Matchday Memories: On This Day 1977 – Milne’s Men Turf Terriers Out Of League Cup

Gordon in relaxed mood

On this say (30th August) in 1980 the Division One Sky Blues, managed by (now CCFPA member) Gordon Milne had an early distraction from seeking to maintain their top flight status by drawing Huddersfield Town away in a midweek tie in the Second Round of the League Cup. The league campaign had started reasonably well with two wins out of three including a 3-1 defeat of Derby County at Highfield in the season’s opener and a 2-1 win at Chelsea last time out. The Sky Blues must have been particularly confident, therefore, not least because the Yorkshire side had plummeted all the way from Division One to Division Four in five desperate years! It had taken them a replay to get past Carlisle United in Round One after tying the initial two legs. John Haselden was currently their ‘gaffer’ but he would be gone by the end of September to be replaced by Tom Johnston.

Ian in Sky Blue action

In tonight’s game, despite a brave showing, the Terriers rarely looked like creating a shock in front of a modest Highfield Road crowd of 8,577. The Sky Blue task was all the easier when Huddersfield’ Steve Baines got himself sent off after 24 minutes for his second yellow card of the game (so quickly!). Thereafter the Sky Blues took control though it was not until the second period they broke through. Three minutes after the hour our Scottish (now CCFPA member) Ian Wallace struck to give City the lead maintaining his goal a game record since the season’s start (five goals in four games). Then ‘Big’ Jim Holton then wrapped it up weighing in with his Sky Blue debut goal with a quarter of an hour to go. The 2-0 win earned City a Third Round League Cup tie at White Hart Lane at the end of October.

For the record the two teams lined up as follows:-

Jim Holton in the Sky Blue

Sky Blues (all later became CCFPA members apart from ‘Big Jim’ who sadly died in 1993 age 42 before he had a chance to join)

Jim Blyth, Graham Oakey, Bobby McDonald, Terry Yorath, Jim Holton, Mick Coop, Ray Graydon, Mick Ferguson,Barry Powell and Tommy Hutchison

Terriers

Alan Starling, Malcolm Brown, Steve Baines, Peter Hart, Phil Sandercock, Terry Gray, Peter Howey, Kevin Johnson, Terry Eccles, Mick Butler and Jim McCaffrey    Referee: P.Willis

City beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 away in Round Three and drew the mighty Liverpool in the Fourth Round. After getting a 2-2 draw at Anfield the Sky Blues lost 2-0 to the Reds in the replay five days before Christmas at Highfield Road in front of a 36,105 crowd paying record receipts.

CCFC 1980-81

In the league the Sky Blues had a great season under Gordon finishing seventh in Division One! This was the year Nottingham Forest won the title seven points clear of Liverpool.

The relegated trio (in descending order) were West Ham United, Newcastle United and (on equal points with the Magpies) bottom club Leicester City. Huddersfield finished eleventh in Division Four.

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