Blast From The Past: On This Day 1978 – Toffees Unbeaten Run Becomes Unstuck At Highfield Road
On this pre Xmas day (23rd December) in 1978 the Sky Blues, under Gordon Milne,were having a pretty good Division One season (at least in the first half) and were taking on Everton at Highfield Road. The Toffees were to reach the end of of their 20 match unbeaten run thanks to a great performance from the Sky Blues! Milne’s men grabbed a 3-2 win on a difficult pitch still a third covered in snow. City’s centre half (and now CCFPA member) Paul Dyson made a winning debut that day in front of a crowd of 22,778.
Terry Yorath, Fergie & Ian Wallace
Everton boss, Gordon Lee, was not a happy man wanting the match called off because of the state of the ground but it was the Sky Blues who adapted to the conditions more easily and sail into a three goal lead after a goalless first half. City’s will-of-the wisp Scotish striker Ian Wallace grabbed the first five minutes after the break with a gem.
Garry Thompson in England gear
Wally’s young centre-forward partner, (now) fellow CCFPA member Garry Thompson doubled the Sky Blues lead on 68 minutes and wily winger Steve Hunt put the home side in an apparently unassailable three goal lead six minutes later.
Steve Hunt in the Sky Blue
However, things are never simple with City and this was no different over thirty years ago! A goal nine minutes from the final whistle from Everton’s Mick Lyons gave the toffees’ hope. Then, with seven minutes left, Bob Latchford contrived to score and City looked no longer home and dry. The Sky Blues were forced to hang on, in a cliff hanger, for the final minutes and squeaked home when it should have been plain sailing.
The Sky Blues winning line up that day was (CCFPA members underlined):-
Sky Blue Manager Gordon
Les Sealey*, Mick Coop, Bobby McDonald, Andy Blair, Jim Holton*, Paul Dyson, Steve Hunt, Ian Wallace, Garry Thompson, Barry Powell and Tommy Hutchison
Sadly, both Les and ‘Big Jim’ passed away (at tragically early ages) before they had a chance to join this Association.
The Toffees put out the following side:-
George Wood, Colin Todd, Dave Jones, Mick Lyons, Billy Wright, Geoff Nulty, Andy King, Martin Dobson, Bob Latchford, Mark Higgins and Dave Thomas Referee:- M.Peck
Dave Jones (1979) and Bob Latchford (1984) would both go on to play for the Sky Blues and Dave also later joined CCFPA.
CCFC 1978-79
Thanks to CCFPA’s Dean Nelson and Mike Young for sourcing the photos
