Matchday Memories: On This Day 1963: CCFC Take Crewe To Cleaners & Seven Unbeaten!

Jimmy Hill CCFC Manager 1961-67

On this day of (17th September) in 1963 the Sky Blues under Jimmy Hill were having a serious (and ultimately successful) crack at winning promotion from Division Three, having finished fourth in the previous season. Things had started brilliantly with the 5-1 demolition of Crystal Palace in the season’s opener at Highfield Road followed by midweek a thrilling 3-0 victory at Notts. County‘s Meadow Lane. In the home game inside man (the late, great) Ron Farmer had grabbed a hat-trick, including a brace of penalties, and Ernie Machin and George Hudson (both also now passed away a while back) had scored the other goals. ‘The Hud’ then got two in Nottingham along with a goal by winger Willie Humphries. Then, at Fellows Park, Walsall the Sky Blues blew away the Saddlers with another 3-0 victory with goals from George, Ronnie Rees and Ron. Then followed a goalless draw at Reading, a 2-0 ‘double’ over Notts County at Highfield Road (scorers Humphries and Hudson) and a 3-1 win at Luton Town in midweek (scorers Hugh Barr and a brace from Willie). Crewe Alexandra were the City’s next opponents in their seventh league game of the season and hopes were sky high the still unbeaten Sky Blues could continue their run.

Ken Hale in the Sky Blue

JH‘s boys did the huge 29,571 Highfield Road D3 crowd proud. The Sky Blues blew away the Alex 5-1 as a very slick City motored past the promoted side from last season in great style. Ernie Machin, Ken Hale and ‘the Hud’ were immense 

The Sky Blue ‘Hud’

After a 28th minute opener from Ken, George ran riot! Though he only got a brace (on the half-hour and fifty minutes) he should have got a hat-trick but the Alex’s Dave Whelan headed his goal-bound effort off the line! On 54 minutes Alex’s Stan Keery was pressured into an own goal and then on 73 minutes George made a headed goal for Ernie to make it a Sky Blue nap hand.

Bob in the early 1960s

The score was made only slightly less disastrous for the visitors when three minutes from time their Johnny King managed to score a consolation. Sky Blue shot stopper (who, like Ronnie, has passed away all too recently) Bob Wesson also lived up to his billing smartly saving a penalty from Les Riggs.

Jimmy’s Sky Blues lined up as follows:-

Ernie in the Sky Blue

Bob Wesson*, John Sillett*, Mick Kearns, Brian Hill*, George Curtis*, Ron Farmer*, Willie Humphries, Ken Hale*, George Hudson*, Ernie Machin* and Ronnie Rees*

Sadly nine members of the this team as well as their ‘gaffer’ have since passed away, most recently Ron, Ronnie and Bob). We are pleased to say that all the players above apart from Ken, as well as JH, later went on to join this Association!

Crewe Alexandra‘s men lined up:-

Jeff Hickson, Dave Whelan, Peter Leigh, Stan Keery, Eric Barnes, Les Riggs, Barry Wheatley, Jim Shepherd, Frank Lord, Johnny King and Ron Smith  Referee:- B.Setchell

The Sky Blues had to go to their next Division Three game to taste defeat for the first time losing 2-1 at Hull City. However, they ended up winning sixteen out of their 22 league games to the start of December losing only three times. In early October the two teams fought out a 2-2 draw at Gresty Road with City’s goals coming (again) from George Hudson and Ken Hale.

CCFC 1963-64

The club achieved its promotion ambition in style finishing as Division Three Champions for 1963-64 pipping Crystal Palace on goal average! Crewe Alexandra went in the opposite direction finishing 22nd out of 24 clubs – the other three relegated clubs in the bottom four were Millwall (21st), Wrexham (23rd) and, bottom of the table, Notts. County.

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

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1998 – Paul Hall Scores Sky Blue Shrimpers Success!

Paul Hall in the Sky Blue

Taking a break from Premier League matters on this day (16th September 1998) the Sky Blues, managed by Gordon Strachan had a second round League (Worthington) Cup tie to play. Entering the competition at this stage CCFC’s opponents were Southend United.  The tie was over two legs with City drawn at home for this fist leg. In front of a crowd of modest 6,631 the Sky Blues struggled to win the game at Highfield Road by the only goal of the game scored in the 64th minute by Paul Hall (his only first team goal of this season). This result ended an eight hour Sky Blue goal drought! Six days later they went down to Essex and settled matters with a 4-0 demolition of the Shrimpers at Roots Hall thanks to goals from (now CCFC’s first team coach) George Boateng (six minutes) plus Dion Dublin (27), Noel Whelan (45) and Trond-Egil Soltvedt (83) – all three now CCFPA members, the Norwegian only quite recently!

The Sky Blues departed the Worthington Cup in the next round, 2-0 losers at Luton Town! All the match details you could possibly want come from the excerpt below taken from the Coventry Telegraph’s glossy magazine review of the 1998-99 season.

Southend Utd (LC) (h) 1-0 16-09-1998 report (CT season review)

Of the sixteen Sky Blue players in the matchday squad and their ‘gaffer’ only three have not yet joined this Association, Gary Breen, George Boateng and Phillipe Clement. We would love to rectify that whenever they wish to join us!

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

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1997 – CCFC Crash In Coca Cola Cup & Complain About Linighan (& Laser)

Gordon Strachan -City’s ‘gaffer’

Thanks to CCFC author and fan Steve Phelps* for reminding us that on this day (16th September) in 1997 the Sky Blues were beaten in the first leg of the Second Round of the Coca Cola Cup at Blackpool FC under somewhat controversial circumstances. (Now CCFPA member) Gordon Strachan took his team to meet the Tangerines in the two legged tie in mid week fresh from a 1-0 victory against Southampton (managed by former Sky Blue -and now CCFPA member- Dave Jones) in a Premier League fixture at Highfield Road.

Martin Johansen in the Sky Blue

There were only 5,884 in the ground at Bloomfield Road perhaps because it was a night of driving rain and wind along Blackpool’s Golden Mile, Steve tells us:-

‘ferocious rains drenched City supporters standing on the open Kop area and pedantic stewarding prevented them from joining the rest of the City faithful sheltering in the stand’! 

The Sky Blues had enforced changes as both key forwards Dion Dublin and Darren Huckerby (both now CCFPA members) were injured. Chances were few and far between and little real football played. The deputies for ‘the Dube’ and ‘Hucks’ were Bermudan Kyle Lightbourne (now a CCFPA member) and Dane Martin Johansen but they largely failed to trouble the Tangerine’s defence. The only goal of the game came from the head of Blackpool’s David Linighan after 76 minutes.

Kyle in the Sky Blue

The controversy came from post-match claims from Kyle that when he ran clear on goal in the first half hoping for an opener he was dangerously distracted by a laser pen shone into his eyes by (presumably a home team supporter) intent on putting him off! The local police said they were aware such dangerous laser pens were being used, but it was hard to pin down culprits. There was no action at the time, so the seasiders took a narrow lead into the second leg.

Order was restored on the first day of October at Highfield Road when, in the second leg, the Sky Blues beat the Tangerines 3-1 to win the tie 3-2 on aggregate and proceed to the next round. The Sky Blues scorers were Gary McAllister (with a penalty brace) and a late goal from DD.

For the record the Sky Blues’ team that day comprised (CCFPA members underlined):-

Gary Mac in Sky Blue action

Steve Ogrizovic, Roland Nilsson, David Burrows, Trond Egil Soltvedt (sub. Marcus Hall -78), Paul D.Williams, Richard Shaw, Paul Telfer (sub. Gary Breen -88), Gary McAllister, Kyle Lightbourne, Martin Johansen and John Salako. 

Unused sub: Magnus Hedman (gk)

Nigel Worthington‘s Tangerines lined up as follows:-

Steve Banks, Marvin Bryan, Darren Bradshaw, Phil Clarkson, David Linighan, Jason Lydiate, Mark Bonner, Micky Mellon, Tony Ellis, Andy Preece (sub. Chris Malkin -88) and Lee Philpott  Unused sub: Clarke Carlisle and Phil Clarkson   Referee:- Terry Heilbron (Newton Aycliffe)

The Sky Blues drew Everton at home in Round Three of the League (Coca Cola) Cup and slaughtered them 4-1 in mid October. However they narrowly went out to the Gunners at Highbury in Round Four the following month by the only goal of the game.

CCFC 1997-98

Gordon’s Sky Blues got themselves up to a respectable eleventh place finish in the Premier League in 1997-98. The three relegated teams were Bolton Wanderers (forty points), Barnsley (35) and Crystal Palace (33) and the Arsenal were Champions a point clear of runners up Manchester United!

* Steve Phelps book ‘Coventry City-On This Day’ Pitch Publishing 2010

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

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1989 – Sky Blues Top Hatters Without Oggy!

Sky Blue Oggy

Sky Blue debutant Keith Waugh

On this day (16th September) in 1989 The Sky Blues, under former player turned ‘gaffer’ (and CCFPA member) the late John Sillett, were doing quite nicely in Division One having won three and lost two of their league games so far. With a 100% record so far at Highfield Road they were looking forward to making it a home win treble today against Luton Town.  

However, they needed to improve on their last league performance, a 4-1 thrashing at Millwall to stay in the top four. The Sky Blues legendary ‘keeper (and now CCFPA member) Steve Ogrizovic had got a bad injury to his shoulder in that game and outfield player David Speedie had had to deputise for the whole of the second half.

Sky Blue Speedie

Dougie in the Sky Blue

Today, however, the Sky Blues had a new shot-stopper on display making his debut, Keith Waugh. Keith took his place knowing he was replacing a man who had previously made 241 consecutive Sky Blue appearances since joining us five years previously – big shoes to fill! Another Sky Blue (full) debutant was Scottish winger Dougie McGuire (now an Association member) who was back after a year on the sidelines injured.

Keith and the whole Sky Blues team rose to the challenge and the Hatters were topped by the only goal of the game scored after seventeen minutes by Gary Bannister!  In truth, City fans in the 11,207 crowd were glad to get the win in a poor game especially after the Sky Blues got a let-off in the second half. This was when, in the 66th minute, Trevor Peake (now a CCFPA member) fouled future Sky Blue Roy Wegerle in the box for a penalty. Fortunately Luton’s Danny Wilson contrived to miss from the spot so Keith did not need to make a save!

City’s scorer Gary Bannister

The late John Sillett‘s Sky Blues that day comprised (CCFPA members underlined):-

John Sillett- Sky Blue ‘gaffer’

Keith Waugh, Brian Borrows, Tony Dobson, Dean Emerson, Brian Kilcline, Trevor Peake, Micky Gynn, David Speedie, the late Cyrille Regis (sub. Steve Livingstone -61), Gary Bannister and Dougie McGuire (sub. Kevin MacDonald -1),

Ray Harford‘s Hatters put out the following XI:-

Alec Chamberlain, Tim Breacker, John Dreyer, Danny Wilson, Darron McDonough (sub. Richard Harvey -63), Dave Beaumont, Mick Kennedy (sub. Richard Cooke -2), Roy Wegerle, Lars Elstrup, David Preece and Kingsley Black                             Referee: J.Ashworth

There were plenty of Sky Blue connections with the players on Luton Town‘s books at this time apart from Roy Wegerle. Former Sky Blue ‘keeper Les Sealey was there as was (briefly) forward Mick Harford (1993-94). Also there was City’s 1987 F.A.Cup finalist (and CCFPA member) Graham Rodger as well as future Sky Blue ‘gaffer’ Iain Dowie and (now CCFPA member) Paul Telfer.

CCFC 1989-90

Iain Dowie as Sky Blue ‘gaffer’

The Hatters got some recompense in early March when, under a different manager, Jimmy Ryan they beat the Sky Blues by the odd goal in five at Kenilworth Road with an 88th minute winner from Iain Dowie.   Snoz’s men finished in a creditable twelfth place that season immediately above both Manchester clubs whilst Luton Town just escaped the drop in seventeeth place.

Millwall finished the 1989-90 season last by a mile in twentieth place a full seventeen points short of safety! Also down in the dumps were Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton Athletic whilst, at the top, Liverpool walked alone with the title nine points clear of Aston Villa.

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