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A tribute to great players
from the period 1965/66 to 1979/80, particularly highlighting their appearance
in football cards. For more see the Player Pages Index. Brian Kidd A list of all of the appearances of this player in football cards in the period 1965/66 to 1979/80 appears at the foot of this page. | ||
 1968/69 A&BC Gum Footballers (Yellow backs), No. 86  1969/70 FKS Publishers Wonderful World of Soccer Stars, No. 174  1970s BAB shield  1970/71 FKS Publishers Wonderful World of Soccer Stars, No. 204  1971/72 A&BC Gum Footballers (Purple backs), No. 136  1972/73 FKS Publishers Wonderful World of Soccer Stars, No. 189  1973/74 A&BC Gum Footballers (Blue backs), No. 78  1977/78 Topps Chewing Gum Footballers (red backs), No. 5 |
Brian Kidd was born in Collyhurst, Manchester
in 1949. He signed for Manchester United as a schoolboy in 1963, as an apprentice in 1964, and turned professional in 1966. Kidd was part of a Manchester United touring party to Australia in 1967, where he began a meteoric rise to the top of English football. Upon his return he was included in the Charity Shield game at the start of the season, and held his place in a season where United finished second in the League to Manchester City. In the 1967/68 season Kidd played for United in the European Cup competition, scoring in the 89th minute of the Quarter Final, 1st leg match against Polish side Gornik Zabrze in February 1968. In May, on his 19th birthday, he played in the European Cup Final win over Benfica at Wembley. Kidd scored the 3rd goal in the 4-1 victory, gaining himself a European Cup Winner's medal. The 1968/69 FKS sticker notes: "Great find of club's 1967 Australian tour and has subsequently won regular place as a rangy poacher of goals. Debut versus Spurs in Charity Shield match. Was apprentice and earlier a schools product. Youth and Under 23 honours". The 1968/69 A&BC card states: "The new idol of Old Trafford, he sprang to fame with dazzling performance against Tottenham in the Charity Shield on the eve of the 1967/68 season. Has been a regular first team member ever since, and has been capped by England at Under 23 level. Good in the air, he also possesses a tremendous shot.". Clearly Kidd was going places. The 1969/70 A&BC card states: "One of the most important players in the country...". In 1970 United made it through to the semi-finals of the F.A. Cup, losing to Don Revie's Leeds United side 1-0 in the 2nd replay. At that time there was a third place playoff, which United won 2-0 against Watford, Brian Kidd scoring both goals. The 1970/71 A&BC card states: "One of United's bright young stars, Kidd is now firmly established in the first team, despite being only 20 years of age. Developed his game strongly last season, and scored two brilliant goals against Manchester City in an F. A. Cup tie at Old Trafford after being recalled to the United side.". However, United's fortunes began to wane. They finished 11th in the League in 1968/69, 8th in 1969/70, 1970/71 and 1971/72 before plummeting to 18th in 1972/73 and relegation in 1974 in 21st place. In spite of United's slip, Kidd continued to shine. The Top Sellers Football 72 card notes "One of the most promising centre-forwards in the country, Kidd was born in Manchester and capped by England at school, Youth and Under 23 and senior levels. Went to Mexico with the England party but did not play...". Kidd had made his full international debut on April 21, 1970 at Wembley where England beat Northern Ireland 3-1. Kidd played alongside Charlton, Hurst, Peters and Ralph Coates. Four days later he was replaced in the international team by Alan Ball when England met Scotland in Glasgow. It ended up being his only full start for the senior international side. He came on as a substitute, replacing Francis Lee, in a match at Quito against Ecuador on May 24th, scoring a goal in a 2-0 win, but was never again to wear the England shirt. All of this and he was not yet 21 years of age! At the end of the 1973/74 season, with United relegated, Kidd was transferred to Arsenal for a £110,000 fee. He had played 203 League games for United, scoring 52 goals. He played two seasons at Highbury, both of which were disappointing for the club with final placings of 16th and 17th. Kidd played in 40 out of 42 games in his first season and 37 in his second. In these 77 League appearances he scored 30 goals, a terrific return. At the end of the 1975/76 season Terry Neill replaced Bertie Mee as Arsenal manager. Neill brought Malcolm MacDonald to Arsenal soon after selling Kidd to Manchester City for £100,000. Kidd played for City in the 1976/77, 1977/78 and 1978/79 seasons, making 39, 39 and 20 League appearances respectively. In this period City finished 2nd, 4th and 15th, marking Kidd's most successful finishes in the League. In March 1979, following the arrival of Malcolm Allison as manager, Kidd was sold, this time to Everton for £100,000. At the time Everton were 2nd in the League, but they faded to finish fourth. Kidd played for the Toffees in the 1979/80 season, making 31 League appearances and being top scorer with 9 goals before being sold to Bolton Wanderers. In the 1980/81 season Kidd made 33 League appearances for Second Division Bolton, scoring 13 goals. His contract was cancelled in April 1981. He played his last League game on 20 April 1981, coming on as a substitute and scoring the winning goal from a penalty. Around this time the US NASL enticed many English players over during the 'off-seasons'. Kidd played a number of seasons, with some success, in the U.S., ending his playing career there in 1984. Kidd moved into club management after his playing career ended, beginning with 19 games in charge of non-league Barrow in 1984/85. He took over at struggling Fourth Division Preston North End in 1985/86, but lasted only four games in charge. Brian Kidd went on to forge a formidable reputation as Sir Alex Ferguson's number two at Old Trafford throughout the '90s where he is credited with helping to develop the careers of Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Phil Neville and many others. Perhaps this is his greatest legacy to football? In December 1998 Kidd left United to join Blackburn Rovers. The club was struggling at the foot of the Premier League. In his first 6 games in charge Rovers were unbeaten, but things turned bad from there. Following a sequence of one win in their last 19 League games Rovers were relegated in 19th position. After a bad start to life in Division One in season 1999/2000 Kidd was sacked after less than 12 months with the club. Following his time with Blackburn, Kidd has performed in coaching roles with various clubs, with varying levels of success. He was appointed assistant England manager to Sven-Göran Eriksson in 2003, and joined the coaching staff at Sheffield United upon their promotion to the Premier League in 2006, leaving in February 2008 He is still tipped as a future manager in the Football League. Brian Kidd, a lifetime in football... |
 1968/69 FKS Publishers Wonderful World of Soccer Stars, No. 161  1969/7A&BC Gum Footballers (Green backs), No. 97  1970/71 A&BC Gum Footballers (Orange backs), No. 67  1972/73 Barratt & Co. Soccer Stars, No. 5  1972/73 Top Sellers Football 72, No. 218  1976/77 FKS Publishers Wonderful World of Soccer Stars, No. 27  1976/77 Topps Chewing Gum Footballers (blue/grey backs), No. 5  1978/79 Waddington British Strikers |
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Football cards issued in the period 1965/66 to 1979/80 (note: this is an incomplete list, and will updated as new information is obtained). |
| Season | Maker | Set | Team | Card ref. |
| 1967/68 | FKS Publishers | The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars | Manchester United | 160 of 330 |
| 1968/69 | A&BC Gum | Footballers, Yellow backs, Series 2 (055-101) | Manchester United | 86 |
| 1968/69 | FKS Publishers | The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars | Manchester United | 161 of 330 |
| 1969/70 | A&BC Gum | Football Facts, Green backs, Series 2 (065-117) | Manchester United | 97 |
| 1969/70 | Daily Mail | World Cup Souvenir | Manchester United | |
| 1969/70 | FKS Publishers | The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars | Manchester United | 174 of 330 |
| 1969/70 | The Sun | World Cup Wallchart - England's Squad for Mexico | Manchester United | |
| 1970/71 | A&BC Gum | Footballer pin-up posters | Manchester United | 11 |
| 1970/71 | A&BC Gum | Footballers, Orange backs, Series 1 (001-084) | Manchester United | 67 of 84 |
| 1970/71 | A&BC Gum | Footballers transparencies | Manchester United | |
| 1970/71 | B.A.B. Products | Footballers (shields) | Manchester United | |
| 1970/71 | Barratt & Co | Goldflake Famous Sportsmen | Manchester United | 1 |
| 1970/71 | Daily Sketch | World Cup Transfers | Manchester United | |
| 1970/71 | FKS Publishers | The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars | Manchester United | 204 of 420 |
| 1971/72 | A&BC Gum | Footballers, Purple backs, Series 2 (110-219) | Manchester United | 136 |
| 1971/72 | FKS Publishers | The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars | Manchester United | 189 of 330 |
| 1971/72 | Marshall Cavendish | Book of Football Top Teams | Manchester United | 181 of 364 |
| 1972/73 | A&BC Gum | Footballers, Orange/Red backs | Manchester United | 168 |
| 1972/73 | Americana | Soccer parade | Manchester United | 183 |
| 1972/73 | Barratt & Co | Soccer Stars | Manchester United | 5 |
| 1972/73 | FKS Publishers | The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars | Manchester United | 188 of 330 |
| 1972/73 | The Sun | Gallery of Football Action, 3D | Manchester United | |
| 1972/73 | Top Sellers | Football 72 | Manchester United | 218 |
| 1973/74 | A&BC Gum | Footballers, Blue backs, Series 1 (001-131) | Manchester United | 78 of 131 |
| 1973/74 | FKS Publishers | The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars | Manchester United | 163 of 304 |
| 1973/74 | Top Sellers | Football 73 | Manchester United | 219 |
| 1974/75 | Top Sellers | Football 74 | Manchester United | 204 |
| 1975/76 | Bassett & Co | Football Stars | Arsenal | 19 |
| 1975/76 | FKS Publishers | The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars | Arsenal | 6 |
| 1975/76 | Top Sellers | Football 75 | Manchester United | 209 |
| 1975/76 | Topps Chewing Gum | Footballers - Red/Grey back | Arsenal | 7 |
| 1976/77 | FKS Publishers | The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars | Arsenal | 27 |
| 1976/77 | Top Sellers | Football 76 | Arsenal | 17 of 420 |
| 1976/77 | Top Sellers | Football 77 | Arsenal | 13 of 420 |
| 1976/77 | Topps Chewing Gum | Footballers - Blue/Grey back | Arsenal | 5 |
| 1977/78 | Americana | Football Special 1977/78 | Manchester City | 189 |
| 1977/78 | FKS Publishers | Soccer Stars | Manchester City | 219 |
| 1977/78 | Topps Chewing Gum | Footballers - Red back | Manchester City | 5 |
| 1978/79 | Americana | Football Special 79 | Manchester City | 193 |
| 1978/79 | FKS Publishers | Soccer Stars 78/79 - Golden Collection | Manchester City | 178 |
| 1978/79 | Panini | Football 79 | Manchester City | 225 |
| 1978/79 | The Sun | Soccercards | England | 101 |
| 1978/79 | Topps Chewing Gum | Footballers - Orange back | Manchester City | 85 |
| 1978/79 | Waddington | Top Trumps - British Strikers (Ship, Boat..) | Manchester City | |
| 1979/80 | FKS Publishers | Soccer Stars 80 | Everton | 109 |
| 1979/80 | Panini | Football 80 | Everton | 153 |
| 1979/80 | Topps Chewing Gum | Footballers - Pale blue back | Manchester City | 109 |
| 1979/80 | Transimage | Football 79/80 | Everton | 118 |
| 1980/81 | FKS Publishers | Soccer 81 | Everton | 90 |