Bobby Gould- Sky Blue Manager
On this day (10th September) in 1983 CCFC player turned Manager Bobby Gould‘s CCFC visited Upton Park to take on West Ham United in their fifth game of the Division One season. Something had to give as the Sky Blues were unbeaten so far (two wins and two draws) and the Hammers had a 100% record to date this season! There was a crowd of 22,185 at the Boleyn to see fourth place City take on the league leaders.
It was the Sky Blues who came out the losers suffering a substantial 5-2 defeat despite going into an encouraging two goal lead within the first quarter through goals from Trevor Peake (ten minutes) and Nicky Platnauer (both now CCFPA members) five minutes later.
Trevor in the Sky Blue
Nicky Platnauer in the Sky Blue
The Hammers made a stunning recovery with their centre-forward Dave Swindlehurst grabbing a hat-trick (29, 32 & 68 minutes) and recent former Sky Blue Steve Whitton also ‘did the dirty’ on his old team mates by firing in a brace (thirty & sixty minutes) including a trademark thunderbolt!
West Ham‘s perfect record continued as they taught City’s defence a lesson.
Perry in the Sky Blue
Apart from our goals the one saving grace in the Sky Blues’ performance was a penalty save in only the seventh minute from CCFPA member Perry Suckling.
The young goalkeeper stopped a Ray Stewart effort after Ashley Grimes handled.
This was quite an achievement given that the Hammers regular marksman from the spot had only missed a handful of penalties over more than a decade with the Londoners!
Courtesy of former Association committee member Dean Nelson you can see the goals by clicking on the image below:-
The Sky Blues put out the following team (CCFPA members underlined):-
Perry Suckling, Peter Hormantschuk (sub. Martin Singleton), Brian Roberts, Ashley Grimes, Trevor Peake, Steve Jacobs, Ian Butterworth, Graham Withey, Nicky Platnauer, Terry Gibson and Micky Adams
Steve Whitton in the Sky Blue
Micky, of course, later became Sky Blues’ ‘gaffer’ between 2005-07
John Lyall‘s Hammers lined up as follows:-
Phil Parkes, Ray Stewart, Steve Walford, Billy Bonds, Alvin Martin, Alan Devonshire, Steve Whitton, Tony Cottee, Dave Swindlehurst, Trevor Brooking and Geoff Pike Referee:- A.Crickmore
City failed to get any revenge over the Hammers this season as they completed the ‘double’ over us in February, winning by the odd goal in three at Highfield Road, fairly recent CCFPA recruit Steve Hunt getting our consolation only in the last minute. At the end of the 1983-84 Division One season Bobby’s boys survived by a couple of points in nineteenth spot whilst the Hammers finished ninth.
CCFC 1983-84
Liverpool took the Division One title by three points from Southampton. At the other end of the table relegated just below the Sky Blues were recent landlords Birmingham City and, below them, Notts County and (bottom) Wolverhampton Wanderers. This was certainly a bad year for the Midlands!
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
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