Matchday Memories: On This Pre-Season Day 2017 – Mickle Over-come By Young Sky Blues
Sky Blue gaffer Mark Robins
On this day (25th July) in 2017 City, under ‘gaffer’ Mark Robins, the Sky Blues were preparing for life in the bottom tier of football for the first time in around half a century. First, bad F.A.Cup memories from the late 80s were expunged with a 1-0 pre-season win at Sutton United. Then, at the Sky Blues Spanish training camp, French side Valenciennes got the better of Mark’s men by the odd goal in five and, back in the UK, last time out, Barnsley bested us at their place by 3-1. Some pride was recovered at Nuneaton four days previously when M.K.Dons were seen off by two clear goals so Mark was looking for building a winning momentum to take them towards League One kick-off against Notts. County on 5th August.
Today’s game was originally advertised as a first team fixture but Mark chose to give exposure to some of his promising young U23 side to show what they could do against Derbyshire non league outfit Mickleover Sports FC at the Don Amott Arena. The game was indeed won thanks to the only goal of the game scored by young City striker (and now CCFPA member) Jordan Ponticelli with a fine angled strike in the 64th minute. Jordan was also unlucky later when he hit the woodwork.
Jordan Ponticelli in the Sky Blue
CCFC’s report of the game can be found by clicking on the link here.
The young Sky Blues team lined up as follows (subs.in brackets):-
Reice Charles-Cook (Corey Addai -46), Jak Hickman, Reece Ford, Jordan Thompson, Darragh Leahy, Tom Bayliss, Callum Maycock (c), Billy Stedman, Kyle Finn, Bilal Sayoud and Jordan Ponticelli.
Unused subs:- Lewis Green, Josh Eccles and Ross McMahon. Reice and Jordan, both having left the club since, are CCFPA members (underlined). Josh matured into a current first teamer for the Sky Blues.
Clinton in Sky Blue action
Player Manager John McGrath’s Mickleover team took the field as follows with their player-coach, former Sky Blue and CCFPA member, Clinton Morrison in the line-up:-
Nick Draper, Kevin Grocott, Ben Turner, Pablo Mills, Tom Burgin, John McGrath, Jake Scott, Danny Gordon, Andy Dales, Clinton Morrison and Bradley Grayson
Subs: Evan Garnett, Tyreece Robinson, Reece Horne, Germaine Palmer, Alex Brown, Alex Rough (gk) and Morgan Williams (who later signed for the Sky Blues). Ben Turner is a different player to the former Sky Blue central defender (and now CCFPA member).
City finished off their pre-season with a mini-tournament played at neighbour Nuneaton’s ground for the ‘UK Flooring Direct Challenge Cup‘. In this tourney four days later the Sky Blues were held to a goalless draw by a Liverpool U23 XI and the following day beat the hosts by the odd goal in three.
CCFC 2017-18
As Sky Blues fans will know, after finishing sixth in League Two this season City went on to promotion via the playoffs with a stirring 3-1 victory over Exeter City in the Playoff Final at Wembley.
Thanks to Mike Young for sourcing the images.
