Match Day Memories: On This Pre Season Day 1994 – Phil’s Sky Blues Plunder Pilgrims In Devon

Phil Neal, Coventry City Manager

On this evening (27th July) in 1994 the Sky Blues were still down in the West Country playing the third of three unbeaten pre-season warm ups there. Preparing for the upcoming Premier League campaign under Phil Neal (who would not last out the season), City had first beaten non-league Tiverton Town on July 27th by 3-1. Then a couple of days previously they had forced a goalless draw at St James’ Park, the home of Exeter City.

Today’s game, up a notch or two from the previous contests, was at Home Park to meet Division Two side Plymouth Argyle. At that time the Argyle were player-managed by ex England goalie (and later briefly a non-playing Sky Blue) Peter Shilton. The Pilgrims had also beaten ‘Tivvy’ earlier in their own pre-season by 5-2!

Phil would have been pleased with the start as to add to the other pre-season results the Sky Blues defeated the side from Devon by two clear goals in front of 2,999 fans. The Sky Blues’ scorers were Mick Harford and Sean Flynn (both now Association members). Mick’s goal was a collectors item as, despite being with the Sky Blues for thirteen months since moving from Sunderland for £200k in July 1993, he only made one league appearance as a fifteenth-minute substitute against Newcastle United (time enough to score the winning goal).

After the game Phil praised Mick for “working hard after missing virtually all last season through injury”. Owing to a back injury Mick never featured for City in the league in 1993-94 and moved to AFC Wimbledon for £50k in August 1994!

Mick in the Sky Blue

Sean Flynn in the Sky Blue

Steve in 1993

Marc in the Sky Blue

More than likely now Association member Steve Morgan played in the game and today would have been the first time he had returned to Home Park since transferring from the Pilgrims!

Also its possible that future Sky Blue full back (1998-2002) and recent CCFPA member Marc Edworthy (a Barnstable boy) faced City in the Pilgrims’ side. That’s all the certain detail we have to hand at the moment! If anyone has any further information on the exact teams please get in touch.

The Match Programme (above right) outlines the respective squads for the game on the back as can be seen (below):-

Oggy in the Sky Blue red

The next step in a shorter than usual pre-season was, closer to home, on August 6th was to take on even more substantial opposition in Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. Sadly the Sky Blues succumbed by the odd goal in three to the Wolves and that was also the score in City’s final pre-season game, the only one at Highfield Road. Worse, that loss was was local rivals Aston Villa who defeated the Sky Blues in a testimonial game for the Sky Blues’ legendary goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic (now a CCFPA member).

Ron salutes the Sky Blue faithful

As the City sank towards the bottom of the Premier League as the season progressed CCFC’s board reacted and in mid February 1995 (now CCFPA member) Ron Atkinson was installed as Sky Blue supremo. Big Ron did enough to ensure the club’s survival in the top tier in sixteenth five points and three places above the drop.