http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... te-8995175
Manchester City legends have led the tributes to their former team-mate Harry Dowd, who has died aged 76.
The respected goalkeeper was an FA Cup winner with the Blues, making 181 appearances during a nine-year Maine Road career, before playing for Stoke City and ending his playing days at Oldham Athletic in 1974.
Salfordian Dowd started his career at City aged 20 in 1958, signing as an amateur before turning professional two years later. His debut came in a 4-1 defeat to Blackburn Rovers when he came into the squad to replace the injured Bert Trautmann.
Remembered fondly for his joint save along with Tony Book’s block to deny Newcastle’s Keith Dyson en route to the 1969 FA Cup final, which City won against Leicester.
Dowd inherited the No.1 jersey from the legendary Trautmann and held it until the emergence of Joe Corrigan almost a decade later.
n February 1964 Dowd scored an equalising goal for City against Bury after he switched from goal to centre-forward after he broke his thumb. That game also provided a debut for Bury for Colin Bell, later a Blues team-mate.
During Dowd’s time at Stoke City in a two-month loan spell, he was reserve to the great Gordon Banks.
Former City player Fred Eyre said: “Harry was one of the most popular at the club, we all used to love Harry. He was a great goalkeeper.”
Eyre, who knew Dowd when he worked as a plumber, said: “When we had training he would come over and train with the team, and then afterwards he would go straight back to work.
“It came as no surprise to us when Harry was always the first picked whenever we played five-a-side in training. We always wanted to be on his team.”
He added: “ He was one of the fittest men at the club. Everybody loved him.”
Eyre spoke as he was gathered with former City players, Glynn Pardoe, Ron Healey, Johnny Williamson and fellow former goalkeeper, Steve Fleet.
Fleet commented: “It’s a very sad day for all of us. He was a lively goalkeeper and he had a wonderful career when he was at City and then at Oldham.”
Another former Blues stopper Ron Healey added: “He was a terrific goalkeeper, so underrated and very agile. He was a smashing lad and he will be sadly missed.”
Harry is survived by children after his wife Rita died in 2011.
