City Fans Know The Meaning of History

When I was at school, history was a far from popular subject - the only students that seemed to make any headway were those with a photographic memory or a freakish love of numbers and statistics. Only after Year 8 (or the 3rd year, in old money) were you were actually taught the significance behind the lists of dates and figures, that's when it became more interesting.

At present, City and Everton fans seem to be at odds over several issues, ranging from the Merseysiders treatment of Robinho in last years league clash, to the Joleon Lescott transfer. The somewhat riled Evertonians keep quoting the word 'History' as if it should be the ultimate argument stopper.

A quick look at the stats will confirm that The Toffees have indeed won the league on 7 more occasions than City and have 5 FA Cup triumphs to our 4. Both clubs have had equal success in Europe with one trophy each and City have won the League Cup twice with Evertons tally standing at never. It would be fair to say that Everton have a more impressive list of achievments than City, but do they have more history?

On March 3rd, 1934 a crowd of 84,569 watched City play Stoke in an FA Cup match at Maine Road. The fact that it is still a record crowd for an English game played outside of Wembley makes it a point of historical significance, winning the league in 1906 is nothing more than a worthwhile statistic. Everton's cup victory in 1966 will best be remembered for an errant fan being chased across Wembley's hallowed turf by less energetic members of the Metropolitan Police. A decade earlier City legend, Bert Trautmann had helped the Citizens secure the FA Cup in one of the most historic finals ever, when he played on with a broken neck. Eddie Kavanagh's antics might have raised a smile in '66 but Trautmann's bravery will be as synonimous with Wembley history as Bobby Moore lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy or the White Horse Final of 1923.

Everton haven't won a trophy since 1995, City have been bereft of success since 1976, records that neither club will take comfort from. In the last 15 years, Everton have had a brief flirtation with the threat of relegation and an even briefer fling with Champions League football. During the same period, City have been relegated 3 times and promoted 3 times, 7 consecutive seasons of never playing a game that wasn't crucial in deciding in which division the club would ply it's trade the following season.

Off the field events were equally momentous, or historic if you will. Since 1995, Everton have had their share of boardroom wranglings along with most other clubs. City, on the other hand have endured boardroom coups, a move to a new stadium, resignations of key administrive figures and takeovers involving an international fugitive and an oil trillionaire.

The shennanagins at City have not lead to the immediate appointment of a sign-writer to update the honours board, but 50 years from now, 'The History Of Football' could well be a valid academic subject. The course reading on Manchester City F.C. will run into several volumes, studying the subject will be time consumming, but never boring.