Matchday Memories: On This Day 1988 – Sillett’s Sky Blues Share Six In Chelsea Comeback

John Sillett CCFC gaffer

On this day (5th March) in 1988, a year after the Sky Blues incredible F.A.Cup victory at Wembley, John Sillett‘s team took on Chelsea in Division One at Highfield Road buoyed by a 1-0 victory at Watford‘s Vicarage Road last time out. Coventry’s Speedway team, the ‘Bees’ paraded their British League Trophy in front of the 16,801 crowd before the game began. The Sky Blues had lost to the Blues at Stamford Bridge the previous November courtesy of a lone goal from Kerry Dixon (son of former sixties CCFC centre forward, the late Mike Dixon). Revenge was in order and expected as the Pensioners had not won in their last sixteen games and looked relegation bound.

‘Killer’ in the Sky Blue

It was not to be, however, as the two teams stalemated, sharing six goals in a see-saw game. In fact, the away team roared into an early two goal lead. First their Kevin Wilson struck as early as the tenth minute and was followed up with a goal from Pat Nevin six minutes later.  The Sky Blues fightback was led by captain Brian Kilcline two minutes later and then former Chelsea star turned Sky Blue David Speedie grabbed the equaliser after 34 minutes. Annoyingly, the Blues went in at half time a goal to the good as Wilson scored his second five minutes before the break.

City were forced to come back again and our substitute, tricky winger, David Smith stepped up to the plate with his first CCFC goal just before the hour to make it 3-3. The Sky Blues could then have won it as Graham Rodger managed to hit the crossbar with a shot but both sides had to settle for the draw.

As said earlier Coventry Bees speedway team paraded their recently won national speedway trophy in front of the Highfield Road crowd (picture supplied below by former CFPA committee member Dean Nelson):-

David in the Sky Blue

The late John Sillett‘s Sky Blues took the field with the following team:-

Steve Ogrizovic, Graham Rodger, Greg Downs, Steve Sedgley, Brian Kilcline, Trevor Peake, Dave Bennett, David Phillips, the late Cyrille Regis, David Speedie and Nick Pickering (sub. David Smith)

We are delighted to note that the Sky Blues Manager and every man jack of this team later went on to join this Association (and ‘Benno’ became a member of CCFPA’s committee).

Bobby Campbell‘s Chelsea team was:-

Perry Digweed, Gareth Hall, Tony Dorigo, Colin Pates, Steve Clarke, Michael Bodley, Pat Nevin, Micky Hazard, Kevin Dixon,  Kevin Wilson and John Bumstead     Referee:- A.Gunn

CCFC 1987-88

At the end of the 1987-88 season Chelsea were indeed relegated but they did manage to survive in eighteenth spot until they lost the playoffs. Portsmouth, Watford and Oxford United suffered the drop with them. The Sky Blues had the luxury of looking down from their tenth spot!

Liverpool took the title by a massive nine points from North-Western rivals Manchester United.

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