Phil Neal, CCFC’s gaffer
On this day (4th December) in 1993 the Sky Blues faced the Arsenal at Highfield Road in a Carling Premiership fixture. ‘Cov Kid’ CCFC player turned Sky Blue ‘gaffer’ Bobby Gould had dramatically resigned the previous October and it was now his former Assistant Phil Neal in the CCFC managerial hot seat. In the Sky Blues previous home game the league leaders Manchester United were lucky to take all three points with the only goal of the game scored by Eric Cantona so another tough game was in prospect.
Mick Quinn in the Sky Blue
However, the Sky Blues team put in an excellent performance to see off the Gunners, again by the only goal of the game scored by Sky Blues centre forward Micky ‘Sumo’ Quinn with eleven minutes left of the game. The points and the pies were kept at Highfield Road despite the Gunners having only been beaten once before away from Highbury!
Sean Flynn in the Sky Blue
In truth the Gunners’ goalie David Seaman saved Arsenal from a more severe beating. City midfielder (and now Sumo’s fellow CCFPA member) Sean Flynn gave the Gunners’ left flank a torrid time and was on hand to set up Micky’s piece of opportunism to give the Sky Blues the points.
The 1-0 win secured a rare double over the Arsenal who they had beaten at Highbury 3-0 on the opening day of the 1993-94 season. They must have been sick of the sight of Mr. Quinn who got a hat-trick that day scoring all the Sky Blues’ goals!
Courtesy of former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson you can watch the Mighty Quinn’s goal by clicking on the image below:-
Phil Neal’s men that December day comprised (CCFPA members underlined):-
Steve Ogrizovic, Peter Atherton, Steve Morgan, Julian Darby, Phil Babb, David Rennie, Sean Flynn, Willie Boland, Mick Quinn, Roy Wegerle and Peter Ndlovu.
The Gunners XI comprised:-
David Seaman, Lee Dixon, Nigel Winterburn, Ian Selley, Martin Keown, Tony Adams (sub Steve Bould -75), Eddie McGoldrick (sub. Kevin Campbell -75), Paul Davis, Ian Wright, Alan Smith and Paul Merson Referee:- R.Hart
CCFC 1993-94
The Sky Blues had a fairly comfortable time of it in the 1993-94 Premier League campaign finishing firmly mid-table in eleventh spot. Arsenal in fourth spot were, nonetheless, 21 points short of the Champions Manchester United themselves eight points clear of the runners up Blackburn Rovers.
Down and out from the top flight this season were twentieth place Sheffield United, 21st Oldham Athletic and (bottom) Swindon Town.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
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