For anyone interested in seeing the oldest known film of City's old Hyde Road ground (in fact the oldest known surviving footage of any professional football ground in Manchester) then try and buy or borrow this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mitchell-Kenyon ... 372&sr=8-1
As part of research I did a few years back I discovered that the English League V Irish League game from 1905 at Hyde Road was filmed. I was given permission to watch it at the archive and it was excellent.
Unfortunately, it couldn't be publicly viewed at the time.
However, as part of research this week I discovered that some of the film has made its way on to a DVD produced. The DVD is aimed at the Irish market (not football, Manchester or England which is a shame) and includes loads of Irish footage, but it does also include about 3 minutes of the game at Hyde Road.
The film shows the old ground from a couple of angles - you see the Main Stand that burnt down in 1920; the Stone Yard Stand behind the goal; the popular side before it was roofed (although it does have an odd looking small shelter over the central part); the houses on Bennett St that cut into the ground (and the hoardings that are supposed to block the view from those houses - people are sat on them).
You also see the 2 teams walking out of the Main Stand tunnel - including City's George Dorsett & Herbert Burgess (both clear) and City trainer Jimmy Broad. In the background after the players come out City manager Tom Maley walks along the touchline.
When I get proper chance I'll be looking seriously at it all, but if you're interested in seeing City's original Hyde Road ground in all its 1905 glory it's worth trying to view this film.
If anyone's coming to the event I'm doing at Waterstones tomorrow night I'll try and have a copy with me (I won't be able to publicly show it because of copyright issues, but I might be able to show one or two individually; no promises though).
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