Matchday Memories: On This Day 1968 – Cantwell’s CCFC Claim A League Cup Draw With Swindon

Fifty three years ago today (16th October) in 1968 Sky Blues ‘gaffer’ Noel Cantwell had led his team to the Fourth Round of that season’s League Cup competition having previously knocked out Portsmouth 2-0 at Highfield Road and West Ham United 3-2 in a HR replay after a 0-0 draw at the Boleyn.

John Smith in the Sky Blue

Today, City’s opponents were Swindon Town and the Robins quickly showed they were not going to become a third victim at the home of the Sky Blues in front of a crowd of 23,587.

Swindon’s forward John Smith was a former Sky Blue inside forward from 1964-65!

John Tudor in action

City thought they would be handicapped when our returning No.10 (and CCFPA member) Neil Martin limped off after only thirteen minutes gone. However, fellow CCFPA member John Tudor proved a great replacement from the bench!

John Tudor in the Sky Blue

Nevertheless, Swindon were a goal up from their legend Don Rogers who raced through the middle to score three minutes before half-time.  It looked all over for the Sky Blues in the 70th minute when the Robins’ Don Heath headed down for Roger Smart to drive in their second.

With the Sky Blues losing 2-0 and with just five minutes CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson tells us that as a nipper he and his mum decided to leave to ground to catch the Vanguard coach back to Bulkington. Big Mistake! Waiting for it to leave outside the ground they heard the roars as City grabbed two goals in two minutes to send the Swindon League Cup to a replay.

Sky Blue Tony Hately

Many other members of the crowd had given up and began streaming out so missing a stirring Sky Blue comeback in the final ten minutes! In a mad two minute spell the Sky Blues saved the tie. First (now CCFPA member) John Tudor struck from close range on 86 minutes and then, two minutes later, Tony Hateley soared above the Robinms defence to head the equaliser from a cross supplied by Ian Gibson (who also later joined the Association).

Noel Cantwell- CCFC Manager

Cantwell’s men that October day comprised:-

Bill Glazier, Mick Coop, Dietmar Bruck, Ernie Machin*, Maurice Setters*, Brian Hill*, Ernie Hunt*, Ian Gibson*, Tony Hateley*, Neil Martin (sub. John Tudor – 13), and Willie Carr

We are proud to say that all members of this team later went on to join this Association (and Dietmar is a long service member of our committee).

Tony with his wife and daughter Tina

Sadly as many as six of these stars of the past (asterisked) have since passed away. Tony’s son Mark Hateley also went on to play for the Sky Blues. The late Ernie Hunt was probably as much a legend at Swindon Town as he was with CCFC.

The Robins’ team was:-

Peter Downsborough, Owen Dawson, Rod Thomas, Joe Butler, Frank Burrows, Stan Harland, Don Heath, Roger Smart, John Smith, Peter Noble and Don Rogers      Referee:-R.Paine

Five days after this tie the Sky Blues lost the Fourth round replay against the Robins at the County Ground by three clear goals, all scored in the first half (by Don Rogers, Roger Smart and Willie Penman).  Perhaps the Sky Blues should not have felt too bad because the Robins went on to beat Arsenal in that season’s League Cup Final! They also finished runners up in the Third Division that year.

CCFC 1968-69

Cantwell’s men just saved themselves on the last day of the season with a goalless draw against Division One runners up (to Champs Leeds United) Liverpool, thus finishing in twentieth place above the two relegated teams, Leicester City and Queen’s Park Rangers.

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