Matchday Memories: On This Day 1996 – See Sky Blue Snowy’s Strike Conquer Chelsea
There we’re 20,629 spectators who crammed into Highfield Road to see another victory over Chelsea on this date (10th February, 1996).
The two teams were playing in the Premier League.
Glenn Hoddle, a hero of the Spurs and England, was leader of the Blues, while Big Ron Atkinson, who is now a member of the CCFPA, oversaw the Sky Blues.
It turned out to be stiff competition for City, as their opponents had gone undefeated in their previous eight games.
Beginning the season at the tail end of August, the two teams played to a 2-2 tie at Stamford Bridge.
In the eleventh minute, City’s Brazilian (Marques) Isaias and Zimbabwean Peter Ndlovu scored to pull the game back from a two-goal deficit!
The color blue of the future sky Paul Furlong, a former striker for CCFC, and Dennis Wise were both on Chelsea’s roster that day.
Our goalkeeper had to pull off a spectacular save to deny the Sky Blues’ Gavin Peacock a shot, and Dave Busst and Richard Shaw were rock solid in the Sky Blues’ defense, ‘Oggy.’
All three players are now members of the Association.
Sky Blues forward Noel Whelan scored the game-winning goal with a precise chip two minutes before halftime, after Kevin Richardson set him up with an opportunity; City also had chances, but the game was close throughout.
Noel joined CCFPA after this, and he was our “special guest” during the Sky Blues’ 4th Round FA Cup loss to Ipswich Town (8th Feb. 2025) at the CBS Arena, when he scored for the seventh time in ten games.
The win put us above the drop zone and was the second of five unbeaten games (albeit the only win in the quintet).
Big Ron’s guys lined up as follows:-
Steve Ogrizovic, Ally Pickering, Brian Borrows, Kevin Richardson, Dave Busst, Richard Shaw, John Salako, Paul Telfer, Dion Dublin, Noel Whelan and Peter Ndlovu (sub. Paul D Williams -76)
Unused substitutes: Willie Boland and John Filan (gk)
All of them (save Kevin and John) later went on to join CCFPA. ‘Nuddy’ became our 300th member now over three years ago.
Chelsea side lined up:-
Kevin Hitchcock, Dan Petrescu, Terry Phelan, David Lee, Steve Clark, Frank Sinclair (sub. Erland Johnsen -57), Ruud Gullit, Gavin Peacock, Paul Furlong, John Spencer (sub. Dennis Wise -73), and Eddie Newton Unused substitute: Mick Colgan (gk) Referee:-Roger Dilkes (sub. P.Coddington)
In a nervy finale to this Premier League season the Sky Blues concluded in fifteenth rank, two places above Manchester City who were relegated but on equal points both with the ‘other’ Sky Blues and fellow survivors Southampton.
Queen’s Park Rangers and Bolton Wanderers were the other relegated sides.
Chelsea were comfortable in eleventh spot. Manchester United took the title by four points from Newcastle United.
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