Season 1988/89 - Part 1 of 3

Defeat to Manchester United in the final game of 2004/05 sent Harry Redknapp’s ‘Saints’ spiralling into the Championship. Seven seasons later their return is imminent having experienced administration, numerous managerial changes and a ten point deduction. Dovetail this with their subsequent relegation to the third tier, the death of their owner and life hasn’t always been as glorious as it must seem now for Matt Le Tissier’s only club. Life hasn’t always been about league titles for Sir Alex’s multi-millionaires either. Season 1988/89 saw John Sillett’s City side complete the league double over Manchester United and finish in seventh place. The men from Old Trafford finished in 11^th, four points behind City with no hint of the success to follow. Life hasn’t always been a struggle for our beloved Sky Blues, we’ve more than held our own against the best in the land and witnessed some great days and nights at Highfield Road.

December 1988 brought the ‘Red Devils’ to sixth placed Coventry four games prior to the Sutton United debacle. In the match day programme Trevor Peake revealed how after a treatment room visit Michael Gynn took Brian Kilcline’s trousers to the laundry ladies, unbeknown to ‘Killer’ who was still sat on the physio couch. Gynn then went home and left the cup winning captain sat there fuming waiting for the wash to finish. Five years prior, Terry Gibson’s hat-trick sank Liverpool 4-0 in front of 20,586 fans while ‘Coventry City Clubcall’ advertised its services with no call charges listed. It certainly wasn’t free as those of us who dialled it will testify. Granada Bingo ‘Hummel’ shirts were on sale for £12.99 in the club shop and you could purchase video recordings of City matches for the same price in either VHS or Betamax format.

United’s side comprised Mark Hughes, Brian McClair, Bryan Robson and Steve Bruce while seven of the FA Cup winning line-up took to the field for City. A closely fought contest was decided by a piece of magic from then record signing David Speedie whose clever turn deceived Mal Donaghy and his cross was powered past Jim Leighton by Big Cyrille (see clip and forward to 8:55 minutes).

Big Cyrille powers home a trademark winner

Unable to get to Villa Park in 2001 this was my first, and hopefully last, ‘live’ relegation. There was a disbelieving silence amongst the crowd, stood there quite simply unable to digest what had just become final and how lame the performance was against Doncaster. Eventually the playing squad resurfaced for the ‘lap of appreciation’ to more applause than they deserved. Compare this with the half-time response to George and John’s 1987 FA Cup winners and Mick Coop’s Youth Cup winners. When Forest were relegated in Brian Clough’s final season of 1993 he was asked why they had gone down by Martin Tyler. His response ‘because we’re not good enough’ can certainly be applied to our demise, not just this season but over the past 11 years. What Mr Clough did not have was a Bryan Richardson figure creating huge debt in search of glory and a SISU Capital taking on the losses, changing their game plan two years into their tenure and then stripping our magnificent club of its assets and dignity. I wonder if Mr Richardson was watching Sky Sports News on Saturday evening and saw the ‘R’ appear next to our name in the league table. I doubt whether SISU did either.

'David Smith has a sight of goal...' Martin Tyler August 1989

Manchester City's visit to Highfield Road in August 1989 took Coventry City to a new level. City’s £1 match day programme gave driving directions to the next fixture at Millwall while ‘Oggy’ revealed in ‘Talkabout' how departing assistant physio Neil Sillett once raced onto the pitch to treat Dave Bennett only to be told after several seconds that he was treating the wrong leg. The new Asics replica shirts were on sale for £15.50 while the squad were pictured with their brand new ‘G’ registration plate Peugeot cars. Deep into injury-time City won 2-1 to top Division One for the first time ever. The man whose goal took them there was David Smith.

The night City went top of Division One for the first time ever

Born in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, Smith made his debut at Old Trafford in February 1988. City lost 1-0 but seven days later he starred on his home debut in a 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday. Not since the introduction of Stuart Pearce to the Highfield Road faithful had such an impact been made and the left-winger went on to make 182 first-team appearances, scoring 19 goals. His last goal for the club came in the first ever Premier League fixture, a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough. In his prime David Smith was a terrific player who ran at opponents with pace and trickery (see clip below). Smith’s final game for the Sky Blues came in that 1992/93 campaign, a goalless draw at Palace before he moved to Birmingham in a swap deal with David Rennie. Further moves to West Brom, Grimsby and Swansea took him over the 400 appearance mark to compliment ten Under-21 caps from his Coventry days. He retired in 2003, aged 35, and now works alongside FA Cup winner Graham Rodger at Grimsby Town in the commercial department.

Typical wing play from David Smith

John Sillett’s 1989 team held onto pole position for ten days until their visit to Millwall. Tony Cascarino and Teddy Sheringham, in their second season in Division One, were on the score sheet in the 4-1 win as their win took them to the summit, replacing City in the process. Millwall’s top flight tenure lasted just two seasons as they capitulated to bottom spot while City finished the season in 12^th position, won at Anfield and reached the semi-finals of the Littlewoods Cup. During Smith's time at Highfield Road City finished 10th, 7th, 12th, 16th and 19th. He played in the 2-0 defeat at Villa when City relied on Notts County defeating Luton to maintain our top flight status so will know all about the situation we are in with three games to play.

I just hope West Ham's form continues at Ashton Gate tonight while we deal with the resurgent South Londoners. City have to deliver, there’s no time for no-show’s any more, as supporters we need 100% from every player and a little bit of luck to get us out of this nightmare. The last nine months have felt like an eternity, I sincerely hope there’s a final twist that usurps the 1984/85 escape, it’s now or never for our beloved Coventry City.

'He's got red hair but we don't care...Andy, Andy Whing..'

Ron Atkinson's Manchester United visited Highfield Road in September 1984 on their way to winning their first 11 league games. The fixture was over by half-time as Brian Kilcline saw red for two fouls on Norman Whiteside just six games into his Sky Blues' career. Atkinson's 'Red Devils' won 3-0 which would have delighted their hordes of Coventry-based fans. His team comprised Gordon Strachan, Bryan Robson, Paul McGrath and Mark Hughes but their fine form faded after Christmas, a Terry Gibson strike giving City three points in the return fixture at Old Trafford. United finished the season in fourth place as Everton won the title by 13 points from Liverpool. Five days after the 3-0 defeat, the man who would score the last ever professional goal at the stadium was born, his name was Andrew Whing.

A product of the club’s youth policy, Birmingham-born, Aston Villa season ticket holder Whing made his debut, aged 18, in February 2003 as Burnley won 1-0 at Highfield Road. Until his departure in 2007 the popular right-back appeared 119 times and found the back of the net twice. His move to Brighton, initially on loan, turned into a permanent move before subsequent transfers to Leyton Orient and now Oxford United. Following his departure the injury-prone David McNamee, out of position Isaac Osbourne, out of his depth Adam Virgo, club captain Stephen Wright and four-time loanee Richard Duffy all filled the troublesome number two shirt. The emphatic form on the right flank of the inspirational Richard Keogh would eventually solve the problem.

Whing is forever remembered at City for his goal and celebration in the 6-2 win against Derby in April 2005 (see clip below and forward to 6:05 minutes). Replacing Claus Jorgensen with the Sky Blues leading 5-2, his first touch of the ball sent a half-volley into the roof of Lee Camp's net to seal an unforgettable day as we bid farewell to the stadium we should never have left. With Oxford on the verge of a play-off spot in League Two 'Whingy' may well be playing in League One next season. He has not played at the Ricoh since his departure but, when he does, he'll be guaranteed a warm ovation from the City faithful for his efforts in sky blue.

Andy Whing's magical Sky Blue moment

Fast forward seven years and the usually excellent Lee Camp's error of judgement for Forest against Bristol City plunged City back into the relegation zone they departed just seven days ago. City added to this with an inept performance at Ashton Gate. 2300 supporters in the ground and many others worldwide were let down badly by a team unable to register a shot on target in a game that mattered. The no-show from so many of our 'stars' was hugely disappointing.The game was built up for weeks, we sold out the away end each spending around £50 to watch our team and then they fail to turn up. Nothing less than a win at Burnley will suffice and then it's look over your shoulder time to ensure Birmingham and Marlon King defeat the red side of Bristol to take us into the Millwall game.

It's back to his Roots for Freddy

Sky Blues' supporters spent the summer of 2008 eagerly anticipating the signing of Wolves’ striker Freddy Eastwood. Prior to a lean spell at the Black Country club, he had scored a goal every two games for Southend United during his three seasons at Roots Hall and famously scored the winner against Manchester United in the League Cup with a fantastic free-kick (see clip below). His league debut saw him score after seven seconds and go on to complete a hat-trick in their win over Swansea. Chris Coleman’s eventual capture raised fans’ expectations after the near final day relegation at Charlton Athletic three months prior and we hoped we had finally landed that elusive 20 goal marksman, a rare breed at Coventry City.

Freddy Eastwood's finest moment (sadly not in sky blue)


Eastwood became the first player to score a hat-trick at the Ricoh Arena and the only Sky Blues player to score a home league treble since relegation. Peterborough were the visitors in December 2009 as Coleman's men won 3-2 and Craig Mackail-Smith scored twice for the ‘Posh’before subsequently transferring to newly promoted Brighton last summer. In April 2012 the ‘Seagulls’ are on the verge of a play-off position while City's number ten has returned on loan to Southend as the ‘Shrimpers’aim for a play-off spot in League Two. So why has Mackail-Smith progressed his career as Eastwood looks back on four underachieving seasons in sky blue?

With a great first touch, vision and passing ability, my first impression of Eastwood was 'well worth the entrance money'. On the minus side I noticed a lack of willing to harry opposition defenders and work for the team, a criticism I still levy to this day. While strike partner Clinton Morrison never stopped pressurising defenders, his fellow front man laboured, Stern John-esque, which used to infuriate the former Palace and Birmingham frontman during matches. Compare this with Mackail-Smith, a striker with a prodigious work-rate whose career has flourished by improving all aspects of his game. It is 118 games since a City player took home the match ball and what disappoints is the sheer weight of anticipation lauded upon his arrival which has been extinguished this season due to poor fitness levels. As with Kevin Thornton, when his name was read out over the PA system it brought cheers as City fans knew what he was capable of producing. The current side work tremendously hard for each other and each player puts in a shift, Eastwood would simply not fit in with this mantra. Craig Mackail-Smith stands on the verge of the Premiership while Freddy Eastwood will soon be on the PFA available list at the end of June. What a waste of a footballing talent.

Cody McDonald's goal at Hull was a magical moment, the away win finally secured and the relegation zone finally evaded, hopefully for good. Andy Thorn's side has improved immeasurably since the new year. When Peterborough beat us 1-0 on the 17th December we were eight points adrift and with our form in the second half of the season traditionally our downfall there was not too much to look forward to as a City supporter. Moving on from the Bristol City victory on Boxing Day we are in a position where our destiny is in our own hands. Coventry City never do things the straightforward way, yet two wins over the Easter period will simplify matters somewhat. We will be very much on our way to one of the greatest escapes of all time.