Matchday Memories: On This Pre-Season Day 1996 – Sky Blues ‘Snowy’ Scores As CCFC Conquer Charlton.

On this evening (August 2nd) in 1996 CCFC manager Ron Atkinson chose a Sky Blues XI for the third in a series of pre season games. Kicking off at Peterborough United‘s London Road a week earlier Big Ron’s men did well beat Barry Fry‘s Posh by a comfortable 4-1 scoreline. Just four days ago  the Sky Blues took on and beat 2-0 less illustrious non-league opponents St Albans City at Clarence Park.

Today Big Ron’s men were in south London at the Valley to take on Division One opponents Charlton Athletic.

Alan Curbishley‘s side were hoping to feature one of their new signings Brendan O’Connell, costing £125k from Barnsley and he came on as a sub during the game. City were showing off their new season strip today and lined up with a new defensive formation. Fairly recent CCFPA recruit Eoin Jess was omitted from the side but City’s £3m marquee signing from Leeds United (later to become our ‘gaffer’), Gary McAllister, pulled on the Sky Blue for the first time. Our Brazilian playmaker Isaias and young forward Noel Whelan formed the front two (both are now Association members).

Noel in the Sky Blue

And it was Noel who became the Sky Blues’ sole scorer with a spectacular strike in the 57th minute finishing from a superb cross field ball from Isaias. Shortly afterwards the 21 year old got limped off injured with a hamstring  injury and needed to be substituted. This was a blow to the Sky Blues as they already fellow striker Dion Dublin sidelined injured. John Salako and Paul Telfer (also both now Association members) looked good wide and put in some telling crosses and the back line of Richard Shaw, Liam Daish and David Burrows (also all three now CCFPA men) were effective in keeping the ‘Addicks’ forwards quiet. Nevertheless ‘Oggy’ had to pull off one magnificent full length save and Charlton’s David Whyte hit City’s bar with a free kick so the win was hard fought!

Big Ron

Big Ron’s Sky Blues put out the following side (CCFPA members underlined):-

Steve Ogrizovic, Richard Shaw, David Burrows, Paul Williams, Liam Daish, Kevin Richardson (Michael O’Neill -57), Paul Telfer, Isaias, Noel Whelan (Brian Borrows -68), Gary McAllister and John Salako 

Unused substitutes: Eoin Jess, Andrew Ducros, Sam Shilton, Craig Faulconbridge and John Filan (gk)

The Addick’s team was:-

Mike Salmon, Steve Brown, Paul Sturgess (Brendan O’Connell), Keith Jones, Richard Rufus, Stuart Balmer, Shaun Newton, Bradley Allen (Kevin Lisbie -75), John Robinson, David Whyte and Paul Mortimer   Other subs: Andy Petterson (Kevin Nicholls-46) and Michael Lichenko  Unused sub:- Phil Chapple   Referee: Jeff Pettit (replaced Mark Halsey (Herts))

CCFC 1996-97

The rest of the Sky Blues pre-season away from home went well with a 2-2 draw at Wigan Athletic with goals from youngster Andy Ducros and a rare one from Marcus Hall (both now CCFPA members) and a 4-2 win at Nuneaton Borough by City’s second string. City’s only Highfield Road date pre-season was their last game against top European opponents Benfica and the Sky Blues were taught a footballing lesson by the Portuguese side who won 7-2.

Gordon the Gaffer

Big Ron only lasted in the managerial hot-seat until Bonfire Night when he moved upstairs to allow his assistant Gordon Strachan to take full control of team matters. Under WGS the Sky Blues struggled for much of the Premier League season and only a last ditch 2-1 win at ‘Spurs saved their bacon. The Sky Blues win condemned Sunderland to take the drop just a point and a place beneath them and the Black Cats joined Middlesbrough (who also luckily for us had been deducted three points) and Nottingham Forest in being relegated from the top flight.

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