Matchday Memories: On This Day 1995 – See Sky Blue Five Scorers Crush Champs Blackburn

Ron salutes the Sky Blue faithful

On this day (December 9th) in 1995 The Sky Blues, under Ron Atkinson (now a CCFPA member), were having a pretty torrid season with only one Premier League win to date.

However, on a snow bound Highfield Road in front of only 13,409 fans, they unexpectedly produced a shock result against last seasons top division champs, Blackburn Rovers.  Both clubs were vying for the signature of future Sky Blue ‘gaffer’ Chris Coleman but the £3m price tag was too much for City and Rovers later got their man. Expectations were low as Rovers had smashed us 5-1 at Ewood Park back in September.  The snowy conditions saw an orange ball used. City, in a bit of a shock, got full revenge in this league return scoring five without reply!

Dave in the Sky Blue

Only one side really turned up to play on the tricky pitch, and it was the Sky Blues! On loan Chris Whyte played out his league debut in a solid back three that neutralised any threat from Alan Shearer et al. Kenilworth lad and future Sky Blue loanee (2002) Tim Flowers was in the Rovers goal alongside future Sky Blue forward Tim Sherwood.

Dion in the Sky Blue

The away team put up only minimal resistance as the Sky Blues goals went in on a regular basis after Sky Blue defender David Busst opened the scoring five minutes before the break with a forceful header. Dave, now returned as a CCFPA committee member, is still with CCFC as their ‘Head of Community’.

David Rennie in the Sky Blue

The 1-0 half-time lead was quickly extended after the break as (now CCFPA member) Dion Dublin netted on the hour, then defender David Rennie got a header four minutes later. The Sky Blues Zimbabwean international Peter Ndlovu (CCFPA’s 300th member), who Rovers found unplayable, scored City’s fourth after 74 minutes after a mazy run and our final (fifth) goal of the day came from winger John Salako.

As can be seen from the comprehensive video below (courtesy former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson) the champs were slaughtered!

John in the Sky Blue

Sky Blues Peter in the 1990s

Big Ron’s Boys that day comprised (Association members underlined):-

Steve Ogrizovic, Ally Pickering, Marcus Hall, David Busst, Chris Whyte, David Rennie, Paul Telfer, Kevin Richardson, Dion Dublin, Peter Ndlovu and John Salako

Blackburn Rovers (managed by Ray Harford) fielded the following (outplayed) side:-

Tim Flowers, Henning Berg, Graeme Le Saux, David Batty, Nicky Marker, Chris Sutton, Stuart Ripley, Tim Sherwood, Alan Shearer, Mike Newell (sub. Paul Warhurst) and Lars Bohinen (sub. Billy McKinley)       Referee:- S.Dunn

After this success, what became our best win of the season, reality bit just a week later with a 4-1 defeat at the old foe Aston Villa the following week.

CCFC 1995-96

The Sky Blues survived another ‘squeaky bum’ last day staying up in sixteenth with the same points as fellow survivors Southampton and relegated Manchester City! The other relegated teams were Queen’s Park Rangers and bottom club Bolton Wanderers.

Blackburn Rovers finished comfortable in seventh position a full 21 points behind their Lancashire rivals Manchester United who took the title by four points from Newcastle United.

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

Members News: It’s Thompson For The Tigers! David Is Our Next Saturday ‘Special’.

David in the Sky Blue

We are delighted to announce that next Saturday’s  ‘special’ guest when the Sky Blues take on Hull City at the CBS Arena will be our member and former Sky Blue midfielder David Thompson!

Though he has visited us several times before, notably at Legends Day 2024 last May, this is the first time David has been our match-day ‘special’ and are sure he will get a great welcome from Sky Blue fans! An England Under 21 International, David was on Liverpool‘s books from an apprentice making his first team debut in 1996 and clocking up over fifty appearances for them before becoming a big money (£3.2m) signing for Gordon Strachan‘s Sky Blues in summer 2000.

David Thompson signs in for LD24 (with CCFPA’s Rich.Morris watching)

Quickly overcoming being sent off in his debut game at home against Middlesbrough, David scored three times in his 28 first team appearances in his first season with us in what proved to be our relegation season from the Premier League. He stayed a further season with CCFC being one of the more consistent performers boosting his first team appearance total to 72 games netting sixteen goals.

Transferring to Blackburn Rovers in August 2002 for £1.5m David became a key player for Rovers but, increasingly hampered by knee cartilage problems, ended up scoring nine times in his 79 appearances. He  subsequently had a brief spell with Wigan Athletic in January 2006 before finishing at Bolton Wanderers hanging up his boots in December 2007.

David & Billy Bell

Subsequently David has kept his hand in with regular media work with the likes of BBC Radio Merseyside and BBC5live as well as, in August 2021, being director of football at Gibraltar club Europa FC. 

Look out for David doing Q&A’s in the various main stand spectators lounges pre-match with ‘Harry’ Roberts, possibly doing a half-time pitchside interview, and after the game down he should be down in Lady Gs in the G-Casino for a chat with CCFPA Chairman Billy Bell in front of an appreciative Sky Blue audience.

Sky Blue Sam & Santa last December

We also have it on good authority thet, part from the usual CCFC Former Player guests drawn from our membership at the game another ‘special guest’ dressed in red and white will be attending! Santa Claus will be sleighing in to pay his annual pre Xmas visit to the CBS Arena so, if you are lucky, you may bump into him and his elvish ‘helpers’ before during and after kick-off.

CCFPA member and CCFC’s Legendary ex ‘keeper Steve Ogrizovic should be returning to his BBC CWR live match-day analyst’s duties in the Press Box after Richard Shaw ably deputised for him in the Sky Blues 1-0 win at Millwall last Saturday.

Oggy in the Press Box

The club’s excellent matchday programme PUSB will again feature the usual contributions from former CCFPA committee chairman Jim Brown and current Association committee member Mike Young.

Let’s hope Frank Lampard‘s Sky Blues can build on that win at West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday night and in front of ‘Thommo’ against the Tigers next Saturday!

Thanks to Mike for sourcing the images.

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1980 – Super Sky Blues Score 5 In 5th Round & Sting Hornets

On this day (9th December) in 1980 the Sky Blues, after waiting 97 years, finally made it to a cup semi final! A week earlier they had travelled to Vicarage Rd to take on Watford in the Fifth Round of the League Cup and had come away with a 2-2 draw to earn themselves this replay thanks to a Garry Thompson brace. 

In earlier rounds Gordon Milne‘s men had disposed of Manchester United (1-0 in both legs) in Round 2, won 2-1 at Brighton in Round 3 and won their Fourth Round replay tie at Cambridge United by a single goal from Steve Hunt. 

Today in the 5th Round replay they brushed aside the Graham Taylor‘s Hornets by five clear goals in front of an large, excited Highfield Road crowd of 30,389 to earn themselves a Semi Final date with West Ham United. Milne’s team, stuffed full of youthful talent, demolished the Hornets scoring three first half goals to knock the stuffing out of the side from Hertfordshire. Peter Bodak gave City a great start with a stunning seventh minute strike. Then came, at last, the first of a brace from Mark Hateley on the half hour and ten minutes from the break one from Thommo (all three now CCFPA members).

Peter in the Sky Blue

Mark in the Sky Blue

Garry in the Sky Blue 1981

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second half remained goalless until ten minutes from time. However, despite the Sky Blues ‘keeper Les Sealey picking up a spot of concussion the home team’s defence remained dominant and protected Les so much that he had only one save to make the whole game! Steve Hunt‘s 80th minute goal and then a final goal, the second of his brace, four minutes later netted by Mark Hatelely wrapped up the Sky Blues 5-0 win over the Hornets.

Steve Hunt in the Sky Blue

The Sky Blues put out the following team :-

(The late) Les Sealey; Danny Thomas, Brian Roberts, Andy Blair, Paul Dyson, Gary Gillespie, Peter Bodak, Gerry Daly (sub. Steve Jacobs), Garry Thompson, Mark Hateley and Steve Hunt

We are pleased to say that Sky Blues’ manager and all team members (apart from Les) later joined this Association.

The Hornets lined up as follows:-

Steve Sherwood, Pat Rice, Steve Harrison, Luther Blissett, Steve Terry, Kenny Jackett, Nigel Callaghan, Gerry Armstrong, Ross Jenkins (sub. Michael Henderson), Ray Train and Malcolm Poskett.   Referee:- K.Walmsley

Sadly, Gordon Milne’s final season in charge saw the Sky Blues narrowly miss out on a Wembley Final in the League Cup losing on aggregate (3-4) to West Ham in the semis.

After a stirring comeback in the first leg at Highfield Road producing a victory by the odd goal in five, Milne’s men succumbed 2-0 at Upton Park whith a decisive last minute Hammers’ goal. So near yet so far! 

CCFC 1980-81

In the league we finished in sixteenth position in Division One, three points clear of trouble. Aston Villa took the title this season four points clear of runners up Ipswich Town.

Their East Anglian rivals Norwich City fell through the divisional trap door in twentith place along with Leicester City and, bottom, Crystal Palace.

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

 

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1978 – Thommo Snatches Sky Blues HR Hoops Win

On this day (9th December) in 1978 the Sky Blues, managed by Gordon Milne grabbed themselves a single goal victory at Highfield Road in a Division One game against Queen’s Park Rangers. Match of the Day camera were in Coventry along with 18,693 supporters at Highfield Road but the BBC editors must have cut much of the game out from the brief highlights as the visitors clearly came to frustrate the Sky Blues flowing play with a five man defence. Milne’s men countered during the game by subbing defender Gary Gillespie with striker Mick Ferguson (both now CCFPA members).

Garry Thompson in the Sky Blue

The Hoops kept the Sky Blues out until just before the hour mark when our young striker, a frequent CCFPA guest at a Sky Blues home game, Garry Thompson converted a shot after (his now fellow Association member) Tommy Hutchison‘s effort rebounded off the bar! The one goal lead was nearly not enough as the Sky Blue defence had to hold out for the remaining half an hour, surviving especially a late Q.P.R flurry of attacks.

Gordon Milne-CCFC gaffer

Milne’s Men that day were (CCFPA members underlined):-

(The late) Les Sealey, Mick Coop, Bobby McDonald, Andy Blair, (the late) Jim Holton, Gary Gillespie (sub. Mick Ferguson), Steve Hunt, Ian Wallace, Garry Thompson, Barry Powell and Tommy Hutchison

Q.P.R. (managed by Steve Burtenshaw) put out the following side:-

Ian in Sky Blue action

Phil Parkes, Dave Clement, Ian Gillard (sub. Paul Goddard), John Hollins, Ernie Howe, Don Shanks, Peter Eastoe, Glenn Roeder, Billy Hamilton, Martyn Busby and Rashid Harkouk    Referee:- R.Perkin

The Sky Blues came a cropper in the return with Q.P.R. at Loftus Road, Shepherd’s Bush in the penultimate game of the season (after Burtenshaw had been sacked) at the end of April getting slammed 5-1 despite Ian Wallace giving them an eighth minute lead! The Hoops had a very slim hope, though, of escaping the almost inevitable relegation but failed, ultimately falling six points short of overtaking Derby County. The Hoops went down in twentieth place along with beneath them Birmingham and bottom club Chelsea.

CCFC 1978-79

At the top of Division One Liverpool took the title eight points clear of runners up Nottingham Forest.

 

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.