Matchday Memories: On This Pre Season Day 2004 – Sky Blues & Canaries Score No Score Stalemate

Posted by · Leave a Comment 

On this day (July 31) in 2004 Sky Blue ‘gaffer’ Peter Reid (appointed in May) had reached the end of a successful pre-season preparation for the upcoming newly rebranded Championship season (the old Division One) that would be the club’s last at their home of the last 103 years, Highfield Road. 

Having lost only one of five games on their German tour they were now back in the UK and had drawn 2-2 against Notts. County at Meadow Lane three days previously. City’s remaining pre-season game was their only one at their home base. They took on the Canaries from Norwich City who were preparing for life in the Premier League having been promoted from the old Division One as Champs the previous season.  Former Sky Blues stalwart’ Youssef Safri and  Darren Huckerby (both now CCFPA members) were missing from the Canaries’ side today but former CCFC full back Marc Edworthy was facing the Sky Blues today as was winger (now CCFPA member) Leon McKenzie who would later join CCFC.

Pat Suffo in the Sky Blue

Eddie in the Sky Blue

Reidy’s team was very close to the starting line up used a week later in the Sky Blues first Championship game of the season at home to Sunderland which they won late on by 2-0 in front of 16,460 Highfield Road patrons with an 84th minute penalty from (now CCFPA member)  Patrick Suffo penalty and a last minute effort from Eddie Johnson.

Stephen Hughes (also now a CCFPA member) was an unlikely replacement as striker for Eddie in the Canaries’ friendly today and City switched to a 4-5-1 formation. Perhaps not surprisingly, there were no goals to entertain the modest crowd of just 5,484. The Sky Blues new captain Tim Sherwood was a very recent recruit from the Canaries earlier in the month.

The Sky Blues turned out the following team (CCFPA members underlined):-

Peter Reid, Sky Blue ‘gaffer’

Scott Shearer, Louis Carey, Richard Shaw, Steve Staunton, Calum Davenport (Andrew Whing -46), Bjarni Gudjonsson (Andy Morrell -62), Michael Doyle, Tim Sherwood (Neil Wood -78), Stephen Hughes (Claus Bech Jorgensen -85), Gary McSheffrey (Patrick Suffo -62) and Graham Barrett 

Unused Sub:-  Andy Marriott (gk)

Nigel Worthington‘s Canaries lined up as follows:-

Robert Green, Marc Edworthy (Ian Henderson -46), Adam Drury (Jim Brennan -46), Simon Charlton (Malky Mackay -46), Craig Fleming (Jason Shackell -46), Damien Francis, Paul McVeigh (Phil Mulryne -46),  Gary Holt, Matthias Svenson (Zema Abbey -75), David Bentley and Leon McKenzie (Ryan Jarvis -46) Unused sub. Joe Lewis (gk)

Referee:- Kevin Friend

CCFC 2004-05

Sky Blue Manager Micky

The subsequent Championship season 2004-05 deteriorated and Peter would be replaced in the new year by former Sky Blue player (and now fellow CCFPA member) Micky Adams.  Under Micky the Sky Blues kept their Championship place for their first season at the Ricoh and finished off their Highfield Road days with an brilliant and emotional 6-2 win over Derby County.

Norwich City had a dire 2004-05 season in the Premiership being immediately relegated back to the second tier having been unable to win any other competitive match away from home during the whole season!

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

 

Share Post

Comments

Speak Your Mind

Tell us what you're thinking...


*
= 5 + 0