BARROW KIDD
FC United’s FA Cup clash with Barrow on Sunday brings to mind the current Assistant Manager of Manchester City. Brian Kidd, hero of both Reds and Blues in his time, cut his managerial teeth at the Cumbrian Club for six months in the 1984-85 season.
Kidd enjoyed his finest moment in the game soon after it started, playing and scoring in the 1968 European Cup Final success against Benfica, on his 19th Birthday. In 1970 Sir Alf Ramsey capped him twice for England, the young Mancunian scoring against Ecuador. . But the decline of Manchester United in the early 1970’s hampered his development, and when United were relegated in 1974 the Collyhurst-born striker moved to Arsenal.
The Gunners were a club in transition at that time, and Kidd gladly agreed to a move to Manchester City in 1976, scoring more than 50 goals for the Blues, just as he had done for the Reds. Derby matches were always big occasions for him. In a famous FA Cup 4th Round tie at Old Trafford in January 1970, Kidd scored twice in a 3-0 victory, racing half the half of the pitch to lob keeper Ken Mulhearn in front of a pulsating Stretford End for his first goal. In September 1977, the boot was on the other foot as he netted twice for City against United at Maine Road.
Kidd never got to win an FA Cup Winners medal, reaching the Semi-Finals with United in 1970 and Everton. However as Assistant manager to Alex Ferguson he won the trophy at Wembley in 1994 and 1996, both of these ‘Double’ seasons for United.
His coaching career has included being England Assistant manager when Sven-Goran Eriksson was in charge, but his era working his Ferguson between 1991 and 1998 will be remembered most.
Brian’s current role assisting Roberto Mancini at Manchester City squares the circle for the man who has played for and coached both Youth Team and Seniors at both powerhouses of Manchester football.
The Most Important Cup Tie?
In our short 5 and a half year history we have had some exciting and important cup ties along the way. Who can forget the North West Counties Football League Cup Final at the end of our second season as we came back from 1-0 down to win 2-1 against Curzon Ashton on their home ground to do the Double?
Earlier that same season we played our first match in an FA competition – The FA Vase – at Brodsworth Miners Welfare, running out 3-1 winners. Subsequent games against Salford at the Willows, winning 3-2, and finally losing at home to Quorn after going down to nine men are already part of our rich history to be retold around a blazing fire on a cold winters night.
The following season we played our first ever FA Cup tie, away to Trafford, winning 5-2 at Altincham’s Moss Lane ground and last season we had the drama of a 3-3 draw in the FA Cup 3rd qualifying round at home to Stalybridge before beating them 1-0 on their own ground with a stunning strike from Jerome Wright. That win set up a 4th Round Qualifying tie away to Northwich Victoria with the winners already knowing that they would be at home to Charlton Athletic in the first round proper.
Despite a passionate crowd urging the players on FC lost the tie 3-0, a scoreline that flattered Northwich, from which the victors went on to beat Charlton before narrowly losing to Lincoln City in the next round.
FC now prepare to meet Barrow in the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round at home on Sunday with a prize of the first round proper awaiting the winners. Barrow are the highest ranked club that FC have played in a competitive match and are the current FA Trophy holders. They are one of Margy’s former clubs and they will be bringing probably the largest travelling support to Gigg Lane for an FC game.
Is it our biggest ever cup tie? I’ll tell you after Sunday.