From the archives. 1998 this week. It was an 'interesting' year for Manchester City. Their second year in the First Division, after relegation from the Premier League. Coming off the back of five managers in one season, Joe Royle took charge.

There was a new badge, new colour kit, and an end to the long-running Umbro kit deal - and a 2-1 defeat to Port Vale in March. The season ended with relegation to the Second Division. Things, as they were fond of saying in the 90s, could only get better.

Meanwhile, United were on a roll - and heading into a 'treble' season. Here's David Beckham celebrating his goal with Gary Neville as United beat Chelsea 3-5 at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup.

And Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke waiting for a taxi at Manchester Airport after arriving back from Munich - they'd drawn 1-1 with Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League group stages. The next time the teams would meet would be in the final.

1998 was the year work started to move The Shambles pubs up the street, in the wake of damage from the IRA bomb in 1992. It was an ambitious project, as detailed by @JenWilliamsMEN here...
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/shambles-moved-manchester-pictures-bomb-11440936

Prince Naseem Hamed celebrates with his Super Championship Belt after victory over Wilfredo Vasquez of Puerto Rico in the WBO Featherweight Championship at the Nynex Arena, Manchester, April 1998

In rugby league - Wigan won the inaugural Grand Final of the JJB Super League against Leeds at Old Trafford in October 1998

The Trafford Centre opened in 1998. Here's DJ Sara Cox and Meg Matthews, then wife of Noel Gallagher, at a photo-call to open the new Selfridges in the centre in September

Here's the Granada studios on Quay Street in 1998 - a part of Manchester which has changed significantly since then...

1998 is also the year (believe it or not) of THIS picture, which always sparks a conversation. Piccadilly Gardens. In 1998.

Castlefield was THE new place to drink around this time. Here's The Quay bar in 1998...

And The Hacienda in 1998 - a year after the club shut. The building stood empty until it was demolished in 2002, after an auction of fixtures and fittings in 2000

And finally... anyone remember Channel 4's Slap! - Love, Lies and Lipstick? "Brand new comedy set in a Manchester department store". One series, 7 episodes, 1998.

imdb offers this: "Dan works as a bank clerk in Manchester. After his girlfried dumps him for the bank manager, Dan starts a romance with Sheryl, a young cosmetician at a nearby shop." https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0144734/