Bobby McDonald & Andy on the front of the programme
By this day (2nd September) in 1980 the Sky Blues had won only one of their first four Division One games so far this season. However, they were making progress in the League Cup having thrillingly already won their first leg game against Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford on the 27th of the previous month. That thoroughly professional victory was secured for Gordon Milne‘s men by a 67th minute strike from City’s young striker Tommy English.
Tom in the Sky Blue 1980
This evening’s second leg game at Highield Road was never going to be easy with the Red Devils having to pull out all the stops to get at least a goal for extra time and two to win, even if City failed to score! City duo of Andy Blair (Scotland) and Paul Dyson (England) were in the happy position of celebrating their respective U21 international call ups with a second win over the famous Manchester club. Both are now long time Association members.
Andy in the Sky Blue
The unchanged United were lacking one or two of their stars on the night but looked second best to the young City side and their inevitable pressure was dealt with competently until City got their goal a minute after the break, from that man Andy Blair. Once ahead the Sky Blues rarely looked like they were in trouble and professionally defended their 2-0 aggregate win to the final whistle to earn a third round tie against Brighton.
In Division One the story between the two sides was a little different. Though the Sky Blues got a goalless draw at Old Trafford in November they had to admit to a 2-0 defeat to the Lancashire side at Highfield Road towards the end of the season in April thanks to a Joe Jordan brace. However, the League Cup victory over Manchester United set them up for a run to the Semi Finals and a first Wembley appearance was missed by a whisker (see below)
Youthful Sky Blue team members of the time
Sky Blue Manager Gordon
Milne’s Men made up the following team that day:-
Jim Blyth, Mick Coop, Brian ‘Harry’ Roberts, Andy Blair, Paul Dyson, David Jones, Gary Bannister, Gerry Daly, Garry Thompson (sub. Danny Thomas), Tom English and Steve Hunt.
We are pleased to say all bar Gary later went on to join this Association.
Manchester United took to the field with the following players:-
Gary Bailey, Jimmy Nicholl, Arthur Albiston, Sammy McIlroy, Nikola Jovanovic, Martin Buchan, Steve Coppell, Jimmy Greenhoff, Andy Ritchie, Lou Macari and Mickey Thomas Referee: B.Stevens
CCFC 1980-81
Garry Thompson in the Sky Blue
This League Cup victory set the Sky Blues on a long run. In Round Three City won 2-1 at Brighton before seeing off Cambridge United 1-0 at the Abbey stadium in a replay after a 1-1 draw at Highfield Road. It also took a replay to remove Watford in the Fifth Round with a crushing 5-0 win at home after a 2-2 draw at the Hornets. The two legged Semi Final against West Ham United proved heartbreaking. In the first (Highfield Rd) leg City wonderfully roared back from a 2-0 deficit to take the game 3-2 with a recovering brace from Garry Thompson (after his own goal had put the Hammers two goals up).
West Ham went through on the second leg at the Boleyn only in the 89th minute with a goal from Billy Bonds making it 2-0 and giving the home team the aggregate win. A later book about this season put together with the personal memories of a lot of squad members (all CCFPA members) by Steve Phelps encapsulates how close this young Sky Blue side came to the club’s first ever Wembley final. Steve’s book ‘29 Minutes from Wembley‘ prompted a reunion of squad members at the Ricoh in 2017 (below).
In the League, a poor season for them, the Red Devils finished in eighth just as the Sky Blues finished in sixteenth spot in Division One. At the top runners up Ipswich Town and (whisper it quietly) Champs Aston Villa took the honours.
Norwich City, Leicester City and bottom club Crystal Palace were the three clubs who drew the short straw and went own to Division Two.
The Sensational Six with Steve Phelps (& the book):- ‘Harry’ Roberts; Peter Bodak ;Paul Dyson; Steve Jacobs; Andy Blair & Garry Thompson
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for the images.
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