Dave Sexton- CCFC Manager
On City’s fourth fixture in the 1981-82 Division One season, on this day (12th September) in 1981, new Sky ‘gaffer’ Dave Sexton was hoping for a return to form for his charges after two straight away reverses (0-4 at Stoke City and 1-2 at Notts County). The Sky Blues had won their season’s opener at new look, all seater, Highfield Road 2-1 against Sexton’s old club Manchester United so a repeat at home would be good today against Leeds United. Sadly there were around 6,000 fewer fans in H.R. for this second home game of the season (13,452) compared to the opener.
Garry Thompson in the Sky Blue
The Yorkshire team included future Sky Blue forward (and now CCFPA member) Peter Barnes in their side.
The game was controversial because a section of the Leeds United following disgracefully attempted to damage the stadium’s reputation as the nation’s first all-seater by ripping out a chunk of the seating to use as weapons against the home fans!
Coventry City FC’s MD and former gaffer Jimmy Hill had claimed ‘You can’t be a hooligan sitting down’ in originally promoting the pioneering concept. The United ‘fans’ actions sought to disprove this as ripped up seats rained down on rival supporters in the Sky Blue stand!
Match action
‘Rudi’ in Sky Blue Action
Rudi takes on the Leeds defence
The fighting temperament shown by Leeds supporters off the turf was not copied by the display of their players on the pitch as the Sky Blues easily demolished the poor Yorkshire side by four clear goals. The lively Sky Blues kicked off with two goals in the first twelve minutes. First, City’s Belgian wide man Rudi Kaiser slotted home after only eight minutes had elapsed and then central striker Garry Thompson scored the first of a brace, both made by Steve Hunt (all three forwards are now Association members).
Sky Blue Steve
Coming out from the half-time break two goals to the good Sky Blues fans only had to wait six minutes for a third goal scored by young Steve Whitton which was created by mammoth long throw from central defender (now CCFPA member) Paul Dyson.
The cherry on the cake was City’s fourth and Garry Thompson‘s second, scored with thirteen minutes to go to make it 4-0, game, set and match!
More match action
Sexton’s Sky Blue XI was as follows (CCFPA members underlined):-
Jim Blyth, Danny Thomas, Brian Roberts, Steve Jacobs, Paul Dyson, Gary Gillespie, Ruud Kaiser, Gerry Daly, Garry Thompson, Steve Whitton and Steve Hunt
Leeds United‘s line up was as follows:-
John Lukic, Brian Greenhoff, Eddie Gray, Brian Flynn, Neil Firm, Trevor Cherry, Carl Harris (sub. Kevin Hird), Arthur Graham, Terry Connor, Byron Stevenson and Peter Barnes Referee:- H.King
CCFC 1981-82
This youthful Sky Blues side also got a goalless draw at Elland Road in February against the struggling Leeds United side who went on to get themselves relegated from Division One in twentieth place with only Wolverhampton Wanderers and bottom club Middlesbrough beneath them. The Sky Blues did the City proud this season with a fourteenth place finish a full eight points above the drop zone.
Liverpool took the title by four points from Ipswich Town.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.
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