Ron salutes the Sky Blue faithful
In the last post we looked at the first of a pair of Premier League games at Highfield Road which took place on this day against West Ham United, both of which finished 1-1 just three years apart. Last time we provided match details and a video of the game in 1993. Today we look at the same fixture three years later involving a different Sky Blue manager and many different players. On this day (21st August) in 1996 the Sky Blues were now led by Ron Atkinson (now a CCFPA member) who had replaced Phil Neal and took his version of the Sky Blues to the Boleyn ground for their second game of the season having lost heavily (0-3) at home to Nottingham Forest in their opener.
Gary in Sky Blue action
After making five changes following that embarrassment, the score against the Hammers ended up the same as in 1993, a goal apiece At least some pride was restored in front of 21,580 in London! Our £3m new signing Gary McAllister scored the Sky Blues goal in the twelfth minute with a header from a great cross by youth product (and fairly recent CCFPA recruit) Andy Ducros.
Andy Ducros
City held out for more than an hour as the Hammers put their foot on the gas with Paulo Futre leading the way on his debut. Future Sky Blue gaffer Iain Dowie scored a disallowed ‘goal’ for the Hammers and was booked for his troubles! After 74 minutes the Hammer’s Mark Reiper volleyed in their equaliser and the Sky Blues returned home with a deserved point in the 1-1 draw.
As well as Dowie future Sky Blue forward Michael Hughes was in Harry Redknapp‘s team on this day.
Thanks to CCFPA’s former committee member Dean Nelson you can see see again some goal highlights of the game by clicking on the picture below.
Harry’s Hammers lined up:-
Ludek Miklosko, Tim Breacker (Paolo Futre -57), Julian Dicks (c), Danny Williamson, Slaven Bilic, Marc Rieper, Robbie Slater, Stan Lazaridis, Steve Jones (Mark Bowen -77), Iain Dowie and Michael Hughes Referee:- Steve Dunn
CCFC 1996-97
Just as in 1993 the Hammers won their game at Upton Park decisively (by 3-1 this time in March 1997). West Ham finished fourteenth in the Premier League.
Gordon Strachan -City’s ‘gaffer’
By then Big Ron’s Assistant, now fellow CCFPA member Gordon Strachan had taken over the hot seat when Ron was kicked upstairs during the season and, under WGS, the Sky Blues memorably stayed up with that last day 2-1 win at ‘Spurs! It was Sunderland who went down a point behind CCFC together with Middlesborough three points behind City (having been deducted three points by the Premier League during the season! Nottingham Forest, seven points from safety completed the relegated trio.
Manchester United walked the title seven points clear of runners up Newcastle United.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
Share Post