Blast from The Past: On This Pre Season Day 1998 – Sky Blues Beat Bluebirds

On this day (4th August) in 1998 the Sky Blues were still under the managership of former player Gordon Strachan who had taken over the gaffer’s chair at Highfield Road from (now fellow CCFPA member) ‘Big Ron’ Atkinson in November 1996. To kick things off Gordon’s pre-season plans the Sky Blues had a couple of games back in his homeland initially beating Scottish second division outfit Livingston 3-1 at the Almondvale Stadium before, two day’s later, being pipped by the only goal of the game at Hearts in Edinburgh.

Returning to England City had received another pre-season defeat (by the odd goal in three) at the hands of Luton Town at Kenilworth Road at the end of the month and now they were in Wales for another couple of warm up games. Before going on to face Newport the next day the City visited the Welsh capital today. Strachan’s Sky Blues got themselves an encouraging 2-1 win against Cardiff City on this day.

Philippe in the Sky Blue

The only downside of the game was that City’s new Belgian international World Cup striker Phillipe Clement, who got the Sky Blues first goal, suffered a broken cheekbone later in the game and it was feared he could be out injured for up to six weeks! Phillipe cost £625k from Racing Genk.

We do not have the exact teams to hand but the programme provides the likely line ups as follows (see right):-

Gordon the Gaffer

Gordon Strachan’s Sky Blues (CCFPA members underlined):-

Magnus Hedman, Roland Nilsson, David Burrows, Jean-Guy Wallemme, Gary Breen, Paul Telfer, George Boateng, Marcus Hall, Philippe Clement, Dion Dublin and Darren Huckerby  Substitutes: Simon Haworth, Paul Williams, Noel Whelan, Andy Ducros and Steve Ogrizovic (gk)

In this multi-national group of players Frenchman Jean-Guy was another new signing, Roland and Magnus are Swedish and George is Dutch.

Frank Burrows‘ chosen Cardiff City XI:-

Ronnie Sinclair, Mark Delaney, Lee Phillips, Graham Mitchell, Scott Young, Richard carpenter, Mark Bonner, John Williams, Andy Saville, Christian Roberts and Jason Fowler     Referee:- Keith Burge (Tonypandy)

Goalkeeper Ronnie Sinclair was on trial after leaving Chester City but did not sign for Cardiff. A young Robbie Earnshaw who was to shortly sign up to the Bluebirds and went on to become a club legend also played a part in the game.

City’s David Burrow thwarts Cardiff’s Robbie Earnshaw

The City’s Welsh win was doubled up the next day as Newport were also trimmed at their place by 3-1. Finally, in the Sky Blues only home game of the pre season Spanish club Espanyol were entertained at Highfield Road on August 8th and a 1-1 draw ensued. We will be covering this game in more detail on that corresponding date.

CCFC 1998-99

The Sky Blues had another troubling season in the Premier League in the subsequent season and never rose above 12th in the table. They failed to win away the whole of the season and only scored nine times on their travels. Points collected at Highfield Road enabled them to finish five places above trouble in 14th spot, albeit 11 points clear of the relegated trio of Wimbledon, Sheffield Wednesday and bottom club Watford.

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