Blast From The Past: On This Day 1973 – ‘Cov Kid’ Bobby Bags Brace For Bristol But Sky Blues Draw

On this day (30th October) in 1973 the Sky Blues in Gordon Milne‘s first full season in charge visited Bristol City at Ashton Gate in a Third round League Cup game having put out Darlington by 5-1 at Highfield Road in the previous round. All the goals on both sides were scored by CCFPA members!

The Robins’ Bobby

The final score, a 2-2 draw in front of 19,129 fans was a welcome one in the circumstances given that former Sky Blue centre forward, a ‘Cov Kid’ to boot, Bobby Gould had a great game against his old club and scored a brace.

Wilf in Action 1971

The ‘Gouldfather’, who famously later went on to manage his home town club twice, struck first with a superb turn and volley after only ten minutes.  Sky Blues defender Wilf Smith then equalised with a great header from a Mick Coop cross to send the sides in at half-time all square at 1-1.

Bobby’s second was a true poacher’s one as he wriggled through the Sky Blue defence on 52 minutes. It was left to the Sky Blues’ Welsh winger Les Cartwright to save City’s bacon when he scored with a stooping header (from a cross by Tommy Hutchison) with 21 minutes left to play. The 2-2 result was probably a fair one.

The Sky Blues fielded the following team, all of whom except for the late Brian Alderson we are pleased to say went on to join this Association!

Gordon Milne-CCFC gaffer

Bill Glazier, Mick Coop, Jimmy Holmes, Dennis Mortimer, Bobby Parker, Alan Dugdale, Wilf Smith, Brian Alderson,  Colin Stein, Les Cartwright and Tommy Hutchison

Les when a CCFC apprentice

The Robins fielded the following team:-

Len Bond, Gerry Sweeney, Brian Drysdale, John Emanuel, David Rodgers, Geoff Merrick, Trevor Tainton, Tom Ritchie, Bobby Gould, Gerry Gow and Keith Fear   Referee:-  A.Oliver

The Sky Blues took the Robins back to Highfield Road in the second leg a week later and came out on top 2-1 with both goals scored by the late Brian Alderson. This time Bobby was kept shackled by the City defence.  In later rounds Stoke City were dispatched 2-1 at Highfield Road and then we met Manchester City in the Quarter finals losing out 4-2 in the Maine Road replay after a 2-2 draw at Highfield Road.

CCFC 1973-74

Wolves eventually carried off the League Cup beating Manchester City 2-1 in the Wembley final. In the First Division Milne’s men put in a reasonable performance finishing in 16th spot albeit only two points from the drop, an affliction that befel Southampton (20th), Manchester United (21st) and Norwich City (22nd)! It was Leeds United‘s season for the Division One title finishing five points clear of Liverpool in a two horse race.

Thanks to CCFPA’s Dean Nelson and Mike Young for sourcing the photos