Matchday Memories: On This Day 1964 – ‘Latics Catch A Cracking CCFC Kirby (Head) Cold

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George Kirby in Sky Blue action

On this day day (28th March) in 1964 the Sky Blues, under iconic ‘gaffer’ Jimmy Hill, in 2nd place were closing in on promotion from Division Three. However, recent results had stalled the promotion push somewhat and since their 3-0 Highfield Road win at the turn of the year JH’s men had not won in the last eleven league games (losing four).

Today the Sky Blues new No.9 from Southampton George Kirby had a cracking home debut against Oldham netting a hat-trick of headers to steady the nerves of Sky Blue fans. This was reasonable revenge for the 2-0 defeat at Boundary Park earlier in the season. Though CCFC won 4-1, with the other goal coming from Graham Newton to send us in at half-time 2-0 up, the Sky Blues were still not totally convincing.

Graham in the Sky Blue

Three Sky Blue stalwarts, George Hudson, Ken Hale and ‘keeper Dave Meeson had been dropped for this game and their replacements clearly did well. (Now CCFPA member) Bob Wesson showed competence in goal and was only beaten once from a consolation goal scored by the Latics’ forward Bobby Craig after 77 minutes.

All four of City’s goals came from converted crosses. City’s half-back Brian Hill, now converted to left back, provided the crosses for Kirby’s first header after only five minutes and Newton’s goal thirteen minutes later.  The Sky Blues Irish No.7 Willie Humphries provided the  both crosses for George Kirby’s second half brace on 69 minutes and two minutes from the final whistle. City regained top spot in early April and soon gave the Sky Blues fans among the 23,516 Highfield Road crowd even more to cheer!

JH with the 1963-64 D3 Champions trophy

JH’s Sky Blues that day when they stopped the rot and started to build momentum was:-

Bob Wesson, John Sillett, Brian Hill*, Dietmar Bruck, George Curtis, Ron Farmer, Willie Humphries, Graham Newton*, George Kirby*, John Smith* and Ronnie Rees.

Sadly four of this side (*) have since passed away. All but the hat-trick hero George later went on to join CCFPA. George Curtis and John Sillett went on to take the Sky Blues to Wembley victory as the management team in 1987 and are now joint Life Presidents of CCFC. Dietmar is a longstanding CCFPA committee member and along wih Bob and Ron have attended Sky Blues home games pretty often in recent years.

Oldham’s side (managed by Les McDowell) comprised:-

John Bollands, Ken Branagan, Billy McGinn, Peter McCall, Alan Williams, George Sievwright, Bob Ledger, Jim Bowie, Bert Lister, Bobby Craig and John Colquhoun        Referee:- J.Lowry

CCFC 1963-64

The Sky Blues did the City of Coventry proud at the end of the season finishing with a 1-0 win at Highfield Road (courtesy the late George Hudson) to take the Third Division Championship title by goal average only from Crystal PalaceOldham were in a reasonable top ten position (actually 9th). Millwall, Crewe Alexandra, Wrexham and, well bottom, Notts County were demoted to the bottom tier.

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

 

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