CCFC Manager Don Mackay
On this day (17th April) in 1985 Sky Blue manager Don Mackay (having taken over from Bobby Gould earlier in the season) took his team to St James Park to take on the Magpies in a Division One fixture only four days after losing 1-0 to Newcastle United‘s fellow North eastern side Sunderland at Roker Park. The single goal victory achieved today was some compensation given the parlous position the Sky Blues had in the League (21st). The two sides had fought out a 1-1 draw at Highfield Road back in mid October with Kenny Hibbitt getting a 75th minute equaliser to a Peter Beardsley penalty on the hour.
Benno in 1986
This rare win on Tyneside was secured as early as the third minute when (now CCFPA committee member) Dave Bennett capitalised on a deflected Kenny Hibbitt shot to score.
Jack Charlton’s Magpies side were unimpressive but City still had to hang on to their lead like grim death to come out winners. This was their first victory in Newcastle since 1977 and very briefly calmed the relegation nerves for both club and its fans by moving CCFC up to twentieth place with nine to play. The referee was Mr. J.Lovat.
Both teams and further match details are shown on the graphic below:-
We are delighted to say that every member of Don’s team that day (as well as Don himself) later went on to join this Association, Sadly ‘Big Cyrille’ has since passed away and is deeply missed!
At the end of that Division One season, to their probable glee, the Toon Army’s neighbours Sunderland were relegated in 21st spot together with Norwich City (a full nine points but just one place above them) and bottom club Stoke City with only a paltry seventeen points in total!
The Sky Blues storming run of three straight wins at season’s end ensured they survived but only a point clear of the drop and they finished in eighteenth just above Queens Park Rangers on the same points.
Liverpool took the title by a mile (thirteen points) from their close city rivals Everton.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images (and to Dean Nelson forthe graphic).
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