- Manchester City F.C. strip
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This page is about the identity of Manchester City Football Club. For the main page see Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 1880 as St Marks (West Gorton) and currently based in east Manchester, Sportcity near Gorton where the club originally originated. The club's main colour is a distinctive light blue.
As St Marks (West Gorton) they played in a black strip from 1884–1887 and then in blue and white strips as Ardwick F.C. during 1887-1894. Since their inception as Manchester City Football Club in 1894, the club's main colour evolved over time into the colour of light blue and have always maintained this as the main home colour in all of their kits to date.
The club runs a series of partnerships and sponsorships with various companies. Their main partnership is with Etihad Airways with the club having a deal until 2021 which features broad agreement across many fronts unlike other football club sponsorship deals. Other partnership deals include EA Sports and Jaguar with a deal expected with Disney-owned ESPN in 2011.[1]
Manchester City is often referred to as Man City purely out of convenience as a shorter name. The club are perhaps the most known club with the title of City in their name, hence why the club are often just referred to as City. Other nicknames include The Blues and The Citizens, which is more often used outside England.
Contents
Traditional colours
Sky blue
The first use of sky blue for a Manchester City was the season in which Manchester City formed in 1894 changing from Ardwick.
Black
Reports dating from 1884 describe the team wearing black jerseys bearing a white cross, showing the club's origins as a church side.[3]
Red and black
A booklet entitled Famous Football Clubs – Manchester City published in the 1940s indicates that West Gorton (St. Marks) originally played in scarlet and black.
In the 1960s, Malcolm Allison, then assistant manager to Joe Mercer insisted on the club wearing red and black striped away shirts. The belief was Allison wished to replicate the colours of AC Milan to inspire his players and give the team confidence.
Strangely enough, the idea worked and in the ensuing years won the 1969 FA Cup Final and 1970 European Cup Winners' Cup in red and black and were recognised as one of the most exciting teams in English football.[4]
The kit was revived in 2004 for one season. But when the 2010-11 season saw past City greats such as Malcolm Allison, Neil Young and Mike Doyle[5] pass away the red and black strips were revived in the away kit for the 2011-12 season. The club unveiled the red and black away kit at the homecoming parade in May 2011 when the club paraded their first FA Cup triumph since the red and black team of the 1960s and early 70s.[6]
Strip
Home kit
Manchester City's home colours are sky blue and white, which have been since Ardwick F.C. consolidated into Manchester City in 1893.[7]
The current kit features a tonal soundwave across the chest of the shirt, taken from the Manchester City supporters singing their rendition of "Blue Moon".[8]
Strip used in 1890, whilst as Ardwick F.C. Strip used for one season only in 1892–93 1894– First Manchester City strip in blue 
2002–03 strip, darker shade of blue 
2010–11 'sky blue' shirt with and blue, maroon socks 
2011–12 'soundwave' design Away kit
Traditional away kit colours have been either maroon or (from the 1960s) red and black; however, in recent years several different colours have been used. One of the most famous City away kits is the black and red striped shirt, reminiscent of AC Milan's home shirt. The idea for red and black away colours came from former assistant manager Malcolm Allison, who believed that adopting the colours of AC Milan would inspire City to glory.[9] Another favourite is the 1998 navy blue and luminous yellow stripes shirt, which was used in the 1998 Division 2 play-off final.[10] The shirt is considered lucky as Manchester City scored two late goals in stoppage time and draw the game and went on to seal a remarkable victory on penalties after extra time.[10]
Famous red and black striped shirt, in use since 1970s 
1997–99, popular kit, perceived as lucky[10] 2001–02 luminous away shirt 
2009–10, strip reflecting Manchester Bee symbol[11] 
2010–11 shirt 2011–12, Revival of Famous red and black striped shirt Third kit
2004–05 and design used numerous seasons. Popular kit 
2007–08 third shirt 
2008–09, luminous orange shirt 
2009–10, rehash of 1970s shirt with red and black sash[12] 
2010–11, change to white shorts and socks, same shirt 2011–12 third shirt Special kits
Two known special kits have been known to have been used on occasion. In 1956, Manchester City featuring players such as Don Revie, Bert Trautmann and Ken Barnes went to Wembley for the FA Cup Final in a special maroon pinstriped kit.[13] The club also wore a sky blue kit without sponsorship during the 2007–08 league Manchester derby at Old Trafford to mark the 50th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster.[14]
1956 FA Cup Final kit 2008 Munich air disaster anniversary match Scarves
Roberto Mancini popularised the use of split blue and white scarves in the colours of Manchester City
In recent years, the club has become synonymous with plain blue and white 'split' scarves which were common in the pre-1970s in football. The blue and white scarf gained prominence under manager Roberto Mancini who continued his tradition of wearing a scarf of the club's colours which he manages. Mancini first wore a scarf when taking over as manager of Manchester City in December 2009 subsequently the club sold out of the scarves.
In 2011, the red and black colours worn by City in the last 1960s and early 1970s were revived in scarf form. During Manchester City's FA Cup run in 2010-11, the club were drawn against Leicester City. City bowed to pleas from Manchester City supporters to honour Neil Young, the scorer of Manchester City's winning goal in the 1969 FA Cup Final and who had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Consequently the club decided to produce special red and black scarves for supporters to take to Leicester for the third round tie.[15] Coincidently, the red and black colours were introduced by former City manager Malcolm Allison who died earlier in the season and poignantly City won the 2010-11 FA Cup, their first since the famous red and black team of 1969.[16]
In 2011, Manchester City decided to commission a tartan to commemorate the links between Selkirk and Manchester City where Bobby Johnstone was born. The tartan partern will be on various merchandise for winter 2011 including a scarf.[17]
Crest
City have previously worn two other crests on their shirts. The first, introduced in 1970, was based on designs which had been used on official club documentation since the mid-1960s. It consisted of a circular badge which used the same shield as the current crest, inside a circle bearing the name of the club. In 1972, this was replaced by a variation which replaced the lower half of the shield with the red rose of Lancashire.
Current crest
The current club crest was adopted in 1997, the exact reason of the crest change is believed to have been down to problems copyrighting the pre-1997 crest with the club stating: "an unsatisfactory situation had developed at Manchester City regarding the licensing out of the round badge on an ad hoc basis which has led to a number of problems with counterfeit goods. This we felt was leading to a devaluing of the Manchester City brand, and consequently its badge in both the modern market and in football."[18] however some claim this is not the true reason for the new crest.[19]
The badge is based on the arms of the city of Manchester, and consists of a shield in front of a golden eagle. The shield features a ship on its upper half representing the Manchester Ship Canal, and three diagonal stripes in the lower half, for the city's three rivers. The bottom of the badge bears the Latin motto Superbia in Proelio which translates as Pride in Battle. Above the eagle and shield are three stars, which are purely decorative. As of 2010 the club has no intention of revising the current crest.[20] Although the element of the eagle in the new badge design was not well received by famous City fan Noel Gallagher, "It looks like the Lazio badge with that eagle on it. The last badge had a little ship on it going down the Manchester Ship Canal and the rose of Lancashire. When was the last time you saw an eagle in Manchester?"[21]
Manchester Coat of Arms
Manchester coat of armsWhenever Manchester City plays in a major cup final or at Wembley, the club maintains a unique tradition of not wearing the usual crest;[22] instead shirts bearing a badge of the City of Manchester coat of arms are used, as a symbol of pride in representing the city of Manchester at a major event.[22] This practice originates from a time when the players' shirts did not normally bear a badge of any kind, but has continued throughout the history of the club.[23] The coat of arms were used since the 1926 FA Cup Final to all major finals at Wembley or in European competition until the 1981 FA Cup Final.
The shield base is red with three gold bands diagonally across to the right hand side representing the three rivers of Manchester: the Medlock, the Irwell and the Irk. The top segment shows a ship in full sail, a reference to the city's trading base and to the Manchester Ship Canal. On a multicoloured wreath is a terrestrial globe, which symbols Manchester's world trade. In the globe, bees are depicted in heraldic terms represents efficient industry and the Manchester bee is symbol seen around the city.[22] To this day the bee is often used as a shorthand emblem of Manchester and the black and gold colour has been used in Manchester City's kit to represent the Manchester bee.
The last official acknowledgement that the Manchester coat of arms would adorn the Manchester City shirt at a Wembley or cup final was when the club released a press release in 1997 revealing their new crest, in which the club stated: "The new club crest is based on elements from the original "Arms of the City of Manchester", the crest which is still used by Manchester City PLC today and worn on the team shirt for all Wembley occasions"[18]
The home shirt planned for the 2011 FA Cup Final will have the current crest but will have the Manchester coat of arms involved in the numbers on the back of the kit, rather than replacing the current Manchester City crest on the front of the shirt.[24]
Sponsorship
Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor 1975–1982 Umbro none 1982–1984 Saab 1984–1987 Philips 1987–1997 Brother 1997–1999 Kappa 1999–2002 Le Coq Sportif Eidos 2002–2003 First Advice 2003–2004 Reebok 2004–2007 Thomas Cook 2007–2009 Le Coq Sportif 2009–2019 Umbro (to 2019[25]) Etihad (to 2021[26] Etihad partnership
The partnership will see Etihad having naming rights to the City of Manchester Stadium, shirt sponsorship, areas in the Eastlands development named after Etihad and investment of Etihad Airways in the Manchester region. The deal has been estimated at a possible value to Manchester City from anywhere of £100 to £400 million[27] over ten years, which takes into account the value of shirt sponsorship, stadium naming rights and naming rights for future, new developments surrounding the stadium.
Kit sponsorship
Manchester City has always maintained close links to Umbro, the company being formed locally in Wilmslow, Cheshire and currently based in nearby Cheadle close to Manchester City. Umbro supplied their very first kit to Manchester City in the 1934 FA Cup Final[28] and from 1975, the era when kit manufacturer sponsorship dawned, Umbro was City's kit manufacturer until 1997, a period of 22 years. Umbro since 2009 have been the club's kit manufacturer, after the club signed a 10 year sponsorship deal with Umbro, the value of the sponsorship was not been revealed.[29]
Shirt sponsorship
The club currently has a shirt sponsor agreement with Etihad Airways since 2009. The value of deal was not disclosed, but the sponsorship deal is believed to be one of the largest in world football[30] and is for an initial three years.[31] The club has had shirt sponsorships with car company Saab, electronics company Philips, video games company Eidos and financial services company, First Advice.[32]
Club sponsors
The Etihad 'Blue Moon Rising' in Manchester City livery which flies from Manchester to Abu Dhabi daily. Etihad are one of City's commercial partners.As of 2011, excluding Umbro and Etihad the club have various sponsor partners.[33] The expiry date where available or known for each partnership is stated in this list:
- Ferrostaal - to end of 2011-12 season.[34]
- Jaguar Cars - to end of 2013-14 season.[35]
- Etisalat - to end of November 2012.[36]
- EA Sports[37][38]
- Mansion.com - to end of 2012-13 season.[39]
- Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority - to end of 2012-13 season.[40]
- Amstel
- Aabar Investments
- Thomas Cook Sport
- Key 103
Motto
Manchester City's Latin motto is "Superbia in Proelio" which means "Pride in Battle".[41][42] The club motto was adopted in 1997 to coincide with the new club crest.[18]
Mascot
Like all clubs in the Premier League, Manchester City have a mascot, two in this case. Both are anthropomorphic aliens, called Moonchester and Moonbeam.[43] The name is a play on words with Moon- named after the club's unofficial anthem, "Blue Moon" and -chester being the last part of Manchester, where the club was formed and is based. Both aliens come from the planet 'Blue Moon'.
Retired numbers
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
No. Position Player 23 
MF Marc-Vivien Foé (posthumous honour) Since 2003, Manchester City have not issued the squad number 23.[44] It was retired in memory of Marc-Vivien Foé, who was on loan to the club from Lyon at the time of his death on the field of play whilst playing for Cameroon in the 2003 Confederations Cup.[45]
References
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- ^ "Club History – The Club – Manchester City FC". mcfc.co.uk. http://www.mcfc.co.uk/The-Club/Club-History. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
- ^ James, Manchester: The Greatest City pp. 14–15
- ^ "The top 50 football kits". The Times. 26 September 2007. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2537973.ece. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
- ^ "Mike Doyle 1946-2011". Manchester City F.C.. 29 June 2011. http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Club-news/Mike-Doyle-1946-to-2011.
- ^ "City revive red and black for 11/12 away kit". Manchester City F.C.. 23 May 2011. http://www.mcfc.co.uk/news/club-news/2011/may/manchester-city-revive-red-and-black-for-next-seasons-away-kit.
- ^ "Historical Football Kits - Manchester City". historicalkits.co.uk. http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Manchester_City/Manchester_City.htm. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
- ^ "New City home kit launched". Manchester City F.C.. 15 July 2011. http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Club-news/2011/July/New-Manchester-City-home-kit-revealed.
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- ^ "Back to the future for the third kit". mcfc.co.uk. 28 August 2010. http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Club-news/2009/August/Back-to-the-future-for-third-kit. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
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- ^ "Points of Blue 15th September 2009". mcfc.co.uk. 15 September 2009. http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Club-news/2009/October/~/media/Files/Final%20Points%20of%20Blue%20Minutes%20090915.ashx. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
- ^ "MCFC Quotes". bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk. http://www.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/Fans/MCFCQuotes.aspx. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
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- ^ "Cup final shirt to feature coat of arms". Manchester City F.C.. 2 May 2011. http://www.mcfc.co.uk/news/club-news/2011/may/manchester-coat-of-arms-on-cup-final-shirt. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
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- ^ Oscroft, Tim (8 July 2011). "City and Etihad announce 10 year partnership". Manchester City. http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Club-news/2011/July/8-July-Manchester-City-and-Etihad-partnership-announcement. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ Taylor, Daniel (8 July 2011). "Manchester City bank record £400m sponsorship deal with Etihad Airways". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jul/08/manchester-city-deal-etihad-airways. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
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- ^ Taylor, Daniel (10 December 2008). "Manchester City seek sponsorship agreement with Etihad". London: guardian.co.uk. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/dec/10/manchester-city-sponsorship. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
- ^ "Manchester City announce Etihad Airways sponsor deal". footballshirtculture.com. 24 May 2009. http://www.footballshirtculture.com/200905242319/sponsorship/manchester-city-etihad-airways-sponsor.html. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
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- ^ "Manchester City Sponsors". mcfc.co.uk. 17 October 2010. http://www.mcfc.co.uk/The-Club/Sponsors.
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- ^ "Club in Etisalat deal". Manchester City F.C.. 10 November 2009. http://www.mcfc.co.uk/news/club-news/2009/november/club-announces-etisalat-partnership. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ "EA Sports are new City partners". Manchester City F.C.. 18 July 2011. http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Club-news/2011/July/EA-Sports-are-new-Manchester-City-partners.
- ^ "EA Sports signs 'unprecedented' Man City FIFA deal". computerandvideogames.com. 18 July 2011. http://www.computerandvideogames.com/311973/news/ea-sports-signs-unprecedented-man-city-fifa-deal/.
- ^ "Mansion.com are new Manchester City partners". Manchester City F.C.. 16 August 2011. http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Club-news/2011/August/Mansion-are-new-Manchester-City-partners. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
- ^ "Man City announce deal with Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority". Manchester City F.C.. 10 May 2010. http://www.mcfc.co.uk/news/club-news/2010/may/abu-dhabi-tourist-board-and-city-join-forces. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
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External links
Manchester City Football Club History Overview People Grounds Reserve grounds Training ground Carrington Training CentreFootball teams Media Blue Moon Rising · MediaRivalries Related articles Categories:- Manchester City F.C.
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