Members News: Carl Sees The Tigers Trouble The Sky Blues!

The disappointing final score

Carl, Harry & Victor Torp2

Last night at the CBS Arena the Sky Blues fluffed their Championship play-off hopes with a careworn performance against rivals Hull City. Our ‘special guest’ for the evening, Carl Baker, was with us last Sunday at Wembley too. After the exhilaration of that performance by Mark Robins men in the F.A.Cup semi-Finals, yesterday’s game under the floodlights was something of an anti-climax with, particularly in the first half, mental and physical fatigue apparent in the Sky Blue midfield and defence. The Tigers were gifted three goals thanks to defensive and goalkeeping laxity and their third came from a penalty. Our former club ‘skipper’ would have been heartened by yet another brave comeback from the disbelieving dismay which occured when Hull scored each of their first two goals but strive as we might it proved a game too far to complete the turn-round for at least a point. A magisterial Kasey Palmer free-kick from outside the box and a firm header from Bobby Thomas meeting a cross ball got us all believing again but it was not to be thanks to successive defensive blunders!

Carl’s pitchside interview relayed on the CBS Big Screen behind a sparse Tigers’ crowd

Another Q&A beteen Carl, Victor & Harry

Some of Hull’s questionable tactics and a martinet of a referee left a somewhat sour taste in the mouths of CCFC staff, players and fans and the play-offs now are only just a tiny mathematical possibility. Hull had former Sky Blue ‘keeper Ryan Allsop in play and ex loanee winger Ryan Giles with former young Sky Blue defender (and CCFPA member) Cyrus Christie on the bench. The small band of Tigers fans at the game were greatly chuffed at the way the game panned out in the victory for our opponents by the odd goal in five.

As per the last time Carl was our ‘special’ this season against Southampton, back in December 2023, Carl toured the supporters lounges in the CBS main stand before kick-off and did some interesting interviews with club host, popular Sky Blue former defender (and CCFPA member) Brian ‘Harry’ Roberts. One of these can be seen shortly on the Association’s Facebook page (just click on the Facebook button at the right of this post).

Dietmar Bruck with Claus Bech Jorgensen

(Above right) ‘Harry’ also chatted to CCFC’s   Victor Torp (who was rested for the game)  following the Danish star making his great Wembley debut! With the Sky Blues 2-1 down at half-time Carl also did an informative pitchside interview in front of an appreciative and welcoming crowd of over 25,000 (above centre). Among our Former Player members at the game was CCFPA committee member and club legend Dietmar Bruck who had travelled down from his Manchester home and, a rare visitor, over from Denmark our former midfielder (and committee member) Claus Bech Jorgensen (right). Claus was particularly interested to hear his fellow countryman speak about his the ecxtasy and agony of scoring a VAR disallowed winning goal last Sunday!

Carl mobbed by the Mad Hatters in Lady Gs

Post match with the Sky Blues’ 3-2 defeat confirmed Carl did his best (with CCFPA’s Billy Bell) to cheer up an audience of disappointed fans from the stage of the Lady Gs Lounge in the Arena’s G-Casino. There Carl met up with our supporter icons ‘the Mad Hatters’ (left) and finished off proceedings with a strong collective rendition of the Sky Blue song (below):-

Carl & Billy on stage

Thanks Carl for being a great guest once more and we are sure we will see you again soon!

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young and Richard Morris for the photographs and videos of Carl’s visit.