Booth backs Mango

Manchester City legend Tommy Booth knows all about tough baptisms.
In his first three games for the Blues, as a raw 18-year-old centre half he faced up to Frank Worthington, John Radford and Jimmy Greaves, three of the top Sixties strikers.
So he had plenty of sympathy for new Blue defender Eliaquim Mangala when he had his nightmarish blip against Hull – and has backed the Frenchman to be a big City success.
Langley lad Booth made his league debut for the Blues 46 years ago tomorrow, a teenager up against the free-scoring Arsenal forward John Radford.
And Booth, now a 64-year-old grandad and still an avid City fan, will celebrate the anniversary of his league bow by leading the first of a new sequence of Legends Tours.
Booth made his Blues debut in a goalless draw in a League Cup tie at Huddersfield, when he came up against Worthington, one of the most outrageously talented and innovative players of his era, in September 1968.
A month later, after City had crashed out of the European Cup to Turkish side Fenerbahce and then lost 2-0 at Everton, he was given his big chance, when George Heslop was dropped.
He impressed City managers Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison enough to keep his place, and take on the frightening Tottenham pairing of Greaves and Alan Gilzean in the next game.
“The first thing I remember about playing for the first team was how quick it was,” says Booth.
“When you are playing in the A and B teams, or the reserves, and then take that step up, for 10 minutes you have no idea what day it is.
“I was gutted when we got knocked out of the European Cup, but if it hadn’t happened, I might not have got my chance.
“As it was, I took my chance and ended up winning the FA Cup that season, and then we won the double of League Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup the following season.”
Booth went on to play 492 times for the Blues from 1968 to 1981, placing him seventh in the list of all-time appearances for the club – a loyalty that still makes him a fans’ favourite today.
He was a cultured centre half in an era when the stereotypical English defender was a hulking beast of a man.

A Langley legend along with the other City stalwart from my old patch, Kenny Clements.

My other half grew up in a house opposite Tommy Booth's. Local legend, without a doubt.

She must have lived in the small walk across from Langley High School TBW?

Went there recently when we were visiting her sister and she showed me her old house. Yeah, not far from the school.

My Uncle bought Tommy Booths house when he lived in Bury...it's about 500yds from where i live now.

Copeland Close? That's the name I think!

No it wasn't Copeland Close it was something 'Walk', i know Copeland Close its down near the bottom of Bowness Road. Unless thy moved to there later on but Copeland is nowhere near Langley High.

She lived in Copeland, and his mum or in-laws lived opposite. Apparently his missus was a bit up her own arse, but he was a nice fella.