Matchday Memories: On This Day 1913 – A Load Of CCFC Cobblers But An Eight Goal Thriller!

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Sec-Mgr Robert ‘Bob’ Wallace

On this Day (March 29th) way way back in the dim and distant CCFC past in 1913 Coventry City (aka ‘The Bantams’ or ‘the Citizens’) were in their fifth season as a Southern League club having previously played just local teams in the Birmingham & District League. Under their manager Robert ‘Bob’ Wallace they were doing less well than some of the previous seasons but remaining in relative safety just below mid way in the table.

CCFC’s Albert Holmes 1912-13

Back in November they had visited the County Ground, the old home of near neighbours Northampton Town and come away with a 1-0 win thanks to a goal from Ivor Brown. Today, with only six matches left including this one, they were in search of a morale lifting ‘double’ against the Cobblers at Highfield Road having suffered three straight league defeats, the last two by three clear goals. They didn’t quite get what they wanted but, in an exciting game, shared the points with their Northants rivals in an eight goal thriller in front of 4,000 fans.

John ‘Jack’ Smith 1912-13

Mind you, the home team must have been kicking themselves as they had forged a 4-0 half-time advantage. CCFC’s Bert Holmes got himself a hat-trick without his side winning (14, 23 & 41 minutes) and City’s other goal came from Jack Smith five minutes before the break.  It took only nine minutes in the second half for the Cobbler’s Harry King to start the fightback and there were only thirteen minutes left for CCFC to hold on when King doubled his and his side’s tally. The sucker punches came within the last three minutes of the game when Robert Hughes got his double to equalise matters (some sources credit King with a hat-trick as well as Holmes).

The Bantams put out the following side:-

Bill Jacques; Jim Thomson & Dick Barnacle; Billy Yates, Ernie ‘Konk’ Boston & Walter Kimberley; Harry ‘Tickle’ Parkes, Ivor Brown, Jack Smith, Alex McCulloch & Bert Holmes

Walter Bull‘s Cobblers side was:-

Tom Thorpe; Fred Clipston & Edwin Lloyd-Davies; Bryan Tebbutt, ‘Jock’ Manning & Eric Tomkins; Walter Tull, Edwin Freeman, Harry King, Charles Smith & Robert Hughes          Referee: A.Shalecross (Leek)

Charles Smith

Two similarly named representatives of our opponent’s club achieved firsts in the Association Football game. Their ‘gaffer’ Walter Bull (who had played for Notts County (1894-1904) and Tottenham Hotspur (1904-1909)) a year before becoming manager with the Cobblers had become the first professional coach of a football team in Argentina (Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires (GEBA)!

Walter Tull has a special place in Association football being only the third player of mixed heritage to play in the English top flight. He was the Cobblers’ first ever BAME player having played for Clapton FC and got a few games for Tottenham Hotspur. He played well over a century of games for Northampton Town and later also distinguished himself in the Army in World War One but, sadly, was killed in action aged 29 in France in 1918. 

City’s Walter Kimberley was also a victim of the same war dying of T.B. in the Midlands in 1917 following repatriation after spending time in several Prisoner of War camps in Germany. Charles Smith later joined Coventry City.

The Bantams went on to lose four of their remaining five games, though they did beat Brentford 3-0 at Highfield Road. They ended the 1912-13 Southern League season in thirteenth spot. The Cobblers finished tenth. Plymouth Argyle finished top of the league and Stoke were bottom.

CCFC 1912-13

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

 

Members News: Our Recent Sky Blue Striker Hits 37. ‘Happy Birthday’ Simeon!!

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Simeon Jackson in the Sky Blue

Three years ago we announced that former Sky Blue striker Simeon Jackson had joined this Association. Now there is another reason for us both to celebrate because the Sky Blues forward from only nine seasons ago is celebrating his 37th birthday today! Congrats Simeon!!

Though born in Kingston Jamaica (on 28th March 1987) he was brought up in Ontario, Canada but relocated to south London as a teenager (living with his grandma) hoping to further a professional football career. Learning the football ropes as a youth with local team Sunoco FC in Canada he got an unsuccessful trial in the UK with Gillingham before getting games with non-league Dulwich Hamlet. In 2004 things started to look up when League Two Rushden & Diamonds signed him.

Simeon Jackson (Canada)

Though in 2005 he had trials with both senior Manchester clubs and was sent out on a months loan to Raunds Town, Simeon ended up topping R&D’s goalscoring charts in 2006/07 and netting a tasty 42 goals in 102 games over four seasons with the club (who were relegated to the Conference half way through his time there). He then finally got to play for the League One Gills, being signed in January 2008 for £150k, and again produced the goods with a near identical return in his three seasons there (42 goals in 115 games)!

Cody McDonald in Sky Blue action

Such an impressive strike rate tempted League One Norwich City to make a move for him in July 2010 with former Sky Blue striker (and now Simeon’s fellow CCFPA member) Cody McDonald going the other way on loan! 

In fact Simeon scored the Canaries late winner at Pompey at the end of that season which clinched the East Anglian club’s promotion to the Premier League. Often used as an impact player off the subs bench Simeon produced a decent return of 21 goals in his 85 appearances for the Canaries before being released at the end of 2012/13.

Simeon at Carrow Road

Next season Simeon moved abroad to find regular football signing for Eintracht Braunschweig newly promoted to the Bundesliga but only managed ten appearances without netting in just over half a season before returning to the UK to join Millwall in January 2014 for the rest of the Championship season and knocked in two goals in his fourteen games with the Lions.

‘Elvis’ Pressley- Sky Blue ‘gaffer’

On August 18, 2014, Jackson signed for Steven Pressley‘s CCFC, then in League One, on a one-year contract and made his debut on 19th August (from the bench) in City’s 2-2 draw with Barnsley at Sixfields, Northampton the last ‘home’ game there before the club made its Ricoh Return.

He grabbed his first Sky Blues goal (the winner) in a 2-1 home win, this time at the Ricoh, against Yeovil Town on 13th September. Simeon played thirty games for the Sky Blues (over half from the bench) in all competitions in City’s 2014-15 season netting three times and finished his time at CCFC with Tony Mowbray as Sky Blues’ gaffer. 

Post the Sky Blues Simeon signed for City’s fellow League One side Barnsley (after a trial) and played ten games there before moving on to Blackburn Rovers for the second half of the 2015/16 season (two goals in nineteen games). He then stayed a couple of seasons at Walsall (seven goals in 49 appearances) but was loaned to fellow League One side Grimsby Town for the back end of the 2017-18 season (one goal in four games).

Simeon Jackson in Sky Blue action v Yeovil

Simeon’s next port of call was in Scotland with St.Mirren (netting six times in 32 games) from September 2018 but thirteen months later he moved to their fellow Scottish Premier League side Kilmarnock but omly played four times for them before finishing the 2019-20 season off with League Two Stevenage Town (just five non scoring games).  Simeon spent season 2020-21 with National League South Chelmsford Town but only played twice (scoring once) before being loaned out to King’s Lynn Town where he finished their campaign with six goals in seventeen outings. In July 2021, Simeon took up the dual role of head of coaching and community ambassador at Chelmsford.

Perhaps as a birthday present for himself just yesterday 27th March 2024) it was announced that the 37 year old had come out of retirement to join non-league AFC Sudbury to assist their promotion push! 

Qualifying from his residence there from age three Simeon has been capped by Canada seven times at U19 level (2006-08) and 49 times (scoring six times) from 2009-17.

We send Simeon our Best Birthday wishes today and hope, club commitments allowing, to entertain him at the CBS Arena for a Sky Blue game or a CCFPA event before too long!

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

 

Matchday Memories: On This Day 2010 – Sky Blue Westwood & Wood Will No Wednesday Win!

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City gaffer Chris Coleman

On this day (27th March) in 2010 the Sky Blues entertained Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship at the Ricoh for Legends Day 2010. The Sky Blues were managed by Chris Coleman. City’s season had faltered somewhat in recent weeks. After a purple patch of five wins out of six between February 9th and March 6th the Sky Blues had not won since (and would not again until the end of the season). The Owls had beaten City at Hillsborough by two clear goals in mid October.

Woody celebrates his goal

Woody celebrates his goal

There was no score at half-time of a game played in front of a Coventry crowd of 17,608 (including 1,834 from Sheffield). City made three substitutions for the second half in an attempt to liven things up. However, relegation haunted Wednesday had looked to be heading for the all the points through Luke Varney‘s precise angled shot seven minutes after the hour mark.

Richard in Sky Blue action

Wednesday had a decent amount of the ball and City ‘keeper (and CCFPA member now) Keiren Westwood had made a number of decent saves. Wouldn’t you know it but it fell to former Owls player and captain, now at the heart of the Sky Blues defence, Richard Wood to break the hearts of the fans of his former club with a 79th-minute leveller as City snatched a point and denied Sheffield Wednesday a precious victory. Now a CCFPA member, Richard took advantage of a mix-up between keeper the Owls’ Lee Grant and Darren Purse to head home and keep CCFC’s very faint play-off hopes just about alive.

The score remained 1-1 – thankfully ‘Woody’ had had the final say and a grabbed a draw for the home team which most observers felt was pretty fair on the balance of play. City finished the game in twelfth place nine points shy of the playoffs and Owls were now nineteenth five points clear of the relegation zone.

Keiren with CCFC

For the record, Coleman’s CCFC lined up (CCFPA members underlined):-

Keiren Westwood, Marcus Hall (sub. Chris Hussey -46), James McPake, Martin Cranie, Richard Wood, Sammy Clingan, Gary Deegan, Carl Baker, Jon Stead (sub. David Bell -46), Freddy Eastwood (sub. Clinton Morrison -46) and Freddie Sears    

Unused subs: Aron Gunnarsson, Jermaine Grandison, Leon Barnett and Dimi Konstantopoulos (gk)

Alan Irvine‘s Owls put out the following side:-

Marcus in the Sky Blue

Lee Grant, Tommy Spurr, Darren Purse (c), Mark Beevers, Eddie Nolan, Darren Potter, James O’Connor, Luke Varney, Tom Soares (sub. Michael Gray -74), Marcus Tudgay and Leon Clarke (sub. Francis Jeffers -82)   Unused subs: Richard Hinds, Frank Simek, Etienne Esajas, Luke Boden and Richard O’Donnell (gk)                  Referee: Neil Swarbrick

Sheffield Wednesday, of course, fielded a brace of future Sky Blues in their forward line this day, Leon Clarke (2013-14) and (now CCFPA member) Marcus Tudgay (2014-17) and neither scored!

CCFC 2009-10

Both teams subsequently dropped further down the table in the remaining six games. The Sky Blues finished nineteenth in the Championship seven points clear of the drop. The Owls were one of the three clubs relegated to League One in 22nd place with, beneath them, Plymouth Argyle and Peterborough United (bottom).

Newcastle United, who only lost four league games all season became Champions with 102 points, eleven points clear of also promoted runner ups West Bromwich Albion. Blackpool in sixth place also made it up via the play-offs!

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

Matchday Memories: On This Day 2004 – CCFPA Scores All Goals But Sky Blues Lose!

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Eric at Highfield Rd

On this day (March 27th) in 2004 the Sky Blues were on their second of three ‘gaffers’ this season, Eric Black having taken over from Gary McAllister earlier in the season (when Gary resigned to look after his sick wife). Eric had done reasonably well with the Sky Blues in Division One with some strong performances especially at home in recent weeks – four goals had been scored in each of their last two home games, 4-0 against Burnley and 4-1 against Preston North End four days later which completed a run of five wins out of six!

However this success rate was not to be continued as last time out City came unstuck by the odd goal in three at Wigan Athletic and, sadly, the losing streak continued today at home to Reading in our club’s last but one season at Highfield Road!

Image

Reading’s John Salako celebrateds his goal

The Sky Blues had won 2-1 at Reading back in late September thanks to a goal in each half from ‘Dele Adebola and Andy Morrell (both now Association members) and arguably should have won this one too. Sadly the home fans amongst the 15,811 fans saw the score exactly reversed today and whilst future CCFPA members snapped up all the goals again, two were unfortunately then playing for the away side!

Gary McSheffrey in action

In truth City put on an excellent showing particularly in the first 45 minutes and should have gome in at the break 4-1 up rather than 1-0 down missing loads of chances! The set back began as early as the ninth minute with a Reading goal from future Sky Blue John Salako (a curling free kick left by everyone to sneak in).

Their lead was doubled in the second half (in the ninth minute again) with a close range finish from future Sky Blue Shaun Goater!  CCFC only got one goal in reply (and only a consolation) as City’s dominance in possesion was not matched by goals. That was in the 66th minute  from our now CCFPA member ‘Cov Kid’ striker Gary McSheffrey (netting his 19th of the season).

Both managers were unhappy with the quality of the refereeing particularly when the visitors went down to ten men when Steve Sidwell was somewhat harshly sent off for a second bookable offence just before the hour mark but ten man Reading were more than happy with the points by full time. This defeat ended any Sky Blue talk of playoffs. A contemorary BBC report of the game can be found here.

Shaun Goater in the Sky Blue

Black’s boys that day took the field as follows (CCFPA members underlined):-

Scott Shearer, Eric Deloumeaux, Steve Staunton, Brian Kerr, Mo Konjic, Calum Davenport, Michael Doyle (sub. Sebastien Olszar -60), Bjarni Gudjonsson, Julian Joachim, Gary McSheffrey and Stephen Warnock (sub. Graham Barrett -85).

Unused subs. Richard Shaw, Craig Pead and Gavin Ward (gk)

Steve Coppell‘s Reading team that day was:-

Jamie Ashdown, Graeme Murty, Andy Hughes, James Harper, Ivar Ingimarsson, Ricky Newman, Dean Morgan (sub. Paul Brooker -68), Steve Sidwell (s.o.-57), Shaun Goater (sub. Kevin Watson -58), Dave Kitson (sub. Bas Savage -75) and John Salako  Unused subs. Andre Boucard and Jamie Young (gk).              Referee:- A. Butler (Notts)

Eric, having lost half of his next six games, was dramatically sacked just before the end of the season. Strangely this was just after a 5-2 away win at Gillingham and Eric made way for (now CCFPA member) Peter Reid in spite of guiding the Sky Blues to a mid table (twelfth) position in Division One. The Royals were five points ahead in ninth.

Norwich City were Champions. Eight points behind were runnersup West Bromwich Albion and they were also promoted (after the playoffs) along with sixth placed Crystal Palace.

CCFC 2003-04

For the record, the relegated trio this season (in descending order) were Walsall, Bradford City and (bottom club) Wimbledon.

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