Greg Downs in the Sky Blue
On this last day of the month (28th February) in 1987, in their magnificent F.A.Cup winning season, former CCFC centre-half George Curtis and former full back John Sillett, by now the management team at Highfield Road (but both sadly all too recently passed within months of each other), chose an XI to take on Charlton Athletic at home in Division One. Results had been see-sawing in blocks recently. After three straight defeats (against West Ham United, Southampton and Everton) the Sky Blues had beaten Chelsea in the league and Stoke City (away) in the F.A.Cup Fifth Round in their last two outings. Today’s game at home to the Addicks would bring up a win treble and the winning run in league and cup would eventually stretch to six games before losing to Wimbledon on March 24th. City had taken a point in a 1-1 draw in the league at the Valley on 20th September last only thanks to an own goal two minutes from the final whistle!
Image
Nick Pickering ‘s shot is blocked
Image
David Phillips lets fly
Jim in the Sky Blue 1982
Today’s score was 2-1 to the Sky Blues and ended up a closer result than many had predicted. The Addicks’ long serving manager Lennie Lawrence was struggling to keep the south London club up and they had so far only won once in their last seventeen games! Ex Scottish Sky Blue (and CCFPA member) Jim Melrose was in the Addicks line up as a Highfield Road crowd of only 12,253 saw a poor game unfold. There was no score at half-time.
Cyrille in the Sky Blue
Three minutes after the break the Sky Blues fans hopes were raised when full back Greg Downs scored. However, the slim lead only lasted six minutes before Athletic’s striker (now a CCFPA member) Jim Melrose scored against his old club after sloppy defensive errors were made. Charlton Athetic were convinced they had taken the lead when Rob Lee‘s smart shot cannoned off the bar onto (or over) the line but the ref was not generous to the away side. Indeed, it was the Sky Blues who took the win and the points when our dearly missed late centre-forward Cyrille Regis slotted home after 69 minutes and the home team held out for the victory by the odd goal in three.
Image
Cyrille wins the aerial battle
Image
Big Cyrille tries one
George Curtis‘ CCFC team lined up as follows:-
Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, Greg Downs, Micky Gynn, Brian Kilcline, Trevor Peake, Steve Sedgley, David Phillips, the late Cyrille Regis, Keith Houchen and Nick Pickering
George & Sills celebrate the Wembley Cup win
We are very pleased to report that George, and head coach in charge of all team matters, John Sillett and all members of this team later went on to join this Association.
Apart from Brian, who was tragically robbed by injury of a Wembley appearance, the rest all featured in that wonderful F.A.Cup Final victory over ‘Spurs the following May.
Lennie’s Addicks’ side turned out with the following players:-
Bob Bolder, John Humphrey, Mark Reid, Andy Peake, Steve Thompson, Paul Miller, Mark Stuart, Robert Lee, Jim Melrose, George Shipley and Colin Walsh Referee:- M.Peck
CCFC 1986-87
A tenth place finish in Division One awaited the Sky Blues at the end of the season. The Addicks improved a little to stay up via the skin of their teeth finishing in nineteenth but winning the survival play-off with losers Leicester City, Manchester City and rock bottom Aston Villa all going down!
Everton took the Division One title by fully nine points from their same city foes Liverpool!
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.
Share Post