Matchday Memories: On This Day 1987 – Sillett’s Sky Blues Take Toffees Great Goodison Record

On this day (26th September) in 1987 Sky Blues ‘gaffer’ John Sillett‘s side was having a patchy start to the Division One season. Having kicked off with an impressive 2-1 home win over David Pleat‘s ‘Spurs’ side (only a matter of months after that stupendous and memorable 3-2 extra time win over Tottenham Hotspur) the Sky Blues then also won their first away game at Luton Town thanks to a 66th minute penalty from our huge central defender and skipper Brian Kilcline.

The next two games involved defeats (3-1 at Norwich City and a devastating 4-1 Highfield Road mauling by Liverpool). An encouraging 3-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday was followed by a goalless draw at home to Manchester United and a 3-0 reverse at home to Nottingham Forest.

Today’s trip to Goodison to meet the current Division One Champions Everton looked a tough call. City well remembered their last game with the Toffees on August 1st when they lost 1-0 to the Merseysiders at Wembley in the Charity Shield. However, on this day, amazingly the Sky Blues came back with  2-1 win inflicting the Toffees first home defeat for over a year!

Match action

Cyrille in the Sky Blue

David in the Sky Blue

All the scoring was completed late in the first half with the Sky Blues getting their noses in front in the 37th minute with a superb goal from the deeply missed Cyrille Regis. This was followed up by an equally stunning Sky Blues second from David Phillips only a minute from the break (both later joined CCFPA). However, there was still time for the Toffees to come back just before the half-time whistle with a goal from the home team’s Wayne Clarke.

The second half was a battle with the Sky Blues keeping Everton at bay with wave after wave of attack. City’s defender (and now Association member) Lloyd McGrath was magnificent frequently putting his body on the line in last ditch defending and heroically, in the dying minutes, heading the ball off the toe of future Sky Blue caretaker manager Adrian Heath. The win was City’s first at Goodison in a dozen seasons and ensured the Sky Blues’ third away win out of four!

John Sillett CCFC gaffer

Every member of the management and team that day went on to join CCFPA! The late John Sillett‘s men were:-

Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, Nick Pickering, Lloyd McGrath, Steve Sedgley, Trevor Peake, Dave Bennett, David Phillips, the late Cyrille Regis  David Speedie (sub. Keith Houchen) and Micky Gynn

The Toffees XI, managed by Colin Harvey, lined up:-

Neville Southall, Pat van den Hauwe (sub. Adrian Heath), Neil Pointon, Kevin Ratcliffe, Dave Watson, Alan Harper (sub. Derek Mountfield), Trevor Steven, Wayne Clark, Graeme Sharp, Glyn Snodin and Ian Wilson      Referee:- J.Lloyd

CCFC 1987-88

The following April Everton got full revenge beating the Sky Blues at Highfield Road by the odd goal in three (Cyrille scored again for the Sky Blues). The Evertonians finished in fourth spot in Division One presumably miffed that their city rivals Liverpool had ended as Champs a full eleven points ahead of runners up the Arsenal. Sillett’s men finished in a very creditable tenth place. 

Portsmouth, Oxford United and Watford were the trio of clubs that took the drop in 1987-88.

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