Matchday Memories: On This Day 1988 – Saints Sunk In Soton By Sills’ Sky Blues (‘Smithy’ & ‘Killer’)!

John Sillett CCFC gaffer

Thirty six years ago today (12th March) in 1988 the Sky Blues made the trip down to The Dell and came away with a rare 2-1 win there over Southampton, gaining revenge for their 3-2 defeat to the Saints at Highfield Road the previous October when City threw away a two goal lead (secured by Micky Gynn and CCFPA committee member Dave Bennett within the first twenty minutes)

Not normally a happy hunting ground for the Sky Blues this was only their second win at the home of the Saints in thirty attempts to date!

David in the Sky Blue

The game was won in the second half as Danny Wallace had given the Saints the lead just before the half hour (with our ‘keeper, Oggy also saving an early Colin Clarke penalty after a Trevor Peake trip on the same player).

Nippy and tricky winger David Smith equalised after 65 mins (with a David Speedie assist) and hulking Sky Blues centre half Brian ‘Killer’ Kilcline applied the coup-de-grace thirteen minutes later to give the Sky Blues a perhaps fortuitous victory.

‘Killer’ in the Sky Blue

Former Sky Blue Gary Bannister made a return debut after leaving City seven years previously, being signed by gaffer (and now CCFPA member) John Sillett for £300k.

Gary is the only member of the Sky Blues team and management that day who we have not since managed to sign as an Association member. Our side was:-

Steve Ogrizovic, David Phillips, Greg Downs, Steve Sedgley, Brian Kilcline, Trevor Peake, Dave Bennett (sub. Dean Emerson), Gary Bannister, the late Cyrille Regis, David Speedie and David Smith.

The defeated Southampton team that day, managed by Chris Nicholl, lined up as follows:-

John Burridge, Gerald Forest, Derek Statham, Jimmy Case, Kevin Moore (sub. Graham Baker), Kevin Bond, Matt Le Tissier, Glenn Cockerill, Colin Clarke, Andy Townsend (sub. Rod Wallace) and Danny Wallace     Referee:- Lester Shapter

CCFC 1987-88

The Sky Blues had a reasonable season and finished comfortably in tenth spot in Division One in 1987-88. Southampton were tucked in just behind CCFC on the same points (53). Four teams went down from the top flight that season, eighteenth placed Chelsea (after the playoffs) and below them, in descending order, Portsmouth, Watford and Oxford United.

Up at the top of the table Liverpool took the Division One Championship honours nine points clear of runners up Manchester United.

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