On This Day 1969 – Super Sky Blues Rifle 5 Past Relegation Rivals Rangers
On this Tuesday night (25th February) in 1969 the Sky Blues under manager Noel Cantwell were getting ready to meet Queen’s Park Rangers in a Division One relegation struggle at Highfield Road. This would be their first home game for ten weeks after three successive away defeats and points were desperately needed to lift City off the foot of the league. They were ‘on a double’ having defeated Rangers 1-0 in London the previous December thanks to a lone Willie Carr goal, so had a modicum of confidence. Les Allen managed the London team at this time.
However, the crowd of 26,399 present at the home of the Sky Blues to see the action were ecstatic to receive such an unexpected reward unfold as the Sky Blues demolished the away side by five clear goals. This ‘old five’ achievement became their best win of the season, their first home win since September and served to put Q.P.R. at the bottom instead of the Sky Blues! The stadium clock even stopped in surprise!
The Sky Blues scoring was kicked off as early as the tenth minute with an Ernie Machin pile-driver, followed up by a second just before the half hour from (another deeply missed Sky Blue) ‘Ernie’ Hunt. The two goal half-time advantage was extended after 58 minutes by centre-forward Neil Martin and the rout was than completed by a brace (70 and 80 minutes) from Irish Sky Blue winger Dave Clements.
Bill Glazier, Mick Coop, Chris Cattlin, Ernie Machin*, George Curtis*, Brian Hill*, Trevor Shepherd (sub. Graham Paddon*), Ernie Hunt*, Neil Martin, Willie Carr and Dave Clements
Sadly both Ernie’s, Brian, Graham and, most recently, ‘Iron Man’ George have since passed away. All the members of this team, apart from Graham, later went on to join this Association.
The Glaziers, as they were known then (rather than the Eagles today), put out the following team:-
Mike Kelly, Ian Watson, Dave Clement, Tony Hazell, Ron Hunt, Allan Harris*, Ian Morgan, Mick Leach, Frank Clarke, Rodney Marsh and Barry Bridges Referee:- G.Kew
Ex Sky Blue full back, the late Allan Harris (who was a CCFPA member before his death) was in the Rangers side that day and future Sky Blue skipper Gerry Francis was also on their books that season.
