Matchday Memories: On This Day 1988 – ‘Killer’ Chimes Punishment For Pompey At HR!

John in the Sky Blue 1963

On this day (30th April) in 1988 the Sky Blues, managed by former player and coach (and CCFPA member prior to his death) John Sillett were a top ten side in Division One facing their penultimate home game of the season (three games left).

Cyrille in the Sky Blue

They were facing Portsmouth (who needed points at the bottom end of the division) at Highfield Road in front of 14,288 fans. Back in early December the two sides had fought out a goalless draw on the south coast at Fratton Park and Pompey drew a blank again in today’s fixture once more.

Killer in the Sky Blue

The contest was decided by a Sky Blue penalty in the nineteenth minute, awarded somewhat unluckily against Portsmouth when a Cyrille Regis thunderbolt struck the arm of Pompey defender Kevin Ball in the box. City’s giant centre half Brian ‘Killer’ Kilcline put away the penalty with aplomb past Andy Gosney in the visitors’ goal. Brian’s sixth successful conversion in the league season! 

The visitors fought to the final whistle but, in truth, provided little in the way of a problem for the Sky Blues who were content to soak up Pompey’s pressure and try to catch them out on the break. Pompey manager Alan Ball was distraught by the end as top flight survival chances seemed to have slipped away by the defeat to the Sky Blues!

(The late) Snoz’s Sky Blues were:-

John Sillett- Sky Blue ‘gaffer’

Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, Nick Pickering, Steve Sedgley, Brian Kilcline, Trevor Peake, Dean Emerson, Gary Bannister, the late Cyrille Regis, David Speedie and David Smith

All but Gary later went on to join this Association we are delighted to say!

Pompey put out the following side:-

Andy Gosney, Kenny Swain, Lee Sandford, Kevin Dillon, Noel Blake, Kevin Ball, Barry Horne, Clive Whitehead, Paul Mariner, Mick Quinn (sub. Andy Perry) and Vince Hilaire      Referee:- F.Roberts

Pompey’s substituted centre-forward Micky Quinn would, of course, find further fame and popularity with first Newcastle United and then the Sky Blues (1992-95). Like ‘Sumo’ another future Sky Blue (and also now CCFPA member) with Pompey at this time was Liam Daish starting his career with the south coast club!

CCFC 1987-88

John Sillett‘s Sky Blue finished a comfortable tenth this season after finishing the season with two draws (1-1 away at Arsenal and 0-0 at Highfield Rd. versus Queens Park Rangers). Sadly Pompey could not escape the clutches of relegation in nineteenth place with Watford and bottom club Oxford United below them also dropping down to Division Two. Eighteenth placed Chelsea, who lost out in the playoffs, also joined the relegation bandwagon.

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