CITY historian Gary James set out to write a new book on the Blues, and ended up solving the great Maine Road Mystery.

But for a name change 140 years ago, City would have played at Dog Kennel Lane - and James and other football historians have puzzled over the reason for the switch.

It has always been presumed that the street name was linked to the US state of the same name, but no other streets in the area bear state names.

Researching "The Big Book of City" (£19.95, James Ward) he found the reason, ironically tied in with Victorian booze abolitionists.

James discovered that the Temperance Movement bought up land at the top end of Dog Kennel Lane in the mid-19th century, and asked the local authority to re-name the road Demesne Road.

But councillors felt the name was too confusing, and in the end a compromise was reached, and the road was re-named after the US state, which had been the first to introduce prohibition, in 1851.

James' book is bursting with fascinating old stories, including a profile of every one of City's 69 goalkeepers, from William Douglas in 1890 up to Shay Given.

Now James is hoping that the Blues are writing a bold new chapter in their history - but without losing sight of their heritage.

"In writing my books, I want to remind people that City have a history, and that it has not just happened over the last year or two," he says.

"You get the feeling that the new owners have a big interest in City's history and traditions, and as a historian I feel you have to be careful to use the past in order to help develop the present and the future, rather than just looking back.

"We have had a habit at City of focusing on the past too much, mainly because for a while now the present hasn't been too great.

"At United, no-one forgets Best, Charlton and Law, but they have replaced them with modern-day heroes. We still talk about Bell, Lee and Summerbee as if they are still out there, playing today.

"Mike Summerbee told me that he looks forward to the day when people stop talking about him and his old team-mates so much, because that will be the day City have new heroes."

What are your favourite memories of Maine Road? Have your say.