Blast From The Past: On This Day 1973 – M-Men & Mick ‘Manage’ The Mariners In The F.A.Cup

Mick in the Sky Blue

On this day (3rd February) in 1973 Coventry City were under the dual management of Joe Mercer and Gordon Milne. Their Sky Blues conquered Third Division Grimsby Town in the 4th Round of the FA Cup in a close game by the only goal scored. The Sky Blues had disposed of Leyton Orient the previous month at Brisbane Road to the tune of 4-1 with a Brian Alderson brace sandwiching solos from Willie Carr and Tom Hutchison. Today the task proved somewhat tougher!

Highfield Road was full to the rafters (38,814) as Grimsby brought with them 10,000 fans which were packed into the Kop.

The Mariners, managed by a young Laurie McMenemy, took the fight to the Sky Blues with some pretty serious tackles and some Mariners’ players (notably Hickman) were lucky to stay on the pitch. In a very physical game it was not until the 86th minute that Mick McGuire was fouled inside the box according to referee Alf Hart.

Mick takes the penalty (and scores)

Up stepped Mick Coop to emphatically score his first goal for the club with only four minutes to play. Grimsby fans were troublesome as they saw a replay snatched away.

Mick Coop celebrates the goal with Colin Stein

So City were through to the next round where they faced Hull City at Highfield Road and eased through 3-0 later in the month with goals from Alderson and a brace from Colin Stein.

In the March Quarter Final at Molineux Wolves put paid to the Sky Blues’ F.A.Cup ambitions with a 2-0 victory.

Gordon Joe & Eddie Plumley signing Tommy Hutchison 1972

The ‘M Men’ Sky Blues that faced Grimsby that day was:-

Bill Glazier; Mick Coop, Alan Dugdale, Wilf Smith, Roy Barry, Bobby Parker, Dennis Mortimer, the late Brian Alderson (sub Alan Green), Colin Stein, Mick McGuire and Tom Hutchison

All players, bar Brian who died at a tragically early age in the States, later went on to join this Association (along with Gordon Milne)

Grimsby’s XI lined up as follows:-

Harry Wainman, David Worthington, David Booth, Lew Chatterley, Clive Wiggington, Stewart Gray, Stuart Brace, Mike Hickman, Matt Tees, Dave Boylen and Allan Gauden Referee:- Alf Hart

In the league, the Sky Blues finished their 1972-73 Division One campaign safe enough five points but only a couple of places (19th) above relegation trouble.