Matchday Memories: On This Day 1987 – See Sky Blues/ Saints Stalemate (Wembley A Week Away)

John & George pictured for the 25th anniversary of the 1987 F.A.Cup win

On this day (May 9th) in 1987 there was a carnival atmosphere at Highfield Road with the club’s first ever appearance in the F.A.Cup Final just a week away. Managing Director George Curtis and manager/chief coach John Sillett were both former CCFC players of distinction (and both passed away all too recently).

On the last day of the Division One season, with both clubs comfortably placed, the Sky Blues met Southampton in the sun in front of 22,620 fans. The Saints had beaten us 2-0 at a damp, misty Dell back in early February.

Bugsy in the Sky Blue

Today’s result, a 1-1 draw, was largely immaterial, the main business was for fans to give the Sky Blues a suitable Wembley send off.

The only down side to proceedings was the tragic knee injury to City attacking full back Brian Borrows, a key member of the team that got us to Wembley. ‘Buggsy’ was sadly condemned to watching the final from a hospital bed!

‘Killer’ in the Sky Blue

The two spectacular goals were almost ignored in the explosion of joy at the final whistle and the good natured pitch invasion that followed celebrating not (yet) quite the end of a fantastic Sky Blue season.

For the record the Sky Blues goal came a minute before the half hour from a thumping free kick from our towering centre-half Brian Kilcline, followed less than ten minutes later by a great drive from the Saints’ George Lawrence. 

Thanks to former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson you can watch highlights of the goal action and celebrations of the Sky Blue Army from the game by clicking on the image below:-

John Sillett and George Curtis‘ CCFC that day lined up:-

Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, Greg Downs, Lloyd McGrath, Brian Kilcline, Trevor Peake, Steve Sedgley, David Phillips, Steve Livingstone, Micky Gynn and Nick Pickering (sub. Martin Lane)

Killer amused at Greg’s hair piece!

All bar Brian Borrows, young centre-forward Steve Livingstone and sub Martin Lane would get to tread the Wembley turf the following weekend. All bar Martin, we are pleased to say later signed up to join this Association. This was the game when, as an ‘end of term’ prank, Greggy Downs wore a wig!

Chris Nicholl‘s Saints side that day was:-

Peter Shilton, Gerald Forrest, David Armstrong, Jimmy Case (sub. Steve Baker), Mark Wright, Kevin Bond, George Lawrence, Glen Cockerill, Colin Clarke, Gordon Hobson and Andy Townsend       Referee:- J.Worrall

The Saints’ England ‘keeper Peter Shilton, of course, was later attached to the Sky Blues as coach/ goalkeeping cover and son Sam Shilton played a few games for CCFC too.

CCFC 1986-87

Apart from carrying off the F.A.Cup in that fantastic 3-2 extra time victory over ‘Spurs, George and John’s Sky Blues finished tenth in that year’s Division One with Southampton parked a couple of places lower but eleven points behind. Everton had the bragging rights over Liverpool taking the top flight title from their city rivals by fully nine points!

The relegated trio (nineteenth place Charlton Athletic saved themselves after the playoffs) were Leicester City, Manchester City and bottom club Aston Villa.

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.