Revie started attacks by coming into the centre of the field to receive the ball, drawing the opposing centre-half out of position.
[1][2] The system was first implemented by the Manchester City reserve team, at the behest of Johnny Williamson and Ken Barnes.
Using the system, with Williamson playing the main deep-lying centre-forward, the reserve team went unbeaten for the last 26 games of the 1953–54 season.
Before the start of the 1954–55 season, Manchester City manager Les McDowall called his team into pre-season training two weeks early to try the new tactic.
Using the system Manchester City reached the 1955 FA Cup Final, but lost to Newcastle United 3–1.