Matchday Memories: On This Day 1983 – Fireworks At St Andrews As Bobby’s Boys Blow Up Brum
The Sky Blues Gouldfather ‘gaffer’
On this Guy Fawkes day (5th November) in 1983 the Sky Blues, under ‘Cov Kid’ former player (and now CCFPA member) Bobby Gould, faced local rivals (and recent CCFC landlords and past Championship rivals) Birmingham City in a Division One clash at St Andrews in front of 16,619 fans. There were fireworks of sorts during the game as Brum’s centre forward and (briefly) a Sky Blue a decade later Mick Harford was consigned to hospital with facial injuries after a tangle with Sky Blues centre-half (later briefly England boss) Sam Allardyce. Both are now Association members. Former Sky Blue (and now CCFPA member) Jim Hagan was also in the Blues side that day. The away team eventually ran out winners by the odd goal in three!
Terry in the Sky Blue
It was a courageous performance from the Sky Blues and a deserved win as they had to come back from a losing position. The Birmingham side’s Noel Blake grabbed their opener after only eighteen minutes thought the Sky Blues diminutive striker Terry Gibson (also a CCFPA member) was able to poach the equaliser twelve minutes later. The score was 1-1 at half time with everything to play for.
Benno in Sky Blue action
The turning point came on the hour mark after Terry had been substituted by recent Association recruit Steve Hunt, making his first appearance of the 1983-84 season.
It was Steve who played a big part in setting up the Sky Blue winner for, now CCFPA committee member, and future Sky Blue F.A.Cup winner Dave Bennett who struck a sweet far post volley! Game set and match to the Sky Blues.
Spot the Sky Blue bovver boys
Bobby’s ‘bovver’ boys that day (CCFPA members underlined) were:-
Raddy Avramovic, Brian Roberts, Nicky Platnauer, Martin Singleton, Trevor Peake, Sam Allardyce, Dave Bennett, Micky Gynn, Dave Bamber, Terry Gibson (sub. Steve Hunt) and Ashley Grimes.
The Brummies fielded the following side:-
Jim Hagan in the Sky Blue
Tony Coton, Jim Hagan, Pat van den Hauwe, Noel Blake, Billy Wright, Byron Stevenson, Howard Gayle, Les Phillips, Mick Harford (sub. Kevin Rogers), Mick Halsall and Robert Hopkins Referee:- J.Lovatt
Current CCFC club matchday host, former Sky Blue defender (and CCFPA member), Brian ‘Harry Roberts was a member of the Birmingham squad this season though was not in this team.
Howard Gayle got the only goal of the game as the Blues got their revenge with a 1-0 win over the Sky Blues at Highfield Road the following early March.
CCFC 1983-84
City just survived the drop in season 1983-84 finishing in nineteenth position in the top division with fifty points, two points better off than twentieth placed Birmingham City who went down, in a bad year for the Midlands, with Notts. County and Wolverhampton Wanderers!
It was Liverpool‘s year for the title as they forced Southampton into the runners up spot three points behind!
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.
