Yet again there are no new faces for the new season. The only outgoing player is Derek Showers, who made his debut originally during the 1970-71 season. He is transferred to Bournemouth for a small fee. The club is hit hard by the first Safety at Sports Ground Act, when the local council refuse Ninian Park a safety certificate. Eventually after some negociations, the ground capacity is set at 10,000, with the provisio that no floodlit matches are permitted. When the players report for pre-season training, there is an absentee, Robin Friday, whose non-appearance is the subject of some speculation. Friday's presence is obviously missed and a signing is needed quickly, so after a punchless display in tbe opening game of the season against Bristol Rovers, Jimmy Andrews pays a fee of £25,000 for Keith Robson of West Ham United. He makes his debut up front with Ray Bishop, also a debutant, at Blackburn Rovers, where City lose 0-3. The gloom continues and City win just one League game in the opening ten. By this time Robin Friday has reappeared for training, and is fit for an October 29th game at Brighton, but fails to last the game as he is sent off after launching a furious attack on Mark Lawrenson. To make things worse, City lose 0-4. Friday then goes missing again and cannot be located after the game. During the following week, the situation gets even worse when Stefan Terlezski is ousted from the chairmanship of the club in a boardroom coup. Bob Grogan takes over, and the problems are compounded on the pitch when Tony Evans is struck down with an injury. Jimmy Andrews decides on some changes, and Doug Livermore is transferred to Chester for £12,000, while he manages to obtain the signature of Derby County's Welsh international defender, Rod Thomas, for £10,000. City win their next match 2-0, then lose at Hull 1-4. City are now stuck firmly in the relegation places when Sheffield United visit on December 3rd, and hand out City a 1-6 thrashing. This is followed by the reappearance, yet again, of Robin Friday at Bolton Wanderers where City get another beating, 3-6. Friday fails to complete the game yet again as he is substituted, patently unfit. He never plays professionally again. It seems that things can get no worse, but after an uninspiring 0-0 draw against Hull City, coach Alan Sealy and Keith Robson have a post match fracas in the car park. The ship is stabilised a little with two consecutive home wins over Christmas, lifting the club out of the relegation places, but in the last week of the year, Jimmy Andrews decides that Keith Robson can go to Norwich City for £18,000. After Chris Williams is given a brief run in the team in his place, Andrews decides on putting Paul Went at centre forward. He also picks Phil Dwyer in the position during this period. Went responds with his usual enthusiasm and actually gets two in one game that City win in highly entertaining fashion by 5-2 against Sunderland. When they manage to follow that with a draw at Mansfield and another home win against Blackpool, the situation is eased somewhat. The week after though, it is back to crisis time, as the board force Jimmy Andrews to place the entire playing staff on the transfer list, to alleviate the deteriorating financial plight of the club. Two players leave as a result, Peter Sayer transferring to Brighton for £100,000 while Bill Irwin goes to play for the Vancouver Whitecaps. During the last four matches in March City draw two and win two, and once again, there is an improvement in the League position. But when the side goes five matches without a win, they sink back into the relegation places, so, with an air of some desperation, Jimmy Andrews recalls Tony Evans, who is still not fully fit. City win three more on the trot though, and the third of these, by 2-1 over Notts County at Ninian Park, makes the League position safe. In the F.A.Cup, City entertain Ipswich Town in the third round. Ipswich have their best side in many years, and win 2-0 with Paul Mariner scoring twice. In the League Cup, City play Torquay United in the first round. It goes to a replay after the first two games end 3-3 on aggregate. The match, watched by a crowd of only 1,711, is notable only for a long range John Buchanan free kick that wins the game 2-1. The second round match is one best forgotten for City, as Swindon Town are far too strong, and win easily by 5-1. City also struggle in the Welsh Cup, replays are needed to beat Worcester City and Kidderminster Harriers, and Wrexham come to Ninian Park for the semi final. Wrexham are by far the better side on the night and win 2-0. The European Cup Winners Cup brings FK Austria Memphis for the home leg. City, short of strikers because of injuries, suspensions and absences, are unable to break through a mass defence and draw 0-0. The away leg has a strange looking City side on the field, and they lose 0-1 after making a determined rearguard action. It is a season to forget with problems on the field, in the dressing room, in the boardroom, and even in the car park.
MANAGER: Jimmy Andrews
P. 42 W. 13 D. 12 L. 17 For 51 Ag. 71 Pts. 38 Posn. 19th
Names displayed in light green indicate a player making his debut.
Player substituted marked with asterisk. Non playing substitutes shown in italics. The following matches were also played during the season.
No.
Date
Opponents
Competition
V.
Res.
Goalscorers
Pts.
Pos.
Att.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
1.
August 13
Torquay Utd.
League Cup (1-1)
A
0-1
L
~
~
3,925
R.Healey
B.Attley
C.Charles
A.Campbell
P.Dwyer
A.Larmour
J.Buchanan
D.Livermore
A.Evans
P.Sayer
D.Giles
S.Grapes
2.
August 17
Torquay Utd.
League Cup (1-2)
H
3-2
W
Dwyer, Giles, Sayer
~
~
3,500
R.Healey
B.Attley
C.Charles*
A.Campbell
P.Dwyer
A.Larmour
S.Grapes
D.Livermore
A.Evans
P.Sayer
D.Giles
K.Pontin
3.
August 20
Bristol Rov.
League
H
1-1
D
Went
1
~
7,581
R.Healey
P.Dwyer
B.Attley
A.Campbell
P.Went
A.Larmour
S.Grapes
D.Livermore
A.Evans
P.Sayer
D.Giles
R.Bishop
4.
August 24
Torquay Utd.
League Cup (1R)
H
2-1
W
Sayer (Pen.), Buchanan
~
~
1,711
W.Irwin
B.Attley
K.Pontin
J.Buchanan
P.Went
A.Larmour
S.Grapes
A.Campbell
P.Dwyer
P.Sayer
D.Giles
R.Bishop
5.
August 27
Blackburn Rov.
League
A
0-3
L
1
~
7,088
W.Irwin
P.Dwyer
B.Attley
K.Pontin
P.Went
A.Larmour*
A.Campbell
R.Bishop
K.Robson
P.Sayer
D.Giles
G.Byrne
6.
August 30
Swindon T.
League Cup (2)
A
1-5
L
Buchanan
~
~
8,919
W.Irwin
P.Dwyer
B.Attley
A.Campbell
P.Went
K.Pontin
G.Byrne
J.Buchanan
K.Robson*
P.Sayer
D.Giles
R.Bishop
7.
September 3
Tottenham H.
League
H
0-0
D
2
21
8,880
W.Irwin
P.Dwyer
B.Attley
A.Campbell
P.Went
K.Pontin
G.Byrne
J.Buchanan
K.Robson*
P.Sayer
D.Giles
R.Bishop
8.
September 10
Notts County
League
A
1-1
D
Dwyer
3
19
7,330
W.Irwin
P.Dwyer
B.Attley
K.Pontin
P.Went
G.Byrne
A.Campbell
J.Buchanan
K.Robson
P.Sayer
D.Giles
R.Bishop
9.
September 14
Austria Memphis
ECWC (1-1)
H
0-0
D
~
~
3,631
W.Irwin
B.Attley
G.Byrne
A.Campbell
P.Went
K.Pontin
D.Livermore
P.Sayer
A.Evans
P.Dwyer
D.Giles*
S.Grapes
10.
September 17
Mansfield T.
League
H
1-1
D
Robson
4
19
6,843
W.Irwin
P.Dwyer
K.Pontin
J.Buchanan*
P.Went
G.Byrne
A.Campbell
B.Attley
K.Robson
A.Evans
D.Giles
S.Grapes
11.
September 24
Fulham
League
H
3-1
W
Robson, Evans 2
6
14
8,789
W.Irwin
P.Dwyer
B.Attley
K.Pontin
P.Went
G.Byrne
A.Campbell
J.Buchanan
K.Robson*
A.Evans
P.Sayer
D.Giles
12.
September 28
Austria Memphis
ECWC (1-2)
A
0-1
L
~
~
8,000
W.Irwin
F.Pethard
B.Attley*
A.Campbell
P.Went
K.Pontin
G.Byrne
J.Buchanan
A.Evans
P.Dwyer*
P.Sayer
D.Livermore/R.Bishop
13.
October 1
Blackpool
League
A
0-3
L
6
19
8,704
W.Irwin
P.Dwyer
B.Attley*
A.Campbell
P.Went
K.Pontin
G.Byrne
J.Buchanan
K.Robson
A.Evans
P.Sayer
D.Livermore
14.
October 4
Sunderland
League
A
1-1
D
Livermore
7
18
18,484
W.Irwin
P.Dwyer
B.Attley
A.Campbell
P.Went
K.Pontin
G.Byrne
D.Livermore
A.Evans
K.Robson
J.Buchanan
F.Pethard
15.
October 8
Luton T.
League
H
1-4
L
Dwyer
7
19
8,259
W.Irwin
P.Dwyer
B.Attley
A.Campbell
P.Went
K.Pontin
G.Byrne
J.Buchanan
A.Evans
K.Robson
P.Sayer
D.Livermore
16.
October 15
Orient
League
A
1-2
L
Grapes
7
20
5,444
W.Irwin
P.Dwyer
B.Attley
K.Pontin
P.Went
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
J.Buchanan
K.Robson
P.Sayer
S.Grapes
D.Giles
17.
October 22
Oldham Ath.
League
H
1-0
W
Went
9
19
6,862
W.Irwin
F.Pethard
B.Attley
P.Dwyer
P.Went
K.Pontin
A.Campbell
J.Buchanan
K.Robson
P.Sayer
S.Grapes*
G.Byrne
18.
October 29
Brighton & H.A.
League
A
0-4
L
9
20
22,740
W.Irwin
P.Dwyer
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
P.Went
K.Pontin
S.Grapes*
P.Sayer
K.Robson
R.Friday
J.Buchanan
D.Giles
19.
November 5
Stoke C.
League
H
2-0
W
Dwyer, Sayer
11
19
8,577
W.Irwin
R.Thomas
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
P.Went
K.Pontin
S.Grapes
P.Dwyer
K.Robson
P.Sayer
D.Giles
B.Attley
20.
November 12
Hull C.
League
A
1-4
L
Sayer (Pen.)
11
20
5,228
W.Irwin
R.Thomas
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
P.Went
K.Pontin*
D.Giles
P.Dwyer
P.Sayer
K.Robson
S.Grapes
B.Attley
21.
November 19
Burnley
League
H
2-1
W
Dwyer, Sayer (Pen.)
13
19
7,069
W.Irwin
B.Attley
P.Dwyer
D.Giles
R.Thomas
A.Campbell
P.Sayer
P.Went
K.Robson
F.Pethard
S.Grapes*
J.Buchanan
22.
November 26
Crystal Palace
League
A
0-2
L
13
20
16,262
W.Irwin
B.Attley
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
P.Went
G.Byrne
D.Giles
P.Dwyer
P.Sayer
K.Robson
J.Buchanan
K.Pontin
23.
December 3
Sheffield Utd.
League
H
1-6
L
Buchanan
13
20
6,395
W.Irwin
B.Attley
F.Pethard
P.Went
R.Thomas
P.Dwyer
A.Campbell
D.Giles
P.Sayer
K.Robson
J.Buchanan
R.Bishop
24.
December 10
Bolton Wand.
League
A
3-6
L
Robson, Sayer, Bishop
13
20
18,072
W.Irwin
P.Dwyer
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
P.Went
K.Pontin
D.Giles
P.Sayer
R.Friday*
K.Robson
J.Buchanan
R.Bishop
25.
December 17
Hull C.
League
H
0-0
D
14
20
5,663
W.Irwin
P.Dwyer
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
P.Went
A.Larmour
D.Giles
R.Bishop
K.Robson*
P.Sayer
S.Grapes
J.Buchanan
26.
December 21
Worcester C.
Welsh Cup (5)
A
2-2
D
Went (Pen.), Bishop
~
~
2,915
W.Irwin
P.Dwyer
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
P.Went
A.Larmour
D.Giles
J.Buchanan
K.Robson
R.Bishop
S.Grapes
G.Byrne
27.
December 26
Southampton
League
A
1-3
L
Robson
14
21
21,861
W.Irwin
P.Dwyer
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
P.Went
A.Larmour
D.Giles
P.Sayer
K.Robson
R.Bishop
S.Grapes*
J.Buchanan
28.
December 28
Millwall
League
H
4-1
W
Bishop, Buchanan 2, Robson
16
20
8,253
R.Healey
P.Dwyer
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
D.Giles
J.Buchanan
K.Robson
R.Bishop
B.Attley
S.Grapes
29.
December 31
Charlton Ath.
League
H
1-0
W
Berry (og)
18
19
8,472
R.Healey
P.Dwyer
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
D.Giles
J.Buchanan
C.Williams
R.Bishop
B.Attley
P.Went
30.
January 2
Bristol Rov.
League
A
2-3
L
Giles, Pontin
18
19
11,957
R.Healey
P.Dwyer
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
D.Giles
J.Buchanan
C.Williams
R.Bishop
B.Attley
P.Went
31.
January 7
Ipswich T.
FA Cup (3)
H
0-2
L
~
~
13,854
R.Healey
P.Dwyer
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
D.Giles
P.Sayer
P.Went
R.Bishop
B.Attley*
S.Grapes
32.
January 11
Worcester C.
Welsh Cup (5R)
H
3-0
W
Bishop, Robson, Barton (og)
~
~
963
R.Healey
P.Dwyer
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
S.Grapes
D.Giles
K.Robson
R.Bishop
P.Sayer
B.Attley
33.
January 14
Blackburn Rov.
League
H
1-1
D
Bishop
19
20
7,025
R.Healey
B.Attley
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
D.Giles
P.Dwyer
K.Robson*
R.Bishop
S.Grapes
P.Went
34.
January 21
Tottenham H.
League
A
1-2
L
Went
19
21
29,104
W.Irwin
P.Dwyer
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
S.Grapes
D.Giles
P.Went
R.Bishop
J.Buchanan*
R.Thomas
35.
January 28
Sunderland
League
H
5-2
W
Buchanan 2 (1 Pen.), Went 2, Bishop
21
20
8,436
R.Healey
P.Dwyer
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
S.Grapes
D.Giles
P.Went
R.Bishop
J.Buchanan*
P.Sayer
36.
February 11
Mansfield T.
League
A
2-2
D
Bishop, Buchanan
22
19
6,538
R.Healey
P.Dwyer
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
S.Grapes
R.Bishop
P.Went
P.Sayer
J.Buchanan
R.Thomas
37.
February 25
Blackpool
League
H
2-1
W
Went, Grapes
24
19
7,304
R.Healey
P.Dwyer
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
S.Grapes
R.Bishop
P.Went
D.Giles
J.Buchanan
B.Attley
38.
March 1
Kidderminster H.
Welsh Cup (6)
H
1-1
D
Buchanan
~
~
1,639
R.Healey
P.Dwyer
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
S.Grapes
D.Giles
P.Went
R.Bishop*
J.Buchanan
A.Evans
39.
March 4
Luton T.
League
A
1-3
L
Buchanan
24
19
6,029
R.Healey
P.Dwyer
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
S.Grapes
D.Giles
P.Went
R.Bishop
J.Buchanan
R.Thomas
40.
March 7
Fulham
League
A
0-1
L
24
19
6,571
R.Healey
R.Thomas
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
G.Byrne*
P.Dwyer
P.Went
R.Bishop
J.Buchanan
S.Grapes
41.
March 15
Kidderminster H.
Welsh Cup (6R)
A
3-1
W
Giles 2, Buchanan (Pen.)
~
~
3,000
R.Healey
R.Thomas
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
S.Grapes
D.Giles
P.Dwyer
R.Bishop*
J.Buchanan
P.Went
42.
March 18
Oldham Ath.
League
A
1-1
D
Went
25
19
7,581
R.Healey
R.Thomas
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
P.Dwyer
R.Bishop
P.Went
D.Giles
J.Buchanan
B.Attley
43.
March 24
Brighton & H.A.
League
H
1-0
W
Buchanan
27
18
10,308
R.Healey
R.Thomas
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
S.Grapes
D.Giles
A.Evans*
P.Went
J.Buchanan
R.Bishop
44.
March 25
Millwall
League
A
1-1
D
Bishop
28
19
5,941
R.Healey
R.Thomas
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
S.Grapes
D.Giles
R.Bishop*
P.Went*
J.Buchanan
A.Evans
45.
March 29
Southampton
League
H
1-0
W
Bishop
30
18
11,332
R.Healey
R.Thomas
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
S.Grapes
P.Dwyer
R.Bishop
P.Went
J.Buchanan
D.Giles
46.
April 1
Stoke C.
League
A
0-2
L
30
19
14,804
R.Healey
R.Thomas
F.Pethard
A.Campbell*
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
S.Grapes
P.Dwyer
C.Williams
P.Went
D.Giles
G.Byrne
47.
April 4
Charlton Ath.
League
A
0-0
D
31
19
8,395
R.Healey
R.Thomas
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
S.Grapes
P.Dwyer
R.Bishop
P.Went
J.Buchanan*
D.Giles
48.
April 8
Crystal Palace
League
H
2-2
D
Dwyer 2
32
19
9,314
R.Healey
R.Thomas
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
S.Grapes
P.Dwyer
R.Bishop*
P.Went
J.Buchanan
A.Evans
49.
April 13
Wrexham
Welsh Cup (SF)
H
0-2
L
~
~
8,928
R.Healey
R.Thomas
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
B.Attley*
P.Dwyer
R.Bishop
P.Went
J.Buchanan
A.Evans
50.
April 15
Burnley
League
A
2-4
L
Buchanan, Evans
32
20
11,610
R.Healey
R.Thomas
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
P.Dwyer
R.Bishop
A.Evans
P.Went
J.Buchanan*
G.Byrne
51.
April 22
Bolton Wand.
League
H
1-0
W
Bishop
34
20
12,538
R.Healey
R.Thomas*
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
S.Grapes
P.Dwyer
A.Evans
P.Went
J.Buchanan
R.Bishop
52.
April 29
Sheffield Utd.
League
A
1-0
W
Evans
36
18
13,687
R.Healey
P.Dwyer
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
S.Grapes
R.Bishop
P.Went
A.Evans
J.Buchanan
R.Thomas
53.
May 3
Notts County
League
H
2-1
W
Buchanan, Went
38
18
9,506
R.Healey
P.Dwyer
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
S.Grapes*
R.Bishop
A.Evans
P.Went
J.Buchanan
R.Thomas
54.
May 9
Orient
League
H
0-1
L
38
18
8,238
R.Healey
P.Dwyer
F.Pethard
A.Campbell
K.Pontin
A.Larmour
S.Grapes
R.Bishop
A.Evans
P.Went
J.Buchanan
B.Attley
Date
Match Details
Opponents
v.
Res
Goalscorers
July 27
Pre-Season Friendly
Swindon Town
H
4-1
W
Evans 4
July 30
Pre-Season Friendly
Reading
A
1-4
L
Went