On this day (October 30th) in 1991 the Sky Blues, doing okay in ninth place in Division One but having slipped a bit from earlier in the season, were seeking a break from two successive league defeats (1-2 home to Crystal Palace and, last time out, 0-1 at Liverpool's Anfield). Today, the attention of Sky Blue 'gaffer' Terry Butcher and his team switched to the League Cup with a difficult game in London against the Arsenal. City had previously squeezed past Rochdale in a two legged Second Round. After a clear 4-0 victory over the lower league team at Highfield Road the Lancashire outfit (we had a terrible record there) managed to win the game 1-0. The 4-1 aggregate saw us through to today's midweek home tie against the Gunners.

Nuddy in the Sky Blue

Back in September, of course, the Sky Blues had achieved a stunning 2-1 league victory over last year's League Champions at Highbury thanks to a bizarre first minute unforced own goal by the Gunners' Lee Dixon and a decisive finish from (now CCFPA member) Peter Ndlovu five minutes before time! Today the Londoners were thirsting for revenge deploying their PS2.5m new striker Ian Wright to finish City off.

Sky Blue Kevin Gallacher

However, they were outfought and outclassed by a makeshift City outfit and our Scottish striker (another CCFPA member now), Kevin Gallacher, put in a 'man of the match' performance and scored the only goal of the game two minutes after the half-hour! The strike was that of a consummate poacher as 'Gally' snapped up the loose ball after the Gunners' goalie David Seaman could only parry a great shot from City's Paul Furlong. Young Martyn Booty also looked a class act (though he would only go on to make a handful of Sky Blue first team appearances) - and is now an Association member. There were 15,339 patrons in the home of the Sky Blues to see the game.

Terry in the Sky Blue

The Butcher's Boys tonight were (CCFPA members are underlined):-

Steve Ogrizovic, Martyn Booty, Lee Hurst, Stewart Robson, Andy Pearce, Peter Billing, Ray Woods, Lloyd McGrath, Paul Furlong, Kevin Gallacher and David Smith

George Graham's Gunners put out the following side:-

David Seaman, Lee Dixon, Nigel Winterburn, Paul Davis, Colin Pates (sub. Andy Linighan -2), Tony Adams, Paul Rocastle, Ian Wright, Alan Smith, Paul Merson and Anders Limpar (sub. Perry Groves -1) Referee:-Martin Bodenham

City's win earned them a Fourth Round tie, again at Highfield Road, against Tottenham Hotspur which saw them bow out of the competition after a 2-1 defeat! In January 1992 Terry was sacked and replaced by his assistant Don Howe who was in charge for the return with the Gunners at Highfield Road in April when they got their revenge winning by the only goal of the game scored by Kevin Campbell.

In the league the Sky Blues slid down the Division One table after a good first half to the season to finish just above the trap door in nineteenth with Arsenal occupying fourth spot.

CCFC 1991-92

For the record, Leeds United were the 1991-92 Division One Champions four points clear of runners up Manchester United. The teams beneath the Sky Blues and therefore relegated were, in declining order, Luton Town, Notts. County and at the very bottom, West Ham United.

Thanks to CCFPA's Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images. Share Post