Sky Blue Manager- John Sillett

On this day (12th November) in 1988, manager John Sillett chose a team to take on Luton Town at Highfield Road in a Division One game in front of 12,625. Snoz's Sky Blues came away with a narrow 1-0 victory but the game contained controversy. Sparks also flew as CCFC's brand new scoreboard managed to trip a fuse and blow one of the Highfield Road floodlights!

Graham in 1987 Sky Blue

The Hatters had four team members with past or future Sky Blue connections, goalie Les Sealey (CCFC 1976-83), defender Ashley Grimes (CCFC 1983-84) and forwards Roy Wegerle (CCFC 1992-95) and now CCFPA member Mick Harford (CCFC 1993-94).

On the pitch the only goal of a pretty uninspiring game was scored from a header by the Sky Blues defender Graham Rodger who converted a cross from now fellow CCFPA member David Smith eight minutes before the break.

Graham also won four caps for England Under 21's (he is on the back row right in the picture below). Coincidentally he also later joined Luton Town before finishing his career at Grimsby Town.

Perhaps the Sky Blues should have considered themselves hard done by as the Hatters' former Sky Blues shot stopper Les Sealey (later taken from the game at a tragically early age) appeared to get away with clawing two CCFC headers back from over his own line without any of the match officials noticing! Nonetheless the points were very welcome for the Sky Blues who had won only two of their first ten games.

Thanks to former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson you can see brief highlights of the game by clicking on the link or image below:-

https://youtube.com/watch?v=oYuL-RL7hAE

The late John Sillett's Sky Blues that day were:-

Les Sealey in Sky Blue action

Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, Greg Downs, Steve Sedgley, Brian Kilcline, Graham Rodger, Howard Clark, David Speedie, the late Cyrille Regis, Gary Bannister and David Smith.

Apart from Gary all the team members (and their gaffer) that day went on to join this Association we are proud to say!

The Hatters XI (managed by Ray Harford) lined up as follows:-

The late Les Sealey, Rob Johnson, Ashley Grimes, Steve Williams (sub. David Oldfield), Steve Foster, Marvin Johnson, Danny Wilson, Roy Wegerle, Mick Harford, Ricky Hill and Kingsley Black Referee:- K.Burge

City played the return with the Hatters in mid April and lost comprehensively by three clear goals! Nevertheless, the Sky Blues continued to prove hard to beat only losing eleven and drawing thirteen games by the end of the season. Tight wins and these draws saw them finish in seventh spot in Division One and Luton Town did enough for another season in the top flight surviving in sixteenth place two points and two places above the drop.

CCFC 1988-89

Arsenal pipped Liverpool on goal average for the title as Middlesbrough, West Ham United and bottom club Newcastle United went down.

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

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