Matchday Memories: On This Day 1972 – ‘M Men’ Struggle To ‘Do The ‘Pools’ In League Cup

On this day (5th September) in 1972 Sky Blue managerial partners  Gordon Milne (now CCFPA member) and Joe Mercer had only just seen their side get their first Division One win of the season, seven games in, with a 2-0 Highfield Road victory over Stoke.

This evening’s midweek game, refereed by experienced official Harry New, shifted focus to the League Cup and another home tie in the Second Round against Division Four outfit Hartlepool United. Their team which had cost only £1,000 to assemble gave a plucky display against an unconvincing Sky Blues performance and City’s lowest League Cup gate since 1960 (8,772). 

A much younger version of famous contemporary football manager Neil Warnock was in the Hartlepool side.

The Sky Blue goal that decided the game came from the award of a dubious penalty. The ‘Pools’ Alan Goad left a leg out for Sky Blue  midfielder Dennis Mortimer to tumble over three minutes after the half hour. (now Dennis’ fellow CCFPA member) Willie Carr slotted the penalty home with aplomb.

United might have gone closer as Kevin Coyne did get the ball in the net and it was ruled out for offside. The difficulties the ‘Pool made for us can be judged by the fact that both (now current CCFPA members) Wilf Smith and Quintin Young were yellow carded.

The M-Men’s victorious Sky Blues lined up as follows:-

Bill Glazier, Mick Coop, Chris Cattlin, Ernie Machin*, Jeff Blockley, Roy Barry, Dennis Mortimer, Quintin Young, Billy Rafferty, Willie Carr and Wilf Smith

 

Sadly Ernie has since passed on to the big soccer stadium in the Sky. We are pleased to say all of this team later went on to join this Association.

 

Len Ashurst‘s Hartlepool XI was:-

Barry Watling, George Potter, Alan Goad, Malcolm Dawes, Bill Green, Rob Smith, Willie Waddell, Bobby Smith, John Coyne, Mick Spelman and Neil Warnock    Referee: Harry New

 

CCFC’s stay in the League Cup competition was brief as they went out in the Third Round losing 2-1 at City’s fairly recent landlords Birmingham City. The Sky Blues’ league season went from poor to worse with an end of season slide from seeming mid table comfort. From their 2-0 home victory over Crystal Palace on March 2nd, the Sky Blues won only two of their remaining twelve games and lost their last seven in a row scoring only twice!

Accordingly they were relieved to finish safe in nineteenth spot five points and two places above the relegated pairing of Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion.  Liverpool took the top flight title by three points from the Arsenal. 

Lowly Hartlepool eventually finished twentieth in Division Four with only four teams beneath them all of which successfully had to seek re-election!