against Liverpool in Manchester due to England playing Wales at Anfield the same day, City drew 2-2 again.
Swift was back betwen the sticks for City as they beat Stockport 6-2 at Edgeley Park, however the big ‘keeper would miss nearly half the season due to playing in a glut of National and Forces representative matches.
The Blues put Stockport to the sword again, this time beating them 5-1 at Maine Road, this was followed by a 1-1 home draw with Crewe and then a fine 6-1 win at Gresty Road also against Crewe .
City’s unbeaten run was extended to ten games with a 1-1 draw against Wrexham at The Racecourse Ground, and then they beat Wrexham 2-1 in Manchester to go second in the league.
City started November with their first defeat of the season losing 3-1 to Everton at Maine Road, indeed a week later Everton beat City again, 4-1 at Goodison Park.
Manchester United snatched a late winner at Maine Road to beat City 3-2, however, again at Maine Road, The Blues overturned the defeat to beat United 4-0 to move into December in seventh place with just four games left to play in the first period of The League North season.
City beat Bury 4-0 at Maine Road, but at Gigg Lane Bury won 2-1.
In the last two games of the Leagues first Championship period City suffered a heavy defeat at Chester losing 7-1, however at Maine Road the tides were turned as Chester were well beaten 6-0 to see The Blues finish in tenth position on 22 points.
The second half of the season started with a 1-1 draw at home to Blackpool on Boxing Day, for the rest of the season games would count towards the League North War Cup.
The first of the League War Cup qualifying games saw City beat Bury 3-2 at Maine Road, then draw 1-1 at Halifax, however Halifax then won 3-2 at Maine Road to leave City in 33rd place, one place outside the qualifying mark.
Severe weather meant The Blues had to wait two weeks to play their next game, a 4-3 win at Oldham, then two good wins against rivals Manchester United, in the ‘away’ game (played at Maine Road due to Old Trafford’s bomb damage) The Blues won 3-1 and seven days later, again at Maine Road United were beaten 2-0, City were now 27th in the qualifying period, however then lost 3-1 at Huddersfield, but with a 3-2 win at Maine Road against Huddersfield they progressed to the next qualifying period where they would have to finish in the top eighteen to qualify further.
City then lost 4-2 at Bury, however a 3-2 win over Oldham left them in 15th place on 13 points.
The Blues then lost 4-1 at Stockport, won 5-1 against Crewe at Maine Road, then lost 2-0 at Crewe and and 5-1 at home to Stockport. Despite the loss of form City qualified for the 2nd Round of the Cup.
City played Liverpool in the 2nd round and lost 3-0 in the first leg and couldn’t turn it around in the 2nd leg at Maine Road where Liverpool 3-1.
The Citizens finshed the year with a 1-0 defeat at home to Blackpool and at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool made it a double with a 4-0 win.
My grandfather is 89 and told me he went watch a friendly stockport county vs Man city at edgeley park when he said he was 10/12
Born in 1934 making the friendly match between 1944/1946 he spoke about great players like Frank swift others I can’t remember. It was his first match and he went on to support city.
Wondered if there was any records of the match played at edgeley park between the clubs from 1944/45 or in 1946?
Thanks