Lee Hurst - from Nuneaton to the Premier League

The influx of ‘youth team’ academy starlets augurs well for the future of Coventry City with transfer fees now a distant memory. In the late 70’s and early 80’s there was a steady stream of brilliant young talent on show at Highfield Road as the club’s reputation for providing opportunity at first team level shone through. Sadly, many of the stars on show were sold by the summer of 1983 and moved on, some to greater things, others not. Bobby Gould wheeled and dealed in the transfer market to bring lower-league talent to Highfield Road and three seasons later Ogrizovic, Peake, Gynn, Kilcline, Houchen and company thrilled millions at Wembley in our finest hour.

In February 1991 Nuneaton-born Lee Hurst, aged 20, was given his first team league debut at Wimbledon's Plough Lane by Terry Butcher. He would light up the inaugural Premier League campaign, season 1992/93, as part of Bobby Gould’s entertaining side during his second spell as manager.Wearing the number eight shirt, Hurst partnered Stewart Robson and then Lloyd McGrath in a City side that would finish 15^th after becoming the first leaders of the Premier League and winning their first four away games.

When Villa were swept aside on Boxing Day City sat fourth and by the beginning of March they were fifth only to fall away during the run-in. One of the outstanding results of the season saw Blackburn Rovers defeated 5-2 at Ewood Park in a fixture remembered for a fantastic long-range strike from Hurst (forward to 1:10 mins). His energy and left-foot gave balance to the all-action styles of Robson and McGrath and it was a huge loss when he was sidelined through a knee injury the following pre-season which led to his retirement.

Blackburn 2 Coventry 5

Lee Hurst’s final game for Coventry came in the 3-3 thriller with Leeds on the final day of ‘92/93, also the final sighting of the Spion Kop before its demolition. He never scored a senior goal at Highfield Road but his style of play made him hugely popular with the City support and he was a hard act to follow. Last season he appeared at half-time on the pitch during Legends’ Day, 19 years after his last game for City, to huge applause, fondly remembered after all those years. In total he appeared 55 times for the Sky Blues and both of his goals came while wearing the ghastly red and white away kit of the time.

If any of the academy starlets make the same impression as Hurst we will have some player on our hands to take the club forward again. Not many City teams have hit fourth place in the top flight but Hurst was part of that side who managed the feat and with Mick Quinn's arrival they were great to watch.

Steve Livingstone's League Cup legacy

It wasn't solely Keith Houchen who excelled in cup competitions during his time in sky blue. While Houchen shone in the FA Cup a City youngster came through the ranks to leave his own legacy in the League Cup and so nearly take City back to Wembley in 1990. Having introduced himself to supporters with his FA Youth Cup final winning goal days prior to the cup win, Middlesbrough-born Steve Livingstone stepped up to the first-team squad and wrote his name into the history books.

With fierce competition for a striking berth following the Wembley triumph, Big Cyrille, David Speedie, Houchen, Gary Bannister and Kevin Drinkell provided the barrier to first-team opportunities which reflected in his league appearances. When ‘Livvo’ opened his account for the club he didn't stop there as Sunderland left Highfield Road on the receiving end of a 5-0 scoreline. John Sillett's men went through to the semi-finals after the last four goal haul by a Coventry player in an FA or League Cup fixture, 22 years ago.

As you can see from the clip below Livingstone was a powerful centre-forward who combined well in harness with Big Cyrille. Of his 15 goals for City, ten came in the League Cup including two in the 5-4 epic against Forest, as he made 42 appearances in total before big spending Blackburn Rovers signed him along with fellow youth cup winner Tony Dobson. Further moves to Chelsea and Grimsby saw him end his career with ten seasons in Cleethorpes leading the line along with Dion Dublin-style cameos in defence.

City 5 (Livingstone 4,Gynn) Sunderland 0 League Cup Q-Final

The Richard Keogh-gate drama was finally sorted this week, not to Bristol City or Cardiff City, surprisingly to Derby County who have installed him as team captain. Taking the unprecedented step of releasing a statement on the club website Keogh explained his reasons for leaving. For a man who always gave his best in a City shirt he'll be guaranteed the kind of ovation afforded him when he left the pitch as a City player for the final time following his red card against Doncaster. As he departed summer signings six and seven arrived in the form of Derby striker Callum Ball on a season-long loan along with Manchester United defender Reece Brown, brother of Wes. With just over three weeks until the trek to Yeovil its seven more signings than I thought we’d make this close season with more rumoured to be on the way. I'm optimistic, it could be the start of something good at long last.

Andy Pearce - from Halesowen to Highfield Road

Upon his arrival at Highfield Road in November 1990, player-manager Terry Butcher made a number of unpopular decisions with the FA Cup era squad. During his 15-month tenure he saw fit to sideline Big Cyrille, Trevor Peake, Brian Kilcline and David Speedie as he looked to stamp his influence on team selection. The man signed to replace the cup-winning captain arrived for just £15,000 from non-league Halesowen Town in March 1991, entering league football at the relatively late age of 24. His name was Andy Pearce and he would score the winning goal on his home debut in front of the West Terrace.

On that March 1991 night at Highfield Road, Pearce rose above Iain Dowie with seven minutes remaining to seal a 2-1 victory as you can see from the clip below (forward to 3:35 mins). He achieved what all City supporters could only dream of, scoring the winner at Highfield Road the first time you've ever played there and celebrating in front of the West End. All four of his City goals came at the great stadium with his final strike, in the inaugrual Premier League season, a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace whose defence comprised messrs Shaw and Coleman. Pearce made 81 appearances for City as he partnered Trevor Peake and Peter Atherton before the arrival of David Busst in early 1993. The popular Busst's arrival from non-league Moor Green signalled the end of Pearce's time at City, one of his final games brought that calamitous own goal at Loftus Road when a clearance spun off his right boot to leave’Oggy’ helpless and City on the way to defeat.

Saint & Greavsie show March 1991 City 2 Luton 1


Sheffield Wednesday signed him for £500,000 where he stayed for two seasons before his career ground to a halt during four seasons at Wimbledon where he made less than a dozen starts, departing in 1999. At Hillsborough he achieved cult status with a derby day goal against the Blades while his last career appearance at Highfield Road came in a ‘Crazy Gang’ shirt back in 1995. Not renowned for comebacks, nine-man City fought back from 3-1 down to level at 3-3 as Pearce partnered Andy Thorn in their central defence while Richard Shaw saw red for City along with Paul Williams.

Last season it took three months to score eight goals. On Saturday, albeit against Hinckley United, City found the net eight times without reply. The arrival of Frenchmen Kevin Malaga and William Edjenguele are the fourth and fifth signings of the close season, strengthening the defence as Richard Keogh's time at the Ricoh seems to be drawing to a close. In recent seasons only Mo Konjic can compare to Keogh's cult-like status, his efforts in sky blue always appreciated by the supporters following his signing from Carlisle United. His stock has risen and he'll always be welcome back at the club and guaranteed a warm reception. It was expected he would depart (even though he officially hasn't yet) as most decent players do at Coventry yet you just clung onto the hope that he might just be the exception. Andy Thorn has kept his cards close to his chest so far having learnt his lesson from the Marlon King affair. He may well have a few more aces up his sleeve, hopefully a number nine to complement McDonald and Elliott, with a 20 goal marksman a must.

Chris Marsden - the one City let slip away

The Sky Blues’ second Premier League season saw the brief introduction of the midfield playmaker we hope recent signing John Fleck will mirror. Signed on loan from Huddersfield Town, Phil Neal’s signing of Chris Marsden in the winter of 1993 was a masterstroke. The balding left-footer dovetailed perfectly with Roy Wegerle and Peter Ndlovu as Neal’s side hovered in mid-table. When it came to signing him on a permanent deal his injury record stalled the City hierarchy and Wolves took him to Molineux.

Marsden’s seven appearances showed the City faithful his ability to link the play with neat passing, keeping the team moving forward. An excellent example is displayed in the clip below as Sky Sports’ ‘Monday Night Football’ featured newly promoted Swindon Town’s visit to Highfield Road. Marsden’s break from his own area (forward to 3:40 mins) set up Sean Flynn to send Wegerle racing clear to score and City led as the clock ticked to 88 minutes. Then came the comical moment when Sky’s cameras lost the live pictures leaving host Richard Keys to discuss with guest Terry Yorath how City deserved the win. Moments later his demeanour altered to break the shock news of Andy Mutch’s late leveller, witnessed only by supporters in the ground.

City v Swindon Town January 1994 Highfield Road

In Neal’s wisdom he allowed Marsden to sign for our Black Country neighbours before spells with Notts County, Stockport and Birmingham propelled him to five seasons back in the top flight with Southampton. His replacement at City was Sandy Robertson, a midfielder labelled by Rangers then manager Graeme Souness as the ‘best young player in Britain’. He signed for £250,000 in the week Marsden departed but his spell at Highfield Road did not work out and he would make just four substitute appearances before Dundee United took him back home. Let’s hope the similarity (Rangers) with Fleck ends there as Andy Thorn’s ‘bang, bang, bang’ transfer policy sweeps into action and revives fan optimism for the coming season.

With the ever dependable Martin Cranie departing along with Gael Bigirimana and James McPake, we await Richard Keogh’s plans for 2012/13. Bursting through the revolving door, the signing of Stephen Elliott appeared from nowhere while we warded off a number of suitors for Fleck and Kilbane which is a first for us as a club in recent years. We normally lose out in transfer wars mirroring the way we lost out on the pitch last season. The new arrivals must bring in a winning mentality, the last time we won a game after trailing was Watford in 2009, it’s far too long, needs rectifying and will be tested on day one at Yeovil Town.