Matchday Memories: On This Day 1982 – See Sky Blues’ Ipswich Stalemate Pt. 2

In the previous piece, we examined a 1979 League Cup second-leg match between the Sky Blues and Suffolk Town at Portman Road, which resulted in a 0-0 stalemate but saw the Sky Blues advance on the scoreboard. Interestingly, three seasons later, the two teams faced off once more in Division One, with the late Dave Sexton sitting in the manager’s chair for the Sky Blues.

The third match of the season for CCFC took place on September 4, 1982, at Portman Road, and was attended by 16,662 spectators. After long-time Tractor Boys coach Bobby Robson was named England Manager, Bobby Ferguson assumed the position of leader.Since Arnold Muhren had already departed, the East Anglian club’s primary strategy was now the long ball game. John Motson and the BBC Match of the Day cameras were there for the match, and City was playing in their red away kit from previous broadcast games..

Just as three year’s ago the late Les Sealey was also the Sky Blues goalkeeper today, returning after a knee infection. His young deputy, now CCFPA member, Perry Suckling had played in the Sky Blues first two games, a 1-home win over Southampton and a 2-1 defeat at Swansea Town three days later.

Les was in good form making a number of fine saves to keep the score 0-0 until well into the second half. However, he was powerless to prevent the Tractor Boys’ Paul Mariner (still prominent in the side as in 1979) sweeping in the away team’s 72nd minutes score from an Eric Gates cross.

Four minutes from time Sky Blues England international full back (and now CCFPA member) Danny Thomas was able to make it ‘honours even’ with a smashing 25 yard rocket of a shot!

Thanks to  former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson you can see the goal and extensive highlights by clicking on the picture below:-

Dave Sexton‘s Sky Blues that day comprised (CCFPA members underlined):-

The late Les Sealey, Danny Thomas, Brian Roberts, Steve Jacobs, Paul Dyson, Gary Gillespie, Peter Hormantschuk, Gerry Francis, Mark Hateley, Garry Thompson and Steve Whitton

Ipswich Town’s team lined up as follows:-

Paul Cooper, George Burley, Mick Mills, Frans Thijssen, Russell Osman, Terry Butcher, John Wark, McCall, Paul Mariner, Alan Brazil and Eric Gates.   Referee: M.James

Apart from Alan Brazil who went on to play for the Sky Blues in 1986 the Tractor Boys’ team (as it had done three years earlier) also contained future Sky Blues player-manager Terry Butcher and his assistant Mick Mills.

Ipswich showed great continuity at this time as ten of the above team also featured against City in that game three season’s earlier!  The Highfield Road return in November also finished as a stalemate, this time a 1-1 draw. Danny Thomas again scored the Sky Blues goal in the 69th minute but six minutes later future Sky Blue and now CCFPA member Alan Brazil equalised!