Matchday Memories: On This Day 1989 – Sillett’s Sky Blues Share Spoils At The Hatters
Cyrille in the Sky Blue
On this day (15th April) in 1989 the Sky Blues drew 2-2 at Luton Town in front of 8,610 at Kenilworth Road. The two teams had played at Highfield Road in November when the Sky Blues came out on top with the only goal of the game, a rare goal from (now CCFPA member) Graham Rodger in the 37th minute of the game. Coincidentally Graham will be our forthcoming ‘special guest’ at the Sky Blues next home game against W.B.A. on Good Friday (see previous post today)!
David in the Sky Blue
This match, along with everything else, was overshadowed by the tragic events unfolding at Hillsborough the same afternoon! Roy Wegerle, future £1m Sky Blue signing from Blackburn Rovers in March 1993, was in the Hatters side that day. The Sky Blues had to claw back a two goal deficit on this day.
After a goalless first half the game sprang into life with City replying each time to goals from the Hatters by John Dreyer (55 minutes) and Danny Wilson on 75 minutes. ‘Oggy‘ had actually saved Wilson’s penalty (conceded by Tony Dobson) but the Luton man was quick to follow up. The Sky Blues goals came from the late Cyrille Regis with twenty minutes to go and an eightieth minute point-saver from CCFC’s David Smith taking advantage when the Hatters’ Alec Chamberlain and Dave Beaumont collided.
John Sillett CCFC gaffer
John Sillett‘s Sky Blues that day were represented by:-
Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, Tony Dobson, Dean Emerson (sub. Gary Bannister), Graham Rodger, Greg Downs, David Phillips, David Speedie, Cyrille Regis, Steve Sedgley and David Smith.
Former players who later went on to join the Association are underlined (in effect all but sub. Gary). Sadly ‘Big Cyrille’ and, more recently, the Sky Blues ‘gaffer’ ‘Snoz’ have passed away. Good to see ‘Oggy’, and the two Davids, Speedie and Smith our FP reunion Legends Day 2025 at the CBS Arena a few days ago!
Roy in the Sky Blue
Ray Harford fielded the following Hatters players that day:-
Alec Chamberlain, Tim Breacker, John Dreyer, David Preece, Steve Foster, Dave Beaumont, Danny Wilson, Roy Wegerle, Raphael Meade (sub. Richard Cooke), Ricky Hill and Kingsley Black Referee:- D.Hodges
Apart from future Sky Blue Roy Wegerle the Hatters also had on their books at this time ex Sky Blues defender Ashley Grimes and ‘keeper (the late) Les Sealey. Future Sky Blue ‘gaffer’ Iain Dowie was also a Hatter at this time.
CCFC 1988-89
The Sky Blues finished in a very respectable seventh spot in Division One in 1988-89 with Luton Town on sixteenth, two points and two places above the drop. Those that fell through the trap door that season were Middlesbrough, West Ham United and, at bottom, Newcastle United.
The Division One title was closely contested this season and Arsenal took it on goal average from Liverpool.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
