Matchday Memories: On This Day 1974 – Sky Blues Deliver Everton Anchor Cup Suffering In Singapore

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Sky Blue Manager Gordon

On this Wednesday (15th May) in 1974 the Sky Blues completed their second fixture in an invitation tournament involving British clubs in the Far East having already lost 3-2 to Derby County in Kuantan, Malaya. Today’s game in Singapore was against Everton in front of 35,000 keen spectators.

The 2-1 win today was enough to ensure they would only need a draw in their last game in a week’s time, once more against the Rams in Singapore to win the Anchor Cup.

Close season overseas tours seemed a regular part of CCFC’s plans in the early 1970s.   The Sky Blues had already toured South Korea, Japan and Thailand in summer 1972 culminating in a 2-2 draw in Bangkok against Brazilian side FC Santos (for whom Pele played and scored). In summer 1973 they played a game each in Sweden (a 3-2 win over Norkopping) and Majorca (5-0 victory over Capdepera).

Willie in the Sky Blue

David Cross in the Sky Blue

There was speculation (denied by him) that Gordon Milne, City’s manager since 1972, was being considered for the job of England boss as the tournament began.

Milne’s men (Gordon is a current CCFPA member) had finished 16th in Division One in 1973-74 four places and two points clear of the relegation zone. In Summer 1974 they had entered the Anchor Cup (a triangular competition between this trio of top clubs) and took a tour party consisting of (CCFPA members underlined):-

Bill Glazier, Neil Ramsbottom, Alan Dugdale, Graham Oakey, Chris Cattlin, the late John Craven, the late Peter Hindley, Bobby Parker, Mick McGuire, Alan Green, Dennis Mortimer, Willie Carr, the late Brian Alderson, David Cross, Mick Ferguson and Colin Stein.

In today’s game the Sky Blues goals (one in each half) came from Willie Carr and David Cross. Everton’s Mike Buckley scored a consolation for Billy Bingham‘s Toffeemen late in the second period.

 We would be grateful for more detailed information or pictures concerning any of these Anchor Cup games. However, we know that on the 19th May Derby County and Everton drew 2-2 at Singapore’s National Stadium in front of over 20,000 fans. George Telfer and Mick Lyons scored for the Toffees and Roger Davies and Kevin Hector for the Rams.

The Sky Blues only needed to draw their final game against Derby County on the 22nd to take the Cup!

(Check back on this site on the 22nd to see if they did take the Anchor Cup or not)!

The 1973-74 CCFC squad

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the photos

 

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