Image
Sky Blue Manager Gordon
On this day (11th September) in 1973 The Sky Blues under Gordon Milne had been at the top of Division One after their second 1-0 home win within three days at the start of the season against Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. Today, in their sixth league game of the season against Manchester City they had drifted to fourth but were still protecting a 100% home record having beaten Southampton the previous Saturday and prior to that won one and drawn one away from Highfield Road. The 2-2 Sky Blues draw at Burnley was thanks to a double from (now CCFPA member) Alan Green. The defeat, by the only goal of the game scored by the Light Blues Rodney Marsh was against today’s opponents so revenge was sought in this evening’s return! The two teams would eventually play each other four times this season twice in the League and twice in the League Cup.
Image
Mick’s strike hits the back of the net
John Craven in the Sky Blue
Mick in the Sky Blue
The Sky Blues produced another good performance against their classy opponents and prevailed 2-1 with a goal in each half before Rodney Marsh‘s last minute consolation for the away team. City full back Mick Coop (also now a CCFPA member) had a hand in both our goals. First, Mick hit a twenty yard effort for the first goal, after just eight minutes following the Mancunian’s defence failing to deal with Tommy Hutchison‘s throw-in effectively. Then John Craven was able to profit from Manchester City‘s goalie Joe Corrigan spilling Mick’s free kick from eighteen yards to chip the ball in. Rodney Marsh got his reply at the death thanks to lack of concentration in the Sky Blues’ defence leaving him unmarked, but the Sky Blues got their revenge.
Image
John Craven chips in
City’s team that day, apart from the two* Sky Blues who have since passed away (John Craven and Brian Alderson) all went on to join this Association.
Team: Bill Glazier, Mick Coop, Jim Holmes, Dennis Mortimer, John Craven*, Alan Dugdale, Wilf Smith, Brian Alderson*, Colin Stein, Alan Green and Tommy Hutchison
The ‘other’ Sky Blues team comprised:-
Joe Corrigan, Glyn Pardoe, Willie Donachie, Mike Doyle, Tommy Booth, Tony Towers, Mike Summerbee, Colin Bell, Frank Carrodus, Franny Lee and Rodney Marsh Referee: Roy Capey.
CCFC 1973-74
The Sky Blues could not sustain such a wonderful start to the season and slipped to sixteenth in Division One by season’s end. Manchester City finished only a couple of places and two points better off. However, though the Sky Blues also had a great run to the Quarter Finals of the League Cup, they eventually went out to today’s opponents by 2-4 at Maine Road in a replay after a 2-2 draw at Highfield Road. The late Brian Alderson got both Sky Blues goals in both games!
Leeds United took the title this season by five points from Liverpool whilst Southampton, Manchester United and (at the bottom) Norwich City were the relegated trio.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for the images.
Share Post