On this day (August 9th) in 1991 the Sky Blues retained their hold on this obscure piece of silverware in their last pre-season friendly of the 1991-92 season. On both occasions the generous hosts were Oxford United.
The Sky Blues had begun their pre-season with a 5-0 battering of Wycombe Wanderers on July 24th followed by a 2-1 win at Aldershot four days later. The short Scottish tour which followed was less successful as they travelled to Ayr United and lost 3-1. Then they entered an international tourney at Kilmarnock and lost to Rangers on on the 3rd August on penalties (after drawing 1-1 at full time). A day later, in the same competition, they met Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam and were defeated by the odd goal in three.
A year earlier, on August 17th 1990, former Sky Blue player now gaffer John Sillett (since CCFC Life President and a CCFPA member before his passing in 2021) took a team to the Manor ground and beat the homesters by the only goal of the game. The Oxfordshire Benevolent Cup was put up by the County FA as an annual challenge match for charity.
This 1991-92 season Snoz’s successor in the manager’s chair Terry Butcher took a strong side to Manor Park and came away with a 3-1 win over the Division Two side and won the Cup once more!
Interestingly, future England Manager Steve McLaren was spending the twilight of his playing career at Oxford at this time (though was not slated to play in the four page programme) and in the Bull’s ranks was also future (1998-99) Sky Blue loanee Darren Jackson who later joined CCFPA.
CCFPA members amongst the players in the Sky Blues squad revealed in that evening’s programme include ‘Oggy‘, Peter Billing, Brian Borrows, Kevin Drinkell, Paul Edwards, Stewart Robson, Kevin Gallacher, Micky Gynn, Andy Pearce, David Smith and Ray Woods.
Later in the season, with things not going well for the Sky Blues, Terry Butcher was sacked to be replaced by Don Howe.
Another nail-biting season finished with a dramatic last day reprieve from relegation. Though City lost 2-0 at old foes Aston Villa, already relegated Notts County did us a favour by coming back from an early deficit to beat Luton Town and take the Hatters down with them to the Second Division.
Sadly we do not have the scorers, attendance or other match details to hand. We are unsure what the Cup looks like but apparently it was one of the most prestigious trophies on offer in the locality at the time and we understand (after several rebrandings) it is probably still being fought over! However, remarkably, in 1997 apparently it was renamed the ‘Bill Halsey Memorial Trophy’ which was last played for in 2003-04, when, amazingly, the Sky Blues won it yet again after a penalty shoot-out (9-8) after a 0-0 draw!
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