Matchday Memories: On This Pre Season Day 1990 – Sillett’s Sky Blues Conquer Clarets But Csucsánszky Crocked.

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John Sillett CCFC gaffer

On this day (7th August) in 1990 the Sky Blues were looking forward to their second pre-season warm up game of the season at Lancashire side Burnley. City, under the guidance of manager, former player (and now CCFPA member) John Sillett had kicked off their preparations with a -0 defeat at Barnet, a club all buoyed up for their first ever season in the Football League.

As is usual in such games opportunities were on offer to trialists. On this day ‘Schnozz’ ran the rule over a Hungarian guest, Zoltán Csucsánszky. Zoltán was an international winger for his country winning five full caps for his country whilst playing for Videoton. However, unfortunately the 24-year old who  pulled up after only 17 minutes and was carried off the field in what was his first public appearance for the club with an apparently serious injury which cut short his stay with City.

Cyrille in the Sky Blue

Steve in the Sky Blue

According to Jim Brown, Association Chairman and the CCFC’s official historian, the records indicate that Zoltán was out of the professional game until re-emerging the following season for Hungarian club Vac before a short spell with German lower-league club Jahn Regensburg. He seems to have retired in 1993 and went into coaching eventually as under 19 coach at old club Videoton.

Apart from the injury the pre-season warm up was successful as City eased to a 2-0 victory in front of a crowd of 3,747. The Sky Blues goals came from City strikers from very different eras, experienced Cyrille Regis and youngster Steve Livingstone (both later CCFPA members).

Sills’ starting line-up included six (*) of the victorious 1987 F.A.Cup winning team at Wembley. It was (CCFPA members underlined):-

Steve Ogrizovic*, Brian Borrows, Paul Edwards, Micky Gynn*, Brian Kilcline*, Trevor Peake*, Zoltán Csucsánszky (Kevin MacDonald -17), Lloyd McGrath*, Cyrille Regis*, David Speedie and David Smith.   Other substitutes used:Dougie McGuire, Howard Clark, Tony Dobson and Steve Livingstone.

Sadly ‘Big Cyrille’ was taken away from the footballing world at a tragically early age in January 2018.

The Burnley programme (above & immediate left) gave details of the players chosen by Clarets manager Frank Casper but we are uncertain if they played according to this team:-

Chris Pearce, Ian Measham, Ian Bray, John Deary, Andy Farrell, Steve Davis, Peter Mumby, Ron Futcher, John Francis, Joe Jakub and Neil Grewcock   Referee: E.J.Parker (Preston)

CCFC 1990-91 under John Sillett

The rest of the pre-season panned out largely successfully with a 3-2 win at Highfield Road over Czech side Banik Ostrava three days later followed by an unfortunate home defeat by a sole goal to non league Halesowen Town. On August 17th things got back on track with a 1-0 win at Oxford United and a goalless draw at Leicester City to finish preparations. The season proper kicked off with a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford against Manchester United  and then an encouraging 3-1 home win over Everton.

Terry in the Sky Blue

In mid November 1990 with City well into the bottom half of the table Sills moved aside to be replaced by player-manager Terry Butcher. After a bit of improvement the Sky Blues continued a slide from a mid table position as the season petered out. The 1990-91 season finished with a comprehensive 6-1 demolition at Highbury celebrated by new Champions Arsenal who finished seven points clear of runners up Liverpool. The Sky Blues were relieved by a 16th place finish ten points and three positions clear of relegated Sunderland, and (well bottom a further ten points adrift) Derby County.

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the photos

 

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