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Matchday Memories: On This Day 1986 – Sky Blues Duo Hit Hatters’ Double Helping Survival Hopes!

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On this day (19th April) in 1986 the Sky Blues new management duo (both ex players and later CCFPA members) George Curtis and John Sillett took charge for the first time following Don Mackay‘s departure. They had stepped ‘up’ from their respective roles of Executive Director and Youth Team Coach. The club was having another difficult season in Division One hovering around the relegation spots.

Their challenge at Highfield Road, with this and only two further games against West Ham United (a) and Queens Park Rangers (h) to go, was to overcome  a Luton Town side who were having their best season ever. However, it became  ‘mission accomplished’ as the Sky Blues were revitalised and inspired under their new bosses, attacked for the whole ninety minutes and simply blew the Hatters away! 

Nick Pick in the Sky Blue

Though several chances were missed the eventual margin of victory was narrow. Former Sky Blue shot-stopper, (the late) Les Sealey was between the visitor’s sticks!

It took a Nick Pickering strike early in the second half (47 minutes) to secure the points in front of just 10,161 fans and get a win that eased the club’s relegation fears. Results elsewhere were also kind and a 2-1 home win against Queen’s Park Rangers on the last day of the 1985-86 season ensured City’s survival in seventeenth spot two points above the drop zone (The Hatters finished ninth). 

John & George pictured for the 25th anniversary of the 1987 F.A.Cup win

The following season, of course, the management and most of this team went on to much greater things!

The Sky Blues fielded the following team that day:-

Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, Greg Downs, Micky Adams, Brian Kilcline, Trevor Peake, Dave Bennett, Lloyd McGrath, the late Cyrille Regis, Alan Brazil and Nick Pickering
 
We are delighted to say that every single member of that Sky Blues team as well as their management later went on to join the Association! Sadly we lost both George and John within a few weeks of each other in recent times and both, like Big Cyrille, are deeply mourned and both members of the managerial duo were honoured with commemorative services at Coventry Cathedral.

Les Sealey

The Hatters’ side, managed by David Pleat, comprised:-

The late Les Sealey, Rob Johnson (sub. Brian Stein), Mitchell Thomas, Peter Nicholas, Steve Foster, Mal Donaghy, Ricky Hill, Tim Breacker, Mick Harford, Mike Newell and David Preece       Referee:- D.Phillips
 
Apart from Les Sealey’s Sky Blue connections, Mick Harford had an all too brief scoring cameo debut and sole appearance with the Sky Blues in 1993/94 (and is nevertheless a CCFPA member).

CCFC 1985-86

The 1-0 win on this day mirrored a win by the same score at Kenilworth Road back  in mid November when a goal in the first half from (now CCFPA member) David Bowman took the points, the first time Luton Town had been beaten on their plastic pitch! The Sky Blues ‘double’ over the Hatters was one of only three achieved this season and the points certainly came in useful in ensuring survival at the top level for yet another season!
 
Liverpool took the Division One title by a couple of points to the chagrin of city rivals and runners up Everton. The tragic trio of Ipswich Town, Birmingham City and (at the very bottom) West Bromwich Albion got themselves relegated at the end of the 1985-86 season.
 
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for the images.

 

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April 19, 2024 · Tagged with

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