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Matchday Memories: On This Day 1977 – Milne’s Men Make An Important Point To Reds

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On this day (10th May) in 1977 a packed Highfield Road wanted to see how (now CCFPA member) Gordon Milne‘s Sky Blues would fare against Division One champions-in-waiting, Liverpool. The Reds had future Sky Blue ‘gaffer’ Phil Neal in their defence that day!

Back in August, in City’s second game of the season, despite a first minute opener by the Sky Blues big No.9 Mick Ferguson, the Reds came back at Anfield to beat us 3-1 so some sort of revenge for the City would be sweet!

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The Merseysiders were red hot favourites to take the title and therefore looking for a clincher in Coventry and still were in with a shout as finalists of both the F.A.Cup and European Cup. In contrast, City were in desperate need of the same points as they languished at the wrong end of the table. A crowd of 38,160 (City’s best in the league for six years) were on tenterhooks.

In a keen match the Sky Blues matched the stars of the Reds in fight and application and sometimes in skill. City’s ‘Big Jim’ Holton at the heart of the home defence, ably marshalled his colleagues.
 
At the other end the Sky Blues ‘little and large’ twins of terror Ian Wallace and Mick Ferguson caused many problems for the Reds’ defence and their ‘keeper Ray Clemence had to make great saves from both! The eventual point left each side still (at least mathematically) uncertain of their eventual fates with a couple of games to go.

Big Jim in the Sky Blue

Deadly Duo: ‘Wally’ & ‘Fergy’

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The contemporary match report below provides team details and the identity of the referee.

ImageApart from John Beck, the late Les Sealey and the late Jim Holton we are pleased to say that every member of the City team on this day, plus the ‘gaffer’. later went on to join this Association. John was substituted by Les Cartwight during the game. Liverpool did not use their substitute.

Liverpool were soon duly crowned Division One champs taking the title by a point from Manchester City who beat the Sky Blues at Highfield Road by the only goal in the penultimate game of the season. As all Sky Blues fans will know they did manage to survive in nineteenth to fight another day (at the expense of relegated Sunderland) thanks to a controversial last day 2-2 draw at Highfield Road against fellow relegation candidates Bristol City.

CCFC 1976-77 Season. Gordon Milne (Team Manager) & Ron Wylie (assistant Manager),

The game kicked off fifteen minutes late, allowing both teams to realise (in a highly competitive game to that point) that safety for both depended on the score remaining the same – once informed of the Black Cats’ last day defeat. Strangely, the game suddenly became much less competitive and both teams celebrated being safe at the final whistle! Stoke City and bottom club Tottenham Hotspur also went down with Sunderland.
 
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.
 
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May 10, 2024 · Tagged with

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