Matchday Memories: On This Day 1999 – Watch Hadji Hit Harry’s Hammers (With Hedman’s Help)!
Gordon the Gaffer
On this day (25th September) 25 years ago today in 1999 the Sky Blues ‘gaffer’ Gordon Strachan was not enjoying a very easy beginning to the 1999-2000 season having only won only once in this Premier League season so far in the first eight games, a 2-0 win at home to Derby County with two debut goals from £6m signing Robbie Keane. The five defeats were (in order) to Southampton (h) on the opening day, Leicester City (a), Manchester United (h), Leeds United (h) and Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. WGS and the Sky Blues fans among the 19,985 Highfield Road crowd today were certainly looking for better things!
Hadji in Action
The Sky Blues had given a debut to an experienced new signing from Nottingham Forest, (now CCFPA member) Carlton Palmer. The play was pretty scrappy, particularly in the second half, and City often rode their luck with our Swedish shot-stopper Magnus Hedman (also now a CCFPA member) very much back to his best. Magnus foiled the Hammers’ Paulo Wanchope a number of times and their star striker also missed some good chances too.
In the end, despite the Hammers having lots of possession, the Sky Blues scored the only goal of the game in the 36th minute as one half of our Moroccan pair (with Youssef Chippo), Mustapha Hadji, headed home from a Gary McAllister free kick. City had to hang on for their 1-0 win though it helped that the Hammers’ John Moncur was sent off twenty minutes before the end after attracting two yellow cards. Both Moroccans (pictured below congratulating each other) are now Association members.
Magnus in the Sky Blue yellow
Strachan’s Sky Blues lined up as follows (CCFPA members underlined):-
Marcus Hedman, Marc Edworthy, Marcus Hall, Carlton Palmer, Mo Konjic, Richard Shaw, Paul Telfer, Gary McAllister (sub. Gary McSheffrey -84), Mustapha Hadji, Robbie Keane and Youssef Chippo (sub. Paul Williams -61)
Harry Redknapp‘s Hammers line-up was:-
Shaka Hislop, Trevor Sinclair, Marc Keller (sub. Adam Newton -77), Steve Lomas, Ogor Stimac, Steve Potts, Marc-Vivien Foe, Frank Lampard, Paulo Wanchope, Paolo Di Canio and John Moncur (s.o.-70) Referee: David Elleray
Former Sky Blues (the late) Les Sealey (gk) and CCFPA member Stuart Pearce were on the Hammers’ books at this time, as was future Sky Blue Joe Cole.
CCFC 1999-2000
West Ham United got ample revenge in the return at the Boleyn in April whupping the Sky Blues 5-0! Manchester United were the Premier League Champs that season with Arsenal runners up a long way (eighteen points) behind. The Hammers finished ninth.
Wimbledon were relegated at the end of the season in eighteenth spot along with Sheffield Wednesday and bottom club Watford. The Sky Blues finished eleven points clear of any similar trouble in fourteenth spot!
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
