21-year old Manchester City starlet Colin Barlow put on a show that impressed 6,000 soccer fans on June 8, 1958 in Detroit. After having spent most of his time playing with City’s reserve team he got his chance during the 1957-58 season in the Football League, However, it was on the North American tour he made a breakthrough and in the match against Ulster United he scored six goals.
The exhibition match was arranged as a celebration of the Detroit Soccer League’s 25th anniversary and was played at University of Detroit Stadium. Ulster United of Toronto was picked to oppose the English tourists as they were rated as the most famous club in North America. The Ulstermen had made several previous appearances in Detroit, including matches against Manchester United in 1951 and Fortuna Düsseldorf in 1954.
Colin Barlow scored two goals for Manchester City in the first half to give Manchester City a 2-0 lead after 45 minutes. The first goal came after seven minutes and Barlow scored his second goal five minutes later.
Two minutes into the second half Ulster United scored its first goal of the match through Jim Creighton’s shot from 20 yards. Don Revie scored on a penalty to give Manchester City a 3-1 lead.
During a 14-minute period in the second half Barlow scored three goals. This increased City’s lead to 6-1.
Don Revie added another goal for City and Barlow got his sixth goal of the match 40 minutes into the second half. The Redhanders second goal was scored by Ernie Stansfield with four minutes left of the game.
Colin Barlow would go on to play in 179 Football League games and scored 78 goals for Manchester City.
Manchester City’s Roy Cheetham later crossed the river and coached the Windsor Stars in the 1975 National Soccer League season and partly in the 1976 NSL season.
Line-ups
Ulster United: Goalkeeper Jimmy Gilmour; fullbacks Len Wilkins and Jimmy Feeney; halfbacks Jimmy Docherty, Bob Kelly and Sammy Cox; forwards Peter Himus, Jim Dorian, Ernie Stansfield, Dave Bell, Jim Creighton.
Manchester City: Goalkeeper Bert Trautmann; fullbacks Roy Little and Ken Branagan; halfbacks McTavish, Cliff Sears and Roy Cheetham; forwards John Hart, Colin Barlow, Sambrook, Don Revie, John McClelland.