Matchday Memories: On This Day 1986 – Maine Rd. Win Managed By ‘Iron Man’ & ‘Big Cyrille’!

George Curtis- Sky Blue Managing Director

On this day (6th September) in 1986 in their fifth game of the Division One season Former Sky Blue ‘iron man’ centre-half turned ‘gaffer’ George Curtis (with John Sillett as managerial partner) took their Sky Blues to Manchester City‘s Maine Road,  and came away with a win against the ‘other’ city team in light blue. John and George later both became CCFC club Life Presidents. Sadly the game and CCFC have all too recently lost both club Legends with both their passing within the last few years!

It was our immensely talented and popular forward Cyrille Regis (who we also sadly lost tragically early) who got the only goal in the 37th minute of the first half.  Former Sky Blue shotstopper (and Cyrille’s fellow CCFPA member) Perry Suckling was in goal for the Mancunians and Ian Brightwell (who got a lone League Cup appearance for the Sky Blues whilst with us between 1998-2000) came on as a sub for Manchester City during the game. Ian is the son of 1960’s British athletic medalists Ann Packer and Robin Brightwell.

Cyrille in the Sky Blue

In an impressive all round Sky Blues performance, former Manchester City winger and Wembley F.A.Cup final scorer in May 1987, Dave Bennett played a blinder. Now a long time CCFPA committee member, ‘Benno’ could easily have got a brace himself but it was Cyrille who scored from a Brian Borrows cross.   The Sky Blues’ midfielder David Phillips, like ‘Benno’, also playing against his old club, also had a goal ruled out for no apparent reason.

We are proud to say that every single member of the management and players at Maine Road that winning day  later joined this Association. All, apart from the unluckily injured Brian Borrows, went on to play in that May 1987 Wembley final when the team brought the F.A.Cup back to Coventry.

Killer dominates

They were:-

Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, Greg Downs, Lloyd McGrath, Brian Kilcline, Trevor Peake, Dave Bennett, David Phillips, Cyrille Regis, Steve Sedgley and Nick Pickering

Man.City‘s XI lined up:-

Perry Suckling, Kenny Clements, Andy May, Graham Baker, Mick McCarthy, Steve Redmond, Robert Hopkins, Neil McNab, Trevor Christie, Gordon Davies (sub. Ian Brightwell) and Clive Wilson                         Referee: N.Ashley

Apart from the F.A.Cup win the Sky Blues finished in a commendable tenth place in Division One in 1986-87 whilst Manchester City suffered relegation in 21st spot five points from safety having drawn the return game at Highfield Road 2-2 on the 21st December.

Above the Mancunians but still relegated were City’s A46/M69 rivals Leicester City and right at the bottom were A45 rivals Aston Villa who had to taste second tier football the following season.

CCFC 1986-87

At the other end of the table were the two Liverpool teams, but it was the Blue side of the city, Everton that was happy as Champions nine points ahead of the (Red faced runners up) Liverpool.

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.