• Matchday Memories

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1968 – Potters Snatch Sky Blue Stalemate At Stoke

CCFC’s Manager, Noel Cantwell

In their first ever season in the top division, on this day well over half a century ago on 16th April 1968 the Sky Blues went to Stoke City‘s Victoria Ground in an Easter fixture and came away with a point with victory snatched away from them at the death with an 88th minute score from the Potters’ Peter Dobing. Noel Cantwell had replaced Sky Blue icon Jimmy Hill early in the season, after his shock resignation to go into the world of the media, and the season was one of constant worry about an immediate return to Division Two.

Ernie Hannigan in the Sky Blue

Points were therefore precious and hopes were high against fellow strugglers Stoke City, especially after we had beaten the Potters 2-0 at Highfield Road the previous day (their seventh straight defeat) with second half goals from CCFPA members Neil Martin (69 minutes) and John Tudor (73 mins).

The only City change for the return was that CCFPA member, ‘iron man’ George Curtis was drafted in to replace the late Brian Lewis having made his comeback (following his broken leg the previous August) from the sub bench late in the previous day’s win. The Potters made quite a few changes from yesterday’s beaten side.

Willie in the Sky Blue

It was an enthralling game with a large and vociferous Sky Blue army present. Things were looking good when the Sky Blues went in at half-time 1-0 to the good with a goal from Ernie Hannigan  on 24 minutes. Then Willie Carr doubled the lead two minutes before the hour and things were set well. Even though the Potteries side got one back a minute later through John Mahoney, a Neil Martin penalty on 63 after Allen handled looked to have sealed the win.

Neil Martin

However, a 25 yard free kick from Stoke’s Bill Bentley twelve minutes from time clawed them back into the game and Peter Dobing’s late show after a scramble a minute from time denied City their much needed full points.  The point from the draw mattered for both clubs as the end of game pitch invasion showed.

The Sky Blues fielded the following side :-

Image
Neil Martin leaps high

Bill Glazier, Brian Hill*, Chris Cattlin, Ernie Machin*, Maurice Setters*, Dave Clements, Ernie Hannigan*, George Curtis* (sub. Gerry Baker*), Neil Martin, John Tudor and Willie Carr

We are proud that every member of the Sky Blues team that day later went on to join the Association. However, it is sad that the sextet asterisked(*) are no longer with us and (like their ‘gaffer’) have since passed on to ‘Sky Blue Heaven’. Good to see both Chris and Willie back in Cov at our Legends Day 2023 reunion at the CBS Arena a year ago!
Tony Waddington‘s Potters turned out as follows:-

Gordon Banks, Eric Skeels, Bill Bentley, Tony Allen, John Moore, Willie Stevenson, John Mahoney, Roy Vernon, Peter Dobing, George Eastham and Harry Burrows    Referee:- Jim Finney

Sky Blues in 1967-68
Despite two draws and two defeats in their remaining four games the Sky Blues survived their first season at the top level finishing just above the drop zone on twentieth, one point above the relegated Sheffield United and five above bottom club Fulham. The Potters finished eighteenth two points better off than City.
The Blue half of Manchester, City, took the title by two points from the Red half, United.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for the images.
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