Matchday Memories: On This Day 2002 – McSheffrey, McAllister & Mills Make Essex Men Miserable

Gary in the Sky Blue

On this day (11th September) in 2002 six games into the new Division One season with mixed results (three wins and two defeats) the Sky Blues, under player-manager Gary McAllister, were preparing to undertake their first League (Worthington) Cup tie of the season against Division Two Colchester United. Last time out, in the league, at Highfield Road the Sky Blues had disappointingly lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest so improvement was needed and expected against lower league opposition who were managed by a former Sky Blue forward who had started out his professional career at CCFC, Steve Whitton! The Sky Blues eventually found little trouble in disposing of the U’s by three clear goals. 

‘Cov Kid’ (and now CCFPA member) Gary McSheffrey set the ball rolling after only twelve seconds (equalling the fastest ever Sky Blue strike) finishing a cross from Dean Gordon. Though there was an extremely modest 6,075 fans in the ground (including 360 who had travelled all the way from Essex) they were enthused to see the Sky Blue ‘boss’ strike next after fifteen minutes direct from a free-kick.

Gary McSheffrey in Sky Blue action

City had a new man between the sticks. French goalie Fabien Debec who, in truth, had little to do but made a decent start on his debut. It only remained for the tie to be put to bed in the second half when, seven minutes from time, Sky Blue striker Lee Mills headed home a cross from David Pipe (both now CCFPA members). The 3-0 scoreline earned a second round tie with eventual Division Three Champs Rushden & Diamonds.

Lee Mills in the Sky Blue

Macca’s Men lined up as follows (CCFPA members underlined):-

Fabien Debec, Laurent Delorge (sub. David Pipe -69), Dean Gordon, Richard Shaw, Mo Konjic, Gary Caldwell, John Eustace, Gary McAllister, Gary McSheffrey (sub. Jay Bothroyd -50), Lee Mills and Youssef Chippo (sub. Runar Normann -73)

Sky Blue Steve Whitton

Steve Whitton‘s Colchester United team that day was:-

Richard McKinney, Kemal Izzett, Joe Keith, Gavin Johnson, Alan White, Pat Baldwin, Thomas Pinault (sub. Leke Odunsi -46), Mick Stockwell (sub. Kevin Rapley -86), Dean Morgan (sub. Lloyd Opara -66), Scott McGleish and Bobby Bowry      Referee:- R.Oliver

The Sky Blues faced Rushden and Diamonds in Round 2, again at Highfield Road. Curiously, they had already played the Division Three side in a pre-season friendly in Northants and beat them then 2-1 with first half goals from Jay Bothroyd and (now CCFPA member) Julian Joachim. The second round tie was an 8-0 massacre with ‘Sheffers’ getting a hat-trick, Lee Mills and Jay getting a brace each and young Robert Betts scoring the remaining goal. In early November the Sky Blues travelled to south London where their cup run ended with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Division One rivals Crystal Palace.

CCFC 2002-03

City finished their 2002-03 Division One season safe, but only just so, finishing in twentieth place four points and a couple of places above the relegated clubs (Sheffield Wednesday, Brighton & Hove Albion and Grimsby Town).

This Division’s Champions Portsmouth, runners up Leicester City and fifth place Wolverhampton Wanderers (after the playoffs) were the promoted trio.

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