Chris Coleman- Sky Blue Gaffer
Though CCFC had played their local neighbours many times previously (in a wide variety of competitions) throughout their history, on this evening (July 15th) in 2009 the Sky Blues played their second pre-season game at the Liberty Way home of Nuneaton Town for the first in what would subsequently become a regular pre-season date with their neighbours.
On this occasion Chris Coleman‘s Sky Blues got their first pre-season win of 2009-10 against ‘the Borough’ after drawing 1-1 at Wrexham four days previously with a goal from defender Jermaine Grandison.
Clinton in Sky Blue action
There was a pretty good turnout of 1,754 fans at the game with many Sky Blues supporters and they saw (now CCFPA member) Clinton Morrison, who would go on to become the season’s top goalscorer for the Sky Blues, notch the only goal of the game after 33 minutes.
Chris’s CCFC that evening lined up as follows (subs in brackets: CCFPA members underlined):-
Keiren Westwood (Dimi Konstantopoulos), Jordan Clarke, Marcus Hall (Jermaine Grandison), Ben Turner (Stephen Wright), Elliott Ward (Isaac Osbourne), Michael Doyle, Ashley Cain, Adam Walker, Clinton Morrison (Freddy Eastwood), Leon Best (Shaun Jeffers) and David Bell (Aron Gunnarsson)
Kevin Wilkins‘ ‘Borough’ side lined up:-
Mark Noon in the Sky Blue
Darren Acton (Neil Collett-46), Robert Oddy, Simon Fordick, Mark Noon, Stuart Pierpoint, James Armson, Paul Spacey, Kyle Storer (Justin Marsden -56), Chris Dillon, Luis Suarez (Rob Foster -52) and David Blenkinsopp.
Robert, Neil, David and CCFPA member Mark Noon were former young CCFC players.
The rest of the Sky Blues pre-season went quite well with successive away wins at Hinckley Town and Northampton Town (where they won the Jackson Grundy Trophy) and a goalless draw at Huddersfield Town. Before the Championship season began in earnest City travelled up to Scotland and were defeated by the only goal at Dunfermline, then fought out a 2-2 draw with top club Everton at the Ricoh for the testimonial for CCFPA member Marcus Hall in front of around 8,000.
CCFC 2009-10
After a patchy season in the Championship things went well and truly off the boil from the beginning of March with no wins in the last eleven games after the 13th. The previous mid-table position deteriorated markedly and City finished the season safe but nineteenth out of the 24 clubs.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
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