Matchday Memories: On This Day 1983 – Sexton’s Sky Blues Penultimately Punish Potters In Stoke
Dave Sexton, CCFC’s gaffer
On this day (7th May) in 1983 the Sky Blues under Dave Sexton took on home side Stoke City in the Sky Blues penultimate Division One fixture of the season. We had beaten the Potters 2-0 on 18th December at Highfield Road thanks to a Mark Hateley brace.
Former Sky Blue iconic gaffer, Jimmy Hill, who had returned to the club as MD and Chairman had just resigned to be replaced by former CCFC player turned director (and fellow CCFPA member) Iain Jamieson. City were certainly in need of a win as they had previously gone thirteen games without a victory. Today’s 3-0 result was certainly a tonic, especially as it ensured the club was safe in the top flight for another year.
Mark in the Sky Blue
The massive Sky Blue Army amongst the 12,048 in the Victoria Ground roared City on to victory. John Hendrie‘s enthusiasm pepped the Sky Blues attack and set up Mark Hateley to score against the Potters once more as he netted after twenty minutes play.
John in the Sky Blue
It was 1-0 at half-time and then John doubled the Sky Blues score four minutes into the second half. Stoke City were well beaten by the time the Sky Blues third goal went in from full back Danny Thomas as the Sky Blues exploited the gaps left by the home side going for broke.
Danny in the Sky Blue
For the record the Sky Blues fielded the following team that day (Association members underlined):-
The late Les Sealey, Danny Thomas, Brian Roberts, Peter Hormantschuk, Ian Butterworth, Gary Gillespie, Steve Whitton, Gerry Francis, Mark Hateley, John Hendrie and Steve Hunt.
The graphic below (courtesy of former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson) depicts the Stoke team and a brief match report. The Potters’ Ian Painter (now a CCFPA member) would go on to get a handful of first team appearances for the Sky Blues in 1986-87. The referee was Mr E.Chadwick.
The final game against West Ham United at Highfield Road when the Sky Blues surrendered 2-4 confirmed that this was to be Dave Sexton‘s last game as Sky Blue ‘gaffer’ as we finished nineteenth. Former player and now CCFPA member Bobby Gould took the Sky Blues’ managerial hot seat for 1983-84. By the way, Stoke City finished in thirteenth place this season.
CCFC 1982-83
At the end of the season Liverpool took the title by three points from Southampton and, just below the Sky Blues, the relegated trio was Birmingham City, Notts County and bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers.
