
Mick in the Sky Blue
On this Tuesday night (17th April) in 1984 the Sky Blues ‘gaffer’ was former player (now CCFPA member) Bobby Gould and the season was gradually deteriorating from a reasonably good first half of the campaign.
The previous Saturday, however, the Sky Blues had seen off Wolverhampton Wanderers by the odd goal in three at Highfield Road and this game was a chance to repeat the dose with Nottingham Forest as their opponents at the home of CCFC.
Their East Midland’s rivals, managed by the legendary Brian Clough, had well beaten us by 3-0 in the penultimate game of 1983, so revenge was sweet as another 2-1 victory was achieved this night.

Fergy flies through the air!

Nicky Platnauer in the Sky Blue
Mick Ferguson set up the win after only eight minutes with another header which helped the relegation fears subside.
There was no more scoring until, eleven minutes from time, Nicky Platnauer got the Sky Blues’ second of the evening.
Forest’s title hopes were all but finished though they pushed the City hard and five minutes before time the result was made a bit more doubtful when the Garibaldi Reds’ Colin Walsh scored from a cross by Steve Wigley.
The Sky Blues held out to see out the game and take the points with their best performance since Christmas.


Bobby Gould- Sky Blue Manager
Bobby’s Boys that night were:-
Perry Suckling, Ian Butterworth, Micky Adams, Gerry Daly, Sam Allardyce, Steve Jacobs, Ashley Grimes, Nicky Platnauer, Mick Ferguson, Terry Gibson (sub. Micky Gynn) and Dave Bennett.
Apart from Ashley, we are pleased to say that every man jack of this team (along with the gaffer) later joined this Association. Micky Adams later went on to manage the Sky Blues and ‘Big Sam’ (briefly) England. ‘Benno’ is a longtime CCFPA committee member. Good to see Ian (making his LD debut), Micky and ‘Benno’ grace this years Legends Day 2025 earlier this month.
Cloughie’s Nottingham Forest side that night was:-

Gary Mills (CCFC coach)
Hans van Breukelen, Viv Anderson, Kenny Swain, Chris Fairclough, Paul Hart, Ian Bowyer, Steve Wigley, Gary Mills, Peter Davenport, Steve Hodge and Colin Walsh
Referee:- T.Ward
Gary Mills was later (2002-04) first-team coach and reserve-team manager with the first division Sky Blues under ‘gaffer’ Gary McAllister and assistant (and now CCFPA member) Eric Black.

CCFC 1983-84
It took a 2-1 last ditch win at Highfield Road against Norwich City and other results going our way on the last day to ensure our Division One survival for another season as we finished nineteenth only two points ahead of relegated close Midland rivals Birmingham City.
Nottingham Forest had a great season finishing third whilst their local rivals Notts. County were also relegated and, in a Midland disaster, Wolves were bottom and also went down. Liverpool took the title by three points from Southampton.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.