On This Day 1990 – Sillett’s Sky Blues Sort Chelsea At H.R.
On this day (3rd February) in 1990 the Sky Blues, at that time a mid-table side as the second half of the season progressed had a tricky Division One game at Highfield Road against top six side Chelsea.
Apparently Ian Crook of Norwich City was set to sign for City but this didn’t materialise.
However, CCFC ‘gaffer’ John Sillett had given new £900k Scottish signing Kevin Gallacher his debut today in the forward line. (Now a CCFPA member) ‘Gally’ inspired the Sky Blues’ attack to score three for the first time in the league this season and carve out a 3-2 win. This victory was adequate recompense for the City’s single goal defeat at Stamford Bridge at the end of September.
The Sky Blues got off to a fantastic start with a 28 second goal from our young striker (and now CCFPA member) Steve Livingstone. Even better, after just three minutes, a Kevin McAllister own goal gifted the Sky Blues their second. At 2-0 up with most of the match left the game should have been wrapped up even before the break. The Sky Blues’ fans that made up most of the 15,295 crowd must have expected a comfortable City win.
However, the Blues were allowed to fight back to equalise. First, eight minutes before half-time, the Pensioners’ Tony Dorigo pulled one back for the visitors.
Worse, three minutes into the second period the Blues Kerry Dixon (whose dad Mike used to play for CCFC) scored the Chelsea second. Finally, with just twenty minutes left the Sky Blues’ legendary centre forward Cyrille Regis pounced to take the points for Sillett’s men.
The two teams lined up as follows:-
Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrow, Greg Downs, Kevin MacDonald (sub. Tony Dobson -46), Peter Billing, Tevor Peake, Kevin Gallacher, Micky Gynn, (the late) Cyrille Regis, Steve Livingstone and David Smith
We are pleased to observe that every member of this Sky Blue team, as well as the ‘gaffer’ later joined CCFPA! Sadly we have since had to mourn two Sky Blue legends lost to the game, ‘Manager ‘Snoz’ and ‘Big Cyrille’.
Chelsea (managed by Bobby Campbell)
