Matchday Memories: On This Day 1991 – Butcher’s Boys & Blades Scoreless At HR’s Season End
Terry in the Sky Blue
On this day (4th May) in 1991 the Sky Blues were facing their penultimate Division One game of the season and their last home game of 1990-91. The previous November player-manager Terry Butcher had taken over affairs from ex Sky Blue player (the late) John Sillett but had not picked himself to play in the league since January. Today, Terry’s team had Sheffield United as their visitors to Highfield Road and 17,254 fans were there to watch, City fans hoping for a ‘double’ as the Sky Blues had come away from Bramall Lane with a 1-0 win at the end of last October thanks to an eightieth minute penalty coolly put away by (now CCFPA member) Brian Borrows.
Cyrille in the Sky Blue
It was not to be, however, as the two sides fought a somewhat uninspiring goal-less draw despite the somewhat carnival atmosphere encouraged by the presence of around 5,000 Blades fans. Another dream was dashed along with the double when, despite many efforts, Sky Blue hero and 1987 F.A.Cup winner Cyrille Regis failed to score on his last home appearance at Highfield Rd before moving to Aston Villa at the end of the season. ‘Big Cyrille’s untimely death a few year’s back is deeply felt in clubs across the Midlands.
Dave Bassett‘s Blades side took the field with the following players:-
Simon Tracey, Chris Wilder (sub. Mike Lake), David Barnes, Vinnie Jones, Paul Beesley, Bob Booker (sub. Dane Whitehouse), Brian Marwood, Richard Lucas, Tony Agana, Brian Deane and Jamie Hoyland Referee:-T.Ward
Full back David Barnes, who had started his professional career as a youngster with the Sky Blues in 1979, was in Sheffield United’s side today.
CCFC 1990-91 under Terry Butcher
The Sky Blues continued their slip from a mid table position as the season petered out. Sadly, the 1990-91 season ended with a comprehensive 6-1 demolition of the Sky Blues at Highbury as new Champions Arsenal celebrated with their fans the fact they finished seven points clear of runners up Liverpool.
The Sky Blues were relieved by a sixteenth place finish ten points and three positions clear of relegated Sunderland, and (well bottom a further ten points adrift) Derby County.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
