Matchday Memories: On This Day 1992 – See Macca Score Sky Blue Opener 4 Years Before Arriving!
Tony Sheridan in Sky Blue action
Bobby Gould- Sky Blue Manager
On this last day of October in 1992 former Sky Blue player turned gaffer, Bobby Gould, took his team up to Elland Road to face current Champions Leeds United in a difficult Premier League fixture. United had two players in their side also later to become both Sky Blue players and managers, Gary McAllister, United’s captain and (now CCFPA member) Gordon Strachan.
Irish youngster Tony Sheridan (also now a CCFPA member) also made his Sky Blue debut that day. Tony went on to make a total of nine appearances for CCFC (four from the bench) before being released in summer 1995. United were previously unbeaten at home in their last 29 games and the Sky Blues improbably came within an ace of bringing that record to an end!
Gary in the Sky Blue
Lee in the Sky Blue
First, Gary McAllister helped the City cause greatly by glancing an unfortunate header from a Lee Hurst corner past his own goalkeeper Ivan Lukic for an own goal after only twelve minutes. City hung on to the lead until way past half-time until United’s Lee Chapman forced an equaliser on seventy minutes.
Nuddy in the Sky Blue
An uncompromising City coped brilliantly with a strong United forward line, though the 28,018 crowd went wild when City’s captain (and CCFPA member) Stewart Robson tackled Leeds’ terrier David Batty and he had to be stretchered off.
Then, on 78 minutes, Phil Babb managed to hit one of the Leeds’ posts followed up by our ‘Bulawayo Bullet’ Peter Ndlovu who hammered home the rebound restoring the Sky Blue lead.
The home team’s home record was only saved in the first minute of injury time with a header from United’s Chris Fairclough. Unlucky Sky Blues!
You can relive the goal highlights, courtesy of former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson by clicking on the video below:-
Bobby’s battlers that day were :-
Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, Kenny Sansom, Peter Atherton, Peter Billing, Peter Ndlovu, Tony Sheridan (sub. Phil Babb -71), Lee Hurst, Paul A Williams, Stewart Robson (c) and John Williams.
We are pleased to say that all members of this team apart from Phil Babb are current Association members.
WGS in the Sky Blue
United’s team formed up as follows:-
Ivan Lukic, John Newsome, Tony Dorigo, David Batty (sub. David Rocastle -28), Chris Fairclough, Chris Whyte, Gordon Strachan (c), Rod Wallace (sub. Eric Cantona -58), Lee Chapman, Gary McAllister and Gary Speed Referee:- B.Hill
Chris Whyte made a loan appearance for the Sky Blues in 1995.
City played Leeds United in the return at Highfield Road on the last day of the season with little at stake in a game which ended up stalemated at 3-3. Recently CCFPA’s 300th recruit Peter Ndlovu starred for the Sky Blues scoring one himself and making one each for (now fellow CCFPA members) John Williams and Micky Quinn as the stadium’s old ‘Spion Kop’ signed off for good. The Sky Blues finished in the relative comfort of fifteenth in the Premier League in 1992-93 with Leeds United two place below them.
CCFC 1992-93
The Premier League panned out with Manchester United Champions fully ten points ahead of runners up Aston Villa. The relegated trio (in descending order) were Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
