Matchday Memories: On This Day 1979 – Ian’s Brace For Milne’s Men Torments Trotters

Gordon the ‘gaffer’ in City’s infamous brown strip

On this day  (15th September) in 1979 the Sky Blues took on Bolton Wanderers in their third home match of the 1979-80 Division One season. Manager Gordon Milne (now a CCFPA member) must have been reasonably confident as his team had already seen off Bristol City 3-1 and Norwich City by 2-0 at Highfield Road. However, their away form was not so clever so far losing 3-2 at Stoke City on the opening day of the season and being tanned 4-1 at Nottingham Forest and 4-0 at Liverpool in their last league fixture.

Deadly Duo: ‘Wally’ & ‘Fergy’

However, some of the form worries were dispelled this day as City had the deadly duo of Ian Wallace and Mick Ferguson (both CCFPA members now) reunited for the first time since the previous February (due to injuries). Also the Trotters proved a poor side, overly reliant on the offside trap and seemingly relegation fodder.

‘Wally’ had a stormer, not only scoring a brace, the first on nine minutes and City’s last on 61 minutes, but also had a shot handled in the box three minutes after half-time. CCFPA member Barry Powell coolly slotted the penalty home. Ian also missed a sitter which would have given him a hat-trick!

Barry in the Sky Blue

Bolton’s Mike Walsh limped off injured reducing the Wanderers to ten men and Willie Morgan‘s goal nine minutes from the end was their only consolation as the Sky Blues prevailed by three goals to one. The Sky Blue fans among the 15,268 Highfield Road crowd went home well satisfied!

The Sky Blues who did duty that September day in 1979 were (CCFPA members underlined):-

The late Les Sealey, Brian Roberts, Bobby McDonald, Andy Blair, the late Jim Holton, Gary Gillespie, Tommy Hutchison, Ian Wallace, Mick Ferguson, Barry Powell and Steve Hunt.   

Ian Greaves‘ Trotters lined up as follows:-

Seamus ‘Jim’ McDonough, Dave Clement, Peter Nicholson (sub. Christopher Thompson), Roy Greaves, Paul Jones, Mike Walsh, Willie Morgan, Neil Whatmore, Alan Gowling, Len Cantello and David Burke        Referee: Stephen Bates (Bristol)

Front and back of the ‘Matchday Magazine’

Garry in the Sky Blue 1981

The Sky Blues forced a 1-1 draw in the return at Burnden Park five games from the end of the season when it was probably too late for the homesters. Garry Thompson got the 22nd minute equaliser to a fourteenth minute debut goal from the Trotters’ eighteen year old Philip Wilson.

As presaged earlier, Bolton Wanderers indeed finished bottom of Division One in May with only five wins all season (none away from home). They went down with Bristol City and Derby County. The Sky Blues finished in a relatively comfortable fifteenth, eight points clear of the relegation zone!

This season Liverpool became Division One Champions taking the title by a couple of points from great Lancashire rivals Manchester United.

CCFC 1979-80

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.

Members News: Sky Blue ’90s & ’00s Defender/Midfielder ‘Happy Birthday’ 43rd Craig!!

CCFPA wishes our member Craig Pead our very best birthday wishes for today! Born in Bromsgrove on the 15th September 1981, son of a one time CCFC kitman, Craig is therefore celebrating his 43rd birthday today. Craig began as a Sky Blues schoolboy in 1997 and, having turned professional, was a defeated F.A.Youth Cup finalist for the Club in 1998-99.  He made his Division One midfield debut in a 1-0 defeat at Burnley and by the time he left for Walsall in 2005 (after a loan spell there and at Notts. County) he had clocked up 45 first appearances for the Sky Blues (netting three goals).

Craig in Sky Blue action

He also represented England at U18 and U20 levels whilst with City.

After two seasons with the Saddlers Craig moved to Brentford (2007) and turned down a move to Port Vale (2008) and though trialling for both Cheltenham Town and Redditch Town in the 2008-09 season remained with the Bees until a knee injury eventually forced his retirement from top level football in May 2009.

He did, however, get a few outings in non-league football with both Coventry Sphinx and Redditch United between 2010-11.

Craig Pead- GD18 Champ

Craig also has been Business Development Manager at BPMpro Sports sector as well as offering football coaching and personal training. Three years ago last April, during lockdown, he was pleased to help Joe Cole (who was briefly a Sky Blue in 2015-16) in an online Instagram fitness session for fans. The HIIT workout was in aid of Joe’s work to support the NHS during the health emergency. 

Craig Pead & SDPGC’s late  John Reay at GD19

Peady also opened Soccer Rockz, a youth football coaching school in the Midlands and has been both a personal trainer (CP Transformations) and acted as an FA-registered intermediary in the past. In August 2021 it was announced that Craig had joined former playing colleague (and CCFPA member) Andy Whing (manager at Banbury United) as their first team coach! The Puritans won the Southern Premier Division Central title with four games remaining in 2021-22 so earning promotion to the National League for the first time in their history with this strong Sky Blue connection! More recently since July 2023 Craig has followed Whingy and been part of the coaching set-up at Solihull  Moors FC.

Craig Pead celebrating our Wembley Checkatrade win with CCFPA’s Sarah Morris

Craig supports CCFPA functions when he can and has attended the Sky Blues Wembley final appearances in the last few years as well as a number of League games and our Legends Day reunions.  He was last with former colleagues at a Legends XI charity fixture at Leamington early the season before last.

A keen golfer, Craig was also presented (above right) with the individual Former Player prize at Golf Day 2018 for the best score of all the participants (sadly he was not so successful at the 2019 competition (won by John Salako) but, like all contestants, gained a CCFPA cap (above left)! 

An interesting YouTube podcast from April 2023 with Craig by fellow Sky Blue youth footballing colleague Kirk Miller can be found here. In it:-

“Craig shares his journey of how he started pursuing his dream of becoming a professional footballer, and the hard work and dedication required to succeed in the highly competitive world of football. He also discusses the challenges he faced due to injuries, which resulted in him being in and out of the team. Craig talks about his experience of playing with the best player he has ever played with and living in a professional environment. Craig also opens up about the struggle he faced after retiring from football and provides valuable tips on how to plan your life on your terms.”

Have a wonderful birthday today Craig and see you again at a CCFPA event soon!

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.

Members News: A Transatlantic 79th Birthday Best To ‘Our Clem’!

Dave in the Sky Blue

CCFPA speaks on behalf, we are sure, of the whole Sky Blue family in wishing left winger hero of the Sky Blues 1960s sides, Dave Clements a very happy 79th birthday today! He was born in Larne, County Antrim on 15 September 1945. Dave, who lives in the United States of America today, has in the past flown in to CCFPA events and reunions from time to time and is always given a warm welcome. We know he keeps in touch with all things Sky Blue.

Dave at a previous Ricoh reunion

Dave was an integral part of the ‘Sky Blue Revolution’ making nearly 250 league appearances for the Sky Blues between 1964-71 scoring 34 goals. He was a strong, tenacious player remembered most for his surging left wing runs and crosses. Fellow CCFPA member and the deeply missed Jimmy Hill snapped up the Wolverhampton Wanderers apprentice and was repaid by a debut goal in January 1965.

Dave in Sky Blue action

First capped for Northern Ireland at age 19 Dave eventually made 48 appearances for his country. Perhaps surprisingly, JH’s successor as City manager, Noel Cantwell let Dave move on to Sheffield Wednesday (with fellow CCFPA member Brian Joicey) after six years at Highfield Road.

Dave was also a popular player with the Owls and at Everton where he finished his UK career in 1976 (having a brief spell managing his country). From 1978 Dave then played and managed in the States for the likes of Colorado Caribous, Denver Avalanche, St Louis Steamers and Kansas City Comets.

Look who Dave played with whilst in the States!

CCFPA hopes it will not be too long before Dave returns and comes back to see us at the CBS Arena. We hope he has a great day at his home in the USA!

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.

Matchday Memories: On This Day 2002 – Mills, Macca (& Jay) Make Mariners Miffed

On this day (14th September) in 2002 the Sky Blues, under player-manager Gary McAllister, were facing their seventh league game in the new Division One season having, so far, achieved mixed results (three wins, a draw and two defeats). However, last time out three days ago also at Highfield Road, they crushed Division Two Colchester United by three clear goals in their initial League (Worthington) Cup tie so hopes were high they could repeat the dose today at home in the league against Grimsby Town.  A decent crows of 12,409 had turned up to watch the contest. There was no breakthrough for either side in the first half.

Lee Mills in the Sky Blue

Though the Mariners had only scored one goal so far in their Division One campaign they shocked the City two minutes into the second period when Steve Kabba beat (now CCFPA member) Richard Shaw for pace to put the visitors in front. However, that advantage lasted only a couple of minutes before (another Association member now) Lee Mills equalised and then, twenty minutes later, Lee earned a soft penalty which Macca put away. The game swung again immediately when a minute later, on seventy minutes the Mariners equalised through Alan Pouton.

Jay in Sky Blue action

It could have gone either way in the closing stages but Sky Blue pressure paid off eventually when, three minutes from time, the Sky Blues young striker Jay Bothroyd produced a looping header to win the points and settle a somewhat scrappy game.

Morten Hyldgaard

For this League game City had restored new ‘keeper (now a CCFPA member) Morten Hyldgaard between the sticks after the other goalkeeping newbie Frenchman Fabien Debec had made his debut in the League Cup tie. So, the Dane (now a CCFPA member) must have been pleased the two goals conceded did not lose City the game!

The BBC Sports contemporary match report can be found here.

Macca’s Men lined up as follows (CCFPA members underlined):-

Gary in the Sky Blue

Morten Hyldgaard, Youssef Chippo, Dean Gordon, Richard Shaw, Mo Konjic, Gary Caldwell, John Eustace(sub. David Pipe -64), Gary McAllister, Lee Mills, Jay Bothroyd  and Youssef Safri

Unused Subs: Barry Quinn, Laurent Delorge and Fabien Debec (gk)

Paul Groves‘ Mariners’ team that day was:-

Danny Coyne, John McDermott, Tony Gallimore (sub. Simon Ford -52), Stacy Coldicott, Paul Groves, Steve Chettle, Paul Robinson (sub. Darren Mansaram -90), Stuart Campbell, Steve Kabba, Alan Pouton and Darren Barnard (sub. Jonathan Rowan -90)   Referee:- Joe Ross (London)

The Sky Blues completed the double over the Mariners on the first day of March beating them by two clear goals in Cleethorpes thanks to a seventeenth minute Simon Ford own goal and a  penalty three minutes after the hour from (now CCFPA member) John Eustace.

CCFC 2002-03

Despite the double City finished their 2002-03 Division One season safe, but only just so, finishing in twentieth place four points and a couple of places above the relegated clubs (Sheffield Wednesday, Brighton & Hove Albion and bottom of the table, our opponents today, Grimsby Town).

Division One Champions Portsmouth, runners up Leicester City and fifth place Wolverhampton Wanderers (after the playoffs) were the promoted trio.

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images