Second row (l-r); Graham Paddon, Dietmar Bruck, Jeff Blockley, Mick Coop, Mick Kearns, John Tudor, Chris Cattlin, David Icke, Bill Glazier, Dick Dighton, Dave Clements, Brian Hill, Ernie Hunt, Maurice Setters, Tom Sinclair
Third row (l-r); Pat Saward (Assistant Manager), Norman Pilgrim (Physiotherapist), George Curtis, Neil Solman (Stadium Manager), Bob Dennison (Chief Scout), Dr Peter Coghill (Medical. Officer), Phil Mead (Vice-Chairman), Derrick Robins (Chairman), Noel Cantwell (Manager), John Camkin (Director), Jim Stevenson (Director), Peter Robins (Director), Alan Leather (Secretary), Ian Willars (P.R.O. and Programme Editor), Jimmy Andrews (Coach)
Front row (l-r); Peter Farmer, Brian Wilks, Steve Aucott, Dennis Hogg, Bobby Parker, Alan Dugdale, Bob Stockley, Dennis Mortimer, Ivan Crossley, Colin Randell, Bob Allen
By Jim Brown
The logic behind the optimism around Coventry in the summer of 1968 was grounded in the noticeable improvement exhibited in the second half of the previous season, which harÂvested 21 points (a point a game, mid-table form) as against a paltry twelve in the first half. Cantwell’s new signings had also had time to be bedded in, and were expected to play even better next time round.
The optimists were fooled. In too many respects the new season was a carbon copy of the last. By the end of February 1969 City were rock bottom, but to general astonishment they yet again staged a dramatic recovery, climaxing once more with a heroic win over Manchester United. In those days there was no rule obliging all teams to play their final game concurrently – which has put a thankful stop to tacit match-fixing – and City to endure a tortuous wait as Leicester played out five outstanding fixtures, a product of inclement weather and a protracted FA Cup run, which carried Leicester to Wembley. They needed seven points to overhaul the Sky Blues’ tally, but mustered just five, thereby finishing one point below the City.
The close season had been quiet, with no major comings or goings. The team had acquired a more settled look. Coop and Cattlin were established as regular full-backs. Curtis recovered from his broken leg to reclaim his stopper role, while young Jeff Blockley was introduced in mid-season as Curtis’s defensive partner.
In the engine room, Willie Carr, Dave Clements and Ernie Machin were virtual ever-presents, with Carr playing even better in his second season than in his first. Injury again restricted Ian Gibson’s appearances, but when he did play it emphasised just how much he was needed. To add to City’s woes, Neil Martin was out until November, and in a desperate attempt to beef up his attack Cantwell bought Tony Hateley from Liverpool for £80,000.
But the well-travelled striker proved to be a spent force, and neither he, nor supporters would claim that his time at Highfield Road was a fruitful one. The foil for the strikers was the impish Ernie Hunt, who topped the goalscoring lists with thirteen.
City were in trouble even before the season started. Building work on the new stand meant they kicked-off a week late, and opened with two away fixtures that yielded nothing. They lost their third match, too, so started off at the foot of the table looking forlornly up at the rest. Ian Gibson, the fans’ hero, was omitted from the opening game and caused a stir when he suggested it might be in everyone’s interests if he moved on. But Gibson returned with a bang for the home game with West Brom, being the architect of the 4-2 victory. Cantwell afterwards raved about Gibson’s display, declaring it to be ‘as good an inside-forward performance as I have ever seen. No club in the country would want to sell a man playing like this.’ Gibson’s return to form helped forge a run of good results with Gibson scoring regularly.
Rearranged midweek games had a habit of turning sour on the Sky Blues. Over 36,000 turned out against Chelsea in atrocious weather as City ploughed through the puddles, only to lose to a soft goal after running the Londoners ragged. A week later, 40,000 packed in to witness a virtual replica: this time it was Spurs who snatched an undeserved win. These unmerited defeats set in train a ten-match run without a league win. The signing of Hateley couldn’t avert a miserable October. West Brom exacted revenge for their earlier defeat, to the tune of 6-1, and Third Division SwinÂdon added City’s to their impressive collection of scalps on their march to the League Cup final.
A glimmer of hope came when Martin and Hateley hit it off for the one and only time in a 3-0 win at Stoke, but three home defeats ensued, leaving City in the mire and at the mercy of a capricious winter that played havoc with the fixture list. Ten weeks passed without a home game, in which time the Sky Blues clocked up three more away defeats to leave them rock bottom. This was some achievement, since they were even beneath QPR, by common consent one of the worst teams Division One had ever seen. City settled that particular argument by thrashing Rangers 5-0 and the confidence flowed. Two more victories helped persuade supporters that safety was attainable, even though the away form remained wretched. Everything boiled down to two vital evening matches, first the repeat win over Manchester United and then the crunch game with relegation rivals Leicester, and the 1-0 win, looking back, proved to be decisive. City’s final game, a goal-less draw with Liverpool, was contested in an atmosphere the like of which HighÂfield Road has rarely seen.
With City’s programme complete, all eyes turned to Leicester. First, they suffered the colossal disappointment of losing the Cup final to Manchester City, after which they had to pick themselves up to cram five league games into just two weeks. Their target to overhaul the Sky Blues was seven points. Home wins over TottenÂham and Sunderland collected four of them. Leicester lost narrowly at Ipswich, then drew at home to Everton, leaving them needing to win at Manchester United – of all places – to ensure survival. In view of Noel Cantwell’s Old Trafford connections, rumours of dirty deeds were rife. With three minutes gone Leicester were in front. They hit the woodwork twice, too, but United had reasons of their own to put on a show. It was Matt Busby’s final game in charge, and his boys eventually triumphed 3-2. Leicester were down.
