Gordon in relaxed mood
On this day (23rd August) in 1975 the Sky Blues, then managed by CCFPA member Gordon Milne, continued their good start to the 1975-76 Division One season with a 2-0 victory over the ‘other’ light blues Manchester City.
City had begun the season with a triplet of home games within a week. First they saw off Everton 4-1 in the season’s opener on the 16th August (with a David Cross hat-trick and an Alan Green goal).
The following Tuesday night Derby County got a draw at Highfield Road with Mick Coop‘s 69th minute goal saving a Sky Blues point. David, Alan and Mick are all Association members now.
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Man City’s Rodney Marsh shadows Sky Blue Jim Brogan
On this particular Saturday another goal in each half (22 & 87 minutes) from Alan Green was enough to give the Sky Blues a hard earned victory at Highfield Road over a classy Manchester City side containing the likes of Joe Corrigan, Asa Hartford, Joe Royle, Colin Bell and Dennis Tueart.
The Sky Blues’ diminutive striker finished off his first with a lethal strike from a Jim Brogan header.
The Mancunian’s England centre half Dave Watson found the Sky Blues leader ‘Psycho’ a real handful and it was he who set up Greeny’s second.
Match Action- Greeny shoots
The Sky Blues team that day was (CCFPA members underlined):-
ImageBryan King, Graham Oakey, Jim Brogan*, John Craven*, Larry Lloyd*, Jim Holmes, Mick Coop, Dennis Mortimer, David Cross, Alan Green and Tommy Hutchison
*Sadly Jim, John and Larry have all since passed away.
Tony Book‘s Man.City’s team lined up as follows:-
Joe Corrigan, Geoff Hammond, Willie Donnachie, Mike Doyle, Dave Watson, Denis Oakes, Asa Hartford, Colin Bell, Rodney Marsh, Joe Royle (sub. Billy Telford ) and Dennis Tueart Referee:- Clive Thomas
In mid December Manchester City played the return with us and came out on top by 4-2. Future Sky Blue (and now CCFPA member) Peter Barnes scored one of their goals. The Sky Blues David Cross and big Mick Ferguson made the score a bit more respectable in the last five minutes. At the end of the season Liverpool took the title by a point from Queens Park Rangers.
CCFC 1975-76
Milne’s men finished their Division One season safe enough in fourteenth position whilst Manchester City finished eighth (Manchester United were third). Wolverhampton Wanderers, Burnley and Sheffield United took the drop!