Matchday Memories: On This Day 1983 – Sexton’s Sky Blues Nearly Suffer Worcester Sauce Surfeit
Paul Dyson on the programme front
Six season’s after the last match featured, on this day (8th January) in 1983, in another F.A.Cup third round tie the Sky Blues, now under Dave Sexton, scraped home 3- 1 against non-league Worcester City. This was the club’s first home Cup tie against non-leaguers since that ignominious Highfield Road defeat against King’s Lynn in November 1961 which preceded the Jimmy Hill era!
In fact we had also played the (now Midland Premier Division side) from Worcester in the F.A.Cup at their place in 1960-61 winning 4-1! More ominously the Worcester club’s previous incarnation, namely Berwick Rangers, inflicted CCFC’s biggest ever F.A.Cup defeat by 11-2 in November 1901!!
Sky Blue Steve
Once more, the Sky Blues made heavy weather of this potential banana skin and the visitors scored first after eighteen minutes from a Paul Moss penalty after the Sky Blues goalie, Les Sealey pushed their Jimmy Williams in the box.
Mark Hateley in action
The away team’s manager Nobby Clark must have sensed an upset was on the cards! However, on the half hour, the first of a brace from Steve Whitton (also from the penalty spot awarded for hands in the box from Malcolm Phelps) settled Sky Blue nerves.
A further goal from recent CCFPA recruit Mark Hateley six minutes later gave the Sky Blues a 2-1 half-time lead and some breathing space. Steve Whitton‘s second in the second half, five minutes before time, with a right foot volley ensured Sexton’s men would be in the hat for next round with a degree of comfort.
Dave Sexton- CCFC Manager
Sexton’s team that day lined up (CCFPA members underlined):-
The late Les Sealey, Danny Thomas, Peter Hormantschuk, Ian Butterworth, Paul Dyson, Gary Gillespie, Steve Whitton, Gerry Francis, Mark Hateley, Jim Melrose and Steve Hunt
Nobby Clarke‘s non leaguers lined up as follows:-
Phil Parkes, Graham Selby, Paul Hunt, Malcolm Phelps, Kevin Tudor (sub. Jimmy Brown), David Hughes, Barry Williams, Jimmy Williams, Mick Tuohy, Steve Crompton and Paul Moss Referee:- Colin Downey (Hounslow)
Former Sky Blue hero (and CCFPA member) Willie Carr was with Worcester at this time but not playing. The Worcester Cathedral City’s coach was former Sky Blue (and CCFPA member) Graham Newton. Graham passed away in 2019.
Steve Hunt on the rampage
In Round 4 CCFC bowed out to Norwich City 1-2 after extra time (with another Mark Hateley strike) after an earlier 2-2 Highfield Road draw (now CCFPA members Brian Roberts and Garry Thompson were the marksmen)! Manchester United eventually won the Cup 4-0 but needed a replay against Brighton & Hove Albion.
CCFC 1982-83
In the League at the end of the 1982-83 season Manager Sexton was sacked as the Sky Blues just survived in the top division safe by only one point and one position (nineteenth)! The relegated trio were Manchester City (20th), Swansea Town (21st) and bottom club Brighton.
Liverpool took the Division One title by a significant eleven points from Watford. For the record, City’s opponents Worcester City finished that season eighth in the Alliance Premier League.
