CCFC’s Manager, Noel Cantwell
On this day (8th April) in 1969 former Manchester United captain and hero Noel Cantwell was now in charge at Highfield Road having taken over from Sky Blue legend Jimmy Hill early the previous season. Cantwell’s task on this day was to pick a team to neutralise the attacking threat of his star studded old club (who had picked up twelve out of the last fourteen points)!
City had lost narrowly (0-1) at Old Trafford in their second game of this season last August. It was ‘Mission Accomplished’ today as the Sky Blues were good value for their 2-1 win, watched by a full house (45,402) at Highfield Road.
Man. Utd star George Best on the rampage
George in the Sky Blue
Neil Martin in Sky Blue action
The Sky Blues were given a great start after only three minutes as United goalie Alex Stepney could only parry a header from the Sky Blues ‘Iron Man’ centre-half and captain George Curtis over his own line. It got steadily better as, first, CCFC centre-forward Neil Martin hit the post before the break and then three minutes after half-time fired home after Stepney fumbled the ball.
At 2-0 up the Sky Blues coped well with the inevitable United onslaught right up to the final whistle with Brian Kidd, Bobby Charlton and George Best kept at bay. City’s defence was only breached once in the 69th minute when John Fitzpatrick got through to score after an effective run from Kidd.
Noel Cantwell’s CCFC team that earned themselves bragging rights was:-
Bill Glazier, Mick Coop, Chris Cattlin, Ernie Machin*, George Curtis*, Jeff Blockley, Gerry Baker*, ‘Ernie’ Hunt*, (sub. Ernie Hannigan*), Neil Martin, Willie Carr and Brian Hill*
Sadly, six (*) members of that team (all three Ernies, Gerry and Brian and, most recently, George), are no longer with us but their Sky Blue contribution is remembered with great pleasure. All team members, we are pleased to say later went on to join this Former Players Association! The referee was Harry New. The team put out by the Red Devils is also shown in the graphic below:-
George Curtis, Neil Martin and (on the front cover of ‘Sky Blue) Jeff Blockley
Three successive draws in their last three Division One games were enough to ensure top level survival in twentieth spot a point ahead of relegated Leicester City (who went down with bottom club Queen’s Park Rangers). Manchester United had a mediocre season for them, finishing in eleventh. Leeds United took the title by five points from Liverpool with Everton third.
CCFC 1968-69
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images and graphic.
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