Rodney MARSH

 In his autobiography Priceless, published in 2001, Rodney Marsh himself admitted he'd cost City the First Division Championship in 1972. On the day he put pen to paper (March 8th that year) the Blues were four points clear at the top of the Division from second-placed Leeds. When the season finished nine games later, they'd slipped to fourth spot behind eventual Champions Derby County, albeit by just one point. Fans showed mixed reactions about the £200,000 (at the time a new club record) new arrival from Queens' Park Rangers.

Whilst no-one doubted his obvious skill and talent with the ball, many felt simply the way he played the game would upset the free-flowing, simple and direct way City played back then. Following his debut against Chelsea when he was obviously far from full fitness, he played some part in all but one of those nine games and whilst statistics themselves may take some of the blame off his shoulders, it is still a talking point amongst City supporters more than thirty years later.

He scored four times in his shortened debut season (including the third in a memorable 3-1 win at Old Trafford and a superb solo effort against Derby in the final game) but by the end of his first full campaign at Maine Road, 1972/73, City fans knew exactly why Malcolm Allison had been so determined to bring Marsh to Maine Road. With 19 goals he finished top scorer and had finally won over the crowd with his dazzling exhibitions of ball skills and showmanship. It was a disappointing season for City, however, with an 11th place finish in the league and no runs in any of the cups.

By the start of the 1973/74 campaign Marsh had become arguably the star player in a City team that would reach the final of the League Cup against Wolves. If his hat-trick in a 4-1 victory over York in Round 4 was the highlight, then the biggest disappointment must surely have been when the decisive Wolves' goal came courtesy of Marsh's back-heeled deflection into the path of the prolific John Richards. It wasn't the best season for either club or player. As City stuttered to a final League position of 14th, Marsh could only manage nine goals from 34/1 appearances. (Ian Penney - author of The Legends of Manchester City)

The 1974/75 season started out much better for both Marsh and City. After a convincing 4-0 home win against West Ham United on the opening day (when Marsh himself scored twice), the Blues lost just three of the first fifteen League games. The home game against Queens Park Rangers at the end of September was decided by Marsh's spectacular overhead kick, a goal he'd later describe as possibly the best of his career. Unfortunately though, he was unable to maintain any consistent goalscoring form and could only finish one better off (ten against nine) than the previous year.

By now he was captaining the side but, again by his own admittance, struggled to form a close working relationship with the new Maine Road management team of former captain Tony Book and his assistant Ian McFarlane. It was a strained relationship and one that would cost the player dearly the following season. 1975/76 began with three convincing home wins, 3-0 against Norwich and then successive 4-0 victories against firstly, Newcastle and then Middlesbrough. With two against Middlesbrough followed by the only goal of the game at Stoke and then one in a controversial 3-2 win at Arsenal, Marsh was in a rich vein with four goals in five games. The week after the Arsenal success at the beginning of October, Burnley played out a goalless draw at Maine Road.

It proved to be Marsh's last game in City's colours. He was later transferred to NASL side Tampa Bay Rowdies and Mike Doyle had taken over the captaincy. Marsh, the holder of nine England caps (eight won whilst with City), and soccer in the Florida sunshine were made for each other. Over the next few years he would become not only a superstar in Tampa, but would go on to be the driving force that made them arguably the most glamorous side in that most glamorous of countries. A break from Florida saw him return to England for a short while to join his first club Fulham, teaming up with his great friends George Best and Bobby Moore to provide some marvellous times at Craven Cottage. With a total of 47 goals from 150/2 appearances, he was undoubtedly one of City's greatest entertainers. (Ian Penney - author The Legends of Manchester City)