John Sillett CCFC gaffer

On this day (11th November) in 1989, thirty four years ago former Sky Blue sixties player turned eighties 'gaffer' John Sillett saw his team, handily placed in the top half of Division One, take on Southampton at Highfield Road. A crowd of 12,171 saw the game decided by the only goal scored in the last quarter of the game by Sky Blue forward Kevin Drinkell. Kevin popped up fifteen minutes from time with a superb volley from a Greg Downs pass (after Kenilworth born Saints' goalie Tim Flowers seemed to have brought down Cyrille Regis). This was Drinkell's fourth goal in six league and cup games.

Kevin in the Sky Blue

Kevin's goal gave the Sky Blues all the points but the win would have been much clearer had the man sharing Drinkell's moniker, Sky Blue defender (and now fellow CCFPA member) Kevin MacDonald not drilled an eighth minute penalty wide (not Trevor Peake as the video below claims). The spot kick was awarded for a foul in the box on City's David Speedie by the Saints' Neil 'Razor' Ruddock!

City's hard won victory, against a side containing a young Alan Shearer, was all the more creditable given that Chris Nicholl's Saints' side had only lost one game in their last twelve before this defeat!

Thanks to former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson you can watch some of the match action by clicking on the link or image below:-

Kevin Mac in action

(The late) John Sillett's men lined up as follows:-

Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, Greg Downs, Kevin MacDonald (sub. Howard Clark), Peter Billing, Trevor Peake, Micky Gynn, David Speedie, the late Cyrille Regis, Kevin Drinkell and David Smith

We are delighted to report that the Sky Blues 'gaffer' and every member of this team later went on to join CCFPA

Chris Nicholl's Saints' team took the field as follows:-

Tim Flowers, Jason Dodd, Francis Benali, Jimmy Case, Neil Ruddock, Russell Osman, Matt Le Tissier, Glenn Cockerill Alan Shearer, Paul Rideout and Rod Wallace. Referee: D.Allison

The Saints' 'keeper Kenilworth born Tim Flowers, of course, played a handful of games for the Sky Blues in 2002 on loan cover from Leicester City and was assistant 'gaffer' to Iain Dowie for a year from February 2007.

CCFC 1989-90

City went on to play the return league game at the Dell on the last but one game of the season at the end of April. The south coast club got full revenge beating the Sky Blues by three clear goals. They also had end-of-season bragging rights finishing seventh in Division One whereas the Sky Blues had to be content with a twelfth place finish six points shy of any relegation trouble.

Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton Athletic and Millwall took the drop whilst Liverpool were Champions nine points clear of Aston Villa!

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