Matchday Memories: On This Day In 1981 -Milne’s Men Manage Forest Draw In Gaffer’s Last Sky Blue Game!
On this day (May 2nd) in 1981 the Sky Blues were facing their last Division One game of the season at the City Ground against high flying Brian Clough managed Nottingham Forest. They got a 1-1 away draw for their ‘gaffer’ Gordon Milne in what would be his last ever Sky Blue game in charge since joining CCFC in 1972 as the junior part of the management team to veteran Joe Mercer. Taking full team control for the following 1973-74 season when Joe took over the administrative General Manager role, Gordon had successfully kept the Sky Blues a top flight club for almost a decade (not without some severe scares)!
Garry in his Sky Blue playing days
A 25th minute goal from young Sky Blue striker Garry Thompson gave the visitors from Coventry some heart as they seemed set to go into half-time, in front of a crowd of 21,511, in the lead. However, a John Robertson penalty for Cloughie’s men three minutes before the break dashed their hopes, (now CCFPA member) Paul Dyson fouling Trevor Francis in the box. Though they had to survive a few narrow second half squeaks they certainly deserved to share the spoils in the East Midlands.
Ian Wallace in the Sky Blue
Ian Wallace was in the Forest side that day having moved to the Garibaldi Reds from CCFC for £1.25m in July 1980. He was kept quiet that day thankfully! Also in the Forest side was England ‘keeper Peter Shilton who had a spell at Highfield Road in 1995-96 without making a first team appearance. However, Peter’s son Sam Shilton did get half a dozen Sky Blues’ games whilst in Coventry between 1995-99. Since December 2022 Gary Mills, playing that day for Forest, has been the Sky Blues Lead Professional Development Phase Coach. Apart form the late Les Sealey, whose early death prevented him from so doing, we are proud that all the rest of this Sky Blue team as well as their ‘gaffer’ later joined CCFPA!
Apart from their league campaign the Sky Blues under Milne had some exciting Cup ties going out in the 5th round of the F.A.Cup at Tottenham Hotspur and getting so close to a Wembley League Cup Final going out in the semis over two legs to West Ham United.
CCFC 1980-81
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
