Matchday Memories: On This Day 1978 – Thommo Snatches Sky Blues HR Hoops Win

On this day (9th December) in 1978 the Sky Blues, managed by Gordon Milne grabbed themselves a single goal victory at Highfield Road in a Division One game against Queen’s Park Rangers. Match of the Day camera were in Coventry along with 18,693 supporters at Highfield Road but the BBC editors must have cut much of the game out from the brief highlights as the visitors clearly came to frustrate the Sky Blues flowing play with a five man defence. Milne’s men countered during the game by subbing defender Gary Gillespie with striker Mick Ferguson (both now CCFPA members).

Garry Thompson in the Sky Blue

The Hoops kept the Sky Blues out until just before the hour mark when our young striker, a frequent CCFPA guest at a Sky Blues home game, Garry Thompson converted a shot after (his now fellow Association member) Tommy Hutchison‘s effort rebounded off the bar! The one goal lead was nearly not enough as the Sky Blue defence had to hold out for the remaining half an hour, surviving especially a late Q.P.R flurry of attacks.

Gordon Milne-CCFC gaffer

Milne’s Men that day were (CCFPA members underlined):-

(The late) Les Sealey, Mick Coop, Bobby McDonald, Andy Blair, (the late) Jim Holton, Gary Gillespie (sub. Mick Ferguson), Steve Hunt, Ian Wallace, Garry Thompson, Barry Powell and Tommy Hutchison

Q.P.R. (managed by Steve Burtenshaw) put out the following side:-

Ian in Sky Blue action

Phil Parkes, Dave Clement, Ian Gillard (sub. Paul Goddard), John Hollins, Ernie Howe, Don Shanks, Peter Eastoe, Glenn Roeder, Billy Hamilton, Martyn Busby and Rashid Harkouk    Referee:- R.Perkin

The Sky Blues came a cropper in the return with Q.P.R. at Loftus Road, Shepherd’s Bush in the penultimate game of the season (after Burtenshaw had been sacked) at the end of April getting slammed 5-1 despite Ian Wallace giving them an eighth minute lead! The Hoops had a very slim hope, though, of escaping the almost inevitable relegation but failed, ultimately falling six points short of overtaking Derby County. The Hoops went down in twentieth place along with beneath them Birmingham and bottom club Chelsea.

CCFC 1978-79

At the top of Division One Liverpool took the title eight points clear of runners up Nottingham Forest.

 

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.