Matchday Memories: On This Day 1967 – Bermuda Police Fail To Arrest Sky Blues

The Police team that faced the Sky Blues

Ron in the Sky Blue 1964

Brian Lewis in the Sky Blue

At the end of the 1966-67 Division Two promotion season, when Sky Blue icon Jimmy Hill took the club to the top division in England for the first time ever as Champions, the reward for the players was a June tour of the West Indies.

The players enjoyed sun, sea and soccer in a five match holiday meander across the Caribbean.

Programme

After a brace of wins in each of Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados the Sky Blues moved on to Bermuda for their final game on this day 18th June 1967.

Their opponents in the capital of the island, Hamilton, were a team representing Bermuda Police playing as the ‘Police Recreation Select XI‘ and the game took place in front of 3,000 spectators.

Such a junior team were able to attract such top level opponents as the Sky Blues because the Commissioner of Police, Mr George Robins just happened to be a cousin of City’s renowned Chairman Derrick Robins!

The match proved a fairly easy workout for the English professionals despite the heat and six different City players got themselves on the scoresheet in a comprehensive 8-0 victory (4-0 at half-time).

CCFC 1966-67

CCFPA member (the late) Ronnie Rees got a brace (the first two goals) as did the late Brian Lewis. The rest of the goals came from John Tudor, Dietmar Bruck, Dave Clements and the late Ernie Machin (all who later went on to become CCFPA members and Dietmar is a committee member). Even JH got in on the act as a late second half sub and the Sky Blues did all they could to set him up with a goal!

John Tudor in the Sky Blue

Diet in the Sky Blue

Dave in the Sky Blue

Ernie in the Sky Blue

A full report and interesting contemporary photos can be found on the Bermuda ex Police Association website (including material taken from their Police Magazine) by clicking here.

One of the Sky Blues goals

The Sky Blues must have liked it as they went back to Barbados and Bermuda again after the 1968-69 season too!

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