ImageOn this day (March 15th) in 1980 the Sky Blues, under manager (now CCFPA member) Gordon Milne, travelled to Liverpool to play their return Division One fixture against Everton. They had already beaten the Toffees 2-1 back at Highfield Road in early October with a brace from our livewire inside forward Ian Wallace (also a long time Association member). They were looking for the same again at Goodison today in front of 25,570 fans, but had to settle for a 1-1 draw with both goals coming within the first half hour.
Garry Thompson in the Sky Blue
Gordon Lee‘s team were having a good season in the F.A.Cup and had reached the Semi Final stage. This was perhaps in their thoughts as their league campaign was suffering, having only won one in their last twelve fixtures. However, things began to look good for the Merseysiders when, after only eight minutes, Peter Eastoe popped one in.
The City was fielding a pretty young team and it was to their credit that they roared back with a goal on 27 minutes from our imposing young No.9 Garry Thompson (also now a CCFPA member). The Sky Blues gave it a good go to do even better but were probably let down by their relative inexperience! In hindsight it was just as well that we kept the firepower of our more experienced centre-forward, and Wally’s partner in crime, Mick Ferguson. Mick’s impending transfer to fervent local rivals Aston Villa for £750k had fallen through due to the Villa being unable to come up with the necessary!
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The two teams that March day lined up as follows:-
Sky Blues:
Jim Blyth, Mick Coop, Bobby McDonald, David Phillips, Paul Dyson, Gary Gillespie, Roger Van Gool, Tom English, Garry Thompson, Andy Blair and Gary Bannister
We are pleased to say the ‘gaffer’ and all members of this team except Gary Bannister later went on to become CCFPA members!
Everton:
Martin Hodge, John Gidman, John Bailey, Billy Wright, Mick Lyons, Peter Eastoe, Gary Megson, Andy King, Bob Latchford, Asa Hartford and Joe McBride Referee:- T.Farley
Bob Latchford would later go onto (very briefly) play for the Sky Blues in 1984-85.
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Manager Milne talks to some of the Sky Blue lads in training
The Sky Blues finished the season safe in fifteenth place five positions and eight points above the Division One danger zone inhabited by Bristol City, Derby County and bottom club Bolton Wanderers who were all relegated. Everton had a closer call finishing in nineteenth just above the trap door but with a four point margin of safety. It must have been galling for the Merseysiders that it was their city rivals Liverpool took the title by two points from Manchester United.
CCFC 1979-80
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.
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