Matchday Memories: On This Pre Season Day 2011 – The Young Sky Blues Step On The Brakes!

CCFC gaffer- Andy Thorn,

On this day (27th July) back in 2011 the Sky Blues were unbeaten in their pre-season warm up dates. Near neighbours Nuneaton Town forced a 2-2 draw in the opener and then both non-league Hinckley United (3-0) and Kettering Town (1-0) were dispatched without the Sky Blues conceding. On the previous day to this day a full Andy Thorn CCFC squad grabbed a draw against the tougher opposition of Chesterfield Town but today a young Sky Blue XI went back to local non-league fare taking on the Brakes of Leamington Town in front of a small crowd of 741 fans.

The visitors proved victorious by the odd goal in three with the Sky Blues goals coming from ace young striker (and now CCFPA member) Callum Wilson drilling home after 22 minutes and Josh Ruffels  netting six minutes later.

Callum in the Sky Blue

The Brakes’ goal also came in the first half when City conceded a penalty converted by Tom Berwick after 37 minutes. The half-time score of 2-1 to the Sky Blues was maintained for the full ninety minutes. Once the Sky Blues youngest ever debutant Ben Mackey came on for the Brakes as a second half substitute. and former City youngster Tom Bates was also on their bench. Both are now CCFPA members!

Josh Ruffels in the Sky Blue

Thanks to CCFPA Associate member Kev Monks for supplying a match report from his old CovMad website which you can read via the link here.

The young Sky Blues team lined up (CCFPA members underlined) as follows:-

Chris Dunn, Aaron Phillips, Josh Ruffels, Gael Bigirimana, Nathan  Cameron, James McPake, Killian Brennan, Gary Deegan (Courtney Richards -1), Roy O’Donovan, Clive Platt (Shaun Jeffers -2), and Callum Wilson  

Unused Substitutes: Jordan Willis and Lee Burge (gk).

Killian was a City trialist from Dublin side Bohemians who was not offered a contract.

Paul Holleran‘s Leamington side lined up:-

Tony Breeden, Michael Tuohy (Kyle Cartwight -64), Stephan Morley, Lee Downes (Richard Batchelor -13), James Mace, Liam Daly, Alex Taylor, Craig Owen, Tom Berwick, Jamie Sheldon (Ben Mackey -58) and James Husband (Dior Angus -81)   Unused subs:- Fazel Konija and Tom Bates.  Referee:- Kevin Andrews

CCFC 2011-12

The Sky Blues season subsequently sadly collapsed into relegation from the Championship.

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