The Bluebirds play Manchester City in front of a sell-out attendance at Cardiff City Stadium this afternoon (4pm). dai-sport looks back at FA Cup links between the clubs.
Tony Book was starting out on his Manchester City career when he first came to Ninian Park.
Bath-born Book was in the Sky Blues team who played Cardiff City in an FA Cup fourth round tie more than 50 years ago and drew 1-1 in front of almost 38,000 spectators.
Around a decade later Book was back in South Wales and this time he was working alongside Bluebirds manager Richie Morgan.
“I left Manchester City and spent three months in Cardiff before going back to Maine Road,” says Bath-born Book, now aged 83.
Cardiff City forced a replay against First Division Manchester City thanks to a goal by Gareth Williams, their North London-born captain who chested down a Greg Farrell pass and burst forward to smash home an equaliser.
In the replay at Maine Road almost 42,000 turned out and the Bluebirds went ahead through George Johnston after nine minutes before Neil Young, Johnny Crossan and Colin Bell netted to earn the Manchunians a 3-1 win.
Book was 31-years-old when he signed for Manchester City from Plymouth Argyle. During the next eight years he made almost 250 league appearances and later had three spells as manager.
He says Malcolm Allison lied about Book’s age when he joined Plymouth Argyle, saying: “I was at non-league Bath City and was aged 30. Malcolm told them I was 28.
“When I produced my birth certificate there was a crease where my birthdate and it was unreadable so I just about got away with it.”
Cardiff City’s line-up for that FA Cup tie against Manchester City during 1966-67, Book’s first season at Maine Road was: Bob Wilson, Graham Coldrick, Bobby Ferguson, Gareth Williams (capt), Don Murray, Brian Harris, Greg Farrell, George Johnston, Bobby Brown, Peter King, Ronnie Bird. Sub not used: John Toshack.
Manchester City: Alan Ogley, Tony Book, Glyn Pardoe, Stan Horne, George Heslop, Alan Oakes, Mike Summerbee, Colin Bell, Mike Doyle, Johnny Crossley, Neil Young. Sub not used: Dave Connor.
Other Bluebirds v Sky Blues FA Cup clashes:
1923-24 quarter-final: Manchester City 0, Cardiff City 0 (attendance 76,166)
Replay: Cardiff City 0, Manchester City 1 ((50,000).
1960-61 third round: Cardiff City 1, Manchester City 1 (25,640)
Replay: Manchester City 0, Cardiff City 0 (40,000).
Second replay (at Highbury): Cardiff City 0, Manchester City 2 (24,168).
1966-67 fourth round: Cardiff City 1, Manchester City 1 (37,605).
Replay: Manchester City 3, Cardiff City 1.
1981-82: Manchester City 3, Cardiff City 1 (31,547).
1993-94: Cardiff City 1, Manchester City 0 (20,468).
Nathan Blake scored the winning goal and the teams that day were:
Manchester City: Coton, Lomas, Vonk, Ingebrigtsen, Curle, Kernaghan, Rocastle, Groenendijk, Griffiths, Flitcroft, Phelan. Subs Sheron, D Brightwell, Dibble (gk).
Cardiff City: Grew, Brazil, Searle, Aizlewood, Baddeley, Perry, Thompson, Richardson, Millar, Blake, Griffith. Subs: Bird, Adams, Kite.
