Gordon in relaxed mood
On this day (29th March) in 1980 the Sky Blues, under today’s ‘Birthday Boy’ Gordon Milne, had not won a Division One League match in their last five outings and the slump was about to continue at Highfield Road against near neighbours Wolverhampton Wanderers. The contrast in club fortunes was manifest as Wolves had won seven of their last eight matches, including taking the League Cup trophy -so they were on a roll! Therefore it was perhaps predictable that they would roll over the struggling Sky Blues by 3-1 and precipitate ever louder‘Milne Out’ shouts in the crowd by the end.
The Wolves thoroughly deserved the win which was their first at the home of the Sky Blues since 1972. It was also the ultimate revenge for the 3-0 drubbing the Sky Blues inflicted on the Wolves at Molineux back in the previous November. Then City’s scorers were the ‘terrible twins’ (both now Association members), a solo from Ian Wallace and a brace from Mick Ferguson. Both are now CCFPA members and both were absent today.
Tommy in action
Wolves striker Hugh Atkinson scored his first ever goal for his club on thirteen minutes to give the away side the lead and then John Richards scored his first of a brace two minutes before the half hour to ensure Wolves led by two clear goals at the break. Tommy English gave the Sky Blues a small degree of hope when he pulled one back ten minutes into the second 45 and (now his fellow CCFPA member) Garry Thompson came close to an equaliser but Wolves ‘keeper Paul Bradshaw made a fine save. Richards put the game to bed with his second eighteen minutes from time leaving the Sky Blues in fourteenth spot looking nervously over their shoulders and praying the slump would soon finish. Not a good birthday present for the Sky Blue manager!
Garry Thompson in the Sky Blue
For the record Milne’s men lined up as follows:-
Jim Blyth, Mick Coop, Bobby McDonald, Tommy Hutchison, Paul Dyson, Gary Gillespie, Roger Van Gool, Tom English, Garry Thompson, Steve Hunt and Gary Bannister (sub. Andy Blair)
We are pleased to report that the manager and all these players (except Gary B.) later went on to join CCFPA!
John Barnwell fielded the following Wolves team:-
Paul Bradshaw, Geoff Palmer, Derek Parkin, Hugh Atkinson, Emlyn Hughes, George Berry, Colin Brazier, Willie Carr, Andy Gray, John Richards and Mel Eves Referee:- B.Martin
There were two CCFPA members on the Wolves books at this time, former Sky Blue apprentice, later legend Willie Carr (who played) and future midfielder Kenny Hibbitt (who didn’t)!
CCFC 1979-80
Thankfully, the Sky Blues won their next two Division One fixtures over Easter 2-1 (at Middlesbrough and at home to Derby County) to settle the ship but only got one more win in their last three league fixtures (losing the last three) to finish fifteenth on a low but, with relief, still five positions and eight points above the drop. Bristol City, Derby County and, bottom-by-far club, Bolton Wanderers went down.
Wolverhampton Wanderers were pleased to finish in sixth spot a full thirteen points behind top dogs Liverpool and eleven behind runners up Manchester United. Gordon Milne remained for the 1980-81 season before being replaced as Sky Blue manager by Dave Sexton for 1981-82
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
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