Matchday Memories: On This Day 1989 – See CCFC Knocked Off Top At The Den (Oggie’s Off & Speedie On)!
David in the Sky Blue
On this day (9th September) in 1989 The Sky Blues former player turned ‘gaffer’ John Sillett took his team to the (old) Den to meet Millwall in their fifth game of the new Premier League season. This was their third straight London visit after losing 0-2 to the Arsenal at Highbury on the 22nd August and winning by the only goal at Crystal Palace four days later. Home victories over Everton (2-0) and Manchester City (2-1) had put the Sky Blues on the top of the top division for the first time ever! Sadly, this was not to last more than ten days as the Lions ran riot in front of 12,062 at the Den!
The Sky Blues were caught cold as the Lions’ prolific striker Teddy Sheringham took only 44 seconds to open Millwall’s account as the visitors become shambolic and conceded twice more before half time, first to Teddy (again) with a deflected shot on thirteen minutes and then to Steve Anthrobus a minute before the break. Then the Sky Blues suffered a major handicap when our legendary goakeeper Steve Ogrizovic picked up an injury colliding with a post.
Sky Blue Oggy
Sky Blue Speedie
One CCFPA member replaced another at the break as an outfield player, Sky Blues forward David Speedie was chosen to take Oggy’s place between the CCFC sticks! The Sky Blues improved and winger, also now a CCFPA member, David Smith got one back after 65 minutes. The amateur shot-stopper Speedie did a reasonable job keeping the Lions at bay and only conceded the fourth to Ian Dawes right at the death.
Thanks to former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson you can see the highlights by clicking on the image below.
(The late) John Sillett ‘s Sky Blues that day comprised (CCFPA members underlined):-
John Sillett- Sky Blue ‘gaffer’
Steve Ogrizovic (sub. David Speedie -45), Brian Borrows, Tony Dobson, Dean Emerson, Brian Kilcine, Trevor Peake, David Speedie (sub. Dougie McGuire), Micky Gynn (sub. Kevin MacDonald), the late Cyrille Regis, Gary Bannister and David Smith
Millwall put out the following XI:-
Brian Horne, Keith Stevens, Ian Dawes, Trevor Horlock, David Thompson, Steve Wood, Jimmy Carter, Les Briley, Teddy Sheringham, Tony Cascarino and Steve Anthrobus Referee: K.Redfern
CCFC 1989-90
City got some recompense in mid February when they beat the Lions 3-1 at Highfield Road with David Smith scoring again and young central forward (and fellow CCFPA member) Steve Livingstone getting a brace. Snoz’s men finished in a creditable twelfth place that season immediately above both Manchester clubs whilst Millwall finished the 1989-90 season last by a mile in twentieth place a full seventeen points short of safety!
Also down in the dumps were Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton Athletic whilst, at the top, Liverpool walked alone with the title nine points clear of Aston Villa.
