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

 

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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