Monday, 25 February 2008


Maine Road hybrids
It seems only right to begin the club round-up with my own team, Manchester City. What a peculiar hybrid these stanchions formed in the 70s. Although they had the aesthetic quality of the full 'bar-to-ground' type, they managed to ruin it all by having the nets hanging limply from the top, in the manner of the 'mini-triangle' version so beloved of St James's Park and others. Typical City.

What an effect there could have been, had it been done correctly, with the broad arch described by the stanchion providing an invitingly large space to thump the ball into. No chance of the ball cannoning out of those nets.
Alas it was not to be, so Franny Lee-One Pen's spot kicks, Peter Barnes in the midst of a 5 goal rout of Spurs and the same Mr Lee's 'look at his face' moment for Derby against us will always be missing that final something.
Later on - and before succumbing to the bland continental style - City moved to the afore mentioned mini triangle but this is not the memory that lingers.

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