From Crewe to Clarrie - in search of a Sky Blues' hat-trick

Over ten years have elapsed since Sky Blues’ supporters cheered a hat-trick on opposition soil. The Alexandra Stadium (formerly Gresty Road), home of Saturday’s opponents Crewe Alexandra, witnessed Roland Nilsson’s side coast to a 6-1 win back in February 2002. £5 million (cough) signing Lee Hughes took home the match ball while David Thompson and a brace from Laurent Delorge completed the rout. Gary McSheffrey was on the bench that day and would himself contribute a treble eight months later in the 8-0 thrashing of Rushden and Diamonds in the Worthington Cup.

With just two league trebles during the eleven second tier seasons (Freddy Eastwood against Peterborough for the second) there’s hope that surely this year will see a glut of goals. Cody McDonald looks sharp and opened his account down at Yeovil but he has some way to go to match the exploits of record goal scorer Clarrie Bourton. During his City career (1931-1937) he scored 13 hat-tricks with seven in 1931/32 alone when he set the club record of 50 goals in a season.

In the late eighties David Speedie claimed two headed trebles in one season, the 4-3 loss to Middlesbrough and the 5-0 destruction of Sheffield Wednesday, both at Highfield Road. The irony of the latter, as just five days later Sutton United and their Gander Green Lane ground took top billing on Match of The Day as we made national headlines. I’ve selected Speedie’s treble against Wednesday in the clip below for the quality of the goals and a reminder to the current crop that we really would like to see a City player topping the scoring charts this year and smashing the 20-goal barrier.

City 5 Sheff Wed 0 (Speedie 3, Sedgley, Kilcline (pen) )

When I wrote my 'Coventry City Miscellany' last year the section on Sky Blues’ managers detailed an average tenure of just over two years. Andy Thorn’s sacking on Sunday after less than 18 months in charge now makes it 11 managers in 12 years, a horrible stat and one that needs stability immediately. The new recruits look promising but the play is so narrow we rely on Hussey and Clarke/Brown to supply the service from out wide which is inconsistent to say the least. The new man must be able to vary tactics as messrs Fleck, Jennings, Barton, McSheffrey, Thomas, Kilbane and Baker can play the game of football. Cody McDonald and Stephen Elliott know the way to goal and need either ball to feet or supply from out wide. We need width and we need it quick, we’re still unbeaten after all and turning draws into wins will soon see us climb the table. Yet again we’re hoping the change will generate success, if the City supporters get a whiff of glory the roof will come off the Ricoh and all visiting grounds. The big name managers have flunked at City but the thought of Dennis Wise making the similar kind of impact he made as a player is inspiring. I want rid of the diamond formation and wing-play brought back to Coventry City. Arise Sir Dennis to work with Richard Shaw and Lee Carsley.

Footnote 10:30pm Tuesday - what a great comeback - the first time we've overhauled a lead since September 2009 at Watford - great stuff City and still unbeaten!

John Williams - from Royal Mail to the Premier League

Twenty years ago this week the FA Premier League opened its doors as 22 clubs competed in its debut season. As we all know Coventry City were one of those teams and began 1992/93 under the second reign of Bobby Gould. With the bulk of Terry Butcher and Don Howe’s legacy at his disposal, Gould handed opening day debuts to two players recruited from the lower leagues. Substitute Phil Babb signed from Bradford City while £250,000 headed to Swansea City as the services of speed merchant John Williams were secured.

During his three seasons at Highfield Road Williams appeared 86 times and scored on 11 occasions. He was the Sky Blues' first ever goal scorer in the Premier League and his goal on home debut against Middlesbrough was the second quickest in Premier League history. Three days later he followed this with both goals at Tottenham as City won 2-0. They secured three straight wins with a 2-1 triumph at Wimbledon to become the first outright leaders of the new division. His celebration with Mick Quinn at Highbury in the 3-0 opening day success is well remembered as is the pace and strength he used to his advantage against unsuspecting defences. Williams departed for Wycombe in the summer of 1995 having etched his name into Coventry City’s Premier League history.

City 2 'Boro 1 1992/93

Four months on from THAT day at the Ricoh Arena against Doncaster Rovers, my first sighting of Andy Thorn’s men since that woeful afternoon took me to Bristol Rovers last Saturday. Clearly apparent was the freshness on show, new personnel on the pitch but also a shake-up in the dugout. A back four of Clarke, Hussey, Wood and Reece Brown had the odd hiccup but on the whole looked solid and this augurs well. New recruit Adam Barton looks a more than decent acquisition while Carl Baker will shine at this level. Gary McSheffrey should mirror the form he showed on loan to Luton many years ago and create havoc while Kevin Kilbane’s experience will calm the nerves.

Conor Thomas has removed Gary Deegan from his Christmas card list after his recent crocking, hopefully by the time he returns to fitness we'll be lodged in the upper reaches of the division. David Bell's hip injury I must have missed on Sky Sports breaking news, I can see another bit part season for him, he has the technique but seems physically unable to play 46 games. The pairing of Cody McDonald and Callum Ball looks good, Cody the 20-goal marksman we've craved since Dion while Ball could well be the ace in our pack with his left foot and strength. Stephen Elliott appears on the attacking periphery at present while John Fleck’s goals from midfield will support the aforementioned trio and catapult at least one City player into the PFA Team of the Year for a pleasant change.

So, all in all, a cause for sky blue optimism? Definitely.

Footnote: Kevin Kilbane's experience came to the fore in the 90th minute at Dagenham and Redbridge last night - let's hope for more of the same at Yeovil.

Peter Atherton - from Wigan to Division One

In a rare astute moment during his 15 months in charge at Highfield Road, Terry Butcher replaced a crowd favourite with a 21 year old whose three seasons in sky blue would prove simply outstanding. Having caught Butcher’s eye in the previous campaign’s FA Cup tie against Wigan Athletic, Peter Atherton signed for £330,000 and stepped up from the third tier like he had played in the top flight all of his career.

Upon Trevor Peake’s departure to Luton, Atherton partnered Andy Pearce and David Busst before his third and final season saw him team up with Phil Babb. They would form one of the best central defensive pairings in modern times before they went their separate ways within months of each other in 1994. During his time at City the composed and quietly effective Lancastrian made 120 appearances without finding the net and took the Player of The Year award in 1992/93.

His final game in sky blue came at Old Trafford the day United lifted the Premiership trophy for the second time. Atherton typically bowed out with a clean sheet as City finished 1993/94 in 11^th position. A key departure along with Babb, this weakened the side as Ron Atkinson subsequently arrived to ensure final day safety just 12 months later. After six seasons with Sheffield Wednesday he spent a further five with Bradford City including relegation along with us in 2001 before his career concluded at Halifax Town where he remains assistant manager to this day.

For a Peter Atherton-related Sky Blues' clip (as he never scored for us) I've gone for one of my favourite games at Highfield Road (in which he played and we kept a clean sheet), the Boxing Day win over Villa in 1992...

Sky Blues 3 Villa 0

With the backbone of Andy Thorn’s defence having gone their expected ways this summer, Richard Keogh and Martin Cranie will be a hard partnership to follow while Sammy Clingan, still without a club, is long gone in the memories of City supporters. With the arrival of the tall and promising Adam Barton and the goal glut through pre-season from John Fleck we have options and we didn’t say that very often last season. Stephen Elliott has pedigree while Kilbane's experience will be vital away from home against partisan crowds. The big glamour friendly is at Bristol Rovers this Saturday as we count down to Huish Park, home of Yeovil and the M5 traffic in eleven days time.