Matchday Memories: On This Day 1963 – JH’s Sky Blues Step On The Gas With The ‘Old Five’
Jimmy Hill
On this day (29th April) in 1963 the Sky Blues, under legendary manager Jimmy Hill (in his first full season in charge), were closing in on getting into Division Two from their current third tier home. They had had a magical cup run taking them to a somewhat unlucky 3-1 defeat at Highfield Road to the stars of Manchester United in front of a record 44,000 crowd. Their season (and cup run) had also been disrupted by a beastly winter causing many postponements and consequently they had to play nine games in April and seven in May as the season finished late. JH‘s Boys were getting near the promotion spots but not quite there despite being beaten only once in seven games since the start of April.
Today, their visitors were Bristol Rovers who they had met just a fortnight ago in Bristol and fought out a 2-2 draw having been two goals to the good thanks to a goal from Terry Bly five minutes before the break and another six minutes into the second period from Willie Humphries. Today, things were much easier at Highfield Road as the Gas were sent home on the wrong end of a 5-0 pasting!
Ron in the Sky Blue 1964
Willie Humphries
The Sky Blues goals were all ‘crackers’, and there could have been many more as our wingers ran riot. There was a brace each from wide men Welsh international Ron Rees and Irish international Willie Humphries plus yet another strike from crowd favourite and top scorer George Hudson!
The goals came pretty regularly starting with Ronnie’s first after three minutes (he also scored the last two minutes from time). Willie’s duo, both crahed in hitting the underside of the bar came within six minutes (28 & 34) giving us a 3-0 lead at the break. ‘The Hud’s’ goal on, 87 minutes, was perhaps the classiest magicked out of nothing! There could have been more because Ken Hale crashed a shot against the post and Ronnie also had two efforts ruled out for offside!
The Sky Blue ‘Hud’
JH’s Boys that day lined up as follows:-
Bob Wesson*, John Sillett*, Mick Kearns, Dietmar Bruck, George Curtis*, Ron Farmer*, Willie Humphries, Ken Hale*, George Hudson*, Ernie Machin* and Ronnie Rees*
Sadly Bob, both Rons, Ken, Ernie, ‘the Hud’ and both ‘George & John’ (as well as JH) have since passed away (*). We are delighted to confirm that all, apart from Ken, later signed up to join CCFPA. We were delighted to see both Mick and Dietmar (who is a CCFPA committee member) at the CBS Arena for Legends Day 2023 this time last year.
Bristol Rovers were represented by the following team:-
Bernard Hall, Doug Hillard, Gwyn Jones, Micky Slocombe, Geoff Bradford, Terry Oldfield, Harold Jarman, Alfie Biggs, Hugh Ryden, Bobby Jones and Graham Muxworthy Referee:- J.Parkinson
CCFC 1962-63
The Sky Blues had to be content with a fourth place finish this season but gained promotion from Division Three at the end of the following season. Bristol Rovers finished nineteenth two places and a point clear of trouble. Northampton Town (champions) and Swindon Town went up in 1962-63.
Bradford PA, Brighton & Hove Albion, Carlisle United and (bottom club) Halifax Town fell through the Division Three trap door.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
