Matchday Memories: On This Pre Season Day 2002 – Sky Blues Kick Off German Tour With 6-0 Win

Gary in the Sky Blue

On this day (15th July) in 2002 CCFC began preparations for their upcoming Division One campaign with an extensive challenge of nine pre-season games.

To kick-off, the Sky Blues’ new player-manager Gary McAllister took his squad on a five match tour of Germany including a three game tournament in Nurnberg. First, however came a date with German fifth tier club SV Neusorg 1932 which McAllister’s men navigated pretty easily winning by six clear goals.

Gary opted not to play himself but to blood some new signings like (from Middlesbrough) Dean Gordon, some established City professionals and some youngsters and nine players got a full ninety minutes under their belt so early in the season.

Jairo in the Sky Blue

John Eustace in the Sky Blue

Though it was only 1-0 at half-time the Sky Blues eventually ran out comfortable winners, their six goals coming from a brace from Honduran Jairo Martinez (28 amd 67 minutes) and one each from John Eustace (53 mins), (John’s fellow CCFPA members) Gary McSheffrey (62 mins) and Peruvian striker Ysrael Zuniga (with a 65th minute penalty) and lastly another successful last minute spot-kick from young Robert Betts.

The contemporary report of the game from Andy Turner of the Coventry Telegraph can be found by clicking here.

Gary McSheffrey in Action

The Sky Blues lined up with the following players (CCFPA members underlined):-

Gary Montgomery, Richard Shaw,  Craig Pead, John Eustace (c), Calum Davenport (Barry Quinn-45), Robert Betts, Ysrael Zuniga,  Lee Mills (Dean Gordon -45), Gary McSheffrey, Youssef Chippo and Jairo Martinez

Zuniga in the Sky Blue

Unused subs: Youssef Safri, Mo Konjic, Jay Bothroyd, Julian Joachim, Gavin Strachan and Morten Hyldgaard (gk).

It was a successful pre-season with only one defeat (and two draws) in the nine games, though that was in the final of the tournament at Nurnburg  when we were beaten 2-0 by the hosts.

Robert Betts in the Sky Blue

In Division One, after a good first half of the season, the thoughts of Sky Blues fans turned towards the play-offs but, in a dire second half to the season with only one F.A.Cup win and one league victory from the turn of the year a twentieth place finish was all they could manage (two places and four points above the drop zone)!

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