Joe Corrigan: Tommy Booth deserved to play for England | OneFootball

Joe Corrigan says fellow City legend Tommy Booth stands as one of the unluckiest players never to be capped by England.

Mancunian born and bred; the hugely popular former City centre half, who helped the Club to league, FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup success during his storied career, celebrates his 75th birthday today.

Few are better placed to reflect on Tommy’s enormous City contribution better than fellow Club icon Corrigan.

After first playing alongside each other in a trial game back in the summer of 1966, the pair not only became lifelong friends but also shared the notable distinction of going on to represent the Club with huge distinction across three decades.

Between them the pair racked up more than 1,000 appearances for the Club all told.

As well as accumulating a bucketload of medals along the way, Tommy and Joe also established a special bond cemented by years of unstinting service to City with their close attachment to the Club continuing to this day on home matchdays and beyond.

And in reflecting on the career and impact of a man who serves as the embodiment of the phrase unsung hero, Joe believes Tommy also ranks as one of the most deserving players never to be capped by their country.

“He's just one of those special players who really didn't get the accolades he should have done,” Joe points out.

“And I really do think he should have played for England.

“I know when Joe Mercer took over as the caretaker England manager in 1974, he named Tommy in the squad, but he didn’t get a game

“He was just one of the key players, a little like Alan Oakes, who are part and parcel of what makes a special team.

“Lads like Tommy are maybe what some used to call the hod carriers, but don’t forget without the hod carriers you’d never build any houses.

“It was very, very unfortunate that he wasn’t capped as it was during an era when there were so many top centre halves around.

“But, you know, it didn't faze him at all. He just got on with his job and his job was playing centre half for Manchester City.

“That was your bread and butter. And it was a bonus if you got picked for England.

“I was fortunate enough to have Tommy as my centre half when I made my City trial and we ended up winning and chief scout Harry Godwin signed me on that night.

“And from that day onwards, we've always been fantastic mates.

“He was a really classy centre half. And he was one of the best headers of the ball for retaining possession. Rather than just head it away, he’d always try and find a player.

“I think it was Joe Mercer who equated Tommy when he was a young lad to the great Raich Carter which was a special compliment.

“Some people say he wasn't the paciest of players, but he was such a great reader of the game, a superb tackler and for such a slim lad back in those days, Tommy was a really, really tough character too.

“Tommy was one of those people who made that team what it was.

“He was a local lad like me and we kept our feet on the floor and I think that probably helped further endear us to the fans.

“We weren't what was classed as the superstars of that team but we were always there.

“Tommy was a great lad. He is still a great lad and we're really dear friends.”

Tommy and Joe’s bond doesn’t just stretch to being teammates and friends who helped pilot City through a three-decade long roller coaster ride of highs and lows.

For, bizarrely, both can also lay claim to being members of the Manchester City goalkeepers union!

For Tommy it was who stepped into the breach and deputised between the sticks – replacing an injured Corrigan – during a memorable League Cup second round first leg tie at Stoke City back at the outset of the 1980/81 campaign.

It’s an episode that still burns bright 44 years on.

Joe takes up the story: “It was surreal, really. We were 1-0 down in a League Cup second round first leg tie playing away at Stoke.

“I came out to try and claim a ball and I smashed into one of the Stoke team and did my kneecap in and had to go to the hospital.

“So, Tommy took over from me just before half-time and went in goal.

“I'd gone for an X-ray and came back to the ground and my leg was all strapped up and Tommy went and kept a clean sheet while he was in goal and we ended up drawing 1-1.

“One of the stories he tells is so funny because at one stage in the game a ball came into the box, Tommy came out, called for it, so everybody left it and then he went and headed the ball clear!

“All of the lads turned round and looked at him and said: ‘You are supposed to catch it, Tommy!'

“But Tommy never let a goal in while he was in net that day and later on, when I was doing my goalkeeping coaching, he always said to me: ‘You know Joe, I've got a 100% record as a goalkeeper so I must be classed as one of the top ones.’ I said. ‘Boothy, you were always the top man!’

“Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to play in the second leg and Boothy said that he was a bit disappointed he wasn't picked to play in goal in the game!

“That's the kind of lad he was. Just brilliant. He was and is such a top bloke.

“He was great in the dressing room and was blessed with such great dry sense of humour, and such a down to earth character.

WATCH: Highlights: City's first European final win in 1970

“I was lucky to play with him across three decades at City and he hasn’t changed a bit.

“He’s still enormously popular when we go around doing our role on home match days.

“We're always made to feel so welcome by the fans and Tommy always takes the time to talk and to have a laugh and joke with people.

“That's the character he is and always has been and part of what makes him so special.”