Matchday Memories: On This Day 1983 – Sexton’s Sky Blues Start South African Safari

On this day (5th June) in 1983 the Sky Blues tackled a new continent for their overseas end-of-season tour paying their first visit to an African country! They organised a seven game tour in Zimbabwe (formerly Southern Rhodesia).

Steve Mardenborough

They had survived their 1982-83 season finishing nineteenth in Division One under Dave Sexton. Their first game of this southern Africa tour was against the Zimbabwe national team, in the capital Harare, in front of a large, vociferous crowd of around 20,000!

The Sky Blues ran out 5-2 winners with goals from two Stevens – rookie forward Steven Mardenborough, who got a brace, and young centre forward Steve Whitton who helped himself to a hat-trick.

Steve Whitton in the Sky Blue

Steve M. didn’t get a first team outing for the Sky Blues before moving to Wolverhampton Wanderers for 1983-84. Steve W. scored 23 goals in his 82 Sky Blue appearances before moving on to West Ham United not long after this game, in July 1983.

Danny in the England strip

City’s full back Danny Thomas (now an Association member) left the touring party after this game to join up with the England squad (managed by Bobby Robson) who had already flown out from the UK to begin their own tour of Australia.

This was a full eight years before the Sky Blues returned to Zimbabwe to grab the signature of exceptional young talent Peter Ndlovu for £10k from local side Highlanders.

Sky Blues Peter in the 1990s

Peter who had a magical spell with Sky Blues from July 1991 to 1997 and scored 39 goals in his 176 Sky Blue league appearances (many of them memorable) eventually moved to Birmingham City. Now a CCFPA member, Peter also had spells at Huddersfield Town and Sheffield United before returning to his home country in 2004 to play, coach and manage. Between 1991-97 ‘Nuddy’ played 100 times for his country scoring 38 goals and also had a spell as Assistant Manager of the national team. He remains the most capped and top scorer for his country. Peter was born in Bulawayo and the Sky Blues played the Bulawayo Saints later in the tour. Who knows, Peter might have been in the crowd?

In August 1983 the Sky Blues returned the compliment with a friendly against the Zimbabwe national side at Highfield Road which they won 2-0.

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