On this day (4th April) in 1972 the Sky Blues were in the charge of caretaker manager Bob Dennison who had taken over when Noel Cantwell had been relieved of his position in March. Today City were facing Everton at Highfield Road in First Division fixture and both teams were going through troubling times, neither side having won in their last eleven games! Of the two sides today, however, it was the Sky Blues who, at last, clicked in this crucial evening game under floodlights. City turned out winners by 4-1 (their best win of the season) sending the Toffees back to Merseyside with more troubles than they arrived with!
Ernie Hunt in the Sky Blue
The Sky Blues, in front of 22,129 fans, were given an early-ish boost when in the 23rd minute the Toffee’s Mick Lyons handled in the box and ‘Ernie’ Hunt nonchalantly put the resultant penalty away.
Willie in the Sky Blue
Then energetic Sky Blue midfielder Willie Carr hit a stunning goal after 36 minutes following a period of frenzied Sky Blue attacks. The home team went in with a comfortable 3-0 half-time lead thanks to another Lyons blunder allowing ‘our Ernie’ to complete a double and slide one in a minute before the break.
Chris Chilton in the Sky Blue
The game continued in a similar vein in the second half and City’s fourth came from No.9 Chris Chilton who headed in after ‘Ernie’ (who was everywhere) hit the post. The only consolation for the Toffeemen was their goal scored six minutes from time by David Johnson.
The result meant the Sky Blues had done the double over the Merseysiders having beaten them 2-1 at Goodison back in October with goals from Quintin Young and (the late) Ian St John.
On this day the Sky Blues fielded the following team:-
Bob Dennison (CCFC Caretaker)
Bill Glazier, Wilf Smith, Chris Cattlin, Dennis Mortimer, Jeff Blockley, Roy Barry, Mick McGuire, Willie Carr, (the late) Chris Chilton, (the late) Bobby Graham and (the late) ‘Ernie’ Hunt Unused sub. Billy Rafferty
We are pleased to say that all of this team, bar Chris and Bobby, later went on to join this Association.
Harry Catterick‘s Everton team lined up as follows:-
Gordon West, Peter Scott, John McLaughlin, Howard Kendall, Roger Kenyon, Henry Newton, David Johnson, Mick Buckley, Bernie Wright, Mick Lyons and John Morrissey Unused sub. John Hurst Referee:- Norman Burtenshaw
CCFC 1971-72
The Sky Blues ended their 1971-72 Division One season safe enough eight points, though only three places, above the relegated sides (Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield Town).
Everton finished in fifteenth position way behind their compatriots from Merseyside, Liverpool who finished third on equal points with both Manchester City and runners up Leeds United. It was Derby County‘s championship (by a point).
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.
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