Matchday Memories: On This Day 1998 – See Sky Blue ‘Hucks’ 3-3 Lucky Leeds In Elland Rd. Thriller!

On this day (25th April) in 1998 former CCFC player (and now CCFPA member) Gordon Strachan was ending his first season in full control of the Sky Blues and was doing pretty well with some of his young strikers showing their mettle.

City had been beaten only once in the league since the 10th January! With four matches to go WGS took his team to Elland Road to face top six Leeds United following two Premier League draws on the bounce. On this day a third stalemate ensued (though we could have won), a match which highlighted the talents of one of those young strikers Darren Huckerby.

Hucks streaks past the opposition

Darren in 1997

‘Hucks’ got all three Sky Blues goals, each time using pace, strength and tenacity to capitalise on balls over the top of the Leeds’ defence and beat off challenges from their back four. The Huckerby goals (after 20, 34 and 62 minutes) contributed to a see-sawing thriller of a game.

A brace from the home team’s Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (16 and 28 minutes) required, each time, a Sky Blue response and equaliser from Darren. Hasselbaink’s first was a  finish from a narrow angle and second a curling free kick gave Leeds United the advantage each time only for ‘Hucks’ to get the Sky Blues level – 2-2 at half-time.

Then Darren, two minutes after the hour, gave us what we hoped would be the win.  The hopes of Sky Blues’ fans were, however, dashed when Harry Kewell popped up with a Leeds’ leveller fifteen minutes before time. Both teams had to settle for the 3-3 draw as did the 36,522 fans that watched the exciting contest. 

Roland cuts out the Leeds threat

Thanks to our former committee member Dean Nelson you can relive Hucks hat-trick and Hasselbaink’s brace by clicking on the video below:-

Gordon the Gaffer

Strachan’s Sky Blues that day were (CCFPA members underlined):-

Steve Ogrizovic, Roland Nilsson, David Burrows, George Boateng, Gary Breen, Richard Shaw, Paul Telfer, Trond-Egil Soltvedt (sub. Paul D.Williams -86), Dion Dublin, Darren Huckerby and Noel Whelan

Unused subs:- Viorel Moldovan, Gavin Strachan, Sam Shilton and Magnus Hedman (gk)

Roland Nilsson in the Sky Blue

Roland later became a Sky Blue ‘gaffer’ and is a fairly recent CCFPA recruit. It was great to see Noel and Darren meeting up with former colleagues at Legends Day 2019 and Oggy, Paul and (‘special guest’ for the day) Roland attend Legends Day 2022. Noel was the only representative of this team to get to Legends Day 2023!

George Graham put out the following Leeds United side:-

Nigel Martyn, Gary Kelly, Ian Harte (sub. David Robertson -88), Gunnar Halle, David Wetherall, Martin Hiden, Lee Bowyer, Alf-Inge Haaland, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Rod Wallace (sub. David Hopkin -72) and Harry Kewell  Unused subs:- Robert Molenaar, Stephen McPhail and Mark Beeney (gk)                     Referee:- Mike Reed (Birmingham)

CCFC 1997-98

The Sky Blues finished the 1997-98 Premier League season in a comfortable eleventh place whilst United were a creditable fifth.

Arsenal won the title a point clear of Manchester United (in a two horse race) and Bolton Wanderers, Barnsley and bottom club Crystal Palace suffered the drop.

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.