Matchday Memories: On This Day 1982 – Hateley Hurts Hammers For Sexton’s Sky Blues!

On this day (17th April) in 1982 CCFC gaffer Dave Sexton’s Sky Blues took on West Ham United at Highfield Road in a Division One fixture in front of 13,446 and gained a narrow 1-0 victory.

This gave us revenge for a 5-2 bashing at the Boleyn the previous November when our only consolation was a Steve Hunt brace.

Mark Hateley in the Sky Blue

The Hammers’ Trevor Brooking tried his best to inspire the Londoners but the vibrant game was decided by a piece of opportunism from young Sky Blues’ centre-forward (a recent CCFPA recruit) Mark Hateley just before half-time. It also has to be said that City’s wide forward Steve Whitton also missed a number of great chances to bury his local team so the Sky Blues’ victory might have been more emphatic.

Hammer’s central defender Alvin Martin unfortunately had to go off with a broken collar bone after a challenge on Hateley’s powerful partner, (now CCFPA member) Garry Thompson, thereby putting his World Cup place in jeopardy. CCFPA member Paul Dyson who was acting captain on the day was superb at the back for the Sky Blues.

City’s team that day was (CCFPA members underlined) was:-

Dave Sexton, CCFC’s gaffer

(The late) Les Sealey, Danny Thomas, Brian Roberts, Ian Butterworth, Paul Dyson, Gary Gillespie, Steve Whitton (sub. Peter Hormantschuk), Steve Jacobs, Mark Hateley, Garry Thompson and Steve Hunt

John Lyall‘s Hammers put out the following side:-

Phil Parkes, Ray Stewart, George Cowie, Neil Orr, Alvin Martin (sub. Everald La Ronde), Alan Devonshire, Francois Van der Elst, Paul Goddard, David Cross, Trevor Brooking and Paul Allen       Referee:- Lester Shapter

As can be seen, former Sky Blue striker (now a CCFPA member) David Cross was in the Hammers side that day.

CCFC 1981-82

At the end of the season West Ham United had got themselves a top ten finish (ninth) whilst the Sky Blues had to be content with finishing fourteenth, eight points clear of trouble. Liverpool took the title by four points from Ipswich Town.

The relegated trio were Leeds United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and (bottom) Middlesbrough.

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

 

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1976 – Sky Blue Green’s Goal Glut Sees Wolves Wilt!

Greeny strikes

Alan Green

Willie in his Sky Blue days

On this day (17th April) in 1976 the Sky Blues took on Wolverhampton Wanderers in a Division One game in their last home game of the season at Highfield Road in front of nearly 19,000. The Sky Blues were on a ‘double’ against local rivals having beaten them 1-0 at Molineux on Boxing Day thanks to a 25th minute goal from John Craven.

Today, City’s diminutive striker Alan Green had a field day capitalising on a dreadful defensive performance from the Wolves. ‘Greeny’ won the match-ball with a hat-trick on 20, 53 and 86 minutes with the Wolves consolation goal coming from Norman Bell after 26 minutes.

Alan’s surging run

Both sides had been in dire form and this was only the second game all season City had managed more than two goals. Struggling Wolves were sent down to Division Two on the strength of this defeat with their gaffer Bill McGarry about to get the sack.

Wolves captain for the day was former Sky Blue favourite Willie Carr who had moved to Molineux in March 1975.

Willie perhaps came to regret his transfer on this day as the Sky Blues went on to finish a relatively comfortable fourteenth, ten points clear of twentieth placed Wolves. Interestingly (both players also now Association members) future Sky Blue midfielder Kenny Hibbitt and Bobby Gould, in between being an ex Sky Blue striker and future Sky Blue ‘gaffer’, were also in that Wolves side (Gould as a sub). All three named players later joined this Association!

In fact, we are pleased to say that, apart from the late John Craven, every single member of that day’s Sky Blues’ team, as well as the Sky Blues ‘gaffer’ Gordon Milne, later became a CCFPA member.

 

Bill McGarry‘s Wolves put out the following side:-

Phil Parkes, Geoff Palmer, Derek Parkin, Steve Daley, Frank Munro, Jim McAlle, Willie Carr, Kenny Hibbitt, Norman Bell, John Richards, John Farley (sub Bobby Gould)         Referee:- H.Davey

CCFC 1975-76

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1971 – Cantwell’s CCFC Batter Basement Club Burnley

Noel Cantwell- CCFC Manager

On this day (17th April) back in 1971 the Sky Blues’ supremo was Noel Cantwell and his team was doing pretty well in Division One in this fourth match before the end of the season. They had, of course, also had their first ever (indeed only) European campaign going out to Bayern Munchen in the UEFA Cup earlier in the season.

Heartened by a 2-1 win at Highfield Road against mighty Manchester United last time out Cantwell’s men were looking for the same again less than a week later against their opponents today Burnley. The Clarets were all but relegated by this stage of the season and City’s 3-0 win was almost the final nail in their coffin. The two teams had fought out a goalless draw in Lancashire the previous October.

The programme & Billy Rafferty

Ernie Hunt in the Sky Blue

Sadly, the Sky Blues best victory of the season was watched by only 18,377, not only the lowest home crowd since 1963 but fifteen and a half thousand less than had turned up four days previously! Curiously there was no score at half-time, indeed none until 53 minutes when our ‘cheeky chappie’ forward Ernie Hunt struck his first of a brace.

Four minutes before time ‘Ernie’ then set up young striker (now an Association member) Billy Rafferty for his very first Sky Blue goal – albeit at the second attempt. ‘Ernie’ completed the win just on time with an explosive shot set up for him by (later fellow CCFPA member) Willie Carr.

Billy in the Sky Blue 1971-72

Cantwell’s CCFC lined up as follows today:-

Bill Glazier, Wilf Smith, Chris Cattlin, Ernie Machin*, Jeff Blockley, Bobby Parker, Brian Alderson* (sub. Dennis Mortimer), Willie Carr, Billy Rafferty, ‘Ernie’ Hunt* and Dave Clements.

Sadly both Ernies and Brian have since passed away.  Apart from Brian all members of this team later went on to join CCFPA we are delighted to report. Good to see Chris and Jeff (making his LD debut) at our CCFPA/CCFC Former Player Reunion Legends Day 2025 earlier this month.

Jimmy Adamson‘s Clarets lined up as follows:-

Tony Waiters, John Angus, Les Latcham, Mick Docherty, Martin Dobson, Geoff Nulty, Frank Casper (sub. Eric Probert), Ralph Coates, Paul Fletcher, Arthur Bellamy and Doug Collins    Referee:- Harry New

Paul Fletcher, of course, later became Managing Director of CCFC from Jan. 2006 to October 2007 having been Chief Exec of Arena Coventry Ltd heading up the construction and delivery of the Sky Blues then new home, the Ricoh Arena which the club and its fans have been delighted to return to from their Birmingham exile for the last few seasons (though now rebadged the CBS Arena).

Sky Blues European Squad 1970-71

The Sky Blues defeated Bulgarian outfit Trakia Plovdiv over two legs in the first round of their first ever European adventure in the Fairs Cup but went out to Bayern Munich in the second round. They also reached the fifth round of the League Cup going out to ‘Spurs. Lower league Rochdale put City out of the F.A.Cup at their first attempt.

The Clarets did not survive the season and went down in penultimate spot (21st) with only Blackpool beneath them. The Sky Blues hit the heady heights of tenth in Division One 24 points behind Champions Arsenal who took the title by a point from Leeds United!

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

Members News: Sky Blues’ ‘Maltese Messi’ Hits 44 Today. ‘Happy Birthday’, Michael!!

Michael sports his official Association tie

In May 2021 we revealed that the Association had signed up, ‘Il Messi di Malta‘, Maltese International and former Sky Blue forward Michael Mifsud! Now there is another cause for celebration as we record that our former striker has hit 44 year of age today! Congrats Michael!

Michael in the Sky Blue

Born in Pietà on the George Cross Island on 17th April 1981 Michael came to the Sky Blues in 2007 after playing in his homeland for Sliema Wanderers (1997 & 2004), in Germany (FC Kaiserslautern 2001) and in Norway (Lillestrøm, 2005). CCFPA member and then manager Micky Adams (though he was sacked two days later) signed the nippy forward to add zest to the forward line. He made his debut on 13th Jan. 2007 in a Championship game at the Ricoh versus Crystal Palace and scored his first Sky Blue goal nine days later at Plymouth Argyle and later won ‘goal of the season’.

Michael in 2008-09

More effective in his first Sky Blue season rather than his second, Chris Coleman released Michael as ‘surplus to requirements’ in June 2009 (after he had also been out on loan at Barnsley) and he returned to Malta to play with Valletta, Qormi, Sliema (again) and in 2016 Valetta (though he also had a spell in 2013-14 in Australia with A-League club Melbourne Heart). During his Sky Blues days Michael grabbed a decent score rate including some memorable strikes netting 23 times in his 95 league and cup outings.

For his country, where he has become a renowned elder statesman of the sporting world winning many national awards, he has clocked up an impressive 42 goals in 143 appearances for Malta over fully two decades (2000-2020).

Jim Brown used one of Michael’s brace in 2007 at Old Trafford in City’s League Cup win on his book’s front cover

Michael is perhaps the most feted footballer in Malta and, amazingly was still playing (and scoring) in 2021 at the age of 40! In 2019 the forward signed a one-year contract with the Birkirkara club in Malta (which was also renewed in 2019). Then, in August 2020, Michael signed a one-year deal with Maltese Premier League side Sirens but left after only a few months citing personal reasons and then in January 2021 signed with Mosta FC until the end of the season remaining there to play a couple of games for them in season 2021-22.

Michael & Oggy in the CBS Press Box Nov.2023

Who knows what awaits Michael in his footballing profession the years to come? Whatever happens Michael he will always be very welcome to come back and see his old club again whenever he is able! He made a memorable visit to the CBS Arena to see us again at a Sky Blue game in November 2023 and we know he keeps tabs on his old club from his Maltese base.

In the meantime, on behalf of all Sky Blues fans, CCFPA wishes Michael ‘Many Happy Returns of the Day’!

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