On this day (28th August) in 1973 The Sky Blues under Gordon Milne went to the top of Division One with their second home win within three days at the start of the season. The previous Saturday Tottenham Hotspur had been dispatched in front of more than 25,000 at Highfield Road by the only goal of the game scored by CCFPA member Mick Coop. Now it was the turn of reigning League Champions, Bill Shankly‘s Liverpool to be put to the sword!
In what was described as ‘a scintillating display of skill and industry‘ the Sky Blues fully deserved their win thanks to two men who are now Association members. CCFC’s Tommy Hutchison starred and scored the only (and therefore winning) goal in the 63rd minute with a superb volley from a Colin Stein head back which rocketed into Ray Clemence‘s net. Though Liverpool star Kevin Keegan hit a post Milne’s men held out for the 1-0 win in front of a thrilled 29,134 crowd.
City’s team that day apart from two of the three Sky Blues who have since passed away* (John Craven and Brian Alderson) all went on to join this Association. We have also, of course, also lost Ernie Hunt not so long ago and it was he who came on as sub in this game, his first for a year!
Team: Bill Glazier, Mick Coop, Jim Holmes, Dennis Mortimer, John Craven*, Alan Dugdale, Wilf Smith, Brian Alderson*, Colin Stein Alan Green (sub. ‘Ernie’ Hunt*) and Tommy Hutchison
The Reds team comprised:- Ray Clemence , Chris Lawler, Alec Lindsay, Phil Thompson, Larry Lloyd, Emlyn Hughes, Kevin Keegan, Peter Cormack, Steve Heighway, Phil Boersma and Ian Callaghan Referee:- A.Hart
Tommy Hutchinson in the Sky Blue
Liverpool’s imposing centre half Larry Lloyd of course was soon to join the Sky Blues for a couple of seasons (1974-76)
In early February the Reds got revenge in the return beating the Sky Blues by the odd goal in three at Anfield with goals from Alec Lindsay (a 28th minute penalty) and Kevin Keegan (57 minutes). City’s consolation came from now CCFPA member Jim Holmes – a 25 yarder.
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The Sky Blues could not sustain such a wonderful start to the season and slipped to sixteenth in Division One by season’s end. Liverpool ended up being runners up to Leeds United. However, the Sky Blue team also had a great run to the Quarter Finals of the League Cup eventually going out to Manchester City by 2-4 at Maine Road. The other Manchester club, United went down that season just above bottom club Norwich City and twentieth placed Southampton.
CCFC 1973-74
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.
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