Rob Mason is the regular writer for the Coventry City programme and alerted me to an interesting story during the summer concerning City's first England international Reg Matthews. In 1954-55 season Reg, playing for the club in Division three South, had come to the attention of the England selectors. This was in the days when the international team was largely selected by a committee and not the manager, Walter Winterbottom. Under 23 internationals had only started the previous season and in January 1955 Reg was selected for only the second ever game as England entertained Italy at Stamford Bridge. A strong Young England team included Chelsea's Peter Sillett, brother of John, Wolves' Ron Flowers, Fulham's Johnny Haynes and Manchester United's boy wonder Duncan Edwards. England ran out easy 6-1 winners. Interestingly, Reading's Dave Meeson, who joined City in 1962, was an unused substitute.
Three weeks later Reg retained his place as England travelled to Glasgow to face a Young Scotland side. On the day before the match Reg, however, caught the wrong train at Coventry Station and arrived in Glasgow too late to play in a 'warm-up' game against Rangers reserve team at Ibrox.
Everybody but Reg, who arrived later that evening by plane, had a meal and within an hour were playing at Ibrox until, after 25 minutes the game was abandoned due to heavy rain with no score. Sunderland's young wing half Stan Anderson wore the goalkeeping jersey in Reg's absence.
The following evening at Clyde's ground, Shawfield, Young England trounced the Scots 6-0 with Duncan Edwards netting a hat-trick and other goals from Haynes, Bristol City's John Ayteo and Chelsea's Frank Blunstone. That was the final Under 23 game that season and Edwards, Blunstone, Sillett and Flowers all won promotion to the full England team.
The following season Reg won promotion to the full team, making his debut against Scotland at Hampden Park – the first of five full caps. I bet he didn't get on the wrong train again!
Reg Matthews in the England team before his final England cap in October 1956
Paul Wilkinson is a member of the Leamington & Warwick Supporters Club and posed a question during the summer. He has supported the Sky Blues for 50 years and the first match he went to was with his Dad at Highfield Road and it was against Burnley. He thought it was in April 1971 and City won 3-0 but wasn't sure. He remembers that Ralph Coates and Andy Lochhead both played that day.
The game was on 17th April 1971 and City did win 3-0 with second half goals from Ernie Hunt (2) and Billy Rafferty in front of a crowd of 18,365.
The line ups were: Coventry: Glazier: Smith, Cattlin: Machin, Blockley, Parker: Alderson (sub Mortimer), Carr, Rafferty, Hunt, Clements.
Burnley: Waiters: Angus, Latcham: Docherty, Dobson, Nulty: Casper (sub Probert), Coates, Fletcher, Bellamy, Collins.
Andy Lochhead had left Burnley for Leicester in 1968.
Colin Rogers is a Liverpool fan and wanted to know which players had been sent off in games between the Reds and the Sky Blues.
Two Coventry players have been sent off against Liverpool.
Maurice Setters, 22 Apr 1969
Ernie Hunt, 20 Nov 1971
Four Liverpool players have been sent off against Coventry:
Ian St John, 26 Dec 1967
Alun Evans, 22 Apr 1969
Jamie Redknapp, 19 Dec 1992
Rob Jones, 1 Sep 1993
Interestingly all six players were sent off at Highfield Road. No one has ever been sent off in 39 meetings at Anfield.
If you have a question about Coventry City's history please drop me an email at clarriebourton@gmail.com and follow me on Twitter @clarriebourton
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