Matchday Memories: On This Day 1983 – ‘Spurs Sneak Stalemate With Sexton’s Sky Blues
Dave Sexton- CCFC Manager
On this day (12th March) in 1983 only 11,027 were at Highfield Road to see Dave Sexton‘s Sky Blues take on Tottenham Hotspur in a Division One fixture at Highfield Road. The ‘Spurs had given us a footballing lesson the previous October winning 4-0 at White Hart Lane.
The ‘Spurs had lost their stylish reputation of the past, today preferring niggly aggravation as their modus operandi despite fielding the likes of Steve Perryman, Gary Mabbutt and Chris Hughton.
Some of their players were lucky to stay on the pitch and four were booked as they kicked City left, right and centre. Graham Roberts was a major culprit. How (when already on a yellow card) he avoided a red from referee Kelvin Cooper after a scything tackle on City’s Jim Melrose beggared belief!
Steve Hunt in the Sky Blue
The Sky Blues did get a penalty kick, however, on 24 minutes as Ray Clemence brought Jim down and (now CCFPA member) Steve Hunt dispatched the chance with aplomb! Unjustly, however, the ‘Spurs got a second half deflected equaliser from Paul Miller ten minutes from time. So, the score was a 1-1 sharing of the points.
Future Sky Blue forward (and CCFPA member) Terry Gibson was also playing for the ‘Spurs that day!
For the record the Sky Blues fielded the following team that day (Association members underlined):-
The late Les Sealey, Danny Thomas, Brian Roberts, Ian Butterworth, Paul Dyson, Gary Gillespie, Keith Thompson, Gerry Francis, Mark Hateley, Jim Melrose and Steve Hunt.
Danny is pictured left on the programme front wearing his England shirt. Keith is the brother of former Sky Blue striker Garry Thompson (both are now CCFPA members).
Keith Burkinshaw‘s Spurs side was:-
Ray Clemence, Chris Hughton, Gary O’Reilly, Graham Roberts, Paul Miller, Steve Perryman, Tony Galvin, Gary Mabbutt, Terry Gibson, Mark Falco and Ian Crook (sub. Simon Webster) Referee:- Kelvin Cooper
The end of the 1982-83 season saw Jimmy Hill‘s departure as MD and chairman (former CCFC player and director Iain Jamieson took over). A welcome 3-0 win (the first in fourteen) at Stoke City gave us the points for Division One survival in the penultimate game.
CCFC 1982-83
The final game against West Ham United at Highfield Road, when the Sky Blues surrendered 2-4, confirmed that this was Dave Sexton‘s last game as Sky Blue gaffer as we finished nineteenth. Former player and now CCFPA member Bobby Gould took the hot seat for 1983-84. By the way, ‘Spurs finished in fourth place that season.
City finished a point and place above the northern ‘sky blues’ Manchester City who went down with Swansea Town and bottom club Brighton. Liverpool took the title by eleven points from Watford that season!
