1894/95 SEASON REVIEW
After Ardwick’s demise, they were reborn as Manchester City and gained a place in League Division 2 for the 1894/94 Season. The Manchester Guardian previewed the season; “Manchester City takes the place of Ardwick as Newton Heath’s principal rival, and the doings of the two clubs in the Second Division will doubtless arouse much local excitement. Newton Heath claiim to have a sounder team than was the case last year, and although the “City” players are practically unknown quantities they have given every satisfaction in the trial games which have taken place during the past fortnight, and the managers are hopeful of securing a prominent place in the table”.
Joshua Parlby continued as manager and new players brought in too boost former Ardwick staff included Thomas Little from Derby, George Mann from Blackburn, Archie Ferguson from Preston and Alec ‘Sandy’ Wallace from Blackpool. It was a mixed start for the newly reformed Citizens as they lost 4-2 at Bury on the opening day of the season, then drew 1-1 at Hyde Road against Burton Wanderers and again at home they beat Burslem Port Vale 4-1. A busy September finished with a 2-1 win at Walsall Town Swifts a 5-2 defeat at home to Grimsby Town and a further defeat, 4-2 at Woolwich Arsenal. The early table saw City mid-table with five points from six games. October started with the defection of four City players to Canada. An American agent with promises of fantastic wages, persuaded Little, Calvey, Wallace and Ferguson to board The “Teutonic” from Liverpool to Canada, the idea was to promote a new American Football League, which was seen as a way to employ the baseball professionals during the North American winter. The City board immediately bolstered the depleted squad bringing in Walter McReddie and John Walker of Stoke. On the field The Blues lost 3-2 at Rotherham Town, then beat Walsall Town Swifts 6-1 at Hyde Road and Notts County 3-1 at Trent Bridge. However October finished with two defeats, 4-2 at home to Darwen and 5-4 at Newcastle. City’s first ever Manchester Derby occurred on an overcast 3rd November when a Billy Meredith brace couldn’t stop newly relegated Newton Heath from winning 5-2 at Hyde Road. After twelve games The Blues were tenth with nine points. The only other game in November saw a fourth consecutive defeat as City lost 2-1 at Burton Swifts. At the beginning of December Calvey, Little and Ferguson returned from Canada, as financial promises were not met. The City board decided to wait on the FA to decide how the players should be treated. At Hyde Road City then drew 3-3 against Bury and beat Woolwich Arsenal 4-1, moving in to Christmas they were ninth in Division 2 on twelve points. The FA then announced that the returning players from Canada had been suspended indefinitely for leaving the club without permission. It appeared The Blues had possibly been partaking too much of the Festive cheer as they were thrashed 8-0 by Burton Wanderers on Boxing Day. Three days later they beat Fleetwood 1-0 in a friendly at Hyde Road then back in the league on New Years Eve they beat Crewe 3-2 at Nantwich Road. The two league games played in January ended in a 1-0 win over Rotherham Town at Hyde Road on New Years Day and four days later a 4-1 defeat at local rivals Newton Heath. They also played one friendly beating Small Heath Alliance 2-1 at Hyde Road. February started with a 2-1 win at Burslem Port Vale. Little and Calvey appealed to the FA to have their suspensions lifted and the decision was that the suspension period would end after three months. The only other league game in February was a 4-0 win at home to Newcastle. City did play a friendly with a 2-0 win over a Combination XI at Hyde Road. March started with a third victory on the trot beating Lincoln City 2-0 at John O’Gaunts and then a fourth win as Notts County were emphatically beaten 7-1 at Hyde Road. Back to the league and and a 3-1 defeat at Leicester Fosse was followed by an amazing 11-3 victory over Lincoln City at Hyde Road which still stands as City’s best competitive win. March finished with a 1-1 draw at home to Leicester Fosse. City were destined for a mid-table finish in their first season in their new guise. The Blues started April with a 4-0 defeat at Darwen however they won 4-1 against Crewe on Good Friday and 4-1 against Burton Swifts on Easter Saturday. Two further friendlies were played, a 1-0 win at Millwall and a 2-1 defeat at Hyde Road against Preston. In the last league game of the season City were beaten 2-1 at Grimsby and finished in 9th position in Division 2. Two final friendlies were played, a 9-0 win against Everton and a 3-2 defeat to Fairfield, both games at Hyde Road.