Matchday Memories: On This Day 1963 – Sky Blue Terry Polishes Off Palace Jewels!

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Jimmy Hill CCFC Manager 1961-67

Another year on from our previous match report, on this day (March 23rd) in 1963 legendary Sky Blue manager Jimmy Hill was well into his first full season in charge and things were going pretty well for them in Division Three. The Sky Blues had not been beaten in the league since October 5th last and their latest victims today were Crystal Palace.

A Highfield Road crowd of 17,860 watched a tight game where the home team eventually prevailed by the only goal of the game scored by our imposing No.9 Terry Bly after just fifteen minutes.

Terry in Sky Blue action

Terry beat his marker and hit a pile driver from an acute angle past heroic Palace ‘keeper Bill Glazier. Bill had such an impressive game that JH went on to sign him for the Sky Blues in October 1964 for a world record fee for a No.1 (£35k)! Terry was eventually knocked off his No.9 perch at Highfield Road by another centre forward signed from the same club (Peterborough United) i.e. CCFC Legend George Hudson (until his recent death a CCFPA member).

Struggling Palace seemed a fairly uncultured side and had two men booked. Only their ex-England man Ronnie Allen showed a bit of class, apparently. City’s more fluent side were pleased to have avoided injury as they had the Fifth Round F.A.Cup tie against top side Sunderland to face at Highfield Road in a couple of days (which they won)!

JH‘s Boys that day lined up as follows:-

Bob Wesson*, John Sillett*, Mick Kearns, Brian Hill*, George Curtis*, Dietmar Bruck, Willie Humphries, Hugh Barr, Terry Bly*, Jimmy Whitehouse* and Ken Hale*

Sky Blue Bill Glazier

*Sadly Terry, along with Bob, Brian, Ken, JH and most recently Jimmy, John and George have since passed away. We are delighted to say that, apart from inside right Ken (who was playing out of position in this game) all the members of this team and their ‘gaffer’ joined the Association in due course and Dietmar is one of our committee members. George and John (who we lost so very recently within months of each other) later led the Sky Blues onto the Wembley Turf in 1987 to F.A.Cup Final victory.  Mick is still quite active CCFPA members and Willie and Jimmy have also attended Association events in the not too distant past. Palace’s Bill Glazier is also a valued CCFPA member and comes to see us from his Spanish home fairly frequently.

Brian Lewis in the Sky Blue

Crystal Palace‘s defeated team that day was:-

Bill Glazier, Bert Howe, Don Townsend, Eddie Werge, Brian Wood, George Petchey, Ronnie Allen, Peter Burridge, Dickie Dowsett, Cliff Holton and Brian Lewis    Referee:- H.Hackney

As well as goalkeeper Bill, midfielder Brian Lewis also went on to play for JH’s Sky Blues (1967-68) and Stuart Imlach who was on their books at the time had previously played for CCFC. Both, sadly, have since passed away.

The Sky Blues finished fourth in Division Three this season but would go on to clinch the title in 1963-64. They fell just short partly due to a 0-0 draw achieved at Selhurst Park three games from season’s end.

CCFC 1962-63

Their promotion push this season was probably also hampered by the severe winter producing a fixture pile-up which did not prevent a wonderful F.A.Cup run that saw them get past Bournemouth, Millwall (after two ties), Lincoln City (a record fifteen times postponed), Portsmouth (three ties) and Sunderland before succumbing 1-3 to mighty Manchester United at Highfield Road in the Quarter Finals in front of a record 44,000 crowd.

Northampton Town and Swindon Town got promotion in 1962-63 season and Bradford PA, Brighton & Hove Albion, Carlisle United and bottom club Halifax Town dropped down a division.

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

 

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