Members News: Remembering Our Late Sixties Sky Blue No.5 Who Would Have Been 88 Today.

Tony Knapp in the Sky Blue

The Association would like to remember a former player who at his death in March 2023 was one of our oldest members, Tony Knapp! The former Sky Blue centre-half, who was born in Nottinghamshire at Newstead (on 13th October 1936) would have been celebrating his 88th birthday today!

The central defender first played for local colliery teams Newstead and Bentinck as well as training with Nottingham Forest (1952) prior to getting his first professional break with Leicester City from December 1953 (playing 86 matches for them 1955–61). After the Foxes Tony joined Southampton in August 1961 and in six seasons there clocked up 260 games with the Saints notching two goals.

Tony Knapp in Sky Blue action

Jimmy Hill‘s Sky Blues had a George Curtis shaped hole in their defence in their inaugural season in the top flight, their iconic captain who had been with CCFC since their Fourth Division days had tragically had his leg broken in only our second Division One game ever during a 3-3 draw at Nottingham Forest on the 22nd August. Tony was an emergency replacement signed from the Saints (for whom he had been central to their rise to the top flight) to make his debut in the Sky Blues next game at home to Sheffield United  on 26th August 1967. Tony played in 11 of the next dozen League games plus a League Cup game and during this time City won three and drew three of the dozen games in which Tony played. His last game in the Sky Blues first team shirt was a 2-2 Highfield road draw with Sunderland after which another new signing, Manchester United’s old ‘war horse’ Maurice Setters was signed from Stoke City and took over the central defensive duties for the rest of the season. Sadly the game has also lost both George and Maurice in recent years.

Tony delighted with his CCFPA tie

Tony moved onto Los Angeles Wolves in the USA in March 1968 before winding down his playing career at Bristol City (March 1969), Tranmere Rovers (Oct.1969) and non league Poole Town (July 1971) where he became player-manager. Tony then became assistant coach at Norwich City and went on to have some success with the amateur national football team of Iceland at ‘A’, U18 and U21 level from 1974-77. Then he managed Viking FK in Norway from 1978–81 moving to Fredrikstad FK for the 1982–83 season. He managed Iceland again during 1984–85 and then club side SK Brann (1986–87).

Tony then managed a string of Norwegian lower division clubs including FK Vidar, Djerv 1919, Sandnes Ulf, Staal Jørpeland (2003), Stavanger IF and Hundvåg FK (2004–05), as well as Lillesand IL (2007–08). Tony finally retired from the game due to ill health and, at the time of his death on 22nd March 2023, was residing with his family in Norway. 

RIP Tony!

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

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1983 – Three Future Sky Blues Help England’s Hungary Win

Phil Neal, Coventry City Manager

Thanks to CCFC author and fan Steve Phelps* for reminding us that on this day (12th October) in 1983 the England side preparing to face their Euro 84 qualifier against Hungary (which they won 3-0) fielded a trio of defenders who were all future members of Sky Blue management teams. The excerpt below (and England’s XI that day) features Terry Butcher and Mick Mills as well as Phil Neal.  The memory below is taken from his book ‘Coventry City On This Day’ (Pitch Publishing 2010) which points up lots of interesting Sky Blue related anniversaries*.

Following ‘Cov’ Kid former player (and now CCFPA member) Bobby Gould as CCFC ‘gaffer’ (in the second of his two spells) Phil Neal managed the Sky Blues for 67 games between 23/10/93 and 14/02/1995 and got a reasonable win ratio of 31.24%, winning 21 and drawing twenty of his games all in the top flight. Phil was succeeded by Big Ron’ Atkinson (now a CCFPA member).

Terry in the Sky Blue

Mick Mills at CCFC

Mick Mills was assistant manager to (initially) our new player-manager, and his former Ipswich Town colleague, Terry Butcher who picked up the Highfield Road managerial baton from another former Sky Blue player (the late) John Sillett in November 1990. By the time Terry was relieved of his duties in January 1992 he (with Mick’s help) had garnered a win ratio of exactly a third winning twenty out of Terry’s sixty games in charge (and another fourteen were drawn) in the top division. He was eventually replaced by Bobby Gould (see above)

As far as Euro 84 went before today’s game, England had already drawn 2-2 in Denmark, won 3-0 in Greece, and both hammered Luxembourg 9-0 and beaten Hungary 2-0 at Wembley. Crucially however, on 23rd September last they had lost 1-0 at home to Denmark who went on to take the qualifying place from this Group 3.

They didn’t know it for sure yet but today’s 3-0 win over the Magyars didn’t matter as the Danes garnered a point more from their games to go on to the Finals. For the record, England’s goals on this day came from Glen Hoddle (13 mins), Sammy Lee (19 minutes) and Paul Mariner (42 minutes).

Sky Blue Peter Shilton

Kenny Sansom clears

Other Sky Blues connections in the England squad for the qualifiers were  ‘keeper Peter Shilton who briefly came to Highfield Road to assist the the goalkeeping department in 1995-96 without getting a first team outing and full back Kenny Sansom who played 55 times for the Sky Blues between 1991-93 and, as a fairly new CCFPA recruit, visited the CBS to watch the Sky Blues defeat Fulham this time two years ago as well as attending our last two Legends Days 2022 and 2023.

*Steve’s most recent work on the Sky Blues about the 1980-81 squad ’29 Minutes From Wembley’ was published by Pitch Publishing in 2017 and all his CCFC books are available online and from all good bookshops. We hear there is a new edition of ‘On This Day’ soon to be published this year!

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

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1963 – Sky Blues Slay Red Dragons On Course For D2

JH with the 1963-64 D3 Champions trophy

In only their third ever win on this day (October 12th) since becoming Coventry City FC in 1963 our late great former manager Jimmy Hill‘s Sky Blues continued their path to the Third Division Championship at the end of this season by seeing off Wrexham (managed by Ken Barnes) by three clear goals at Highfield Road.

The campaign had started with six wins out of their first seven league fixtures and they had also won their last two games prior to the game with the Red Dragons (their thirteenth).

Ken Hale in the Sky Blue

The Sky Blue ‘Hud’

True to form, in front of 23,682 fans, two-thirds of the high scoring Sky Blues ‘H’ men that season, George Hudson and Ken Hale made their mark (the other was Willie Humphries absent on Irish international duty) and the third was supplied by winger Ronnie Rees, another integral part of the front line (whom we have sadly lost in recent times).

All the goals came within a fifteen minute spell in the second half. Ken’s scrambled effort came on fifty minutes, George’s on 62 minutes (slipping the offside trap) and Ronnie’s header three minutes later! Willie’s replacement, making his first team debut, John Mitten made two of the goals with his crosses to settle the nerves of the Sky Blue supporters.

By the end of  the season ‘the Hud’ had bagged 24 league goals plus four others in cup games, Ken netted 16 (+1) times, Ronnie 13 (+2) and Willie 10 (+1).

Ronnie in the Sky Blue 1964

Eight members of the Sky Blue side that day have sadly since passed away. Lest we not forget, the other member of that JH side to reach a goal target of double figures, all from from the left-half position, was CCFPA member the late, great Ron Farmer (with eleven goals)!  

Indeed, we are proud to say that every man jack of management and team (apart from Ken who died in 2015) later went on to join the Association.

JH’s men that October day comprised:-

Bob Wesson*, John Sillett*, Mick Kearns, Brian Hill*, George Curtis*, Ron Farmer*, Ronnie Rees*, Ken Hale*, George Hudson*, Ernie Machin* and John Mitten.  (*all sadly deceased since)

Billy Myerscough

The Red Dragons’ side lined up:-

Steve Fleet, Reg Holland, David Lambert, Ken Barnes, Alan Fox, Tecwyn Jones, Arfon Griffiths, Billy Myerscough, Ernie Phythian, Mike Metcalf and Graham Bent    Referee:- P.Bye

One Wrexham player the Sky Blues managed to keep quiet was CCFC’s former No.9 Billy Myerscough who scored twenty goals in sixty appearances from 1960-62 before arriving in Wales via Chester.

Graham in the Sky Blue

In late February the Sky Blues played the return game at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham and drew a goal apiece with (former CCFPA member now, sadly also passed away) Graham Newton getting our goal.

The two teams ended up at opposite ends of the table. Just as CCFC were crowned Division Three Champions, the Welsh club found themselves relegated next to bottom where Notts County resided. Millwall and Crewe Alexandra also took the drop.

CCFC 1963-64

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

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1940 – Busy Bantams Blitz Bluebirds!

CCFC Manager Harry Storer

In another (second) rare victory on this day (October 12th) in the truncated wartime season during World War II Coventry City, managed by famous ‘gaffer’ Harry Storer during the first of his two spells with the club, scored an impressive 5-2 victory over the other CCFC, Cardiff City.

The Bantams’ season ended the following month on 14th November when Coventry (including Highfield Road) suffered the horrors of the Blitz when Lutwaffe bombs rained down on the city with much damage and loss of life. CCFC was playing in the regionally restructured Football League system and many players and staff were also in the forces and reserved occupations and often guested for other teams.

Bobby Davidson

George Taylor

Club captain George Mason

In this Football League South Regional League game, their seventh of the season, the City had already won three and drawn two of the earlier games (played in home and away pairs) against the likes of Leicester City, Reading and Notts County.

There was just over 2,500 at Highfield Road to see inside right Bobby Davidson give City the lead after only four minutes (though around 100 fans gatecrashed and watched without paying!). City’s outside left George Taylor doubled the lead on 21 minutes only to see the Welsh side fight back to force a draw at half time with a quick brace from Cardiff City‘s Reg Parker on 38 and 42 minutes.

Tom Crawley

The Bantams ran away with it in the second half led by inspirational ‘tough guy’ centre half George Mason who grabbed City’s third on 53 minutes. The game was then wrapped up by late goals in the last ten minutes from George Ashall and Tommy Crawley.

The Bantams team that day was:-

Bill Morgan, Charlie Elliott, Walter Metcalf, Billy Frith, George Mason(c), Harry Boileau, George Ashall, Bobby Davidson, Tommy Crawley, George Lowrie and George Taylor

Cyril Spiers‘ side from South Wales featured the following XI:-

F.’Jackie’ Pritchard, H.A.Jones, T.Forse, K.C.’Ken’ Hollyman, T.L.’Terry’ Wood, W.G.’Billy’ Baker, R.’Reg’ Pugh, W.’Billy’ James, L.T.’Reg’ Parker, R.’Bobby’ Tobin and J.F.B.’Beriah’ Moore     Referee:- F.W.Wort (Leamington)

A week later the Bantams forced a 2-2 draw at Ninian Park, Cardiff with CCFC’s goals by ‘Mick’ O’Brien and a last minute equaliser from future (twice) CCFC manager Billy Frith.  They were third in the League after their initial ten games (five wins and three draws) when their season was brought to such an abrupt end. City did not play competitive league football again until 1942-43.

CCFC 1940-41

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