Middle row (l-r); Ian Painter, Brian Borrows, Jake Findlay, Brian Kilcline, Steve Ogrizovic, Dean Emerson, Lloyd McGrath
Front row (l-r); Paul Culpin, Greg Downs, John Sillett (Chief Coach), George Dalton (Physiotherapist), David Phillips, Michael Gynn
By Jim Brown
Coventry fans were fed up with the phrase ‘never again’, trotted out three seasons running after nail-biting relegation battles. The appointment as manager of George Curtis backed up by the elevation of former player John Sillett to first-team coach, was seen by most supporters at the time as unadventurous and unambitious. Terry Yorath had been the name on many people’s lips, but the City board veered away from the people’s choice and plumped for the option that they believed offered stability.
Nor were supporters reassured by the club’s summer transfers. Alan Brazil was sold to QPR for £200,000. Suspicions that Brazil was not fit were confirmed soon afterwards when he was forced to retire with back problems. Scotsmen Jim McInally and Dave Bowman were sold to Dundee United for £130,000. Finally, early in the season, Wayne Turner left for Brentford for £35,000.
The net proceeds went towards the purchase of Scunthorpe striker Keith Houchen (for £60,000), Manchester City’s Welsh midÂfielder David Phillips (£50,000, plus Perry Suckling) and Stoke’s Under-21 international Ian Painter (£80,000).
The major difference from the previous season was the tactics. McGrath was the lynchpin in midfield, supported by Phillips and Pickering. Up front, Regis started the season alongside Houchen, but Dave Bennett soon established himself as Cyrille’s preferred partner and dazzled in his new role. Sillett appears to have been the first City boss to consult Regis about his preferred style of play, and was told that the big man wanted the ball to his feet rather than in the air as a target man.
An unfortunate first-day defeat at West Ham was followed by an eight-game unbeaten run, the highlight of which was a 3-0 win against Newcastle in which Regis was outstanding. After so many false dawns, the fans were not likely to get carried away, and were certainly not returning in droves, as the 11,000 gate testified. The squad was so small that supporters dreaded the inevitable injury crisis that would scythe down the team.
The good run was ended, predictably, by Aston Villa, who were still able to win at Highfield Road despite having their worst season for years. But the snap purchase of Rotherham’s midfield dynamo Dean Emerson, following an eye-catching display against City in the Littlewoods Cup, was the catalyst of another string of good results. The best of these was a superbly professional win over league leaders Nottingham Forest. A cruel Littlewoods Cup replay exit at Anfield, after City ought to have won the first tie, did little to dampen City’s league form. By Christmas, not only had the Sky Blues rarely been out of the top eight, but they also boasted one of the best defensive records in the division.
The Christmas home win over Tottenham finally won over the doubting Thomas’s. An epic encounter, described by some as the game of the decade, saw City twice come from behind, before Regis clinched a 4-3 win in injury-time.
The FA Cup run started inauspiciously at home to Phil Neal’s Bolton Wanderers, who were sent packing 3-0 on an icy pitch. Next up were Manchester United, still finding their feet under new manager Alex Ferguson. Keith Houchen, the man destined to be dubbed ‘Roy of the Rovers’, snatched a goal, City soaked up the pressure and the first signs of Cup fever were in the air.
The Victoria Ground was the next stop and Michael Gynn scored the winner following a bout of intense Stoke pressure. 8,000 City fans made the trip, and were rewarded by seeing the Sky Blues through to only their fifth quarter-final in 104 years. The win over Stoke was the second in a run of six victories, which established a post-war club record. Sheffield Wednesday were City’s victims in the quarter-finals, in what became known as ‘Houchen’s match’. Sillett had had to shuffle the side following Emerson’s injury the previous week, and Bennett took his place to set up all three City goals.
Not surprisingly, the nearer City got to Wembley the more their league form suffered. Defeats at Wimbledon and Villa preceded the semi-final at Hillsborough, when City needed extra-time to dispose of Leeds United in an exciting and dramatic contest. The league run-in to Wembley was largely carefree, with City for once safe from relegation. The Sky Blues played relaxed football and ended the league season unbeaten in seven games. Along the way, Liverpool’s title hopes were buried, 1-0, before a gate of almost 27,000, City’s biggest league crowd since 1981. Home gates, averaging 12,000 in February, rocketed in the final weeks when attendance at league games was needed to stand any hope of obtaining a Wembley ticket.
Sadly, Brian Borrows’ knee injury in the final home game denied him a place in the greatest day in the club’s history. He sat out Wembley, alongside the equally unfortunate Dean Emerson.
At Wembley the dreams of all Coventry fans at last came true in a fairy-tale game as City twice came from behind to win the FA Cup. In a classic contest, City’s never-say-die attitude won the day over the superstars from north London.
Spurs took the honours in a breathless first half, scoring through Clive Allen in the second minute and despite Bennett’s equaliser soon after, Spurs restored their advantage before the break when Hoddle’s teasing free-kick bounced off Kilcline and ended up in the net.
City began to show their true colours in the second half and just after the hour, Bennett, who was seeing more of the ball, crossed for Houchen to equalise with a famous diving header. In extra-time City grabbed the winner when McGrath’s cross was deflected off Mabbutt’s knee over Clemence.
