1924/25 SEASON REVIEW
Over the Summer of 1924 it was made clear by the City board that although the club were not happy with the performance in the previous season, due to a debt of around £90,000, mainly from the construction of Maine Road, there would be little, or no money to spend in the forthcoming season. In addition the club had a new manager, David Ashorth, who had taken over from Ernest Mangnall in July
The Blues did bring in Centre Back James McCourt from Sheffield United, and Arsenal reserve half back Stanley Holt.
The season started well with a 2-0 win at newly promoted Bury, and despite a narrow 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Highbury, City then beat Nottingham Forest 4-2 at Maine Road.
An early break from the league saw a combined Manchester team played a combined Liverpool/Everton team, in ex manager, Ernest Mangnalls Testimonial, the Merseyside team winning 3-2.
Back in the league City lost 5-3 at Liverpool and then beat Arsenal 2-0 and Newcastle 3-1, both games at Maine Road. After six games the early league table showed City in third place in Division 1 on eight points.
The Blues made it four wins on the trot as they beat Sheffield United 5-0 at Bramall Lane and West Ham 3-1 at Maine Road, City were now level on points with league leaders Huddersfield Town.
After such a good start City’s fortunes took a dramatic dip, they lost 3-1 at Blackburn, at Maine Road they drew 1-1 with Huddersfield and 2-2 with Bolton and then lost 3-1 at Everton and 2-0 at new league leaders Notts County, The Blues had slipped down to eighth in Division 1.
City’s barren spell continued with a 2-2 draw at home to Everton and a 1-1 draw at Tottenham.
After 10 years with The Citizens Horace Barnes was transferred to Preston.
City made it a miserable ten games without a win as they lost 3-2 at Sunderland and drew 2-2 at Cardiff.
A welcome break from the League saw City beat a touring South African XI 3-1 in a friendly at Maine Road. Back on track The Blues beat Preston 3-2 at Deepdale, drew 2-2 at home to Burnley and beat Leeds 3-0, amazingly City were still in contention for the title standing in seventh place just two points behind leaders West Brom with half the season gone, the Blues then made it four games unbeaten with a 2-2 draw against Birmingham at Maine Road.
City possibly had too much Turkey over Christmas as they lost to West Brom 2-1 at Maine Road on Christmas Day then on Boxing Day West Brom won again, 3-1 at The Hawthorns.
1925 started with a 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest then City were knocked out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle losing 4-1 at Preston, but with another league win, 5-0 at gome to Liverpool, City moved up to ninth, seven points behind leaders West Brom.
Unfortunately City’s form dropped and they ended January with a 2-0 defeat at Newcastle and a 0-0 draw with Bury at Maine Road.
February brought just one win, City lost 4-0 at West Ham and 3-1 at home to Blackburn then drew 1-1 at Huddersfield.
At Maine Road The Blues beat Sheffield United 2-1 but then lost 4-2 at Bolton.
With City out of the cup they only played two games in March, winning 2-1 against Notts County and losing 3-1 to Sunderland, both games at Maine Road. The Blues were now ensconsed in mid-table 13 points behind leaders Huddersfield with eight games to play. To keep the players match fit The Blues also played a friendly at Bolton losing 3-0.
April started with two victories, 2-0 at Cardiff and 2-1 at home to Preston, however Easter was disappointing with a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa on Good Friday and the next day a 1-0 defeat at Burnley, Bank Holiday Monday brought a win, 1-0 against Aston Villa at Maine Road.
With just three games left to play City were the epitome of a mediocre mid-table side as they stood in 11th place in Division 1.
City then beat Leeds 4-2 at Maine Road.
The penultimate game of the season was a 2-1 defeat at Birmingham.
A benefit game for Billy Meredith was then held at Maine Road, a Meredith selected City side drew 2-2 against a Celtic/Rangers combined XI.
City’s season petered out with a 1-0 win at home to Tottenham. The final Division 1 table showed The Blues in tenth place on 43 points.
City brought in another player with the transfer of inside right Robert Dennison from Brighton and Hove Albion.