Sky Blue gaffer Mark Robins
On this day (July 17th) in 2018 just five years ago Sky Blues ‘gaffer’ Mark Robins was preparing his side, having been promoted the previous season, for League One with the usual pre-season mix of warm up games. After losing 2-0 at Sutton United in the opener on 7th July a Spanish game at La Manga with Everton’s U23s was won by 3-1 four days earlier. Today things moved on with a friendly (behind closed doors) with a youthful Aston Villa side at their Bodymoor Heath Training Ground.
The Sky Blues got themselves a rare victory against their longstanding West Midland rivals by the odd goal in three allowing the City players to get more minutes into their legs for the upcoming 2018/19 season. Villa were a Championship side then and Steve Bruce was still in charge that July, though he would depart Villa Park in October.
Jordan Ponticelli in the Sky Blue
It didn’t take long, just a quarter of an hour, for the Sky Blues to open the scoring when (now CCFPA member) Jordan Ponticelli headed in from a cross by young Jak Hickman (who was to leave the Sky Blues at the end of 2019-20 under a cloud). Jak plied his trade with Southern League Premier Division Central side Halesowen Town in the 2023-24 season whilst Jordan was in National League North Kings Lynn Town side last season.
Though the Villa got themselves an equaliser ten minutes later slotting past City goalie Liam O’Brien, the Sky Blues midfielder, and fairly recent CCFPA recruit, Tony Andreu (last time in the UK a Ross County player and most recently playing in Andorra) robbed a Villa defender and fired the winner past the home team’s guardian on 35 minutes.
Tony Andreu in the Sky Blue
There were plenty more City chances to extend their lead, particularly after a slew of second half Sky Blues’ substitutions, and our second half replacement between the sticks (now CCFPA member) Lee Burge kept the Villa out up to full time! Lee joined League Two Northampton Town for the 2022-23 season.
CCFC’s report of the game can be found by clicking on the link here.
Mark’s men that July day were (subs. in brackets- CCFPA members underlined):-
Lee Burge in the Sky Blue yellow!
Liam O’Brien (Lee Burge -46), Jak Hickman (Josh Eccles -70), Dom Hyam (Jack Grimmer -46), Tom Davies (c) (Chris Camwell -61), Jordan Thompson (Rod McDonald -46), Junior Brown (Brandon Mason -46), Abu Ogogo (Jordan Shipley -61), Michael Doyle (Reice Alassani -61), Tony Andreu (Zain Westbrooke -48), Max Biamou (Billy Stedman -61) and Jordan Ponticelli (Jonson Clarke-Harris-46).
It is interesting to note that of these 22 players, eight years later only Josh Eccles is still with the Sky Blues.
There’s little need to remind readers how close Mark Robins‘ men came to getting into the League One play-offs this season after getting promoted (via the same mechanism) from League Two the previous season. An eighth place finish was good preparation for the successful assault on promotion the following season!
CCFC 2018-19
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.