Matchday Memories: On This Day 2006 – Luton Lose As Sky Blue Stern & ‘Sheffers’ Strike Away!
Sky Blue Manager Micky
On this day (15th April) in 2006 former Sky Blue player Micky Adams was in charge of the Sky Blues in their first season at their new home, the Ricoh Arena. Things were going reasonably well in the Championship as, with only four matches left to play in the season, the Sky Blues visited Hertfordshire and near positional neighbours just inside the top ten of the table, Luton Town. CCFC had lost two and drawn two of their last four so needed a result to get them out of a mini slump. There were 8,752 spectators inside Kenilworth Road to see what happened. By the end of ninety minutes the City had secured the points winning 2-1 but had scored all three goals!
Sky Blue Don Hutchinson
Dennis Wise had given the Sky Blues some extra guile, inspiration and verve since arriving on a short term Coventry posting in January but had been rested for this game. They did not miss Dennis as Don Hutchison took over the mantle of playmaker and delivered a first half masterclass. First, on 25 minutes, he set (now CCFPA member) Andy Whing free to deliver a cross which striker Stern John duly converted. Then, the very next minute, Don put ‘Cov.Kid’ Gary McSheffrey through for the Sky Blues second.
Stern in the Sky Blue
All looked plain sailing until five minutes before the final whistle when Sky Blues defender Adrian Williams unluckily put a Enoch Showunmi cross past City’s Hungarian ‘keeper Márton Fülöp. The Sky Blues managed to weather a tricky few final minutes as Mike Newell‘s Hatters produced a late surge.
At the end of the day the Sky Blues deserved the win and the points, and the double over Luton who they had beaten at the Ricoh the previous October through a ‘Dele Adebola goal two minutes after the half-time break.
Gary McSheffrey in Action
Micky’s men that day lined up as follows (CCFPA members underlined):-
The late Márton Fülöp, Andrew Whing, Marcus Hall, Stephen Hughes, Matt Heath, Ady Williams, Andy Morrell (sub. Kevin Thornton -90), Michael Doyle, Stern John (sub. ‘Dele Adebola -80), Don Hutchison and Gary McSheffrey (sub. James Scowcroft -80)
Good to see Marcus, Kevin and ‘Dele at Legends Day 2025 a few days ago when we were able to mount our major Former Player reunion at the CBS Arena.
Sky Blue David Bell
Mike Newell‘s Hatters fielded the following side:-
Marlon Beresford, Kevin Foley, Leon Barnett, Peter Holmes (sub. David Bell -82), Steve Howard, Markus Heikinnen, Carlos Edwards (sub. Dean Morgan -57), Enoch Showunmi, Rowan Vine (sub. Keith Keane -57), Warren Feeney and Ahmet Brkovic Referee:- R.Beeby
Future Sky Blues in this team were midfielder and fairly recent CCFPA recruit David Bell (2009-13) and defender (a Sky Blue loanee 2009-10) Leon Barnett.
The Sky Blues went on to win two and draw one of the remaining trio of fixtures to finish eighth in the Championship though well out of the playoffs (a dozen points adrift). The Hatters were a couple of places and points beneath them. Reading (Champions), Sheffield United and (after the playoffs) Watford went up to the top flight.
CCFC 2005-06
Crewe Alexandra, Millwall and Brighton (bottom) went in the opposite direction.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
