Matchday Memories: On This Day 1996 – See Sky Blues Strike Back To Lead Leeds!

Gary in Sky Blue action

On this day (14th September) in 1996 the Sky Blues, led by Ron Atkinson (now a CCFPA member), were still looking for their first win of the new Premier League season having lost four out of their five games so far and only scored one goal (from captain and future ‘gaffer’ Gary McAllister) against eleven conceded. Last time out they had been walloped by four clear goals at Middlesbrough! They were consequently stuck at the bottom of the table! A crowd of 17,298 turned up at Highfield Road to see if the fortunes of Big Ron and his team would change against Leeds United.

John Salako in Sky Blue action

United had former Sky Blue Mark Hateley in their attack and future Sky Blue Carlton Palmer in their defence. Apart from Macca who had starred with the Yorkshire club the Sky Blues featured a younger Leeds United alumni (and now CCFPA member) Noel Whelan. United also met City with their new boss George Graham in charge (replacing the sacked Howard Wilkinson).

Noel in the Sky Blue

The Sky Blues eventually got their greatly needed win, prevailing by two goals to one, but they had to work hard for it! Things looked ominous when the visitors netted only 51 seconds into the game from Andrew Couzens. It took nearly an hour for the Sky Blues to get back on terms and the goal came after a forceful run through the Leeds defence and an accurate drive on 57 minutes past Nigel Martyn from City’s John Salako (who put in a ‘Man of the Match’ performance).

Wouldn’t you know it but the Sky Blues winner came from ex Leeds man Noel ‘Snowy’ Whelan with a cheeky flick from a Dion Dublin header on five minutes past the hour. All three players are now fellow CCFPA members!

Thanks to our former committee member Dean Nelson you can see see again some goal highlights of the game by clicking on the link or image below.

https://youtu.be/Lr5U9lwQ7V0

Ron salutes the Sky Blue faithful

The Sky Blues fielded the following team (all but Kevin later became CCFPA members):-

Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, Marcus Hall, Kevin Richardson, David Burrows, Richard Shaw, Paul Telfer, Gary McAllister, Dion Dublin, Noel Whelan and John Salako.

Paul Telfer wins in the air

George Graham‘s United lined up:-

Nigel Martyn, Gary Kelly, Ian Harte, Carlton Palmer, David Wetherall, Richard Jobson, Andrew Couzens (sub. Mark Ford -86), Rod Wallace, Ian Rush, Mark Hateley and Andy Gray (sub. Jason Blunt -67)   Referee:- G.Willard

 

Fairly recent CCFPA recruit Mark Hateley (whose dad Tony also had a spell with the Sky Blues) had started out his professional career at CCFC and was on loan at United from Queens Park Rangers at this time. Carlton also went on to play for the Sky Blues from 1999-2001 and has also since signed for the Association.

 

On Boxing Day the Sky Blues produced a Christmas cracker of a performance to beat Leeds United at Elland Road by 3-1, so completing the ‘double’. After the Yorkshire side again scored early through Brian Deane (nine minutes) the Sky Blues scored three goals in eleven minutes from the half-hour mark through Darren Huckerby, Dion Dublin and Gary Mac. 

CCFC 1996-97

Gordon Strachan -City’s ‘gaffer’

By this time Big Ron’s Assistant, now fellow CCFPA member Gordon Strachan had taken over the managerial hot seat when Ron was kicked upstairs during the season and, under WGS, the Sky Blues memorably stayed up with that last day 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur! 

It was Sunderland who went down a point behind CCFC together with Middlesbrough three points behind City (having been deducted three points by the Premier League during the season! Nottingham Forest, seven points from safety completed the relegated trio.

Manchester United walked the title seven points clear of runners up Newcastle United. Leeds United finished in mid table obscurity in eleventh spot.

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

 

CCFPA Helps To Remember Highfield Rd. With Renewed Plaque

The launch party including (back row) Joe (left), Lionel Bird (centre) and ‘Benno’ (right) with CCFC’s Mark Hornby (front right)

Claudio Cardellino & the new plaque

Recent former Association chairman and official club historian Jim Brown was instrumental, within a distinguished group of CCFC fans, who ensured the club’s old ground of 105 years, now a small patch of green within a Hillfields housing estate, is once more properly commemorated.  The unveiling of a new plaque took place earlier this week.

The old plaque, left behind once the historic home of CCFC was demolished, had been vandalised. The following press release about the the campaign to ensure the memorial was replaced, along with photos of the launch here tell the full story. Association Life President Joe Elliott and CCFPA committee member and Sky Blues legend Dave Bennett were present at the launch!

Press Release

The video below (courtesy CCFPA Corporate Member Pete Witherow) shows another perspective on the unveiling of the plaque. Just click on the photo or link below:-

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Matchday Memories: On This Day 1991 – Sky Blue Butcher’s Boys Beat The Pies

Terry Butcher welcomed by John Poynton

On this day (14th September) in 1991 the Sky Blues ‘gaffer’ was still Terry Butcher having taken over from the popular John Sillett in November 1990. Initially player-manager, Terry would only last just into 1992 before being removed and his assistant Don Howe taking over. This further managerial reshuffle showed how much of a trial the Division One season would become for City.

At the moment Butcher’s Boys were seven league games in and things weren’t going too badly. After an opening day single goal defeat to Manchester City at Highfield Road Luton Town were, encouragingly, put to the sword as the Sky Blues went nap in midweek once more at the same venue. A 1-1 draw at Queens Park Rangers followed by a 3-1 home win over Sheffield United saw CCFC sitting pretty in third place. However two successive defeats, 1-0 at home v. Wimbledon and 2-1 at Oldham Athletic saw us slip to eighth. 

Last time out we had had the encouragement of a great 2-1 win at Arsenal‘s Highbury partly down to a magnificent Lee Dixon own goal. Could the Sky Blues get a win double today at home to Notts County, back in the top flight after seven years?

Paul Furlong in the Sky Blue

The Magpies were the bookies favourites for an immediate return to the second tier but had some useful players so they might be a bit of a banana skin for City. In the end it was close with only a Paul Furlong goal two minutes into the second half separating the sides!

Nuddy in the Sky Blue

In truth City were drab and ineffectual in the first period and it was only when the Sky Blues Zimbabwean striker (and now CCFPA member) Peter Ndlovu came on for the second half that things started to change for the better.

City’s ‘Bulawayo Bullet’ had starred (and scored the winner) at Highbury. Today his pace and skill bamboozled the Magpies defence and he was a key part of the move that led to the only (winning) goal of the game for striker Paul who grabbed his fourth goal in eight games. There were only 10,624 patrons in the ground to see the Sky Blue victory which left them fourth place in the table.

The two teams lined up as follows:-

Sky Blues:-

Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, Peter Billing, Stewart Robson, Andy Pearce, Peter Atherton, Lloyd McGrath, Micky Gynn (sub. Dean Emerson -2), Paul Furlong, Kevin Gallacher and Paul Edwards (sub. Peter Ndlovu -46)

All members of this team except scorer Paul later became CCFPA members.

Notts. County (managed by Neil Warnock)

Steve Cherry, Charlie Palmer (sub. Chris Short -1), Alan Paris (sub. Dave Regis -2), Craig Short, Dean Yates, Mark Draper, Dean Thomas, Phil Turner, Richard Dryden, Kevin Bartlett and Tommy Johnson   Referee:- Joseph Worrall

Caretaker- Don Howe

The league return at Meadow Lane was a relegation struggle in April with five games left to play and with both teams in the bottom four. The Sky Blues, whose interests were now overseen by Don Howe dominated the game but it was County who got the points with a Dean Thomas effort being cruelly deflected past ‘Oggy‘ by the leg of fairly recent CCFPA recruit Kenny Sansom for an own goal!

Interestingly, Dean Thomas more recently has been reported singing a tribute to the ‘Rat Pack’ and helped our Association at a waiters’ fundraising event in Earlsdon a few years back!

The Sky Blues saw only one win in the remaining quartet of games, the rest were lost, the last a nervy 2-0 defeat to the old enemy Aston Villa at their place.

CCFC 1991-92

Nails were bitten until results elsewhere fell into place to save City’s bacon for another ‘Great Escape’. We were lucky to finish in nineteenth spot above the trap door two points clear of the relegated Luton Town, four clear of today’s opponents the Magpies and six better off than bottom club West Ham United.

Leeds United took the Division One title by four points from Manchester United.

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

 

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1968 – Forest Frustrate Firm But Faltering City At County

CCFC’s Manager, Noel Cantwell

On this day (14th September) in 1968 in their second season in the top flight the Sky Blues travelled across to the East Midlands to take on Nottingham Forest still without a win away from Highfield Road. After an opening day 3-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, followed by losing by the only goal to Manchester United at Old Trafford, they had gained a 1-1 draw at Burnley.

Could Noel Cantwell‘s men do even better on this day? The answer was ‘No’. Perhaps they were a little bemused by being asked to play at Meadow Lane, home of the other Nottingham club, Notts County due to a recent stand fire at the City ground (below). In the event, the Sky Blues fought out a goalless draw with the Forest in front of 22,260 with City’s defence holding firm.

Mick in the Sky Blue

CCFPA member Mick Coop was resolute in the Sky Blues backline holding Forest’s winger, the wily Ian Storey-Moore, in check and tackling Henry Newton so robustly he required stitches!

Sky Blue Ian in 1966

Our best chance fell to CCFPA member Ian Gibson who had his shot cleared off the Forest line by a Forest player, later to turn out for the Sky Blues (1973-76), Peter Hindley.  Sadly ‘Gibbo’ and Peter are no longer with us along with several other members of that 1968-69 Sky Blues’ team (asterisked)

The Sky Blues team that day all later went on to join this Association and comprised:-

Bill Glazier, Mick Coop, Chris Cattlin, Ernie Machin*, Maurice Setters*, Brian Hill*, Ernie Hunt*, John Tudor, Ian Gibson* and Dave Clements

Johnny Carey‘s Forest’s XI turned out as follows:-

Brian Williamson, Peter Hindley*, John Winfield, Terry Hennessey, Bob McKinley, Henry Newton (sub. David Hilley), Barry Lyons, John Barnwell, Joe Baker, Bob Chapman and Ian Storey-Moore    Referee: K.Markham

Joe Baker is the younger brother of Sky Blue player and future CCFPA member Gerry Baker who played in the Sky Blues previous game but was injured and had to be substituted so the two men avoided facing each other! Sadly both brothers have since passed away.

City played the Forest again in the return on the penultimate match of the season and again the result was a draw. Ian Storey-Moore had put the Reds in front at Highfield Road inside ten minutes. The Sky Blues had to wait until nearly the last quarter of the game for (the late) Ernie Hannigan to grab the equaliser.

The 1-1 scoreline was one of three end-of-season draws that enabled the Sky Blues to survive the season in twentieth, a point and place above returning to Division Two (the fate of Leicester City and bottom club Queens Park Rangers). Forest finished two places and a couple of points above the Sky Blues!

Leeds United took the title by six points from Liverpool.

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