My first game was a 2-1 home win against fellow promotion contenders Carlisle in February 1967. As a nine year old I just thought that we were fantastic and that promotion was inevitable as we were obviously the best team in the league.
Having read all the books about that season, particularly Jim Brown’s and also listened to his Sky Blues History podcast my childish certainty in our success was at least slightly misplaced.
The previous year we had finished third and missed out on promotion by a whisker on the last day of the season. The expectation amongst the fans therefore was that 66-67 was going to be our season. However we didn’t start particularly well and Jimmy Hill was taking a lot of criticism. The low point I think was the falling out between Hill and our midfield genius Ian Gibson. We were off the pace, Gibson was out of the team and wanting a transfer and an odd gate below 20k showed that promotion was looking a distant prospect.
With Coventry sitting 7th in late November, Hill and Gibson made up and the team never looked back after beating Cardiff 3-2 remaining unbeaten (25 matches?) until the end of the season.
We confirmed promotion 4 games from the end of the season with a draw at Cardiff. This meant when we met Wolves a week later at Highfield Road in the ‘Midlands Match of the Century’ (Hill’s words) both teams were already promoted. Even though we beat Wolves that day in front of a record 50k+ crowd, Wanderers remained favourites for the title. However on the last day of the season, Wolves lost at Palace and we beat Millwall to clinch the title.
I was lucky enough to see 6 of our last 8 home games that season including the Wolves (memories of which will stay with me forever) and Millwall games.
I think there are a few differences between that season and this one. Expectation in 1966 was really high. I think fans really thought we would get promoted ( and in those days that meant finishing top two, no play offs). I think this season expectations were also high but I think most would have been happy with another play off push. I think most fans would admit that they never expected us to challenge for the title.
In 66-67 we never dominated the league in the way we have this season. Throughout the season we were challenged by Wolves, Blackburn, Carlisle and I think Huddersfield. It was only at the end that Wolves and ourselves pulled clear.
In 1966 it was much easier to make a snap decision to go to a game. You’d pay on the gate and stand on the terrace. Season tickets weren’t anywhere near as big a thing as they are now. This season we have been guaranteed, at least in theory, 24k. In 66-67 the range of gates was massive. The lowest being under 20k and the highest being over 50k. The average that season was about 28k so we will beat that this season.
Since we hit the top this season we have dominated the league and have become clear favourites. I would think in 66-67 we were one of the favourites but the odds would have been a lot longer than this season.
I think they are very different seasons in the way that they have played out. Hopefully the final outcome will be the same, perhaps not as close or as nerve wracking this season.
