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Geoff Strong on the front cover
On this day (March 13th) in 1971, City’s one and only short lived season in Europe, Noel Cantwell‘s Sky Blues were on Division One league duty at Highfield Road. The visitors were the mighty Liverpool who were sent packing by a lone ninth minute strike from (the late CCFPA member) John O’Rourke. This followed up on a goalless draw which Cantwell’s men stole from Anfield in front of over 50,000 fans in mid November.
England Manager Alf Ramsay was among the 27,731 Coventry crowd and watched the Sky Blues defensive pair of Jeff Blockley and Bobby Parker stifle Liverpool’s much vaunted attack. Future Sky Blue Larry Lloyd was in the heart of the Liverpudlians defence that day.
John in the Sky Blue
Larry in Sky Blue
In fact the Reds were fresh from their Fairs Cup victory over Bayern Munchen, the side that had knocked the Sky Blues out of the same competition in Round Two!
This Sky Blue team handed out Liverpool FC’s first ever defeat by CCFC with a simple goal finished off by John following up after a move starting with an Ernie Machin free kick. Ernie tapped it to Dave Clements who sent in a stinging but deflected shot which ‘Pool’s future England goalie Ray Clemence was able to tip onto the post.
The Sky Blues fielded the following side:-
CCFC’s Manager, Noel Cantwell
Bill Glazier, Wilf Smith, Geoff Strong*, Ernie Machin*, Jeff Blockley, Bobby Parker, Dennis Mortimer, Willie Carr, Brian Joicey, John O’Rourke* and Dave Clements
Sadly Geoff, Ernie and goalscorer John, as well as manager Noel, have since passed away. Everyone but Geoff, who had been a Liverpool stalwart previously, later joined CCFPA we are proud to say.
ImageBill Shankly‘s Reds fielded the following team:-
Ray Clemence, Chris Lawler, Alec Lindsay, Tommy Smith, Larry Lloyd, Emlyn Hughes, Phil Boersma (sub. Ian Callaghan), Alun Evans, Steve Heighway, John Toshack and Brian Hall Referee:- Ray Tinkler
As well as Larry Lloyd, future Sky Blues Bobby Graham and Ian St John (later an Association member) were both on Liverpool‘s books this season.
Thus the much vaunted attack of the Reds failed to breach the Sky Blue’s defence in the 1970-71 season and also lost three out of four points to the Sky Blues. CCFC finished tenth under Noel Cantwell that European season whilst Liverpool finished fifth, nine points better off!
Arsenal pipped Leeds United for the Division One title. Burnley and Blackpool fell through the trap door!
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.
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