Sky Blue youth superstars who never made it... (1 Viewer)

[Si80]

He’s now a Z-list model for brands we’ve never heard of. And will appear on the odd shit “reality” tv show.

And now training to be an MMA fighter!

 

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[Terry_dactyl]

Iyesden Christie was the big hope back in my day. Never knew what happened to him.

I used to play in the same Sunday league team as him!
Went to Mansfield, Leyton Orient...think he’s only just stopped playing.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Most of mine have been mentioned. Spong, Dahl, Giddings, Haynes Osbourne. To a lesser extent Davenport and Kirkland.

Giddings got a horrible injury that really affected him but hadn't looked like living up to his potential before that. Osbourne seemed to be forever played out of position at RB.

Others probably worthy of a mention are Craig Reid, Leon Lobjoit Jordan Clarke and JCH.

 

[Sky Blue Harry H]

David Smith although he played a lot of games never made it as the player he should have in my view mainly because he spent so much time covering the hopeless Greg Downes

Red card for that alone !
Saw him and Drinkell score against David seaman away at QPR in the cup (midweek?) Would have got about 500/1 for those two scoring in the same game !

 

[Harries11]

Michael Quirke

Works for an agency we get labour from now.

 

[kg82]

I remember Liam Davis scoring a worldie in Richard Shaw's testimonial vs Celtic and thinking he could be incredible. Oh dear.

My one: Stuart Giddings. Played more England youth internationals than he did for Cov.

I liked both of them. Especially Giddings.

I suppose Lee Hurst. Although his reason for not going on to bigger things is unlucky.

 

[kg82]

And now training to be an MMA fighter!

Wow, that guy is a walking, modern male cliche.

 

[tisza]

Tommy English

Played a few non league games with at the end of his career. He would have been about 30. Didn't like him as a player and was a tosser in real life. Signing for Leicester didn't help things either. Think he'd just come back from Singapore or somewhere out that way.
We also had ex Spurs defender Paul Price who was a good lad.

 

[Gazolba]

Back in the Jimmy Hill years, CCFC also had a great youth team.
In both 1967-68 and 1969-70, we were the losing finalists in the FA Youth Cup.
My father drooled over several youth players we had back then and swore they would be superstars some day, but as far as I know most never made it very big.
The 1967-68 team included Graham Paddon and Trevor Gould (Bobby's younger brother)
The 1969-70 team included Dennis Mortimer and Alan Green (a striker who went on to have a great career in the USA)
When you look at the youth teams back then it strikes you that virtualy 100% of the players were English or Scottish.
Here's where to find the teams for every FA Youth Cup Final:
FA Youth Cup Finals - Wikipedia

 

[clint van damme]

Back in the Jimmy Hill years, CCFC also had a great youth team.
In 1967-68 and 1969-70, we were runners up in the FA Youth Cup Final.
My father drooled over several youth players we had back then and swore they would be superstars some day, but as far as I know most never made it very big.
The 1967-68 team included Graham Paddon and Trevor Gould (Bobby's younger briother)
The 1969-70 team included Dennis Mortimer and Alan Green (a striker who went on to have a great career in the USA)
When you look at the youth teams back then, virtualy 100% of the players were English or Scottish.
Here's where to find the teams for every FA Youth Cup Final:
FA Youth Cup Finals - Wikipedia

whenever I saw Alan Green play he was on the wing, played on the right with Tommy on the left.

 

[Grendel]

At some point wasn’t Ray Gooding touted to be some kind of big name player with bags of potential? I was young when he first started but I’m sure he was talked up a lot

I know an injury ended his career but in his early 20’s he’d ended up going to Plymouth

 

[DannyThomas_1981]

Red card for that alone !
Saw him and Drinkell score against David seaman away at QPR in the cup (midweek?) Would have got about 500/1 for those two scoring in the same game !

Love the 500-1!

I met Downsy at a private house party around 1986 - I was a youngster. Whilst Killer and the lads were going mental and dancing to Michael Jackson - Killer nearly broke a chandelier and he was only warming up - Downsy was very happy to share a quiet beer with my Dad in the kitchen. A super super nice bloke in a team that had a lot of different characters.

On saying all of that - even 32 years later it makes me shudder that we walked out at Wembley with Downsy directly lined up against the genius of Chris Waddle.

 

[DannyThomas_1981]

I liked both of them. Especially Giddings.

I suppose Lee Hurst. Although his reason for not going on to bigger things is unlucky.

Lee Hurst. If only we could turn the clock back and have the coach break down on the trip to the army camp. Gouldy had lots of passion but putting the lads over an army obstacle course in pre-season was not one of his better ideas. Can you imagine Prem teams today making first teamers jump over 10 feet walls as a way to prepare for the new season?

Whilst we're on this subject and this situation is even worse as it was deliberate - not a youth team player - but what a player Dean Emerson was.

 

[DannyThomas_1981]

I was going to mention him. Saw him in a pre-season friendly against Racing Club Warwick and he was brilliant. Never saw him again.

Not our player, but anyone remember Richie Partridge who we had on loan from Liverpool, he was a fantastic player.

Not sure what others think - but in my view Richie Partridge was not managed at all well by McAllister. Richie was so brilliant in his start with us that he was effectively double marked in games after that. And was targeted by the opposition with the treatment - heavy challenges. As he was also effectively our only attacking outlet in that team - everything continued to go through him. With the net result that he was basically booted off the park and had nowhere to go with the double marking. It really needed a change of tactics/taking Richie out of the firing line at times.

 

[Briles]

I remember Tomas Gustafsson randomly changing his name to Tomas Antonelieus. Always wondered if it was to trick the gaffer into thinking he was someone else.

Think Baka might do something similar soon...

 

[Sky Blue Harry H]

At some point wasn’t Ray Gooding touted to be some kind of big name player with bags of potential? I was young when he first started but I’m sure he was talked up a lot

I know an injury ended his career but in his early 20’s he’d ended up going to Plymouth

Remember that - he joined oir coaching team later? used to play 5 aside with Micky Gynn at The Sky Blue Connexion along with a few other half decent footballers - used to watch them whilst us mere mortals waited to play on the adjoining pitches.

 

[Legia Sky Blue]

Back in the Jimmy Hill years, CCFC also had a great youth team.
In 1967-68 and 1969-70, we were runners up in the FA Youth Cup Final.
My father drooled over several youth players we had back then and swore they would be superstars some day, but as far as I know most never made it very big.
The 1967-68 team included Graham Paddon and Trevor Gould (Bobby's younger briother)
The 1969-70 team included Dennis Mortimer and Alan Green (a striker who went on to have a great career in the USA)
When you look at the youth teams back then, virtualy 100% of the players were English or Scottish.
Here's where to find the teams for every FA Youth Cup Final:
FA Youth Cup Finals - Wikipedia

Looks like the 1969/70 team had the biggest success rate including Alan Dugdale, Jimmy Holmes, Denis Mortimer, Mick McGuire, Bobby Parker and Les Cartwright. Colin Randell also had a decent league career at Plymouth. David Icke of course took a different path!!

Ironically the once we won it in 1986/87 produced only Steve Livingstone and Tony Dobson of any note.

 

[Spurs 'City Away Kit' Kit]

I’m definitely not saying he didn’t ‘make it’ but would you agree that Steve Sedgley never quite reached his full potential?

 

[DannyThomas_1981]

I’m definitely not saying he didn’t ‘make it’ but would you agree that Steve Sedgley never quite reached his full potential?

All opinions 'City Away Kit' - I would say that Sedgley was one of the 'over achievers' given his career after leaving us. I never had him marked down to be a super star in the game as a youth but he did very well for himself.

 

[Spurs 'City Away Kit' Kit]

All opinions 'City Away Kit' - I would say that Sedgley was one of the 'over achievers' given his career after leaving us. I never had him marked down to be a super star in the game as a youth but he did very well for himself.

Agree, personally I wasn’t a big fan but I remember many saying definite England material.

 

[Terry_dactyl]

Love the 500-1!

I met Downsy at a private house party around 1986 - I was a youngster. Whilst Killer and the lads were going mental and dancing to Michael Jackson - Killer nearly broke a chandelier and he was only warming up - Downsy was very happy to share a quiet beer with my Dad in the kitchen. A super super nice bloke in a team that had a lot of different characters.

On saying all of that - even 32 years later it makes me shudder that we walked out at Wembley with Downsy directly lined up against the genius of Chris Waddle.

I know what you mean. He had waddle in his back pocket by the end of the game though!

 

[Terry_dactyl]

Agree, personally I wasn’t a big fan but I remember many saying definite England material.

I thought he was hugely overrated and was well chuffed when he was sold...£750k?
One who had a decent career but I thought looked good was graham Rodger. I think him and Steve livingstone spent most of their career at Grimsby. When Grimsby were half decent.

 

[DannyThomas_1981]

I know what you mean. He had waddle in his back pocket by the end of the game though!

Absolutely right Terry - still amazes me as I remember Waddle vs. Downs in a previous league game at HR. Waddle dominated the game and if Downsy was a boxer the fight would have been called off to save him further punishment.

As for the Cup final, Bennett was the stand out forward on the pitch by a country mile - I know that Benno is one of our FA Cup legends but in general I think he's still very under-rated in the game/maybe even by our own fans. Should be in any City all time 11. He produced many match winning performances in his time with us and had all the skill sets as a fantastic winger.

I was in the players lounge at Luton once as a guest of one of the Luton players - after a stunning performance by Benno including one of the best goals I have seen live. The Luton players traipsed in after the game - very downcast but all talking about what a great player he was.

 

[The Philosopher]

Dougie Mcguire, signed from scotland as a youngster and sillett raved about him. Came onto the pitch once for 2 minutes and didn't touch the ball. never heard of him again.

I used to watch McGuire in the reserves and he was simply brilliant.

I remember one match against Liverpool reserves containing the likes of Steve Nicol, MacNanaman (sp?), Jan Molby, and others (Liverpool reserved at the time could have played most first division teams off the park) and him being the best player on the pitch. We had Keith Thompson (Garry’s brother) on the other wing for most of that season and he was also class.

The problem was it was the season that David Smith decided to be ridiculously good (one season) and poor Dougie just couldn’t get a look in.

 

[Blind-Faith]

At some point wasn’t Ray Gooding touted to be some kind of big name player with bags of potential? I was young when he first started but I’m sure he was talked up a lot

I know an injury ended his career but in his early 20’s he’d ended up going to Plymouth

Was it his son Andy Gooding who came through our youth system???

 

[DannyThomas_1981]

Regarding me playing, sadly, I had quite a serious illness diagnosed just before my 18th birthday, bad at any time, but worse as a young 17 year old wanting to be a footballer.
Was the end of me at Chesterfield and due to how harsh the treatment was wasn't able to play for nearly two years. Did end up going to Uni and getting capped at Student level but highest level I played was step 3 of Non league (level below Conf North/south)and doing the non league circuit. Many many ex City youth team players played in the same teams as me and took similar routes including a few names from our youth cup final sides of the late 90s/00s
Regarding a few other names floating around at the time,
Sheridan was in same youth team as Willie Boland (think both might have played in the 3-0 at arsenal, and Gavin O'Toole, All Irish youth internationals and this was at a time that City attracted top young players from all over. Sheridan liked a drink and a cigarette even as a YT!

Thanks for sharing Shepardo - always really interested in stories like yours. I don't think most people realise how competitive non-league football is and just how good you have to be. Fantastic to hear that you got back into the game after your illness - kudos to you.

 

[Gazolba]

whenever I saw Alan Green play he was on the wing, played on the right with Tommy on the left.

He played 98 games for CCFC, scoring 30 goals, before moving to the USA.
Maybe he switched to a striking role in the USA. He was a pretty prolific goalscorer. Kind of in the Robbie Keane mould.
He eventually got his US citizenship and played one game for the US national team.

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

Was it his son Andy Gooding who came through our youth system???

Think he was coming through the same time as Thornton and Osbourne

 

[andy86]

Tom Bates was highly rated as a youngster. Made 1 appearance under McAllister, then disappeared without trace.

 

[AStonesThrow]

Does anyone remember the 14 year old Australian lad who we signed called Matty Christensen. Went to Southampton after us and not much else

 

[pusbccfc]

Been loads in recent years tbf.

However, Billy Daniels always fascinates me alongside Conor Thomas.

He never seemed technically gifted but always worked hard. I have always expected Shipley to fall like he did but he's made the improvements.

Daniels was a key part of that Sixfields team in the early parts of a the season. The fact he's dropped down to Kidderminster baffles me.

 

[Terry_dactyl]

Absolutely right Terry - still amazes me as I remember Waddle vs. Downs in a previous league game at HR. Waddle dominated the game and if Downsy was a boxer the fight would have been called off to save him further punishment.

As for the Cup final, Bennett was the stand out forward on the pitch by a country mile - I know that Benno is one of our FA Cup legends but in general I think he's still very under-rated in the game/maybe even by our own fans. Should be in any City all time 11. He produced many match winning performances in his time with us and had all the skill sets as a fantastic winger.

I was in the players lounge at Luton once as a guest of one of the Luton players - after a stunning performance by Benno including one of the best goals I have seen live. The Luton players traipsed in after the game - very downcast but all talking about what a great player he was.

That’s a great point. I’m not sure I’ve ever considered Bennet as one of our best. Clearly he is.
I think maybe that whole ‘87 team just get lost in collective wonderment. In fact there were some amazing individuals that made up that team. Many of whom wouldn’t have looked out of place playing for a more fashionable team.
Off the top of my head maybe hadji and Gallacher have been better wingers than Bennet since? Ndlovu wasn’t.

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

Tom Bates was highly rated as a youngster. Made 1 appearance under McAllister, then disappeared without trace.

Sold my house for me, he is now an estate agent and a very good one. Think he is now connected to Coventry united

 

[DannyThomas_1981]

That’s a great point. I’m not sure I’ve ever considered Bennet as one of our best. Clearly he is.
I think maybe that whole ‘87 team just get lost in collective wonderment. In fact there were some amazing individuals that made up that team. Many of whom wouldn’t have looked out of place playing for a more fashionable team.
Off the top of my head maybe hadji and Gallacher have been better wingers than Bennet since? Ndlovu wasn’t.

Good points Terry. I would say that Ndlovu was absolutely sensational but I would classify him more as an inside forward - funnily enough he would actually fit perfectly in our current 4-3-3.

I see Hadji more as an attacking midfielder in a midfield 3.

Hadji was an absolute gentleman and a player who delivered sensational moments in a City shirt - not sure though that he was the consistent midfield giant running games in the Premiership as we might have expected on his arrival. Maybe the team was just badly managed and not set up to his strengths.

Gallacher I felt was more effective as a forward vs. as a winger.

In an all time City 4-4-2 in my lifetime, I would have Benno on the right and Hutch on the left. There is perhaps a case to be made that Strachan should play in an all time City XI in the right midfield position. I have been very critical of Strachan the manager but when he played for us he was absolute class - even into his mid to late thirties.

 

[Legia Sky Blue]

Gallacher joined us as a winger but mostly played as a forward. In terms of effectiveness Bennett provided more for us than Hadji did, as he was far more consistent. However, Ndlovu was ahead of them all in my book.