Gordon Milne-CCFC gaffer
On this day (13th October) in 1979 CCFC Manager (now CCFPA member) Gordon Milne took his side to Southampton for a Division One game. The Dell had been the site of many a thrashing by the Saints in the past with no win there since 1939. Additionally, the Sky Blues had already lost all their away games so far (sometimes heavily) at Stoke City, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, Manchester City and Bristol City so there was naturally some trepidation, especially as the south coast club were currently in the top four with the Sky Blues mid-table.
However, it was the men from Coventry who came out on top by the odd goal in five as the Sky Blues’ battling performance ended that dreadful away run! It also dealt the Saints their first home defeat of the season to boot! However, things were looking ominous (after a goalless first half) when the home team’s forward Phil Boyer notched their first just after the break.
Ian in the Sky Blue
A brace from now CCFPA member Ian Wallace demonstrated to all, if that was needed, how lethal a finisher he had become. ‘Wally’ scored two opportunistic goals in the 56th and 62nd minute to snatch the lead for the Sky Blues. Though Charlie George equalised with twenty minutes to go City took the win with a beautifully chipped winner from CCFPA member Ray Gooding after ‘Wally’ had set him up!
Ray in the Sky Blue
The Sky Blues put out the following team that day in October (CCFPA members underlined):-
Les Sealey*, Mick Coop, Bobby McDonald, Ray Gooding, Jim Holton*, Gary Gillespie, Tommy Hutchison, Ian Wallace, Donato Nardiello, Andy Blair andSteve Hunt.
*Sadly, Les and ‘Big Jim’ sadly passed away a good few years ago. Andy has been the CCFPA’s ‘special guest’ at City’s Championship games several times in recent years, has excelled in our Golf Days and, along with Tommy and ‘Wally’, has attended recent Legends Days.
The Saints team was as follows:-
Terry Gennoe, Trevor Hebberd, David Peach, Steve Williams, Manny Andruszewski, Malcolm Waldron, Alan Ball, Phil Boyer, Mike Channon, Charlie George and Nicky Holmes Referee:- W.Bombroff
The Saints obviously didn’t like playing the Sky Blues this particular season as we completed the double over them at Highfield Road towards the end of February winning by three clear goals, with a Garry Thompson brace and another from Tom English (both now CCFPA members).
CCFC 1979-80
By the end of the 1979-80 season Milne’s men had fought their way to a relatively comfortable fifteenth spot in Division One a full eight points clear of trouble. Southampton finished in eighth position with Liverpool champions and Manchester United runners up a couple of points behind.
Bristol City, Derby County and bottom club Bolton Wanderers suffered the indignity of relegation.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
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