Matchday Memories: On This day 1974 – Milne’s Men Make Merry At St Andrews.
A little poignantly, given the Sky Blues fairly recent friendly exile at the ground of Birmingham City, on this day (5th October) in 1974 CCFC Manager Gordon Milne (now a CCFPA member) took his side to St Andrews in a Division One game. CCFC had started off the season poorly with no wins in their first eight games. However, a Highfield Road 2-1 win over Luton Town and a 1-0 victory at Leicester City‘s Filbert St. in their last two outings saw confidence returning.
Larry in Sky Blue
In a battling performance Brum were vanquished on home soil in front of 30,282, by the odd goal in three, making a successive win treble for the Sky Blues. The Sky Blues, wearing red tops and blue shorts, took the points with an opening goal from Larry Lloyd (heading home from a corner after twenty minutes) and a winner from CCFPA member Jimmy Holmes on seventy minutes.
‘Big Jim’ beat Dave Latchford in the Brummagem’s goal from twenty yards and was thankful to see the ball finally nestle in the net after hitting both posts in turn! Larry and (the late) Peter Hindley were majestic in the heart of the Sky Blues defence as the forwards missed further chances to extend the score.
The only blot on the away side’s copybook was Trevor Francis‘ disputed penalty equaliser after fifty minutes after CCFPA member Chris Cattlin was adjudged to have handled the ball.
Sky Blue Manager Gordon
Milne’s men that day (CCFPA members underlined) were:-
Peter Hindley in City’s away strip
Neil Ramsbottom, Graham Oakey, Chris Cattlin, Dennis Mortimer, the late Larry Lloyd, the late Peter Hindley, Jim Holmes, the late Brian Alderson, Colin Stein, David Cross and Tommy Hutchison.
Freddy Goodwin‘s Blues XI was:-
Dave Latchford, Ray Martin, Steve Bryant, Howard Kendall, Joe Gallagher, Gary Pendry, Alan Campbell, Trevor Francis, Kenny Burns, Bob Hatton and Gordon Taylor. Referee:- Keith Styles
Alan Green in the Sky Blue
Alan Green (also now a CCFPA member) made sure the Sky Blues completed the double over the Blues three matches before the end of the season in mid April with a power shot in the 27th minute for the only goal of the game.
The Sky Blues went on to finish the season in fourteenth spot with Brum three places and two points below them. Luton Town, Chelsea and bottom club Carlisle United were the relegated trio whilst Derby County took the title by a couple of points from both second placed Liverpool and third place Ipswich Town.
CCFC 1974-75
