Matchday Memories: On This Day 1989 – See Sillett’s Sky Blues (& Gary’s Goal) Silence Stretford End!
Sky Blue Manager- John Sillett
On this day (29th April) in 1989 the Sky Blues under former full back John Sillett were nearing the end of their highly successful Division One season. Though they were coming of the back of a sound 3-0 beating at Queens Park Rangers the previous Saturday they had some hopes against mid-table Manchester United at Old Trafford today.
City had beaten the Red Devils at Highfield Road back in December by the only goal of the game scored by ‘Big Cyrille’ Regis nine minutes from the final whistle. Additionally, United had only scored three times in their last nine games so it was not so surprising that ‘Oggy‘ and his defence were able to produce a clean sheet. The Mancunians never really threatened City after the Sky Blues’ Stewart Robson hit the Man.Utd. bar just after the game resumed, after a goalless first half.
Sky Blue Gary Bannister
At last, after 72 minutes, the Sky Blues got their breakthrough to the delight of the Sky Blues fans amongst the very poor (for them) 29,799 crowd as City forward Gary Bannister escaped the clutches of United’s Paul McGrath for once and slotted in to silence Old Trafford. United boss Alex Ferguson was now under more pressure as it became clear the Red Devils would finish another season trophyless.
In an interesting footnote, a young Mark Robins (now of course on his second stint as a successful Sky Blue ‘gaffer’) came on as a substitute for the home team in this game! Another future Sky Blue player and manager Gordon Strachan was on the Red Devils’ books at this time.
Thanks to former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson you can watch Gary’s goal again plus some other brief highlights by clicking on the link or image below (or if that is not enough a slightly different selection of the match action can be found in the link and image beneath this)!:-
The late John Sillett‘s Sky Blues that day lined up as follows:-
Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, Tony Dobson, Dean Emerson, Brian Kilcline, Trevor Peake, David Phillips, David Speedie, the late Cyrille Regis, Gary Bannister and David Smith.
In fact, City’s goalscorer was the only member of that day’s team and manager not to later join Coventry City Former Players Association!
Sir Alex’s defeated Manchester United put out the following team that day:-
Jim Leighton, Mike Duxbury, Mal Donaghy, Steve Bruce, Paul McGrath, Norman Whiteside, Bryan Robson, Russell Beardsmore, Brian McClair, Mark Hughes, Lee Martin (sub. Mark Robins) Referee:- Roger Milford (Bristol)
CCFC 1988-89
The Sky Blues certainly got Division One bragging rights that season over Sir Alex Ferguson’s men! Not only did they ‘do the double’ over the Red Devils but they finished the season four places higher (seventh) and four points better off! Arsenal just pipped Liverpool for the title though both got 76 points.
In descending order, Middlesbrough, West Ham United and Newcastle United saw their season end in relegation.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
