Matchday Memories: On This Day 2007 – Sky Blue Michael & Jay Turf Burnley Off The Moor!

Iain Dowie

On this last day of the season on a Sunday (6th May) in 2007 the Sky Blues were under the managerial control of Ian Dowie who had taken over from former Sky Blue player turned ‘gaffer’ Micky Adams (now an Association member) the previous February.

CCFC were stumbling around in the bottom half of the Championship table and for the final act of their season had travelled to Turf Moor home of Burnley FC with a large away following amongst the 12,830 crowd. 

Michael in the Sky Blue

The Sky Blue Army sang themselves hoarse as their team clocked up their first away win in thirteen attempts on the road, by the odd goal in three. And this at a club which had not lost at home for three months! 

The Sky Blues Maltese forward Michael Mifsud breakaway goal four minutes before the interval gave them a great start. Then, in the 55th minute, his colleague (fairly recent CCFPA recruit) Jay Tabb produced a great finish from Kevin Thornton’s cute through ball.  Although Burnley got one back after 62 minutes from Paul McVeigh the Sky Blues held on for a heartwarming end of season victory.

Jay Tabb in Sky Blue

Dowie’s Sky Blues that day were (CCFPA players underlined):-

Andy Marshall, David McNamee, Marcus Hall, Isaac Osbourne, Elliott Ward, Colin Hawkins, Jay Tabb (sub. Lee Hildreth -90), Michael Doyle, Kevin Kyle, Michael Mifsud and Kevin Thornton (sub. Liam Davis -68)

Unused subs:  Stephen Hughes, Andy Gooding and Luke Steele (gk)

Lee Hildreth in the Sky Blue

Lee got his debut (and only league appearance) in this game off the sub’s bench but it was only for a minute!

A contemporary match report from BBC Sport (containing comments from both ‘gaffers’) can be accessed here.

Steve Cotterill‘s defeated Burnley side took to the field as follows:-

Brian Jensen, Michael Duff, Jon Harley, Eric Djemba-Djemba, Wayne Thomas, Steven Caldwell, Wade Elliott, Joey Gudjonsson (sub. John Spicer -75), Andy Gray, Ade Akinbiyi (sub. Paul McVeigh -46) and Alan Mahon (sub. Steve Jones -46)   Unused subs: Graham Coughlan and Danny Coyne (gk)  Referee:- Phil. Joslin (Notts.)

The Sky Blues finished that Championship season in a disappointing seventeenth position though well clear of relegation trouble in points terms. Burnley finished a couple of places and a point better off.

CCFC 2006-07

Southend United, Luton Town and Leeds United suffered the drop as Sunderland took the top spot and were promoted with Birmingham City and Derby County (following the playoffs).

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