Matchday Memories (& Remembering ‘Snoz’): On This Day 1963 – The ‘Hud’ Hits Half Of Sky Blues 6 Scored At QPR!
On this last day of November (30th) in 1963 the exciting Sky Blues were well on their way to the Third Division Championship under their innovative and talented manager Jimmy Hill and had an excellent ‘Away Day’ in London.
Coincidentally, in very sad anniversary 58 years later (30th November 2021) the death was announced of a valuable member of JH’s team that day who had passed away late the previous night. The Sky Blues’ then full back John Sillett would go on to become a true club Legend and Life President, having co-managed CCFC to their only (to date) F.A.Cup Final triumph at Wembley in 1987 with team member today George Curtis (also quite recently passed away). ‘Sills’ became an inspirational supporter of the club’s players, fans and this Association for very many years. To remind yourself of the many tributes and commemorations at the time of Snoz’s death (including a big one at Coventry Cathedral) just put his name in our search engine (right)
To return to the game in 1963, today they travelled to West London for a league game and were in no mood to let Queen’s Park Rangers stand in their way. There was a a couple of thousand Sky Blues fans in the ground at Loftus Road to cheer them on as part of just three under 11,000 fans who turned up in Shepherd’s Bush!
The Hoops were swept away, in a brilliant team effort in the mud, as our skilful No.9 George Hudson grabbed a hat-trick (on 34, 53 and 59 minutes) in a wonderful 6-3 Sky Blues away win in ‘the Smoke’.
Another two ‘H’ men, Ken Hale (41 mins) and Willie Humphries (56 mins) also netted and Welsh wizard wing-man Ron Rees got one too after seventy minutes to finish things off!
The Hoops goals were scored by Brian Bedford, who scored the first goal of the game after eleven minutes. He completed his brace a minute before the last goal of the game scored by Mike Keen on 79 minutes to give the score some respectability in home supporters’ eyes.
Rangers’ ‘gaffer’ Alec Stock mused that the Sky Blues were the best Third Division side he’d ever seen and the London press gave JH‘s men a great write-up after the game!
Jimmy’s men who ran riot that day in London comprised:-
Bob Wesson*, John Sillett*, Mick Kearns, Brian Hill*, George Curtis*, Ron Farmer*, Willie Humphries, Hubert ‘Hugh’ Barr, George Hudson*, Ken Hale* and Ron Rees*.
All apart from Hugh and Ken all went on to become CCFPA members . Sadly eight of these stalwarts have since passed away.
The Rangers’ XI lined up:-
Peter Springett, Pat Brady, Peter Angell, Andy Malcolm, Ray Brady, Mike Keen, Mark Lazarus, Stuart Leary, Brian Bedford, John Collins and Terry McQuade Referee:- N.Matthews
This was the Sky Blues’ fourth straight win in which they had scored fifteen goals (six by Hudson) and conceded eight. This was the Hud’s second treble (plus a double) in just over a fortnight! By the end of the season George had scored an amazing 24 goals in 32 league games before sidelined by injury.
City went on to complete the double over the Rangers in April 1964 in another high scoring game. The Sky Blues won 4-2 with goals from Willy Humphries, Ronnie Rees, Ron Farmer and George Kirby.
As is well known the Sky Blues went on to win the Third Division Championship (on goal average) with runners up Crystal Palace also promoted. Q.P.R. pulled away from the relegation zone and finished fifteenth with Millwall, Crewe Alexandra, Wrexham and, bottom club, Notts. County suffering the drop.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.