Matchday Memories: On This Pre-Season Day 1993 – Bobby’s Boys Tame The Bulls At Hereford

Programme front

On this day (4th August) in 1993 the Sky Blues took on Hereford United in the second of their four pre-season games of the season. Hereford, who were then a non-league side, were relatively frequent friendly opponents, mostly in the pre-season period, right back to the sixties and the two clubs had a number of managerial and playing connections. By way of example the late lamented CCFPA member and later CCFC Life President John Sillett managed both clubs as well as playing for CCFC, Bob Dennison managed the Bulls and was on the management staff at Highfield Road and, later a controversialist, David Icke played between the sticks for both clubs. CCFPA member and our popular 1987 Sky Blues F.A.Cup winner Greg Downs was billed as left back for the Bulls against his former club (and also their No.7 Derek Hall started his professional career at Highfield Road in the eighties)!

Pre season friendlies and testimonials were also played at Edgar Street in 1966/7; 1967/8; 1969/70; 1972/3; 1974/5; 1987/8 and 1992/3 as well as later in 1999/2000. You may find coverage of some of them in these ‘Matchday Memories’ pages on their anniversaries. The floodlit match on this day was a billed as the ‘Brian Preece Memorial Match‘. In fact the two teams had also contested the same fixture to benefit the ‘Brian Preece Memorial Trust‘ the previous November. The fund was in the name of a local man who had been killed in a road accident in 1992 after a career with the Bulls, Newport County, Minehead, Trowbridge and Gloucester.

The Sky Blues Gouldfather ‘gaffer’

Former Sky Blue striker, now the club’s manager Bobby Gould, took his Premiership side to Edgar Street on this day having seen them lose 3-2 to Ayr United in the previous pre-season game. he was probably greatly relieved that in this evening’s game the Sky Blues ran out narrow 2-1 winners! Sadly, we do not have the actual team details to hand though the selected teams are shown in the programme (above left). There was a modest crowd of 1,227 to see the game when the non leagers put up stern resistance.

Nuddy in the Sky Blue

Apparently CCFC’s Micky Quinn (now a CCFPA member) squandered enough first half chances to have claimed a hat-trick hitting the post and having a 23rd minute penalty saved by Bulls’ goalie Alan Judge. The Sky Blues tricky Zimbabwean forward Peter Ndlovu (also an Association member) finally netted on the hour mark. Hereford earned themselves an 80th minute equaliser when former Sky Blue youngster Derek Hall slotted home his penalty chance after Max Nicholson had been brought down in the box. The Sky Blues’ winner came thanks to Sean Flynn (another CCFPA member) with the last kick of the game!

Sean Flynn in the Sky Blue

The remaining friendlies were both won without conceding, by 1-0 at Rotherham United and two clear goals at local neighbours Nuneaton Borough (another frequent pre-season opponent).

Gould’s men went on to beat Arsenal at Highbury in their opening Premier League game with a (CCFPA member) Micky Quinn hat-trick. This flattering start dissolved into a season with plenty of points won but many matches settled by a single goal. Phil Babb starred in the defence.

Bobby dramatically resigned in October to be replaced by his deputy, former Liverpool defensive star Phil Neal.

However, a comfortable 11th place finish was just reward for the efforts of the teams shaped by both men.

CCFC 1993-94

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