Matchday Memories: On This Day 1965 – Sky Blue Hudson’s Hat-Trick Humbles The Orient

Jimmy Hill CCFC Manager 1961-67

On this Wednesday night (28th April) in 1965 CCFC manager Jimmy Hill and his boys were completing the next stage of the journey of their ‘Sky Blues Express‘ all the way from Division Three to the top flight. They had been promoted as Division Three Champions last season and, in the last game of this campaign, parked in Division Two in a comfortable top ten position they were hoping to finish with a bang. They were coming off a 3-0 Highfield Road win against Swansea Town four days previously and had travelled to south London to take on Leyton Orient.

The O’s were managed by future Sky Blue ‘gaffer’ Dave Sexton. The Sky Blues had drawn 1-1 with Orient at Highfield road back in November thanks to a Sky Blues penalty from Ken Hale (who has sadly since passed away).

The Sky Blue ‘Hud’

On this day JH‘s team had relatively little trouble in returning to Coventry from the capital with both points as their No.9, terrace hero George Hudson, grabbed his only hat-trick of the season, having got a brace the previous week. George finished top-scorer with a magnificent 24 goals from his 43 Sky Blues appearances in all competitions. 

There was only 6,355 in Brisbane Road to see the end of season contest. George’s goals came for an eighth minute header (from a Dave Clements‘ cross) and a 37th minute shot, slid in from a Ronnie Rees cross, to give the Sky Blues a 2-0 half-time lead. George Curtis was a rock at the heart of City’s defence.

Dave in the Sky Blue

The Hud’s hat-trick came on the hour with a poacher’s goal snapping up a chance after a Dave Clements effort was parried. The Irishman had a hand in all three of ‘the Hud’s’ goals! The Orient’s Jim Scott scored only a consolation goal before the end (on 71 minutes) with the home team well beaten, and it could have been by more!

JH’s team that day was:-

Bob Wesson*, John Sillett*, Allan Harris*, Ron Farmer*, George Curtis*, Brian Hill*, Ron Rees*, Alan Turner*, George Hudson*, John Smith* and Dave Clements

Dave Sexton OBE (1930-2012)

Sadly ten members of this team (*) Bob, both Rons, Allan, Brian, Alan, John Smith, ‘the Hud’ himself as well as the ‘other’ George and John (Curtis and Sillett), have since passed away and most recently Alan and (both CCFC Legends) Ron and Ronnie. Also both club legends Snoz’ and the ‘Iron Man’, of course, later went on to co-manage the victorious ‘Boys of 87’ in the F.A.Cup final at Wembley!. Apart from John Smith every member of JH’s team (as well as our late ‘gaffer’) went on to join this Association.

Dave Sexton‘s Orient side lined up as follows:-

Reg Davies, Dave Webb, Colin Worrell, Denis Sorrell, Andy Nelson, Jeff Harris, Jimmy McGeorge, Dave Metchick, Harry Gregory, Jim Scott and Joe Elwood      Referee:- T.Dawes

CCFC 1964-65

The Sky Blues Division Two season saw them consolidate in tenth place allowing them to make a more sustained promotion push the following season. Newcastle United (Champions) and Northampton Town were promoted to the top flight this season.

Leyton Orient finished nineteenth.  Swindon Town and Swansea Town were relegated.

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