John Beck shadows the ball
On this day (11th December) in 1976 the Sky Blues, managed by Gordon Milne, in his fifth season at the club, entertained Everton at Highfield Road in a Division One fixture. Though the Toffeemen scored first the Sky Blues ran out worthy 4-2 winners.
Ian in Sky Blue action
The headlines went to new signing Ian Wallace who scored his first Sky Blue goal on his fifth league appearance for CCFC, making another for John Beck and winning a penalty. The Merseyside’s also had new £200k signings Bruce Rioch and Duncan McKenzie in their line-up as well as future Sky Blues Dave Jones (now a CCFPA member) and Bob Latchford.
Mick in action
However, it was the Toffees who dominated the first twenty minutes and took the lead on a frosty Highfield Road pitch in front of 18,977 fans as Andy King slotted one in just before the quarter hour. ‘Wally’ made Beck’s Sky Blue equaliser seven minutes before the break to send the teams in even steven after 45 minutes.
ImageThe second half was all City as ‘Wally’ was fouled in the box just after the hour and City’s Mick Coop coolly beat Toffees’ ‘keeper Dai Davies from the spot to make it 2-1. Ian got his own goal on 63 minutes putting daylight between the two teams until eight minutes from time the Toffees’ defender Roger Kenyon got a late goal to give the away side a sliver of hope.
Donal in Sky Blue action
Their hopes were quickly dashed, however, a minute before the final whistle when the Sky Blues young substitute forward Donal Murphy netted to produce a fine 4-2 win for the Sky Blues.
Sky Blue Manager Gordon
Milne’s men that day lined up:-
Jim Blyth, Mick Coop, Bobby McDonald, Terry Yorath (c), Alan Dugdale, Jim Holmes, John Beck, Ian Wallace, Mick Ferguson (sub. Donal Murphy), Barry Powell and Tommy Hutchison
We are pleased to say that, apart from John, all these players and their ‘gaffer’ later went on to join CCFPA.
ImageGordon Lee‘s Toffeemen comprised the following players for the game:-
Dai Davies, Terry Darracott, David Jones, Bruce Rioch, Ken McNaught, Roger Kenyon, Andy King, Martin Dobson, Bob Latchford, Duncan McKenzie and Ronnie Goodlass Referee: A.Turvey
Tommy Hutchison
The two sides produced a 1-1 draw at Goodison in the league return in May with Tommy Hutchison getting the Sky Blues’ equaliser in the 89th minute of the game!
At the end of the season the two teams finished at opposite ends of Division One, Everton in a comfortable ninth spot and the Sky Blues controversially staying up in nineteenth position after a delayed start 2-2 draw with Bristol City at Highfield Road on the last day. The result meant the Robins also were safe in eighteenth condemning Sunderland, Stoke and Tottenham Hotspur to the drop.
CCFC 1976-77 Season. Gordon Milne (Team Manager) & Ron Wylie (assistant Manager)
It was Liverpool’s title this year as they finished top of Division One a point ahead of runners up Manchester City.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.
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