Matchday Memories: On This Day 1969 – Cantwell’s CCFC Force First Forest Top Flight Flop v City!
On this day (16th September) in 1969 under Noel Cantwell were well into their third season in the top flight and were facing a team, Nottingham Forest, that they were yet to beat in Division One. Beaten only twice in their first nine league games they fancied their chances and did enough to beat their East Midlands’ rivals on this day by the odd goal in five.
Neil in the Sky Blue
The club’s matchday magazine (right), self proclaimed ‘Britain’s No.1 since 1967′, pictured Sky Blues’ Scottish No.9 Neil Martin outjumping Liverpool‘s Ron Yeats in City’s 2-1 defeat at Anfield ten day’s previously. The decent crowd at Highfield Road of 26,038 went home satisfied as their favourites took both points with goals from Neil, Dave Clements (now Neil’s fellow CCFPA member) and eighteen year old Graham Paddon .
Dave Clements in Sky Blue action
The win was well deserved especially since the Sky Blues had to come back from behind. Forest’s Graham Collier struck first (his debut goal for the Garibaldi Reds) after 26 minutes. The Sky Blues were on equal terms at the break as, four minutes from half-time, Neil Martin flicked in a header from a cross by (now CCFPA committee member) Dietmar Bruck. Seven minutes into the second period City’s Irish international (another Association member now) Dave Clements produced a thunderous shot to give the Sky Blues the lead the day after his birthday!
Graham Paddon
It was the visitors who then found an equaliser, on 77 minutes, and wouldn’t you know it, it came from former Sky Blue favourite Ronnie Rees who fizzed one in against his old club. The Sky Blues were not to be denied, however, and a minute later came another debut goal set up for the Sky Blues Graham Paddon by City’s ‘Cheeky Chappie’ Ernie Hunt. The points and the victory were in the bag as City held out for a welcome win.
CCFC’s Manager, Noel Cantwell
Cantwell’s CCFC lined up against Forest like this :-
Bill Glazier, Mick Coop, Dave Clements, Dietmar Bruck, George Curtis*, Jeff Blockley, Ernie Hunt*, Ian Gibson*, Neil Martin, Maurice Setters* and Graham Paddon*
Ron in the Sky Blue 1964
Matt Gillies put out the following Forest team:-
Alan Hill, Peter Hindley*, John Winfield, Bob Chapman, Terry Hennessey, Henry Newton, Ron Rees, David Hilley, Graham Collier (sub.Liam O’Kane ), John Barnwell and Ian Storey-Moore Referee:- B.Homewood
The Sky Blues had a great season under Cantwell finishing, still in their highest ever position in the top flight, in sixth spot therefore qualifying them for their first ever place in European competition in 1970-71. They were still sixteen points shy of eventual Champions Everton but got only eight points less than runners up Leeds United.
CCFC 1969-70
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.
