Matchday Memories: On This Day 1982 – ‘Thommo’ Sorts Sunderland For Sexton’s Sky Blues!

On this day in 1982 (7th September)  Dave Sexton was now in the Sky Blues’ gaffer’s chair having taken over from long service manager Gordon Milne (who is now a CCFPA member). The Sky Blues were about to play their fourth Division One game of the season at home having won their opener at Highfield Road by the only goal of the game against Southampton. In between, on the road, they had lost 2-1 at Swansea and drawn 1-1 at Ipswich Town.

Garry in the Sky Blue

Today’s opponents Sunderland were unbeaten so far and the Sky Blues young team soon put paid to that! Sadly, there were only 8,910 patrons present at the home of the CCFC to see the Sky Blues totally dominate the Black Cats and take an early lead in the seventh minute thanks to our robust and youthful striker Garry Thompson (now a CCFPA member and due to visit us as a ‘special guest at the Sky Blues Championship match against the Baggies in a few days time)!

The gate was City’s lowest in the top flight so far. The 1-0 win put us in sixth spot in the table and we could have won more easily as Garry, Steve Whitton (and now Thommo’s fellow CCFPA member) Paul Dyson were all guilty of missing reasonable opportunities. What promised to be a fluent and fluid contest was, many fans thought, spoilt by the many stoppages made by over-fussy referee John Hough though, to be fair, there was plenty of physicality on show. On City’s side (both now CCFPA members) Mark Hateley was forced to limp off and Steve Jacobs had his nose broken!

Dave Sexton, CCFC’s gaffer

Sexton’s Sky Blues that day comprised (CCFPA members underlined):-

The late Les Sealey, Danny Thomas, Brian Roberts, Steve Jacobs, Paul Dyson, Gary Gillespie, Peter Hormantschuk, Gerry Francis, Mark Hateley (sub. Martin Singleton), Garry Thompson and Steve Whitton

Steve Jacobs in his Sky Blue days

The Black Cats team, managed by Alan Durban, lined up as follows:-

Chris Turner, Barry Venison, Iain Munro, Ian Atkins, Rob Hindmarch, Shaun Elliott (sub. John Cooke), Mick Buckley, Gary Rowell, Ally McCoist, Nick Pickering and Stan Cummins        Referee: John Hough

Nick Pick in the Sky Blue

City fans will note that in the Black Cats’ forward line was a future Sky Blue favourite (and now CCFPA member) Nick Pickering. Nick Pick was, of course, part of the ‘Boys of 87’ who brought the F.A.Cup back to Coventry in May 1987.

There was a close affair as well in the return at Roker Park in early February, the Rokerites winning by the odd goal in three with City’s second half equalising goal coming from Steve Whitton.

CCFC 1982-83

CCFC just avoided relegation at the end of the season finishing in nineteenth, one point and one place above the drop. It was the other team in Sky Blue, Manchester City that suffered the relegation humiliation beneath City this season and they went down with Swansea Town and bottom club Brighton.  Sunderland took sixteenth spot a couple of points better off than the Sky Blues. Liverpool walked the title eleven points clear of runners up Watford.

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