Matchday Memories: On This Day 1974 – Foxes Outfoxed At Filbert St. By Sky Blue Jimmy

Sky Blue Manager Gordon

On this day (28th September) in 1974 the Sky Blues under Manager (and now CCFPA member) Gordon Milne had been struggling but in midweek Milne’s men had got their first win under their belt in their ninth league game (previously four draws and defeats) beating Luton Town 2-1 in a Division One game at Highfield Road with first half goals from Colin Stein and David Cross (both now Association members).

Peter Shilton

Today they had travelled across to the East Midlands to see if they could also get their first away win of the season against Leicester City. The Sky Blues accordingly and encouragingly returned with the points to continue a six game unbeaten mini-revival!

The home team fielded their heroic England ‘keeper Peter Shilton (later to become attached to CCFC as goalkeeping cover/coach) for the first time this season but, amazingly, because he was on the transfer list elements of the Foxes support in the 21,354 Filbert Street crowd booed him!

Jimmy in the Sky Blue

Dennis in the Sky Blue

The Sky Blues, today wearing their new away strip of red tops and blue shorts appeared in determined mood as they beat the Foxes by the only goal of the game. It came four minutes from time from Jimmy Holmes who powered in (with a slight deflection past Shilton) after Jimmy’s now fellow CCFPA member Dennis Mortimer touched a free kick to him.

The graphic below (thanks to former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson) supplies most of the match details. The referee was Harry New:-

 

All the Sky Blues team that day apart from Larry Lloyd and Brian Alderson and Peter Hindley (who have all since passed away) later went on to become CCFPA members. The return between the two clubs at Highfield Road in mid March produced a 2-2 draw with all the goals coming in the first 48 minutes of the game and the Sky Blues Alan Green getting the first of the game after nine minutes and Mick Ferguson the last (again, both later CCFPA members).

CCFC 1974-75

The Sky Blues went on to have a reasonable season finishing fourteenth in Division One whilst Leicester City were four places (and three points) below us two positions above the drop. The relegated trio were Luton Town in twentieth and beneath them were Chelsea (on the same points) and bottom club Carlisle United.

It was Derby County who took the title this season a couple of points clear of both second place Liverpool and Ipswich Town.

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

 

Members News: Sky Blue Jim Is 37 Today (Just Like Gary)! Many Happy Returns!

CCFC’s Jim O’Brien 2015-16

We have another Sky Blue Birthday to celebrate today, not just the same birth date but exactly the same birth date and year to Gary Deegan to whom we sent Birthday wishes on this site earlier today!

Most current Sky Blues fans will remember central midfielder Jim O’Brien who spent a couple of productive seasons with the Sky Blues between 2014-16. He is also celebrating his 37th  Birthday today!

Though born in Alexandria, Scotland on 28th September 1987 and playing his early professional years North of the border Jim gained caps at U19 and U21 level between 2005-08 for the Republic of Ireland.

Jim O’Brien in the Sky Blue

Starting out with Celtic in 2005 Jim only wore their first team shirt once (plus some loan appearances with Dunfermline Athletic and Dundee) before moving to Motherwell in 2008 where he began to make his name.

Four goals in 64 appearances there persuaded Barnsley (then under the stewardship of Sky Blues current ‘gaffer’ Mark Robins) to bring him south in May 2010 four years prior to him joining the Sky Blues. Jim scored seven times in 123 appearances for the Tykes.

Jim with CCFPA’s Billy Bell in the Ricoh

Jim joined CCFC in July 2014 having rejected a renewed contract from the Tykes and made his Sky Blues debut in the season’s opener in a 2-3 defeat to Bradford City. He got his first undisputed Sky Blue goal in a 2-2 draw at the Ricoh with Peterborough United. By the time he left Coventry for Shrewsbury Town in June 2016 after two seasons with us Jim had clocked up 77 Sky Blues appearances and netted eight times. He also had a loan spell at Scunthorpe United in February 2016.

Jim’s next port of call was back in Scotland with Ross County (after a loan period) and then he was back in England with a short term contract with Bradford City in September 2018 but he played no first team games there. Jim remained at next club Notts County (where from January 2019, then only relatively recently relegated from the Football League to the National League, until two seasons ago when they thankfully returned (at last).

Jim O’Brien (Notts County) 2022

The Magpies and Jim had been helped in the past  by other ex Sky Blues (all now fellow CCFPA members) Dion Kelly-Evans, Ben Turner and former CCFC ‘skipper’ Michael Doyle to get back where they belong! Jim was the last of the quartet to remain with the Nottingham club and knocking up 166 appearances netting 17 times! He left them at the end of 2923-24 season after acting briefly as their caretaker manager in January 2024.

Jim is currently (from July 2025) U18 manager for Yorkshire side Sheffield United, Championship rivals to CCFC.

Football commitments allowing we hope to welcome Jim back again to the CBS Arena sometime soon for a Sky Blue game and/or CCFPA function. 

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

Members News: ‘The Pit Bull’ Hits 37 Today. ‘Happy Birthday’, Deegs!

Gary in the Sky Blue 2010

One of several CCFPA members still playing senior professional football CCFPA would like to wish our member, tenacious defensive midfielder, nicknamed ‘The Pitbull’, Gary Deegan a very happy birthday for today – one of two members with exactly the same birthday!  Born in Dublin on 28th September 1987 Gary is therefore celebrating his 37th Birthday. Congratulations!

The Irishman started out with Shelbourne in 2005 and then gained further experience in his home country with Kilkenny City, Longford Town and Galway United. However, it was from Bohemians that Coventry City FC signed Gary in new year 2010 and he made 43 appearances in all competitions for the Sky Blues scoring five goals.  Since leaving The Sky Blues in 2012 for Hibernian, Gary has also turned out for Northampton Town (2013) and Southend United (2014) prior to signing for Shrewsbury Town for the 2016-17 season on a two year contract.

Former committee member Frank Pritchard welcomes Gary to CCFPA in Aug.2017

However, he left the Shrews with a year left to run on his contract having made 48 appearances in all competitions for them and on 1st June 2017 joined Sky Blues then League Two rivals Cambridge United and ‘Deegs’ was in the ‘U’s side that out-muscled the Sky Blues to 2-1 defeat at their place that season.

Gary ended up playing 89 games for the United (one goal) -with games restricted by a bout of blood poisoning- before returning back to his roots signing for Shelbourne in August 2020 after going out there on loan from January 2020.

Gary Deegan (Drogheda Utd.)

After three goals in eighteen appearances there in December 2020 Gary signed a one year deal with League Of Ireland First Division champions and newly promoted Premier Division outfit Drogheda United.

Still going strong in the 2024-25 season for them the League of Ireland and last season appointed their captain Deegs is approaching his century of appearances for the club and netted once for Drogheda at the time of writing.

Have a great Birthday today Gary and please come and visit us at a CCFPA event whenever your playing commitments will allow!

Look out for our greetings to another Sky Blue with exactly the same birth day month and year on this site shortly!

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images

Members News: ‘Many Happy Returns’ To Ex Sky Blue Striker Andy – He Hits The BIG 5-0 Today

Andy Morrell in the Sky Blue

In the first of three greetings to former Sky Blue ‘Birthday Boys’ today CCFPA would like to wish our member, former forward Andy Morrell a ‘Very Happy Birthday’ for today. Born in Doncaster on 28th September 1974 Andy will therefore be celebrating his 50th Birthday today.

Andy studied Sports Science at Newcastle University and worked in a gym whilst playing as as an amateur/semi professional with the likes of Newcastle Blue Star from 1997 before he really built his soccer reputation in Wales.  Sky Blue fans will remember Andy as a hard-working wing forward who was signed by Gary McAllister to the Sky Blues in May 2003 from Wrexham where he had been a goal poaching ace over five seasons (43 goals in 120 appearances).

Micky Gynn  left) with Carl Baker & Andy Morrell (right) at a recent Legends XI charity game

Andy assisted us during a tricky time in the Championship and in 108 first team appearances (often from the bench) netted a creditable 24 times in his three seasons with us. In August 2006 he moved to Blackpool where he made a great early contribution to their push towards their eventual Premiership status.  Andy then moved to Bury in 2008 for a couple of seasons and, from August 2010 to February 2014, he assisted Wrexham (from 2011 as player-manager). He took the Dragons to Wembley twice in 2013, winning the F.A.Trophy on the first visit.

After a brief spell as Assistant Manager at Shrewsbury Town, Andy became ‘gaffer’ of Tamworth FC in early 2014 (later joined by popular fellow CCFPA member Claus Bech Jorgensen) and took the Conference North side to the play-offs (as well a playing quite a number of games).  From February 2018 Andy played with Redditch United (and scored on his début)!

In April 2020 Andy became part-time ‘gaffer’ at Hednesford Town (but left the club the following October) as well as being Manager and owner of iAMFootballUK based in Derby.

Thanks to former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson you can see some of Andy’s Sky Blue highlights by clicking on the image below:-

Claus Jorgensen, Andy Morrell & CCFPA’s Mike Young

Andy joined CCFPA in early 2011, becoming, in the process the Association’s 180th Full member. He has been the Association ‘special’ guest several times and also turns out from time to time with our Sky Blues Legends XI team in Charity games as well as attending Legends Days (pictured right at LD18).

Apparently In honour of achieving 50 earlier this month Andy set out to cycle from Lands End to John O’Groats! Phew!!

We hope you have a great one today Andy!! Come back and see us again soon.