Matchday Memories: On This Day 2005 – CCFC’s CBJ Scores To Secure Seagulls Stalemate

Sky Blue Manager Micky

On this day (17th September) in 2005 the Sky Blues under former CCFC defender (and now CCFPA member) Micky Adams were well into their Championship season and had only secured one league win in their first eight games (though had lost only once too)! Today they travelled to the south coast to take on a team a couple of places lower than CCFC’s seventeenth spot with some hope of grabbing at least a draw at Brighton. That’s what they duly achieved, a 2-2 stalemate!

Stephen Hughes in Sky Blue action

There was a crowd of only 6,529 present at a sunny Withdean (a gate that would prove to be the lowest of the season). Missed chances and poor defending cost Micky’s men a victory they deserved and badly needed. Things began well for City when six minutes before half-time the Seagull’s defender Paul McShane turned a cross from (now CCFPA member) Stephen Hughes into the Brighton net to give City the advantage at the interval. It only took five minutes of the second period for a Brighton equaliser from Leon Knight.

However, the Sky Blues quickly replied a minute later with a neat header from now Association member and former CCFPA committee member Claus Bech Jorgensen.

CBJ in the Sky Blues away strip

City’s 2-1 lead only lasted eight minutes, sadly, before Sky Blues’ ‘keeper Stephen Bywater failed to deal with a curling cross and Andy Whing also failed to clear allowing sub. Colin Kazim-Richards to net the Seagull’s second equaliser, and 2-2 it stayed despite ‘Dele Adebola and James Scowcroft (both now CCFPA members) squandering chances – two points lost rather than a point gained!

The graphic below sourced by former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson gives all the match facts and the BBC Sport’s contemporary match report which includes comments from both managers.

 

Dennis Wise in the Sky Blue

Early in February 2006 the Sky Blues did a better job at their new Ricoh home beating Brighton, who were in the relegation zone by then, by two clear goals both scored by Dennis Wise who was making a late career cameo for the Sky Blues at season’s end. The Seagulls slipped further and finished  bottom of the Championship. They were relegated along with Crewe Alexandra and Millwall. The Sky Blues end of season push with three wins in the last four games was not enough to get them anywhere near the play-off places and Micky’s men had to settle for eighth spot!

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1994 – See Leeds (Fielding Four Future Sky Blues) Lose To City

Cobi in the Sky Blue

On this day (17th September) in 1994 the Sky Blues were managed by Phil Neal and the Premier League season had not started well for City. With three defeats and a couple of draws in their first five games the Sky Blues were desperate for their first win of the season. Their opponents at Highfield Road were Leeds United fresh from their victory over Manchester United so a tough game was to be anticipated. 

Dion in the Sky Blue

Cobi Jones, our new signing from the USA was, at last, given his debut this afternoon and proved instrumental in City’s 2-1 victory over the Yorkshiremen. There were a number of future Sky Blue connections in the Leeds team today. Gordon Strachan moved to Highfield Road in March and later became the Sky Blues gaffer (1996-2001). United’s captain today Gary McAllister also came to the Sky Blues as ‘skipper (1996-2000) and later ‘gaffer’ whilst WGS‘s now fellow CCFPA member Noel Whelan provided goals and flair to the Sky Blues from 1995-2000. Lastly, Carlton Palmer featured in the Sky Blues defence 1999-2001 and is now also an Association member.

Paul in the Sky Blue 1995

There was no score at half time and it took a glancing header five minutes after the break from newly appointed Sky Blue skipper Dion Dublin (now a CCFPA member) to break the deadlock. City’s passion outweighed United’s endeavour ultimately and the killer goal came with seven minutes to go from a penalty. United’s substitute Chris Fairclough tripped Cobi in the box after a typically mazy run from the American allowing (now CCFPA member) Paul Cook to confidently put the ball past John Lukic to put CCFC 2-0 up. There was still time for United’s Gary Speed to pop one in to make the last five minutes tenser than it would otherwise have been but the Sky Blues held on for their first win of the 1994-95 campaign.

Thanks to former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson you can watch the goal highlights by clicking on the image below:-

The teams lined up as follows:-

Phil Neal‘s  Sky Blues : (CCFPA members underlined)

Steve Ogrizovic, Ally Pickering, Steve Morgan, Willie Boland, Dave Busst, David Rennie, Cobi Jones, Julian Darby, Dion Dublin, Sean Flynn and Paul Cook 

Noel in the Sky Blue

Jonathan Gould

Howard Wilkinson‘s Leeds team lined up:-

John Lukic, Gary Kelly, Nigel Worthington, Gary McAllister (c), David Wetherall (sub. Chris Fairclough), Carlton Palmer, Gordon Strachan, Noel Whelan, Rod Wallace, Phil Masinga (sub. John Pemberton) and Gary Speed.     Referee:- B.Hill

In mid March Leeds took the Sky Blues to the cleaners at Elland Road beating us 3-0 with our goalie (now an Association member) Jonathan Gould palming in an own goal.

The Sky Blues finished their 1994-95 season in sixteenth place in the Premiership five points clear of the relegation zone after CCFPA member ‘Big Ron’ Atkinson had taken over from Phil Neal.

CCFC 1994-95

Leeds United finished fifth, well behind on points from the Premier League Champions Blackburn Rovers who pipped Manchester United for the title by a point.

The relegated quartet this season was nineteenth placed Crystal Palace followed by Norwich City, Leicester City and, bottom of the pile, Ipswich Town.

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

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1988 – See Sky Blues Success But Charlton’s ‘Keeper Crocked

John Sillett CCFC gaffer

Thirty six years ago today (17th September) in 1988, in their third game of the Division One season, former Sky Blue full-back turned ‘gaffer’ (the late, great) John Sillett picked a team to take on Charlton Athletic at Highfield Road. After a 1-0 home defeat in their opener against Everton and an encouraging 2-1 win at Hillsborough over Sheffield Wednesday the previous Saturday expectations were high. However, the 11,859 fans in Highfield Rd grew impatient with the Sky Blues’ inability to find the net in the first half, especially after the injury to the Addicks’ goalkeeper Bob Bolder‘s finger which eventually forced him to go off, being substituted by centre-forward Steve Gritt.

Gary in action

David in the Sky Blue

‘Sills’ must have read the riot act during the interval as the Sky Blues second half display was much improved against the disrupted away side. The second half was one way traffic towards the South London side’s goal with Gritt and the rest of the Addicks’ defence sorely tested. The Sky Blues eventually finished winners by three clear goals!

CCFPA member David Speedie relished his new role and big Cyrille Regis (both later CCFPA members) looked confident setting up two of the Sky Blue goals.

Sky Blue winger (and CCFPA member) David Smith contributed a brace on 57 and 75 minutes each side of a solo from Gary Bannister on 71 minute.

You can watch the goals again courtesy of former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson by clicking on the image below:-

Big Cyrille goes close

The two teams lined up as follows:-

Sky Blues:

Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, Greg Downs, Steve Sedgley, Brian Kilcline, Trevor Peake, Micky Gynn, David Speedie, the late Cyrille Regis, Gary Bannister and David Smith.

Apart from Gary all the players above went on to join CCFPA.

Charlton Athletic (managed by Lenny Lawrence): 

Bob Bolder (sub. Steve Gritt -30), John Humphrey, Mark Reid, Stephen Mackenzie, Peter Shirtliff, Paul Miller, Rob Lee, Paul A. Williams, Steve Gritt (sub. Andy Peake -30), Carl Leaburn and Mark Stuart (sub. Dave Campbell -46)      Referee:- D.Allinson

The Addicks Paul Williams was the only one of the three professional footballers of the same name who didn’t feature for the Sky Blues!

CCFC 1988-89

The 3-0 win took the City to ninth spot in an encouraging season where they eventually finished in seventh place. The two teams had fought out a goalless draw in the return at the Valley in late March. The Addicks finished in fourteenth but only three points clear of the drop. This was a fate suffered by Middlesbrough (18th), West Ham United (19th) and, bottom of the pile, Newcastle United.

In a very tight race at the top Arsenal took the title on goal average from Liverpool!

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

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1983 – Bobby’s Boys Finally Finish Off Foxes In M69 Derby

The Sky Blues Gouldfather ‘gaffer’

ex Sky Blue Manager Gordon

On this day (17th September) in 1983 ‘Cov Kid’, former Sky Blue striker turned CCFC Manager, Bobby Gould faced a team managed by a former Sky Blue gaffer (and now fellow CCFPA member) Gordon Milne!

The M69 derby was at Highfield Road in front of 12,771 fans and it was the younger man’s team who eventually prevailed.  There were other  CCFC connections in the game too as recently transferred former Sky Blue forward Tom English (now a CCFPA member) was in the Fox’s squad (though not in the team) and both David Rennie and Kevin MacDonald both of whom were later to become Sky Blues (and CCFPA members) were on the pitch in this game.

Newly promoted Leicester City had got off to the 1983-84 season with a terrible start having lost six games in a row and their prospects continued to darken when the Sky Blues’ west country centre forward, now an Association member, Nicky Platnauer blasted in the home team’s first on the stroke of half time.

Terry Gibson

When our diminutive striker (and now CCFPA member) Terry Gibson pounced on an error from David Rennie to make it 2-0 after 68 minutes that should have settled it but the Fox’s goal-scoring ace Gary Lineker snatched an 89th minute goal to give the home side jitters.

However the Sky Blues Serbian shot-stopper Raddy Avramovic, making his debut, saved City’s bacon (and an unlikely come back) with an injury time point-blank save.  The Sky Blues unbeaten home start was preserved (at least until their next fixture). The referee was Mr. Darryl Reeves.

Raddy in the Sky Blue green

As well as the two managers, of the 24 players entering the fray on 17th September 1970 the following thirteen later became CCFPA members:- Dave Bennett, Ian Butterworth, Gerry Daly, Terry Gibson, Peter Hormantschuk, Steve Jacobs, Kevin MacDonald, Trevor Peake, Nicky Platnauer, Brian Roberts, Keith Thompson and Graham Withey.

Along with Raddy, CCFPA Committee member Dave Bennett was also making his Sky Blue debut, coming on as a sub for Keith Thompson.

Towards the end of January the two sides fought out a 1-1 draw in the return at Filbert Street with a tenth minute Gerry Daly goal for the Sky Blues cancelled out by a 79th minute Gary Lineker equaliser.

CCFC 1983-84

In hindsight, the three points gained instead of one arguably ensured the Sky Blues survival at the end of the season! The Sky Blues finished in nineteenth spot only two points ahead of the drop. Leicester City managed to climb up to fifteenth (though with only a point more) in a tight division with only five points separating Ipswich Town in twelfth (53) and relegated Birmingham City (48)!  In a bad year for the Midlands, below Brum were Notts. County and, at the bottom, Wolverhampton Wanderers who were both also relegated.

Liverpool took the title by three points from Southampton.

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