Terry in the Sky Blue
On this day (24th August) in 1991 the Sky Blues, under manager Terry Butcher, were facing their third match of the new Division One season with a game in London against Queen’s Park Rangers. We had kicked off our 1991-92 season in the top flight with a narrow 1-0 opening day home defeat (their first since 1959) to Manchester City the team managed by future Sky Blue ‘gaffer’ Peter Reid. The following Tuesday night the Sky Blues hammered early relegation favourites Luton Town at Highfield Road by five clear goals. The fair sprinklng of City fans in the 9,393 crowd at Loftus Road today were looking for their favourites to build on that 5-0 win.
Peter in the Sky Blue
In City’s side making his debut today was defender (and now CCFPA member) Peter Atherton. ‘Athers’ had been bought from Wigan Athletic for £330k to replace departed 1987 F.A.Cup hero Trevor Peake who had been sold to Luton Town (for £100k) not long after City’s crushing defeat of the Hatters. Also making his Sky Blue debut today was mercurial young Zimbabwean forward Peter Ndlovu. Nuddy certainly looked the part living up to his nickname of the ‘Bulawayo Bullet’! He later went on to become the Association’s 300th member!
Nuddy in the Sky Blue
The 1-1 draw was probably a fair result in a close contest. The Sky Blues were perhaps lucky to survive Rangers’ pressure in the first half but improved markedly in the second period especially after Sky Blue favourite Micky Gynn (also a CCFPA member) gave City the lead a minute after the break. Sadly, the Sky Blues were undone by a future Sky Blue forward Roy Wegerle who got the Hoops’ equaliser on 69 minutes.
Thanks to former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson you can watch some match highlights by clicking the link or image below
https://youtu.be/hoA4iadMymE
Terry’s Sky Blues turned out as follows (CCFPA members underlined):-
Micky in the Sky Blue
Steve Ogrizovic, Lloyd McGrath, Paul Edwards, Stewart Robson, Andy Pearce, Peter Atherton, Ray Woods, Micky Gynn (sub. Peter Billing -1), Robert Rosario(Peter Ndlovu -2), Paul Furlong and David Smith
Garry Thompson in the Sky Blue
The Hoops lined up:-
Jan Stejskal, David Bardsley, Clive Wilson, Ian Holloway, Darren Peacock, Danny Maddix, Dennis Bailey, Simon Barker, Les Ferdinand (sub. Gary Thompson), Roy Wegerle and Andy Sinton Referee:- Kelvin Morton
The Sky Blue fans present gave a great reception to former Sky Blue star Garry Thompson (now a CCFPA member) when he came off the bench as a Q.P.R. substitute.
When the Sky Blues played the Hoops in the return at Highfield Road in the first part of January they were situated in the lower reaches of the table and their parlous state led to Terry being shown the door. His assistant Don Howe had just taken over and was in charge of the team. However, the score was again a stalemate, this time 2-2, with the Sky Blues relinquishing late on a 2-0 lead given to them by goals from (now both CCFPA members) Kevin Gallacher after nine minutes and Robert Rosario after 65 minutes.
CCFC 1991-92
That season Luton Town went down in twentieth spot (with Notts County and bottom club West Ham) but the Hatters were only a couple of points and one place behind the Sky Blues who were safe by the skin of their teeth despite a 2-0 last day defeat at Aston Villa. This year’s Champions were Leeds United a couple of points clear of Manchester United.
Look out for our next posting for a report of another Sky Blue ‘away day’ draw on this very date exactly two years later.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
Share Post