Matchday Memories: On This Day 1996 – See Sky Blues Gaffer (WGS) Gutted By Gills On Home Debut

Gordon the Gaffer

On this day (13th November) in 1996 Sky Blues gaffer was no longer Ron Atkinson as he had been ‘removed upstairs’ to allow his erstwhile Assistant Gordon Strachan to take over the managerial reins. Still also playing for the Sky Blues this was Gordon’s managerial baptism at Highfield Road and he might have expected it to go better since his team were playing a lower league side, Gillingham in a Third Round replay of the League (Coca-Cola) Cup.

Gary in the Sky Blue

The Sky Blues had previously knocked out local rivals, our recent landlord, Birmingham City, over two legs. At St. Andrews a Gary McAllister goal gave us a 1-0 win after a 1-1 draw at Highfield Road. This day’s game was a replay as City had got a 2-2 draw at Priestfield the previous month with a Paul Telfer brace ensuring a return game. In fact, City had played out six successive draws in league and cup prior to this game!

Paul in the Sky Blue

The Gills had previously never beaten a top level side and CCFC therefore became their first victims and though little more than an ordinary Second Division side they still deserved their win. The Sky Blues were unable to make any real impact in attack and our defence frequently looked suspect. Little change occurred even when WGS brought himself on as a sub.

The Gills got the only goal of the game after 71 minutes through their defender Neil Smith, taking advantage of a Sky Blue defensive mix-up. The Gills were able to hold on for their win and a Fourth Round date with Ipswich Town at Portman Road (which they lost 1-0).

The Sky Blue fans amongst the 12,639 at Highfield Road went home disappointed but the many visitors from Kent, over 3000, went home elated. Ten minutes of YouTube match highlights (click below) from the Gill’s perspective will show you what the fuss was about:-

https://youtu.be/yXGUvvEEXJct!

The Sky Blues side that suffered this embarrassing defeat on Gordon’s managerial debut was (current CCFPA members are underlined):-

Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, Richard Shaw, Kevin Richardson, Liam Daish, Paul D.Williams, Paul Telfer (sub. Gordon Strachan), Gary McAllister, Eoin Jess (sub. Dion Dublin), Noel Whelan and John Salako

Gillingham‘s winners on the day lined up:-

Jim Stannard, Neil Smith, Mark Harris, Andy Hessenthaler, Richard Green, Matt Bryant, Dennis Bailey, Simon Radcliffe, Iffy Onuara, Steve Butler and Craig Armstrong    Referee:- Roger Dilkes

Interestingly at different times during this season the Gills had loanee goalkeepers attached to them who are both now CCFPA members, Jonathan Gould (on loan from Bradford City) and Andy Marshall (on loan from Norwich City)!

CCFC 1996-97

Away from cup matters, the Sky Blues survival in the Premier League proved a very close shave indeed! It needed a stirring 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur‘s White Hart Lane on the last day of the season to preserve their status in seventeenth spot, a place above relegated Sunderland, Middlesbrough and (well bottom) Nottingham Forest.

At the other end of the table Manchester United sailed away with the top tier title seven points clear of three of the chasing pack, Newcastle United, Arsenal and Liverpool!  The Gills finished eleventh in the Second Division.

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.