End Of An Era: On This Day 2005 -See Sky Blues Say Stylish ‘So Long’ To HR As Derby Demolished
On this day (30th April) in 2005 Sky Blue fans spent a memorable and nolstalgic day watching the club’s last ever home game at Highfield Road. CCFPA member and former player Micky Adams had taken over the gaffer’s chair from fellow member Peter Reid in January. The Sky Blues faced Derby County as the last post was due to blow over their 106 year tenure at Highfield Road prior to moving to their new ground at The Ricoh Arena. The two teams had fought out a 2-2 draw in Derby the previous December.
Stern in the Sky Blue
Dele celebrates
The team celebrates
Everything came together right on a sunny day in a packed stadium with the Sky Blue Army desperate for a good Sky Blue performance befitting the occasion and that is what they got! City were seventeenth and needed a point to ensure another season in the Championship. However, they left their home in some style by getting all three points and hitting the Rams for six!
The 6-2 victory in front of 22,777 fans became something of a fairy tale as the Sky Blues went in at half time four goals to the good with a brace from ‘Cov Kid’ Gary McSheffrey on tewnty and 27 minutes (a penalty) plus a strong finish, muscling his way through the Rams’ defence from ‘Dele Adebola (after 36 mins) and a glancing header from Stern John six minutes before the half time whistle.
Whingy strikes
Former Sky Blue defensive hero Mo Konjic and fairly recent Sky Blue forward Marcus Tudgay (both now CCFPA members) had to suffer the Derby club’s humiliation and ‘Big Mo’ had a bit of a ‘mare’, fouling former CCFPA committee member Claus Bech Jorgensen in the box for Sheffers’ penalty. Derby manager George Burley couldn’t believe how his Championship play off aspirants had been so easily demolished.
Andy Whing celebrates
Though County’s Adam Bolder got one back on 54 minutes Stern responded immediately by getting his second three minutes later using lovely footwork. Similarly, just as the Rams’s substitute Paul Peschisolido reduced the pain with another consolation on 62 minutes, CCFPA member Andy Whing, who had only just come on from the subs bench, brought the house down five minutes later with a thumping volley and a memorable celebration.
‘Dele in full flight
Gary McSheffrey in Action
A fitting end for a wonderful Sky Blue home! Little did Sky Blues’ fans know there would be so much heartache subsequently away from H.R.!
A contemporary match report from BBC Sport can be found here. You can recall some of the action from a memorable match thanks to former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson. Just click on this link or pic below:-
For the record the Sky Blues team on that historic day (CCFPA members underlined) was:-
Luke Steele, Richard Duffy, Marcus Hall, Stephen Hughes, Robert Page, Steve Staunton, Garry McSheffrey (sub. Andy Morrell -78), Michael Doyle, Stern John, ‘Dele Adebola (sub. Trevor Benjamin -73) and Claus Bech Jorgensen (sub. Andrew Whing -67)
Unused subs: Shaun Goater and Kevin Pressman (gk)
The defeated and distraught Rams’ side that day comprised:-
Lee Camp, Jeff Kenna, Chris Makin, Inigo Idaikez, Mo Konjic, Michael Johnson, Tommy Smith, Adam Bolder, Marcus Tudgay (sub. Jose Junior -66), Morten Bisgaard and Ian Taylor (c) (sub. Paul Peschisolido -30) Unused subs: Miller, Jackson, Huddlestone. Referee:- M.Fletcher
Apart from Mo and Marcus there was another Sky Blue connection in the Rams’ side that day. Their ‘keeper Lee Camp came to CCFC in November 2020 for two months emergency goalkeeping cover but, in the event, was not needed for first team duties!
CCFC 2004-05
Micky’s men lost their last game 2-1 at Crewe Alexandra, themselves needing a win to stay up. That kept the Sky Blues in nineteenth spot two points and two places points clear of danger and it was Gillingham, Nottingham Forest and (a long way bottom) Rotherham United that suffered the drop.
Sunderland (champs), Wigan Athletic (runners up) and sixth placed West Ham United (after winning the playoffs) got promoted to the Premier League.
PS The whole game, plus the after match scenes, can be found on YouTube. Follow the link HERE
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.
