On this day (24th August) in 1985 the Sky Blues were about to play their third game of the Division One season and had yet to win, having drawn 1-1 against Manchester City at Highfield Road in the season’s opener and lost in midweek by the only goal of the game at Stamford Bridge to Chelsea. CCFPA member Don Mackay‘s Sky Blues were on their travels again, this time to to play Everton at Goodison Park. There was a crowd of 27,673 attracted to the game in Liverpool to see the 1-1 draw against the previous season’s league champions.
Terry in the Sky Blue
The Sky Blues big central striker Cyrille Regis had an inspirational game in this one and almost snatched a win for CCFC. Little Terry Gibson had headed the Sky Blues into a first half lead three minutes before the break from another great Dave Bennett cross and things were looking good. Our giant centre half Brian ‘Killer’ Kilcline and the rest of the Sky Blue defence kept the Toffeemen’s Gary Lineker quiet. However, Graeme Sharpe‘s late late equalising header six minutes from the final whistle saved the Evertonian’s blushes.
Interestingly, on the same day in the reserves (now CCFPA member) Paul Culpin hit a hat-trick to stake a claim for a first team place!
Don- Sky Blue ‘gaffer’
Mackay’s men that Saturday were:-
Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, Greg Downs , Dave Bowman, Brian Kilcline, Trevor Peake, Dave Bennett, Kenny Hibbitt (sub. Micky Gynn), the late Cyrille Regis, Terry Gibson and Micky Adams
We are pleased to say that the whole team and their ‘gaffer’ later became CCFPA members!
Everton‘s line up was:-
Neville Southall, Gary Stevens, Pat van den Hauwe, Alan Harper, Gary Marshall, Adrian Heath, Trevor Steven, Gary Lineker, Graeme Sharp, Paul Bracewell and Kevin Sheedy (sub. Ian Atkins) Referee: F.Roberts
Everton v CCFC 1985 Match Action
In the mid noughties Everton’s Adrian Heath was assistant to two future Sky Blues managers (both CCFPA members), Peter Reid (not in the Everton team today) and Micky Adams (playing today for the Sky Blues). Adrian undertook a caretaker role after both got the sack from CCFC! The Toffees also embarrassed CCFC in the return at Highfield Road just before Christmas. ‘Gibbo’ got the Sky Blues only goal again but, this time, in a 3-1 defeat.
CCFC 1985-86
Sky Blues’ legendary former centre half (and later a CCFPA member) George Curtis took over from Don in April 1986 after a 5-0 drubbing at Anfield. George and managerial partner John Sillett then guided the Sky Blues to First Division safety with the ‘traditional’ last day win. Both members of this managerial duo are deeply mourned by Sky Blues fans after their passing (both in 2021). CCFC ended in seventeenth spot three places and only two points from relegation!
Everton had a great season finishing second in Division One but it must have hurt that they were runners up to Champions Liverpool! The trio of Ipswich Town, Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion took the drop.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& ***Dean Nelson)***for sourcing the images.
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