CCFC’s Manager, Noel Cantwell
On this day (2nd October) in 1971 Irishman Noel Cantwell was still the Sky Blues ‘gaffer’ (he was sacked the following March). In an important milestone today, his Sky Blues achieved their first top division win at the home of Everton. Perhaps, fortunately, the Toffees had to do without their star striker Joe Royle, out with a bad back.
Ian in the Sky Blue
A crowd of 36,882 at Goodison Park saw a fairytale return to Merseyside for our former Liverpool striking hero Ian St John as he scored what proved to be the Sky Blues winning goal! CCFC’s first goal, however, came from an explosive 23rd minute shot from Ian’s fellow Scot, now CCFPA member, Quintin ‘Cutty’ Young. which sent the Sky Blues in at half time a goal to the good. Sadly ‘the Saint’ passed away a while back (March 2021) along with striking partner Chris Chilton that May.
Sky Blue Quintin
It wasn’t until four minutes after the hour mark that the Toffees fashioned an equaliser from substitute Mike Lyons who headed in from a Keith Newton free kick. Ian’s joyful riposte, and the Sky Blue winner, came only four minutes later.
City had to hang on dearly for their win once Chris Cattlin was sent off for a foul on David Johnson (though, apparently, it was his fellow defender Jeff Blockley that was the guilty party who had perpetrated the push).
The Sky Blues team that day (CCFPA members underlined) was:-
Bill Glazier, Mick Coop, Chris Cattlin, Wilf Smith, Jeff Blockley, Bobby Parker, Quintin Young, Willie Carr, the late Chris Chilton, the late ‘Ernie’ Hunt and the late Ian St. John
Harry Catterick‘s Everton XI lined up:-
Gordon West, Peter Scott, Keith Newton, Henry Newton, Roger Kenyon, Colin Harvey, Alan Whittle, Alan Wilson (sub. Mike Lyons), David Johnson, John Hurst and Johnny Morrissey Referee:- W.Johnson
Bob Dennison (CCFC Caretaker)
This season saw the Sky Blues get a great First Division double over the Toffeemen. In the return, in early April, the scoreline was 4-1 to the Sky Blues with a brace from ‘Ernie’ Hunt and one each from Willie Carr and Chris Chilton.
Bob Dennison acted as caretaker manager in the back end of the 1971-72 season and shepherded the Sky Blues to Division One safety in eighteenth place. The Toffees finished just three places (and three points better off) in fifteenth spot. Leeds United finished runners up to the champions, Derby County, that season.
CCFC 1971-72
Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield Town were the two clubs which took the drop.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images
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