Matchday Memories: On This Day 1966 – Sky Blues, With ‘Double Trouble, Take Terriers To Task!
JH with the 1963-64 D3 Champions trophy
On this day (7th May) in 1966 the Sky Blues were trying hard to make it out of Division Two to the ‘promised land’ of top tier football for the first time in their history under iconic manager Jimmy Hill. Today, in their last game of a largely impressive season, they took on close rivals Huddersfield Town away at Leeds Road looking for revenge after receiving the shock of a 3-0 home defeat at Highfield Road back in the previous December. A win for City might have got them into the second promotion spot.
The Sky Blues turned out in an unusual all white strip with gold and black facings (to avoid a colour clash with the Terriers’ blue and white stripes) and were pleased to see about 3,000 Sky Blues fans amongst the 24,997 crowd.
Ray Pointer in the Sky Blue in 1967
The Sky Blues were coming off a workmanlike defeat of Middlesbrough at Highfield Road the previous Saturday in their last home game of the season achieved through goals from central forward duo (of different playing generations) ‘old head’ Ray Pointer and ‘young gun’ Dudley Roberts. Today Ray got himself another goal and Dudley’s replacement, another raw young talent, Bobby Gould got the other.
Bobby G in the 1960s
Ray scored a smashing drive on forty minutes from an Ernie Machin cross to send the Sky Blues in at half-time 1-0 up. Bobby’s goal on 71 minutes came from him intercepting an errant Denis Atkins back pass and he finished with a cool chip over their goalie John Oldfield.
Revenge was sweet as the sky Blues got their last day victory by two clear goals and Bobby was chaired half way to the dressing room by exultant, pitch invading Sky Blues fans. As anticipated, their win on the road meant CCFC went second in the table and would have to wait to see what third placed Southampton did in their remaining two games to decide promotion!
Ernie in the Sky Blue
JH’s team that day was:-
Bill Glazier, Mick Kearns, Allan Harris*, Dietmar Bruck, George Curtis*, Ron Farmer*, Ronnie Rees*, Ernie Machin*, Bobby Gould, Ray Pointer* and Dave Clements. (unused sub. Dudley Roberts)
Along with JH, sadly six members (*) of this team, most recently Ron Farmer and Ronnie Rees, have since passed away but we are delighted to say all members of the team and their gaffer later joined this Association!
Tom Johnston‘s team of Terriers comprised:-
John Oldfield, Denis Atkins, Bob McNab, Jimmy Nicholson, John Coddington, Mick Meagan, Kevin McHale, Allan Gilliver, Tony Leighton, Steve Smith and Les Massie Referee:- F.Cowen
Fantastic future Sky Blue defender (1968-76) Chris Cattlin, now a long standing and popular CCFPA member, was on the Terriers books at this time (his first professional club). Chris, as usual, along with Mick, CFPA committee member Dietmar, and Bobby from today’s City team were part of the nearly forty Former Players who came back to Coventry for Legends Day 2023. Mick, Dietmar and members of George’s family also shared LD24 with us just a few days ago.
CCFC 1965-66 (August)
Unfortunately JH‘s Boys just missed out on promotion this season, finishing third, a point behind promoted Southampton who got points in their outstanding two games to overtake the City and grab runners up spot to Manchester City who were five points ahead of them. However, the Sky Blues rectified this near miss the following season as every Sky Blue fan knows! It was Town who had to be content with fourth spot two points behind the City.
Middlesbrough and (way) bottom club Leyton Orient took the drop.
Thanks for CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
