Matchday Memories: On This Day 1996 – Big Ron Battles SKY As Saints Sink Sky Blues!

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Big Ron

Thanks to CCFPA’s committee member Dean Nelson for unearthing a real historical gem from this Monday (25th March) in 1996 involving our member and Sky Blue ‘gaffer’ at the time Ron Atkinson and CCFC ‘celebrity supporter’ Richard Keys (and his broadcasting ‘oppo’ Andy Gray). The Sky Blues under ‘Big Ron’ had been struggling all season and relegation was already haunting their every move with eight games left in the Division One programme.

They had not won in their last four games and lost their last match, at home to Bolton Wanderers. On this Monday evening the Sky Blues had faced fellow strugglers Southampton at the Dell and succumbed to the only goal of the game scored in the second minute of the game by the Saints’ Jason Dodd from a Matt Le Tissier corner. The two teams had already drawn 1-1 at Highfield Road on New Year’s Day with the Sky Blues only saving a point seven minutes from time thanks to Noel Whelan netting. Today’s game was watched by 14,461 fans and the SKY TV Cameras.

After the game the SKY commentary team naturally sought to ask Big Ron a few questions about the defeat and the implications for the Sky Blues future prospects. A clearly annoyed Big Ron became much more tetchy with the admittedly needing interview by Keys (abetted by former Wolves player Andy Gray). The word exchange speaks for itself as can be seen from the video above which also includes the protagonists speaking more coolly with hindsight some time later!  To see the battle of words just click on the video above!

For the record the two teams were as follows:-

Richard in the Sky Blue

Sky Blues (CCFPA members underlined):-

Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, David Burrows, Kevin Richardson, Liam Daish, Richard Shaw, Eoin Jess, Paul D Williams, Dion Dublin, Noel Whelan and John Salako (sub. Peter Ndlovu)

Southampton (managed by Dave Merrington):-

Dave Beasant, Jason Dodd, Simon Charlton, Jim Magilton, Neilson, Ken Monkou, Matt Le Tissier (c), Barry Venison, Neil Shipperley, Gordon Watson (sub. Christer Warren) and Neil Heaney   Referee:- Steve Lodge

In the event both teams survived to fight another day in the top flight (just) but it took goal average to save them! City finished 16th on exactly the same points as the Saints and relegated Manchester City.

CCFC 1995-96

Q.P.R. and bottom club Bolton Wanderers also went down with the ‘other’ Sky Blues. Even more galling for them was that their city rivals Manchester United became Champions four points ahead of Newcastle United.

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