Matchday Memories: On This Day 2004 – Sky Blues & Seagulls Share The Spoils In Sussex

Peter’s autobiography

On this day (14th August) in 2004 Sky Blue ‘gaffer’ Peter Reid (who had been appointed in May) took his 2004-05 players away on their third game of the new season in the newly rebranded Championship season (the old Division One) that would be the club’s last season at their home of the last 103 years, Highfield Road. After a pretty successful series of pre-season warm up games the Sky Blues started out well enough with a 2-0 win over Sunderland a week before today. However, in midweek, they had come unstuck in Wales at Cardiff City when, after taking a first half lead through Graham Barrett, the Blue Birds took the game in the second half with goals from Robbie Earnshaw and Lee Bullock leaving the 500 visiting members of the Sky Blue Army disappointed.

Stephen in the Sky Blue

At today’s game at the Withdean on a hot and sunny south coast, 716 Sky Blues fans (out of a crowd of only 6,368) watched their team come close to an away win at Brighton and Hove Albion. There was no score at half time but nine minutes past the hour mark they saw the Sky Blues’ Stephen Hughes break the deadlock with a fine volley. City waste plenty of chances against Mark McGhee‘s youthful side and their goalie Michel Kuipers pulled off several good saves including from Louis Carey and Bjarni Guðjónsson (both now CCFPA members). 

The home team saved the game and some points with only a minute of ordinary time left on the clock. (Now CCFPA member) Pat Suffo needlessly conceded a free-kick allowing future Sky Blue loanee (2006) Adam Virgo to net the Brighton equaliser, lashing home a 28 yard effort.

A detailed match report from the now defunct CovMad website run by CCFPA Associate Member Kev Monks can be found by following the link here.

The Sky Blues turned out the following team (CCFPA members underlined):-

Scott Shearer, Louis Carey, Steve Staunton, Stephen Hughes, Calum Davenport, Richard Shaw, Bjarni Guðjónsson (Andy Morrell -84), Michael Doyle, Eddie Johnson, Gary McSheffrey (Patrick Suffo -61) and Graham Barrett 

Adam Virgo with Brighton

Unused Subs:– Tim Sherwood, Andrew Whing and Andy Marriott (gk) 

Eddie was on loan from Manchester United. Calum Davenport was booked for the second game running.

Mark McGhee‘s Seagulls team was:-

Michel Kuipers, Adam Virgo, Kerry Mayo, Adam Hinshelwood, Danny Cullip, Guy Butters, Darren Currie, Alexis Nicolas, Maheta Molango (Gary Hart -70), Jake Robinson and Albert Jarrett (Nathan Jones -52)   Unused Subs:– Paul Reid and Adam El-Abd  Referee:- Phil Joslin

CCFC 2004-05

Manager Micky

The subsequent Championship season 2004-05 deteriorated markedly and Peter would be replaced in the new year by former Sky Blue player (and now fellow CCFPA member) Micky Adams.  Under Micky the Sky Blues kept their Championship place (in nineteenth spot) for their first season at the Ricoh and finished off their Highfield Road days with an brilliant but emotional 6-2 win over Derby County.

City went on to beat the Seagulls 2-1 at Highfield Road at the beginning of the following April with Gary McSheffrey and Steve Staunton (both now CCFPA members) on the Sky Blue scoresheet and Brighton‘s equalising goal being scored, once more, by the future Sky Blue loanee Adam Virgo! The Seagulls finished a place below the Sky Blues with a point less.

Sunderland ended top of the Championship by seven points from (also promoted) Wigan Athletic. West Ham United in sixth also went up via the play-offs.

Gillingham, Nottingham Forest and bottom side Rotherham United were the trio relegated.

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