Jimmy Hill CCFC Manager 1961-67

On this day (10th November) in 1964 Second Division Sky Blues were in League Cup action in the Fourth Round against managerless Sunderland of Division One having achieved promotion from Division Three the previous season. Sky Blue fans' memories naturally turned to that magnificent 5th Round F.A.Cup 2-1 victory over the Mackems at Highfield Road in March 1963 in front of over 40,000 fans and they fervently hoped for a repeat! Several members of both teams would have remembered playing in that game.

The Sky Blue 'Hud'

Jimmy Hill's Boys had already seen off Ipswich Town 4-1 at home in the second round and Mansfield Town by the odd goal in five, again at Highfield Road. The draw had been kind as the Sky Blues were able to play their higher league opponents once more at home and a bumper crowd of 19,227 had turned out to watch the spectacle. Hopes were high as the Rokerites had so far failed to win on their travels!

Ken Hale in the Sky Blue

There were three braces scored that day. The double scored by CCFC Legend (later CCFPA member) George Hudson (15 & 38 minutes) sandwiched the pair struck wihin a couple of minutes (just after the half-hour) by Sky Blues inside man Ken Hale and enabled the home team to roar into an apparently unassailable 4-0 half-time lead. Perhaps predictably with such a lead the Sky Blues slackened off in the second period.

The brace from the Black Cats' John O'Hare twenty minutes apart (on 58 & 78 minutes) during the second half put only a slightly better gloss on the result. In truth the score flattered the north-easterners and the result was never in doubt.

All the main match details can be found below:-

Every single member of the Sky Blues team that Tuesday night went on to join the Sky Blues except the late John Smith. Sadly, we have also since lost Ken Hale, Ernie Machin, and more recently 'keeper Bob, 'The Hud', the 'Iron Man' and very recently Ronnie Rees from that side which did CCFC so proud. Dietmar Bruck is a current CCFPA committee member!

CCFC 1964-65 with the D3 trophy

Whisper it quietly but the Sky Blues went out in the Fifth Round of the League Cup, again at Highfield Road, rather emphatically. M69 foes Leicester City had a field day and swamped us 8-1 in a one way disaster for the Third Division club. The 'Hud' scored the Sky Blues lone goal.

After the early season euphoria had dissipated the Sky Blues began to settle into mid table security. They eventually and creditably consolidated in Division Two with a comfortable tenth place finish girding their loans for the promotion push in subsequent years. Swindon Town finished relegated next to bottom with only Swansea beneath them. It was Newcastle United's year for the Division Two title a point ahead of also promoted Northampton Town.

Thanks to CCFPA's Mike Young for sourcing the images and graphic. Share Post