Sky Blues Memories On This Day 2000: Scot Gary Mc Leaves For ‘The Reds’
Gary in Sky Blue action
Thanks to CCFC historian Steve Phelps for reminding us of the anniversary of the departure of an influential and distinguished Scottish international Sky Blue from Highfield Road at the turn of the last century. The memory above is excerpted from his book ‘Coventry City On This Day’ (Pitch Publishing 2010) which points up lots of interesting Sky Blue anniversaries*.
Gary McAllister‘s illustrious career is too well known to bear repeating in detail here. The Motherwell born midfielder, now an MBE, started with his hometown club before spending five seasons at Leicester City. Suffice it to say the Highfield Road faithful were lucky to see him wear the Sky Blue between July 1996, when the cultured midfielder was a £3m signing from Leeds United, to July 2000 when he went on a free Bosman transfer to Liverpool (to much further success).
Gary in the Sky Blue
In between, he took part in 140 memorable Sky Blue games and contributed 26 goals to the Sky Blue cause (making many more). He also returned to Highfield Road as Player Manager in 2001 and contributed another 12 goals in 60 games before his wife’s severe illness forced his resignation.
He prompted many memorable trademark celebrations with contemporary stars of the forward line Dion Dublin, Darren Huckerby and Noel Whelan (all CCFPA members) and his time in Coventry will be remembered with great appreciation for his skill, incisiveness and leadership by Sky Blues fans.
Gary McAllister- Sky Blue ‘gaffer’
Four years elapsed before Gary returned to management with Leeds United (2008) and his subsequent career took in coaching at Middlesbrough (2010) under another former Sky Blue ‘gaffer’ (and CCFPA member) Gordon Strachan, a spell as caretaker manager at Aston Villa (2010-11), coaching at Liverpool (2015), then Rangers and from November 2021 to October 22 was assistant to Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa
*Steve’s most recent work on the Sky Blues about the 1980-81 squad ’29 Minutes From Wembley’ was published by Pitch Publishing in 2017 and all his CCFC books are available online and from all good bookshops.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the photos.
