Junior ‘Boys of ’87’: Howard joins up
Regular readers will be aware that CCFPA has recently been trying to track down members of the ‘other’ Sky Blues’ victorious F.A. Cup squad -the one that beat Charlton Athletic in the two-leg final of the F.A.Youth Cup back in May 1987 with a view to organising a reunion to commemorate this wonderful achievement – the junior component of the Club’s double celebration in 1986-87. The search has been going well and we have established direct contact with quite a few of the squad (e.g. John Gowens, Robert Smith and Howard Clark) and have leads we are following up for several more. We are still looking, however, and any further leads from our readers would be gratefully appreciated (contact either of the following CCFPA committee men Jim Brown (clarriebourton@gmail.com) or Mike Young (m.young9@ntlworld.com) if you can help).
Several members of this talented youth team went on to play for the seniors and are therefore eligible to join the Association as full members. We are therefore very pleased to announce that our contact with one such player Howard Clark has resulted in him signing up for CCFPA. We hope he is just the first. Welcome Howard!
A midfielder, Howard made a total of of 24 first team appearances (14 as sub) scoring once for the Sky Blues between 1986-91. Howard came to Highfield Road from Wolves (where he was a junior) as a YTS and turned professional in September 1986, a momentous year for the Club. It is often forgotten that in season 1986-87 not only did we win the F.A.Cup at Wembley in that memorable 3-2 extra time victory against Spurs but we also achieved a cup double, winning the F.A.Youth Cup against Charlton Athletic over two legs the same season. Howard was an integral member of that victorious squad of youngsters.
Howard made his first team City debut in a 1-1 home draw with West Ham United in November 1988 and his last as a sub in March 1991 at Highfield Road in a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace. After a loan spell with Darlington he moved to Shrewsbury Town on a free in December 1991 where he clocked up over 60 appearances and thence finished his career at Hereford United (1993) and both Nuneaton Borough and Crawley Town in 1995 then Hinckley Town. On hanging up his boots in November 1996 Howard has become a serving police officer in the West Midlands (though he has turned out for their team).
A number of memories have already been stirred by our search and Associate member Dean Nelson has sent us a picture (reproduced below) of CCFPA Life President Joe Elliott (left) with the 1986-87 Youth Squad surrounding their manager of the time CCFPA member Mick Coop. Dean also sent us the programme cover pictured from their second leg Semi Final game at Manchester City in April 1987 which the young Sky Blues lost 1-0 cancelling out their earlier first leg home victory. In the replay CCFC triumphed 3-0 at home to take them to the final against Charlton.
