Matchday Memories: On This Day 1965 – JH’s Slick Sky Blues See Off Sad Swansea

Jimmy Hill

On this day (24th April) in 1965 CCFC manager Jimmy Hill and his boys were riding their ‘Sky Blues Express‘ on the long trek from Division Three to the top flight having been promoted as Champions last season. At the moment they were parked in Division Two and doing quite nicely with this the penultimate game of this season’s campaign.

Dave in the Sky Blue

The Sky Blues needed a lift after a mini slump of two successive Easter defeats both against Cardiff City. On the 19th the Welsh team beat them 3-1 at Ninian Park and then doubled the misery at Highfield Road the next day, this time by two clear goals. This time, however JH‘s Sky Blues ran out home clear winners over another club from the principality Swansea Town by 3-0. The Swans were desperate for points at the wrong end of the division and their defeat by CCFC on this day was hammered a nail into their coffin.

The Sky Blue ‘Hud’

There was a good crowd of 23,683 fans filling Highfield Road as they watched the Sky Blues take the Swans apart with goals from (both later CCFPA members) George Hudson (a brace) and Dave Clements. The win by three clear goals was a welcome addition to the point gained in a 1-1 draw at the Vetch back at the end of September last. In that game Ronnie Rees got the Sky Blues tenth minute opener but the Swans snatched the draw with only a minute left with an overhead flick from Keith Todd.

Ronnie Farmer

‘The Hud’ (now sadly plying his trade on the celestial plane) struck twice after 27 and 38 minutes, the second a typical poachers goal snapping up a goalkeeping fumble. Two minutes from time Irishman Dave finished off the Swans, fighting-to-the-end, with a simple header. Ronnie Farmer (another Sky Blue player deeply missed) also nearly knocked out the ref with a second half pile driver!

JH’s team that day was:-

Bob Wesson*, John Sillett*, Allan Harris*, Ron Farmer*, George Curtis*, Brian Hill*, Ron Rees*, George Hudson*, Ken Keyworth*, John Smith* and Dave Clements

Sadly ten members of this team (*) with Irishman Dave thankfully the only. Apart from Ken and John Smith, however, every member of JH’s team (as well as the ‘gaffer’) went on to join this Association.

Willie Humphries in the Sky Blue

Trevor Morris‘ defeated Swans team took to the field as follows:-

John Black, Brian Evans, Brian Hughes, Michael Johnson, Alan Jones, Davies, Willie Humphries, John McGuigan, George Kirby, Keith Todd and Jim McLaughlin      Referee: J.Bullough

Former Coventry City star winger (and now CCFPA member who is still going strong) Willie Humphries had been at the Vetch since March (and was known by the Swans as ‘Billy’)! Their centre-forward George Kirby, who passed away in 2000, had also been at Highfield Road the previous season.

CCFC 1964-65 with the D3 trophy

The Sky Blues Division Two season saw them consolidate in tenth place allowing them to make a more sustained promotion push the following season. Swansea Town sadly finished bottom and were relegated along with 21st placed Swindon Town.

Newcastle United took the Divisional title by a point from Northampton Town and both were promoted.

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