Matchday Memories: On This Day 1966 – Coventry City Crush Crewe In Cup

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JH, Sky Blue legend

On this day (14th February) in 1966 Sky Blues legendary manager Jimmy Hill was in the fifth year of his Highfield Road reign. CCFC were a League Two side by now but today was F.A.Cup day. The Sky Blues had already knocked out Swindon Town by two goals to one at their County Ground in the Third Round and two days earlier had been to Gresty Road Crewe and forced a 1-1 draw with the Alex in Round 4 thanks to a Ronnie Rees goal (Ron is now a CCFPA member). 

Tonight JH had picked a team to sort the replay and succeeded sumptuously despite some scores being settled from the first game. In a rugged encounter of 30 fouls, two penalties and four players booked, the ref had to call both captains together to calm things down and City legend George Hudson was forced off for a time to repair cuts in both lips!

Ronnie Farmer

Dave in the Sky Blue

In front of a substantial Highfield Road crowd of 27,820 the Sky Blues ran out 4-1 winners and eased into the 5th Round draw. The City’s first goal came in only four minutes as a Dave Clements cross was palmed into the roof of the net by Alex’s goalkeeper Willie Mailey (different sources credit the goal to the Sky Blues Irish winger or an own goal by the Crewe goalie). Crewe’s equaliser from Ian Sandiford then came from the penalty spot in 17 minutes after City captain George Curtis had brought him down in the box.

The Sky Blues then grabbed a 2-1 half-time lead thanks to first of a brace from ‘the Hud’ eight minutes from the break. After 27 minutes of the second period another trusty penalty (awarded for Norman Bodell‘s hands in the box from a Clements cross) was dispatched by a firm drive from Ron Farmer (until the COVID19 lockdown still a Sky Blue home game regular). This goal made it 3-1 and, two minutes from time, Hudson’s second goal of the game finally broke the resistance of the away side to confirm a 4-1 victory.

The Sky Blue ‘Hud’

Hill’s heroes that day lined up as follows:-

Bob Wesson, Mick Kearns, Allan Harris*, Dietmar Bruck, George Curtis, Brian Hill*, Peter Denton*, Ray Pointer*, George Hudson*, Ron Farmer and Dave Clements.

We are pleased to say that, along with JH, all these players later joined this Association. Sadly the asterisked players (Allan, Brian, Peter, Ray and the Hud) have since passed away. George later went on the manage the Sky Blues to Wembley F.A.Cup glory over twenty years later in 1987. Dietmar is a long time valued member of the committee of CCFPA and, as it happens, he was the first to be booked followed by the Alex’s Norman Bodell, Mick Gannon and the Sky Blues captain!

Crewe’s side lined up as follows:-

Willie Mailey, Dave Whelan, Peter Leigh, Alan Bradshaw, Keith Stott, Norman Bodell, Mick Gannon, Peter Kane, Ian Sandiford, Johnny King and Barrie Wheatley                             Referee:- J.E.Carr (Sheffield)

CCFC 1965-66 (August)

City went on to play top level Everton at Goodison in the 5th round and were eventually outclassed by three clear goals. In the league they just missed out on the top spot finishing third behind promoted Southampton and Champs Manchester City. However, they had laid the foundations for their successful promotion campaign in 1966-67 when JH’s Division One ‘promised land’ was eventually achieved. For the record Middlesbrough and Leyton Orient finished in the bottom two in D2 and were relegated.

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the photos.

 

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