Matchday Memories: On This Pre Season Day 2006 – Sky Blues Harry Harriers Scoring Five At Aggborough

Sky Blue Manager Micky

On this 1st evening of August in 2006 the Sky Blues, under manager Micky Adams (now a CCFPA member) had returned from their pre-season tour of the USA to continue their warm-up back in the UK. In the States they had drawn 1-1 with Portland Timbers (losing 3-2 in the subsequent penalty shoot out) and won two games against the BYU Cougars 3-0 and 10-0. Back home the Sky Blues misfired in their ‘traditional’ fixture at near neighbours Nuneaton Town losing out by the odd goal in five. Three days later the Sky Blues looked for improvement as they travelled across to the East Midlands to meet Notts. County at Meadow Lane and, indeed, came away victorious by two clear goals. Another three days saw the Sky Blues draw a blank at Tranmere Rovers with a goalless draw. Three days after that the Sky Blues entertained Portuguese outfit Boavista at the Ricoh and the guests went away with a 2-1 win but not before (CCFPA member) Gary McSheffrey and one of the visitors was red carded!

Dele in the Sky Blue

Today CCFC completed their Championship pre-season warm-ups away from home and travelled to Kidderminster to meet the Harriers. They came away with a crushing 5-1 win over the Conference side eventually running away with the friendly at Aggborough in front of a modest crowd of 834. By and large the Sky Blues pace and approach work was too good for the Kiddies, managed by Mark Yates, and the home team were often chasing shadows.

Matt Heath in the Sky Blue

However it was the hosts that scored first, on eleven minutes, when their left-winger Michael Blackwood found the corner of the Sky Blues’ net with an audacious outside-of-the-boot effort from an acute angle. Hoping to impress the Sky Blues, Moroccan triallist Faygal El Idrissi got our 24th minute equaliser after cutting inside from the left to hit a low 20-yarder which crept past the Harriers’ goalie Steve Taylor hitting the inside of the post on its way into the net. 

French triallist Moussa N’Diaye

Eleven minutes later El Idrissi turned creator, curling in a free-kick for City centre-half  Matthew Heath to head in. Just before half-time the Sky Blues’ centre forward (and now CCFPA member) ‘Dele Adebola fired home the Sky Blues third goal after converting a defence splitting ball from our Trinidad and Tobago international Stern John. All three City players mentioned are now Association members!

Going in 3-0 up at half-time did not slake the thirst of the Sky Blues strikers in the second period as on 64 minutes ‘Dele bagged his second, stealing ahead of the Kiddie’s giant centre-half Mark Creighton to head in a long cross from fellow CCFPA member Marcus Hall. The Sky Blues fifth and final goal came four minutes from the final whistle when another trialist (from France) Moussa N’Diaye competently finished off a cross from the influential Stern John.

Micky’s men that August evening (CCFPA members underlined) were:-

Andy Marshall, David McNamee, Marcus Hall, Matt Heath, Elliott Ward, Stephen Hughes, Moussa N’Diaye, Michael Doyle, ‘Dele Adebola (Liam Davis -74), Stern John and Faygal El Idrissi 

Unused subs: Ryan Lynch, Andy Gooding, Ange Lourognon and Cameron Belford (gk)

The Harriers lined up:-

Steve Taylor; Jeff Kenna (Scott Eaton 78), Stuart Whitehead (Michael McGrath 55), Mark Creighton, Jonny Harkness (Gavin Hurren 46); Jamie McClen (Simon Russell 66), Jake Sedgemore, Russ Penn, Michael Blackwood; Dean Sturridge (Brian Smikle 66) and Andy White (Luke Reynolds 46). Unused subs: Neil Howarth & Scott Bevan (gk)

Referee: Oli Langford (W.Midlands) 

CCFC 2006-07

As far as the Championship season was concerned there was little to write home about, the Sky Blues were, at best, a mid table side. Micky was sacked in January after City were knocked out of the F.A.Cup at home by Bristol City in the Third Round. Iain Dowie took over the following month (after Adrian Heath had looked after the shop as caretaker) and seventeenth place safety was achieved.

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