The day Athlone Town defeated Manchester City

Pep Guardiola's high-flying Manchester City sit at the summit of world club football, where they remain in contention for no fewer than four trophies this season. 

But 23 years ago, the famous club was in the Midlands for a friendly game in which they were unexpectedly beaten by Athlone Town at St Mel's Park. 

Georgio Kinkladze, Uwe Rosler, Steve Lomas, Nigel Clough, Gary Flitcroft and Irish international Alan Kernaghan were among the Manchester City players who featured in the game on March 8, 1996. 

Athlone native Ray Kelly was a City player and came on as a sub. Niall Quinn, the biggest Irish name in the visitors' squad, was forced to sit out the fixture with an injury. 

At the time, City were involved in a battle for survival towards the foot of what was known as the FA Carling Premiership.

In front of an estimated crowd of 4,000, Athlone Town, managed by Tony Mannion, went in front courtesy of Michael Collins' first half header. 

"The home side always looked the hungrier from the opening whistle of this encounter," stated the Westmeath Independent's match report. 

"Alan Ball's Manchester aristocrats didn't seem to have the appetite for this friendly even if it did offer a respite from the weekly struggle for survival at the bottom of a congested Premiership relegation zone.

"In contrast, the Town players were relishing playing before the biggest crowd witnessed at Mel's Park for some time in addition to testing themselves against the superstars of this City team - Nigel Clough, Georgio Kinkladze and Uwe Rosler."

City equalised with a glancing header from Garry Fitcroft on the stroke of half-time. 

But - remarkably - Athlone were back in front after just 15 seconds of the second half, with one of the most talented young players on the team, Warren Parkes, applying the finish. 

And 2-1 is how it ended, with the Westmeath Independent headline referring to a famous victory by the local side:

 

The paper's report stated that Niall Quinn "heaped praise on the (Athlone) youngsters after the game and hinted at bright futures ahead for Collins and Parkes."

During their Athlone visit, Manchester City stayed in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel. 

The professional game has changed so much since then, as evidenced by the fact that Walsh's pub on Connaught Street has photos on display of City players socialising there after the game.

Thank you to Taughmaconnell's Michael Moore who dropped in his copy of the match programme, helping to revive memories of this fixture more than two decades ago.