Matchday Memories: On This Day 2017 – See Sky Blues Bonfire Night K.O. Of Maidenhead

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Jordan Ponticelli in the Sky Blue

On this Sunday (5th November) six years ago in 2017 two goals from young Sky Blue striker (now with National League side Halesowen TownJordan Ponticelli was enough to remove Maidenhead United from the First Round of the F.A.Cup. There was a small crowd of 3,370 in the Ricoh to see the tie (including 716 excited fans from the lower league outfit (who were managed by former West Ham star Alan Devonshire). Sky Blue manager Mark Robins was pleased Jordan was able to notch his brace inside twelve first-half minutes in what was, in truth, a routine win against the National League side. Mark was also in the process of seeking to lift his team out of the fourth tier of the Football League where the Sky Blues had found themselves for only the second time in their history after relegation in 2016-17.

Jack in the Sky Blue

Jodi Jones in the Sky Blue

The Sky Blues started strongly with Jake Goodman clearing a shot off the line in the eleventh minute from  Marc McNulty. Seven minutes later (now CCFPA member) ‘Sparky’ volleyed a powerful effort against the top of the bar after a good turn to go even closer to giving the Sky Blues the lead.

Then Jordan put the Sky Blues ahead after (now Association member) Jack Grimmer beat his man in the 33rd minute and crossed to Jordan for a neat right foot finish. ‘Ponters’ then doubled City’s lead after Jodi Jones teed him up just before the break. City went in at half-time two goals to the good and expecting more.

Marc & Max

However, it wasn’t to be and Sky Blues ‘keeper Lee Burge (who has also since joined CCFPA) was forced to tip a looping Harry Pritchard free-kick over the bar  on 57 minutes. Marc McNulty then had another chance to extend City’s lead, narrowly headed over three minutes past the hour mark. On 67 minutes United’s Adrian Clifton wasted a good chance to pull a goal back but skied over the bar from just 10 yards and the Sky Blues went on to look comfortably in charge. So much so that five minutes before the final whistle Marc had a goal ruled out for offside after he slotted home a pass from Max Biamou! The 2-0 win gave us another home tie against a non-league club, Boreham Wood, in the second round

A contemporary report from BBC Sport can be accessed here.

The Sky Blues successfully navigated the potential banana-skin of non league opposition in Round Two, comfortably beating Boreham Wood by three clear goals in early December.  Stoke City were Third Round victims by the odd goal in three in January, also at the Ricoh and Milton Keynes Dons were put out by the Sky Blues by a lone goal, away from Coventry this time. It was left to Premier League Brighton to end the Sky Blues F.A.Cup run in Sussex beating us in the Fifth Round 3-1.

 

Manager Mark & Captain Doyler celebrate Wembley win

As is well known now the Sky Blues vacated League Two this season after occupying the last play-off spot (sixth) beating Notts County in two stirring legs of the Semi-Final and then beating Exeter City 3-1 in the final in a brilliant Wembley day out in front of more than 50,000 with nearly 38,000 from Cov!

The other upwardly mobile clubs this season were Champions Accrington Stanley, Luton Town (runners up) and Wycombe Wanderers in third place.
 
The desperate duo relegated to the National League were Barnet in 23rd and bottom club Chesterfield Town.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
 

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1988 – See Sky Blue Keith’s Header Hamper The Hammers At HR.

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John Sillett- Sky Blue ‘gaffer’

On this day (5th November) in 1988, thirty five years ago today, former Sky Blue full back John Sillett (deeply missed since his quite recent death) was CCFC’s ‘gaffer’ and picked a team to take on West Ham United in a Division One game at Highfield Road.

There were not too many goalmouth fireworks for Bonfire Night, however, as the two teams fought out a 1-1 draw in front of 14,618 fans.

Keith in the Sky Blue

The Association have a few fraternal pairings who are both members and the Thompson brothers (Keith and Garry) fall into this category. Better known sibling Garry Thompson scored 49 goals in 158 games for CCFC (his first club) over six seasons between 1977-83 but it was younger brother Keith Thompson who grabbed City’s 82nd minute headed equaliser in today’s match.

Keith scored seven minutes after coming on as the Sky Blues second substitute having come back to Coventry after buying out his contract at Spanish Club Real Oviedo. Keith played intermittently for CCFC in six seasons totting up only 29 games between 1982-85 and 1988-91. This was his only Sky Blue first team goal.

Image

Howard Clarke in the Sky Blue

The Hammers’ David Kelly had scored the opener in the first half just after the half hour and until Keith’s goal the Sky Blues seemed unlikely to break down the Hammers defence with their goalie Allen McNight playing a blinder. Cyrille Regis had a goal disallowed.

Young ‘Cov Kid’ debut boy Howard Clark (now a CCFPA member) impressed as he ended up with a winning start to his professional career. He eventually made 23 Sky Blue appearances (one goal) before transferring to Shrewsbury Town in 1991.

You can relive the goals courtesy of former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson by clicking on the image below:-

Sillett’s Sky Blues that day lined up as follows (all bar Gary later went on on to join this Association):-

Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, Greg Downs, Steve Sedgley, Dean Emerson (sub. Keith Thompson -2), Graham Rodger, Howard Clark, David Speedie, the late Cyrille Regis, Gary Bannister (sub. Keith Houchen -1) and David Smith. 

John Lyall‘s Hammers’ XI was as follows:-

Allen McNight, Steve Potts, Julian Dicks, Tony Gale, Alvin Martin (c), Kevin Keen, Mark Ward, David Kelly, Leroy Rosenior, Alan Dickens and Paul Ince   Referee:- E.Parker

CCFC 1988-89

‘Killer’ in the Sky Blue

The two sides fought out a 1-1 draw at Upton Park in the return in March with Paul Ince finding an 81st minute equaliser to neutralise a thirteenth minute penalty strike from City’s big centre half (and CCFPA member)  Brian Kilcline.

Sillett’s Sky Blues had a great season in 1988-89 (apart from allowing non-league Sutton United to knock them out of the Third Round of the F.A.Cup). They finished seventh, whilst West Ham United went down to Division Two in penultimate place (nineteenth) along with Middlesbrough and Newcastle United. Top of the tree that year were Champions Arsenal who squeaked the title on goal average from Liverpool.

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

 

CCFPA Member News: Chris (Poacher Turned Gamekeeper) To Become A Professional Ref.!

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Chris Birchall in the Sky Blue

Last month we reported on this site that a trio of former Sky Blues, two of them CCFPA members, had become the first of a select few ex professionals training at Warwick University to become ‘poachers turned gamekeepers’, looking to become qualified football referees!  Peter Vincenti and CCFPA pair Carl Baker and Chris Birchall were described by contemporaries as ‘trailblazers’ for taking up the whistle after a professional career in the game, joining a fast-track scheme that ultimately could take the all the way to being in charge of top level games! The course has been set up as a result of collaboration between the Professional Footballers Association and elite refereeing body PGMOL, also supported by funding from the Premier League

Chris – man in black (2024)!

Now one of them Chris Birchall has tweeted that he is ‘over the moon‘ to accept a 3 year contract offer from the @FA_PGMOL to become one of the first ex players to transition into professional refereeing! He says,’Huge thanks to @PFA and @premierleague along with @FA_PGMOL for this opportunity’

Trinidad & Tobago international Chris, who netted twice in 33 Sky Blue games between 2006-09 is apparently already qualified as a referee so could be one of the first to take charge of a game within weeks. Peter spent the 2017-18 season with CCFC netting three times in 29 games and former Sky Blue skipper Carl in two spells with the Sky Blues (2009-14 & 2017-18) clocked up 28 goals in 182 appearances.

Sky Blue Peter Vincenti 2017-18

Carl Baker in the Sky Blue

‘Bakes’ is proving very versatile in retirement having only fairly recently returned from the US Open after caddying for Robert Rock

A full MSN article about the ex Sky Blue trio can be found by clicking here       

We wish all three former Sky Blues in this new endeavour and, bringing their extensive collective understanding of playing the game (and sometimes being Sky Blue disciplined by the ref), trust we will see them in charge of a Sky Blue game in the not too distant future!

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images

 

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1983 – Fireworks At St Andrews As Bobby’s Boys Blow Up Brum

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The Sky Blues Gouldfather ‘gaffer’

On this Guy Fawkes day (5th November) in 1983 the Sky Blues, under ‘Cov Kid’ former player (and now CCFPA member) Bobby Gould, faced local rivals (and recent CCFC landlords and past Championship rivals) Birmingham City in a Division One clash at St Andrews in front of 16,619 fans. There were fireworks of sorts during the game as Brum’s centre forward and (briefly) a Sky Blue a decade later Mick Harford was consigned to hospital with facial injuries after a tangle with Sky Blues centre-half (later briefly England boss) Sam Allardyce. Both are now Association members. Former Sky Blue (and now CCFPA member) Jim Hagan was also in the Blues side that day. The away team eventually ran out winners by the odd goal in three!

Terry in the Sky Blue

It was a courageous performance from the Sky Blues and a deserved win as they had to come back from a losing position. The Birmingham side’s Noel Blake grabbed their opener after only eighteen minutes thought the Sky Blues diminutive striker Terry Gibson (also a CCFPA member) was able to poach the equaliser twelve minutes later. The score was 1-1 at half time with everything to play for.

Benno in Sky Blue action

The turning point came on the hour mark after Terry had been substituted by recent Association recruit Steve Hunt, making his first appearance of the 1983-84 season.

It was Steve who played a big part in setting up the Sky Blue winner for, now CCFPA committee member, and future Sky Blue F.A.Cup winner Dave Bennett who struck a sweet far post volley! Game set and match to the Sky Blues.

Spot the Sky Blue bovver boys

Bobby’s ‘bovver’ boys that day (CCFPA members underlined) were:-

Raddy Avramovic, Brian Roberts, Nicky Platnauer, Martin Singleton, Trevor Peake, Sam Allardyce, Dave Bennett, Micky Gynn, Dave Bamber, Terry Gibson (sub. Steve Hunt) and Ashley Grimes.

The Brummies fielded the following side:-

Jim Hagan in the Sky Blue

Tony Coton, Jim Hagan, Pat van den Hauwe, Noel Blake, Billy Wright, Byron Stevenson, Howard Gayle, Les Phillips, Mick Harford (sub. Kevin Rogers), Mick Halsall and Robert Hopkins    Referee:- J.Lovatt

Current CCFC club matchday host, former Sky Blue defender (and CCFPA member), Brian ‘Harry Roberts was a member of the Birmingham squad this season though was not in this team.

Howard Gayle got the only goal of the game as the Blues got their revenge with a 1-0 win over the Sky Blues at Highfield Road the following early March.

CCFC 1983-84

City just survived the drop in season 1983-84 finishing in nineteenth position in the top division with fifty points, two points better off than twentieth placed Birmingham City who went down, in a bad year for the Midlands, with Notts. County and Wolverhampton Wanderers!

It was Liverpool‘s year for the title as they forced Southampton into the runners up spot three points behind!

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