Matchday Memories: On This Day 1980 – Five Goal Sky Blues Reverse To Toffees Hard To Chew!!

Gordon Milne-CCFC gaffer

On this day (27th September) in 1980 Sky Blues’ manager Gordon Milne (now a CCFC member) had mixed results so far with his team and last time out in the league had lost 2-0 at Ipswich Town. However, four days before today’s game the Sky Blues had recovered their shooting boots with a midweek 2-1 win at the Goldstone, home of Brighton & Hove Albion in the Third Round of the League Cup.

City today were back in a League contest and faced Everton at Highfield Road  and were brought down to earth with an enormous bump and were kept scoreless for the second league game in a row.  The Liverpudlians raced into a 3-0 lead within the first half-hour and two further second half goals wrapped up a 5-0 win as early as the seventieth minute for the Toffees and an embarrassing ‘Reverse Old Five’ for CCFC. The 15,001 Highfield Road crowd was not impressed! The Toffees had now scored five twice on the trot!

 

Sky Blue Jimmy Blyth

‘Harry’ in the Sky Blue

The damage was done by future Sky Blue Bob Latchford (with a brace on 26 and seventy minutes), another two for Joe McBride (thirty and 62 minutes) plus the sixth minute opener from Peter Eastoe. City’s defence was dire  as our Scottish international ‘keeper Jim Blyth boobed for two of the goals. Jim’s now fellow CCFPA member ‘Harry’ Roberts (now also CCFC’s club host at home games) also gifted Everton‘s fourth goal by Joe McBride.

Bob Latchford scores

Tommy Hutch im 1979

It also didn’t help that Tommy Hutchison was carried off with concussion! The Sky Blues slipped down to fifteenth in Division One. This proved to be City’s heaviest defeat of the season and their worst ever league score at home.

The Sky Blues team today were:-

Jim Blyth, Mick Coop, Brian Roberts, Andy Blair, Paul Dyson, Steve Jacobs, Tommy Hutchison (sub. Peter Bodak -69), Gerry Daly, Mark Hateley, Tom English and Steve Hunt

We are delighted to say that all members of this management and team later went on to join this Association!

Gordon Lee‘s Everton XI was as follows:-

Bob Latchford in the Sky Blue

Seamus McDonagh, John Gidman, John Bailey, Billy Wright, Mick Lyons, Gary Stanley, Steve McMahon, Peter Eastoe, Bob Latchford, Asa Hartford (sub. Eamon O’Keefe -37) and Joe McBride    Referee:- H.Newsome

The Toffees extended the Sky Blues Merseyside misery in late February minning the return at Goodison by three clear goals, so City got no points and conceded eight times without reply in the two games against Everton – dreadful!

The Sky Blues got to the Semi Finals of the League Cup that season getting past both Cambridge United and Watford (both requiring replays) before West Ham United, perhaps unluckily, put them out, over two legs, just one step from Wembley! CCFC finished sixteenth in the League on 36 points and Everton were tucked in just above us in fifteenth on the same points.

CCFC 1980-81

The relegated trio were, Norwich City, Leicester City and, bottom of the pile, Crystal Palace (with only nineteen points). We don’t like to mention it but Aston Villa won the Division One Championship this season four points clear of runners up Ipswich Town!

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

Members News: Stuart Giddings Is Our Next ‘Tuesday Night Special’ For Blackburn Game!

Stuart in the Sky Blue

We are pleased to announce that CCFPA member and Sky Blues former full back/ defender Stuart Giddings will be our ‘special guest’ next Tuesday night October 1st (ko 7.45pm) at the Sky Blues’ Championship clash with Blackburn Rovers. Stuart and family members are regular attendees at the CBS Arena.

Rovers, of course may feature popular ex Sky Blue duo Kyle McFadzean and Dom Hyam (both Association members now). Our opponents are doing well, currently 5th in the Championship table.

All Sky Blue fans including Stuart, will be hoping Mark Robins men can get past our FPs and net enough to win and firmly set their sights on moving up the table.

Stuart in July 2002 in England U17 shirt

Stuart, now 38, was brought through the Club’s youth system and collected England caps from under 16 to U19 level along the way. He made his Sky Blues first team debut in the Championship in May 2004 as a sub and made his full debut the following season.

He is yet another illustration of the success of CCFC’s record of bringing through young players to first team action. Even today the Club relies on many players who cut their teeth in the Sky Blues Academy.  Stuart was also a Birmingham Senior Cup winner with City in 2006-07.

Stuart Giddings at LD24

In total, Stuart turned out nineteen times for the first team before being released in March 2008 (after a loan spell at Oldham Athletic). Since 2009 Stuart has played at Hinckley Athletic (two spells), Ilkeston Town and Darlington (on a season’s loan) but his career was sadly set back by a long-term knee ligament injury from 2011.

Stuart has become an increasingly frequent attender of Sky Blues home games and has undertaken the chores of being the Association’s ‘special guest’ at both the Ricoh in the past (including broadcasting with the BBC CWR team) during City’s exile at St Andrews as well as subsequent seasons back at the Ricoh/CBS Arena. He has also turned out for the Sky Blues Legends XI in matches supporting various charitable causes. He was at Wembley supporting the Sky Blues in their recent F.A.Cup semi-final. Stuart has also been present at our most recent major former player gatherings including last May’s Legends Day 2024.

Stuart Giddings with CCFPA’s ‘Benno’ at LD19

Oggy in the Press Box

Look out for Stuart ‘around the lounges’ pre-match for Q&As in the company of our member, club host and ex Sky Blue defender Brian ‘Harry’ Roberts. He also may well be persuaded to do a half-time pitch side interview. After the game, as is tradition, Stuart will be down in the G-Casino appearing on stage with CCFPA’s Billy Bell in their Lady Gs Lounge to wrap up the evening with more craic and a Sky Blue song!

As usual we expect the CCFC Legend that is Steve Ogrizovic (also an Association member) to be doing live match-day commentary for BBC CWR. CCFPA Committee member Mike Young and recent former chairman Jim Brown will also have their usual pages in the club’s excellent programme PUSB!

PUSB

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1975 – Milne’s Men Fox Foxes At Filbert St.

Gordon in relaxed mood

On this day (27th September) in 1975 the Sky Blues, then managed by CCFPA member Gordon Milne, continued their reasonable start to the 1975-76 season having already won, drawn and lost three times in their first nine Division One games.

In midweek they had been battered to a single goal defeat against Jack Charlton‘s cynical Middlesbrough side at Highfield Road so were looking for some light relief on the road this afternoon at East Midland’s neighbours Leicester City who were without a win to date.

The Sky Blues ensured it continued that way as they ran out 3-0 winners at Filbert Street in front of a crowd of 20,411. Gordon, of course, would go on to manage the Foxes when he left Highfield Road in May 1981!

John Craven in the Sky Blue

After the first ten minutes or so the Foxes were never in it as Milne’s men tightened their grip on the game. The Sky Blues No.9 David Cross was deadly and helped himself to a second half brace of headers within four minutes.

Bryan King in Sky Blue green

However, CCFC’s first came in the 21st minute of the first half from John Craven as he swept in a corner kick taken by Tommy Hutchison. David’s two goals (on 52 & 56 minutes) were also converted, one at the near and one at the far post, from crosses by Tommy Hutch.

Sky Blues ‘keeper Bryan King, who had faced criticism from some Sky Blue supporters for mistakes at home games, certainly played well today and made two memorable saves from Foxes’ forwards Steve Kember and former Sky Blue Brian Alderson (who sadly died at the tragically early age of 46 in the States in 1997).

The win put the Sky Blues up to seventh after ten games as the Foxes languished in twentieth place.

David Cross in the Sky Blue

The Sky Blues team that day was:-

Bryan King, Graham Oakey, Jim Brogan*, John Craven*, Alan Dugdale, Jim Holmes, Mick Coop, Dennis Mortimer, David Cross, Alan Green (sub. Barry Powell) and Tommy Hutchison

Jim and John (players asterisked*) have sadly since passed away and, unlike all their colleagues, were unable to join CCFPA.

Jimmy Bloomfield‘s Foxes’ XI lined up as follows:-

Mark Wallington, Steve Whitworth, Dennis Rofe, Steve Kember, Steve Sims, Alan Birchenall, Keith Weller, Brian Alderson*, Frank Worthington, Jon Sammels and Chris Garland.    Referee:- B.Homewood

Apart from Brian, former Sky Blue (and now CCFPA member) Jeff Blockley was also on the Foxes’ books but did not play on this day.

CCFC 1975-76

Leicester City‘s season, which began so badly, later picked up substantially and in early April they got substantial revenge over the Sky Blues beating them 2-0 at Highfield Road and eventually finishing seventh in Division One. Milne’s men finished their Division One season safe enough in fourteenth position.

Liverpool won the title by a point from Queens Park Rangers whilst Wolverhampton Wanderers, Burnley and Sheffield United took the drop!

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

 

Matchday Memories: On This Day 2017 – See Sky Blues Success At Swindon (Ta Doyler & The Duck)!

CCFC Manager Mark Robins

On this evening (26th September) in 2017 the Sky Blues under current ‘gaffer’ Mark Robins were visiting the County Ground home of Swindon Town in a League Two fixture. There was a modest gate of 6,340 to watch proceedings including 702 members of the Sky Blue Army! Both sides played a similar 4-2-3-1 system.

Worryingly, the home side started the game poorly but in the twentieth minute took the lead through a spectacular goal by forward Luke Norris who neatly controlled Kellan Gordon‘s cross before spinning and then smashing it into the top corner to net his sixth goal of the season. The Robins might have doubled their lead two minutes later when Gordon was involved again – this time finding Keshi Anderson who failed to slot home from close range.

Michael Doyle in the Sky Blue

More encouragingly, the Sky Blues found an equaliser within another quarter of an hour thanks to inspirationa midfielder (and CCFPA member) Michael Doyle who capitalised on poor Swindon defending to tap-in a cross from Jodi Jones from the right two minutes after the half hour mark. The two teams went in at 1-1 at the break with everything to play for.

Duckens in the Sky Blue

Perhaps the turning point was when the home side found themselves reduced to ten men in the 72nd minute when James Dunne was given his marching orders for a foul on ‘Doyler’. The Sky Blues took full advantage of the extra man just five minutes later when Duckens Nazon drilled an effort into the back of the net to give Robins men all three points against the Robins!

Thanks to former CCFPA committee man Dean Nelson you can watch some match highlights by clicking on the link or image below:-

https://youtu.be/QQ_iVHYRpxY

The two teams lined up as follows (subs in brackets):-

Sky Blues (CCFPA members underlined)

Lee Burge, Jack Grimmer, Jordan Willis, Rod McDonald, Chris Stokes (Tom Davies -89); Michael Doyle (c), Liam Kelly, Devon Kelly-Evans, Duckens Nazon, Jodi Jones (Jordan Shipley -81) and Max Biamou (Marc McNulty -90).

Unused subs.  Dion Kelly-Evans, Callum Maycock, Jordan Ponticelli and Liam O’Brien (gk)

Swindon Town

Reice in the Sky Blue

Lawrence Vigouroux; Ben Purkiss, Chris Robertson, Ollie Lancashire (c), Matthew Taylor; James Dunne (s.o.-72), Timi Elsnik (Amine Linganzi -65); Paul Mullin (Donal McDermott -58), Keshi Anderson, Kellan Gordon (Harry Smith -81) and Luke Norris.  Unused subs. Kyle Knoyle, Kaylyne Woolery, Matt Preston and Reice Charles-Cook (gk).                        Referee: Charles Brakespeare

Now a CCFPA member, young Sky Blue ‘keeper Reice C-C had signed a two year contract with the Robins after leaving CCFC in August.

As is well known to Sky Blues fans the Sky Blues squeezed into the League Two play-off positions in sixth spot and, in two heady legs, won through to the League Two final by beating Notts County 4-1 at Meadow Lane (after a 1-1 Ricoh draw) in a stunning victory.

This was followed by them carrying off the Play-Off Cup at Wembley 3-1 against today’s opponents, Exeter City on an emotional day in front of nearly 38,000 Sky Blue fans (out of a crowd of 50,196). A successful ‘March to the Arch’ for the second successive season for Mark’s men ensured our stay in the bottom tier was as brief as possible just as nearly fifty years previously!

The unlucky Grecians finished fourth whilst Champions Accrington Stanley, Luton Town and Wycombe Wanderers got the automatic promotion spots and went up with CCFC whilst Barnet and Chesterfield were relegated to the National League.

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