Pickering Is Our Sunderland ‘Special’ Next Saturday!
We are very pleased to announce that popular former Sky Blue from the 1980s and one of our 1987 F.A.Cup winning heroes Nick Pickering will be our special guest for CCFC’s upcoming game against another of his former clubs, Sunderland next Saturday (15th September 2025) just as he did seven years ago for the equivalent fixture!
Born in South Shields on 4th August 1963, Nick was the last player of that widely remembered side from the 1980s that joined the Association.
We completed his signature the same year (2012) as that of his ‘larger than life’ skipper Brian Kilcline.
Nick was present with other members of that cup winning squad at both the CCFPA sponsored 25th and 30th Anniversary Celebration reunion at Nailcote Hall in 2012 and 2017.
Nick was also here for our Legends Day festivities at the Sky Blues penultimate League Two game in May 2018 (below left)
Saturday’s Championship game demonstrates just how much the Sky Blues have improved (primarily under Mark Robins) in the intervening years.
Frank Lampard‘s men watched his new charges achieve a new club record, ironically against MR’s new charges Stoke City, at the CBS last Saturday.
Depending, of course, on the outcome of tonight’s game at Derby County, ‘Nick Pick’ will no doubt be curious to see if the Sky Blues all-time record of 9 wins in their previous ten league games can be further extended against the Black Cats, another club currently in the play-off slot.
Capped for England once, winger Nick was brought to Highfield Road by Don Mackay (now also an Association member) from Saturday’s opponents in February 1986 to provide width especially on the left but it was the following season (1986-87) where the 22 year old really made his real mark under (the late, great) George Curtis and John Sillett (both later CCFPA members).
In 2012 Nick confided that he saw the move to Coventry as a bit of a gamble but it certainly paid off as an especially tight knit squad built by George and John finished a comfortable 10th in Division 1, reached the 4th Round of the League Cup as well as, of course, carrying off the F.A.Cup for the first (and only) time in the Club’s history.
Nick moved on to Derby County in 1989 having scored 10 goals in 93 games for CCFC.
After a loan spell with Middlesbrough Nick concluded his career at Darlington and then Burnley (1993) and since hanging up his boots has been doing coaching and media words.
All being well Nick should arrive at the CBS Arena in good time before kick off allowing him to renew acquaintace with some of the other FP guests we have attending this game.
As usual with our ‘specials’ Nick will be touring the various supporters lounges pre-match in the main stand with long time club host (and fellow CCFPA member) Brian ‘Harry’ Roberts doing the honours with some entertaining and informative Q&As, giving ‘Nick Pick’ a light grilling about his Sky Blues days.
Almost definitely Nick will be given an opportunity to go pitch-side at haf-time to welcome and be met by another bumper CBS cow
After the game is done Nick will be invited to ‘chew the fat’ with CCFPA’s Billy Bell in front of supporters in Lady Gs Bar within the CBS Arena’s G-Casino.
Why not go along — its certain to be entertaining! All being well Billy, Nick and the audience will be able to end off the day with a (winning) mass performance of the Sky Blue son
If you absolutely can’t make the match you also have the opportunity to tune into the expert opinion of another member of the ‘Boys of 87’, CCFC goalkeeping great, Steve Ogrizovic (another CCFPA member) on the BBC CWR airwaves supporting their live matchday commentary team with analysis.
No doubt old mates Nick and ‘Oggy’ will find a way to catch up during the day to reminisce about their shared memories of the eighties.
If you purchase a copy of the club’s superb match-day magazine PUSB you will discover the regular articles from Association committee member Mike Young and former chairman, the club’s official historian, Jim Brown.
Look out for a photo and video record of Nick’s day with us on these pages on Sunday nex
We trust Nick will have a fantastic day with us. He always manages to enjoy himself everytime he comes down to see us and Sky Blue supporters always give him a warm welcome!
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