Have we ever been relegated and gone straight back up? Certainly not in my lifetime as a supporter (since the late 1970s but my first relegation was 87-88)
Only once I think. In 1902-3 we went down from the original South 1 division to South 2, and we got promoted back up again the following season.
A quick check and it appears just the once, and i’m not sure if counts... 1902 relegated from South 1 into South 2, straight back the next season as champs. Though there only seems to have been 20 games in the season.
Interesting omen. I think that was the year Wally Eames was interviewed by exchange of telegrams to explain his lack of goals. There was a backlash after the interviewer pointed out if his critics had been there just 22 years earlier they wouldn’t have had a club to support. Watford was burned to the ground in the ensuing riot.
Went to that game at Maine Road. Kinkladze playing for City. Stayed up in Manchester. Great night out!
Who would have thought this dull 0-0 was the kick up the arse we needed? Who would have thought that 16 games later we would accumulate 40 points from a possible 48 and achieve promotion and be 10 points clear of 3rd?
I thought it was interesting that Cleverly mentioned the players meeting after that game, because that suggests what many of us already suspect, that it was the players who were the main instigators of our system change and The Kid mainly just went along for the ride.