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Sky Blue Terry Gibson
On this day (12th January) in 1985 the Sky Blues were now under ‘acting’ Manager Don Mackay after Bobby Gould‘s dramatic sacking at the end of 1984 and trundling along in nineteenth place in Division One. Today they visited Old Trafford to take on third placed Manchester United and dented the Red Devil’s title hopes with a one goal victory (United’s second at home in a row)! This extracted some revenge for the 3-0 defeat inflicted on the Sky Blues at Highfield Road back in mid September.
The Sky Blues player who did all the damage was our diminutive striker (and now CCFPA member) Terry Gibson with the only goal of the game after seventy minutes (his fifth in the last three matches). Not only was the Red Devils’ pride hurt but also the body of their talismanic captain Bryan Robson who contrived to fall into the advertising hoardings severely damaging his shoulder. He was replaced by substitute Alan Brazil who later played for the Sky Blues (and also joined CCFPA).
Sky Blue Manager Micky
Gordon the Gaffer
Big Ron
The game was remarkable in involving, apart from Don, three future Sky Blues’ managers (all now CCFPA members).
Don Mackay at CCFC
City’s wide man Micky Adams would later go on to manage the Sky Blues as would United’s flame haired midfielder Gordon Strachan and their own boss Ron Atkinson!
Mackay’s men lined up:-
Steve Ogrizovic, Kirk Stephens, Stuart Pearce, David Bowman, Brian Kilcline, Trevor Peake, Dave Bennett, Lloyd McGrath, Bob Latchford (sub. Cyrille Regis) and Micky Adams
All bar Bob, we are proud to say, later became members of this Association! Kirk and Dave would later become, respectively, CCFPA’s esteemed President and long term committee member.
ImageBig Ron‘s Manchester United team lined up that day:-
Steven Pears, Mike Duxbury, Arthur Albiston, Remi Moses, Gordon McQueen, Paul McGrath, Bryan Robson (sub. Alan Brazil), Gordon Strachan, Frank Stapleton, Mark Hughes and Arnold Muhren Referee:- C.Seel
CCFC met United again at Old Trafford later in the month (26th), this time in the Cup, but lost out by the odd goal in three. Terry Gibson‘s 41st minute goal was but a consolation.
CCFC 1984-85
The Sky Blues required an inspired finish to the 1984-85 Division One season to avoid relegation, four games unbeaten and three straight wins culminating in a dramatic last day 4-1 demolition of champions elect Everton! The Merseysiders ran away with the title a full thirteen points clear of their Liverpool rivals and fourteen from fourth placed Manchester United.
City finished on fifty points tied with Ipswich Town and Queen’s Park Rangers, all of them a point ahead of relegated Norwich City who went down with Sunderland and bottom team (by a mile) Stoke City.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.
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