Matchday Memories: On This Day 1970 – Cantwell’s CCFC Create West Ham Win At Boleyn
Season 1970-71 was the Club’s first ever season playing in Europe and they won their first pair of ties in September in the EUFA Cup against Bulgarian outfit Trakia Plovdiv before finally succumbing to Bayern Munich over two legs after beating them in the second leg at Highfield Road earlier this same month.
On this day (28th November) in 1970 Sky Blues manager Noel Cantwell took his team down to London to take on West Ham United in high hopes of a win. The Hammers had only won two games so far and never looked in the game with CCFC as the Sky Blues went on to take the points with a win by the odd goal in three.
City were a healthy 2-0 up at half-time and the Upton Park crowd were giving the home side the slow hand-clap.
Even the Hammers’ Bobby Moore was affected by the jitters as he uncharacteristically allowed a corner from the Sky Blues Willie Carr to pass over his head to allow Dave Clements to head in after 37 minutes.
City’s defence kept the formidable Hammers’ forward line, stuffed full of proven goalscorer ‘names’ (e.g. Geoff Hurst, Clyde Best and Jimmy Greaves), pretty quiet.
Five minutes before the break City inside forward John O’Rourke was able to grab his first of the season when Hammers’ goalie Bobby Ferguson flapped at a cross from Dennis Mortimer. Even though Clyde Best did pull one back for the home side twelve minutes into the second half the Sky Blues win did not look in danger and the City fans among the 22,300 crowd went home pretty happy.
England ‘gaffer’ (Sir) Alf Ramsay who was watching the game was clearly impressed with the Sky Blue youngsters in the team. They lined up:-
Bill Glazier, Mick Coop, Wilf Smith, Dennis Mortimer, Jeff Blockley, Bobby Parker, the late Brian Hill, Willie Carr, Neil Martin, the late John O’Rourke and Dave Clements.
We are delighted to say that all these team members later went on to join Coventry City Former Players Association.
The Hammers put out the following side:-
Bobby Ferguson, John McDowell, Frank Lampard, Peter Eustace, Tommy Taylor, Bobby Moore, Patsy Holland, Bobby Howe, Clyde Best, Geoff Hurst and Jimmy Greaves Referee:- Lester Callaghan
The Hammers later got some measure of revenge in February at Highfield Road beating the Sky Blues by only goal of the game from that maestro Jimmy Greaves!
Noel Cantwell‘s CCFC finished the 1970-71 season in relatively good shape setting a record for the lowest ever league goals conceded (38) – though they only scored 37 themselves! A tenth place spot in Division One was the reward whils the Hammers also steered clear of relegation though twentieth spot was only just above the drop.
For the record, Arsenal were the Division One Champions this season pipping Leeds United to the title by just one point. The two clubs unlucky enough to have to look forward to second tier football the following season were Lancashire pair Burnley and bottom club Blackpool.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young & Dean Nelson for sourcing the images.