Matchday Memories: On This Day 1977 – Sky Blues Score QPR Draw As ‘Wally’ Nets & Les Debuts

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ImageOn this day (11th April) in 1977  young Sky Blues shot-stopper, 19 year old Les Sealey (who tried tragically young at 43 in 2001) made his CCFC debut against Queen’s Park Rangers in Shepherd’s Bush when Gordon Milne‘s Sky Blues came away with a 1-1 draw.

The Sky Blues were hovering over the Division One relegation zone and were, perhaps, buoyed by the fact they had beaten the Hoops 2-0 at Highfield Road in early November thanks to goals from (both now CCFPA members) Barry Powell after 16 minutes and Donal Murphy three minutes before the final whistle. Q.P.R. were managed by future Sky Blue ‘gaffer’ Dave Sexton.

Deadly Duo: ‘Wally’ & ‘Fergy’

In front of 15,455 fans Q.P.R.’s Don Masson put the home side in front from the spot on 23 minutes after CCFPA member Alan Dugdale was harshly penalised for a tackle on Peter Eastoe. The Hoops went in at half-time in the lead but had proved to be a shadow of their side the previous season.

Terry in the Sky Blue

Things took a turn for the worse for Rangers, however, when their forward Mick Leach had to go off with a damaged cheek bone with Rangers already having used their sub. Eventually, on the hour, the Sky Blues wore down the ten men and Ian Wallace struck with a header from a cross from fellow CCFPA member Terry Yorath to make it 1-1 overall.

Gordon Milne-CCFC gaffer

The Sky Blues team that did duty in West London was:-

The late Les Sealey, Brian Roberts, Bobby McDonald, Terry Yorath, Alan Dugdale (sub. Alan Green), Mick Coop, John Beck, Ian Wallace, Mick Ferguson, Barry Powell and Tommy Hutchison.

We are proud that, apart from Les and John, every one of this team (and their ‘gaffer’) went on to become CCFPA members!

Manager Dave Sexton on the run

Dave Sexton‘s Rangers’ side consisted of:-

Phil Parkes, Don Shanks, Ian Gillard, Eddie Kelly, Ron Abbott, David Webb, Dave Thomas (sub. Tommy Cunningham), Mick Leach, Don Masson, Peter Eastoe and Don Givens        Referee:- Lester Shapter

City still had 10 games left to play and managed to finish just one point and one place (19th) above the drop thanks to a late finishing, controversial, last day 2-2 draw against Bristol City at Highfield Road (saving the skins of both teams). 

CCFC 1976-77

Sunderland (20th), Stoke (21st) and Tottenham Hotspur (22nd) fell through the trap door.  Q.P.R. finished 14th in Division One. Liverpool took the title by a single point from Manchester City.

Thanks to CCFPA’s Dean Nelson & Mike Young for sourcing the photos
 
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