GREAT MEMORIES: On This Day 1963 – JHs Sky Blues Score Stalemate At Shrimpers!

Jimmy HillOn this day, May 11, 1963, the Sky Blues, led by the renowned Jimmy Hill (during his first full season as manager), were approaching their Division Two goal, which they were aiming for from their existing third-tier home. They had experienced an incredible cup run that ended in an unfortunate 3-1 loss at home against Manchester United’s stars in front of a record 44,000 spectators at Highfield Road. A harsh winter had also ruined their season (and cup run), with numerous postponements leading to nine games in April and seven in May as the season concluded later than expected.JHs Boys had won four games and lost just two in April, so they were inching closer to the promotion spots but still not quite there. But after three straight losses, including their final home game of the season, things had soured by May’s start.

In front of a respectable crowd of 9,362 at Roots Hall, the Sky Blues defeated Southend United 1-1 today in the second of five straight Division Three away games to round off the season. This was a better outcome than it appeared at first because the Shrimpers were also in the top part of the standings and had humiliated the Sky Blues by defeating us by a goal in seven games in early September, even though Terry Bly had scored a hat-trick!

Mick in the Blue Sky

Following those three straight losses, JH tried out deep defence for the first time. In just fifty seconds, the plan went wrong when Sky Blue mainstay Mick Kearns misplayed a backpass, allowing Southend’s Ray Smith, a centre forward, to take full advantage. Even when they equalised, the Sky Blues were oddly quiet. Due to Terry’s injury, our new No. 9 George Hudson had to force an own goal by shooting into his own net, which was done by Shrimpers full back Lou Costello!

The match remained deadlocked as City appeared content to take a draw and the Sky Blues persisted in their lack of initiative. Still, that draw put an awful stretch of four straight losses at Roots Hall to an end!

Frank Kletzenbauer*, Hugh Barr, Ken Hale*, George Hudson*, Ron Farmer*, Ronnie Rees*, Bob Wesson*, George Curtis*, Dietmar Bruck, Roy Dwight*, and Mick Kearns

Regretfully, since then, all of the Georges, both Rons, Bob, Frank, Roy, and Ken, as well as their “gaffer,” JH, have died away. We are happy to announce that everyone—aside from Frank, Hugh, and Roy—later became members of CCFPA. It gave us great pleasure to see Dietmar, a member of the CCFPA committee, and Mick at Legends Days 2023 and 2024.

Ted Fenton released the subsequent Southampton United side:-

Lou Costello, John Neal, Tony Bentley, Peter Watson, Derek Woodley, Ken Jones, Ray Smith, Bobby Kellard, and John McKinven were among others that accompanied Peter Goy.D. Smith is the referee.