Matchday Memories: On This Day 2017 – See Sky Blues Wonderful Wembley Win (Checkatrade Trophy)!!

Bigi Lifts The Trophy

Exactly seven years ago on 2nd April in 2017 the Sky Blues won their second successive Wembley final (albeit thirty years apart) by beating Oxford United 2-1 in the Checkatrade Trophy Final. 

They went there again the following season, of course, again under manager Mark Robins, in the League Two Playoff final and won for the third time on the hallowed turf!

The Wembley scorers Bigi & George Thomas celebrate

CCFPA’s coach on the way to Wembley

A 43,269 multitude of Sky Blues fans, including two coach loads of CCFPA members and a goodly number of CCFC veterans, travelled down to Wembley on a glorious day to see goals from (now both CCFPA members) Gael Bigirimana (a cool finish on 11 minutes) and a then sumptious strike from George Thomas (55 minutes) see off the Oxonians in an enthralling contest. There were 74,434 fans enjoying the Wembley sunshine.

The 75th minute goal from United’s Liam Sercombe made for a nail-biting last quarter. On the assumption most of our readers will have been at Wembley as the culmination of the Sky Blues successful ‘March to the Arch’ we will let some of the CCFPA pictures from the fabulous day and a highlight video (below- thanks to former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson) tell the story!

For the record, Mark Robins‘ Sky Blues Wembley heroes that day in front of 74,434 fans were (current CCFPA members underlined):-

CCFPA’s Sarah Morris with Carl Baker celebrating CCFC’s Checkatrade win at Wembley

Lee Burge, Ryan Haynes, Chris Stokes, Jordan Willis (c) (sub. Dion Kelly-Evans -60), Jordan Turnbull, Ben Stevenson, Reuben Lameiras, Gael Bigirimana, George Thomas (sub. Jodi Jones -82), Stuart Beavon (sub. Marcus Tudgay -90+5) and Kyel Reid.

Unused subs:- Vladimir Gadzhev, Michael Folivi, Cian Harries and Reice Charles-Cook (gk)

Anne & John Tudor at Wembley

Michael Appleton‘s U’s lined up as follows:-

Simon Eastwood, Phil Edwards, Cheyenne Dunkley, John Lundstram (c), Curtis Nelson, Marvin Johnson, Rob Hall, Ryan Ledson (sub. Liam Sercombe -57), Joe Rothwell (sub. Josh Ruffels -90+1), Chris Maguire and Kane Hemmings    Unused subs:- Christian Ribeiro, Joe Skarz, Sam Long, Canice Carroll and  Jack Stevens (gk)                           Referee: Chris Sarginson

Josh Ruffels started his professional career with CCFC and made two appearances for the Sky Blues in 2011-12 and Chris Maguire also scored two goals in three appearances on loan with the Sky Blues in 2013-14