Terry in the Sky Blue
On this day (20th August) in 1991 the Sky Blues, under manager Terry Butcher, had kicked off their 1991-92 Division One season with a narrow 1-0 opening day home defeat (their first since 1959) to future Sky Blue ‘gaffer’ Peter Reid‘s Manchester City. The Light Blue Mancunians’ Niall Quinn got their goal in the sixteenth minute.
Kevin in his playing days
Tonight’s Tuesday match at Highfield Road was a chance to redeem themselves and, boy, they certainly did that! This evening’s opponents were Luton Town, who were early relegation favourites. Following the opening day Highfield Road crowd of nearly 18,000, tonight’s turnout in the stadium nearly halved to a modest 9,848. However, the City did their best to confirm the bookie’s prognosis and bounced back with a 5-0 destruction of the Hatters. Ex Sky Blue (and now CCFPA member) Graham Rodger was in the losing visitors’ side this evening.
Robert in the Sky Blue
It only took seven minutes for (now CCFPA member) Kevin Gallacher to give the Sky Blues the lead toeing in a misplaced back pass from the Hatters’ John Dreyer. City’s cause was further helped when the Hatters’ Sean Farrell got himself sent off in the eighteenth minute for elbowing the Sky Blues immaculate defender Trevor Peake. Ironically, the very next day Peakey moved to Kenilworth Road on a £100k transfer and City bought (Trevor’s now fellow CCFPA member) Wigan Athletic’s Peter Atherton for £330k as a ready made replacement!
Paul Furlong in the Sky Blue
‘Gally’ got his second with an overhead kick against the ten men seven minutes before the break and then City went in 3-0 up as fairly recent CCFPA recruit Robert Rosario scored on the stroke of half-time scoring a post rebound from a shot hit by Sky Blues tricky winger (and now CCFPA member) David Smith.
The Sky Blues two goals in the second period came from ‘Smithy’ after 68 minutes, profiting from a step-over from ‘Gally’, and substitute striker Paul Furlong with fully nineteen minutes left forcing his way through the centre. The depleted Luton Town side were therefore pulverised 5-0.
Thanks to former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson you can relive the highlights of the Sky Blues ‘Old Five’ by clicking on the image below:-
David in the Sky Blue
Terry’s Sky Blues turned out as follows (CCFPA members underlined):-
Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, Lloyd McGrath, Stewart Robson, Andy Pearce, Trevor Peake, Ray Woods, Micky Gynn, Robert Rosario, Kevin Gallacher (sub. Paul Furlong) and David Smith
The Hatters lined up:-
Alec Chamberlain, Dave Beaumont, Richard Harvey, Darron McDonough, Graham Rodger, John Dreyer, Sean Farrell (s.o.-18), David Preece, Brian Stein (sub. Phil Gray), Mark Pembridge and Kingsley Black Referee: M.Bailey
CCFC 1991-92
Mick in the Sky Blue
Luton Town managed to beat the Sky Blues in the return at Kenilworth Road in a dire Friday night game just before Christmas with a single goal scored by future Sky Blue (and CCFPA member) Mick Harford after 55 minutes. This was the Hatters first win in fourteen games! In fact Mick would enter the CCFC record books in his brief attachment with the Sky Blues in 1993-94 (one goal in much less than one appearance)! The Sky Blues own parlous state led to Terry being shown the door in January and assistant Don Howe took over.
The bookies were proved right since the Hatters indeed went down in twentieth spot (with Notts County and bottom club West Ham United) but they were only a couple of points and one place behind the Sky Blues who were saved despite a 2-0 last day defeat at Aston Villa.
This season’s Champions were Leeds United a couple of points clear of Manchester United.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
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