Sunday 20 August 2017

Jim's column 19.8.2017

Fifty years ago today the Sky Blues took the field at Turf Moor, Burnley for the club's first ever game in Division One. After forty seasons in the Football League Coventry City had reached the pinnacle of the English game by winning the Second Division. Two days earlier however manager Jimmy Hill had dropped a massive bombshell, resigning on the eve of the club's biggest season. He was staying on however until the club appointed a replacement (a task that took almost two months) and he was in charge at Turf Moor. Over 7,000 City fans made the trip north to see if the Sky Blues could extend that 25-match unbeaten run against Burnley, but there was disappointment as the highly experienced and savvy Lancashire team defeated City 2-1 with goals from Willie Irvine and Frank Casper. A late own goal by Dave Merrington got City on the score-sheet but the hordes set off back home to the Midlands with the unusual smell of defeat in their nostrils.

There was an interesting kit worn by City that day. The slight colour clash between City's sky blue jerseys and Burnley's claret shirts with sky blue sleeves could have persuaded them to wear their change kit but that was all red and definitely clashed with the home side. From somewhere an all-white kit – believed to be the outfit worn by Jimmy Hill's International XI (his charity team) – was produced. City had worn it only once before, to my knowledge, at Huddersfield in the final away game of 1965-66 season, but it never saw the light of day in a Coventry game again. For Coventry City shirt collectors – and there are a growing number – this one must be the 'Penny Black' of the hobby.

Talking of Burnley I had an interesting question from Jon Ryder about a friendly game at Turf Moor in 1990, prompted by City's use of trialists in pre-season friendlies this summer. Jon remembers a Hungarian playing for City that day and wondered if I could confirm the fact.

The player in question was Zoltan Csucsanszky, a Hungarian International winger who manager John Sillett had brought to the club on trial. On 7th August 1990 City met Burnley, then a Fourth Division club with the following starting line up, which included six of the victorious 1987 team, was: Ogrizovic: Borrows, Edwards, Gynn, Kilcline, Peake, Csucsanszky, McGrath, Regis, Speedie, Smith.

The 24-year old Hungarian, who had won five full caps for his country whilst playing for Videoton, pulled up after 17 minutes and was carried off the field in what was his first public appearance for the club. I don't know what the specific injury was but it was serious and ended his brief trial with the club. The records say he didn't play professional football until he re-appeared the following season for Hungarian club Vac before a short spell with German lower-league club Jahn Regensburg. I believe he retired in 1993, possibly because of his injury at Burnley in 1990 and went into coaching and is currently under 19 coach at his old club Videoton.

Following the injury, Kevin McDonald came on for Zoltan and Dougie McGuire, Howard Clark, Tony Dobson and Steve Livingstone also came on as substitutes as City eased to a 2-0 victory in front of a crowd of 3,747.

A reminder that my latest book, Play Up Sky Blues, the story of the memorable 1966-67 season, is due to be published in October and is available for pre-order on Amazon.

If you have any questions regarding the club's history please contact me on clarriebourton@gmail.com and I will endeavour to answer them.

Monday 14 August 2017

Jim's column 12.8.2017

 55 years ago this month Coventry City kicked off the first full season under the management of Jimmy Hill. The former Fulham player had been appointed in succession to Billy Frith the previous November and after a busy summer in the transfer market his new team were unveiled at the opening game, like this season, in a home game with Notts County.

The new all Sky-Blue kit made its first appearance in a competitive game and a complete new forward line was on view. Outside-right Willie Humphries had played one game at the end of the 1961-62 season and was joined against Notts by Hubert Barr, Terry Bly, Jimmy Whitehouse and Bobby Laverick. In defence JH stuck with the players he had inherited with the exception of another new signing, John Sillett, at right-back. Like Humphries, 'Sill' had arrived as the previous season ended but had had little opportunity to show City fans his Division One pedigree. Arthur Lightening was in goal, Frank Austin at left-back and the renowned half-back line of Farmer-Curtis-Kearns made up the eleven.

Over 22,000 rolled up to Highfield Road, the biggest opening home crowd for seven years, and expectations were high on a hot sticky day. A nervous City managed 30 shots on target but couldn't make the breakthrough. Then with 14 minutes left debutant Barr smashed home a right-foot shot and seven minutes later the same player set up Bly's header for number two. A 2-0 home win was just reward for a solid performance.

Last Saturday the Sky Blues went one better, winning 3-0, again with two late goals. Let's hope that's a good omen as 1962-63 became the launchpad for the Sky Blue Revolution.

After failing to score more than two goals in any league game last season, few fans expected three on the opening day, let alone a hat-trick from Jodi Jones. Jones wasn't the most consistent of players last season and scored only one league goal but he certainly came out of the blocks well this term. Jodi is still only 19 and although he's a year older than the youngest City hat-trick scorer, Adam Armstrong (v Crewe in January 2016) he is the fifth youngest. Tommy English, Willie Carr and Ronnie Rees all scored before their 20th birthday and were younger than Jones.

Mark Robins' overhaul of City's squad this summer was reflected on Saturday with two stats. There were seven debutants in the starting line up and two more came off the bench during the game. The total of nine (ten if you include the returning Michael Doyle) is the most in the club's history, beating the eight used by Gary McAllister on the opening day in 2003 which was equalled in 2014 by Stephen Pressley at Bradford. Some people have pointed out that there were no Academy players in City's line-up on Saturday. This was the first time in over seven years that this has happened. The last time was in April 2010 in a 3-0 defeat at Reading. That day Marcus Hall, Shaun Jeffers and Jordan Clarke were all on the bench but none of them used. On Tuesday night the academy boys were out in force with six of them playing some part in the League Cup tie with Blackburn, including two more debutants, Warwick-born Kyle Finn and Cov kid Jordan Ponticelli.

A reminder that my latest book, Play Up Sky Blues, the story of the memorable 1966-67 season, is due to be published in October and is available for pre-order on Amazon.


If you have any questions regarding the club's history please contact me on clarriebourton@gmail.com and I will endeavour to answer them.