It came as no surprise when Blair Turgott became part of the “bomb squad” at the end of the season and has been not offered a new deal but he does hold a part of Coventry City history, because he is only the tenth player, whose only goal for the club, has been as a sub.
Substitutes were first used in England in the 1965-66 season with Dietmar Bruck being Coventry City’s first and Brian Hill was the first to score from the bench two seasons later, away to Fulham. We had to wait until the late 1980’s for a player to score his only goal from the bench.
Keith Thompson
A wide player that was always under the shadow of his big brother Gary, Keith made his debut away to Birmingham in a defeat but he never lived up to his promise and after loans at Wimbledon and Northampton he moved to Spain for £10,000 and played successfully for Real Oviedo for a couple of seasons. Back home manager John Sillett was on the look out to strengthen his squad on the left and gave Thompson a chance to return to Highfield Road. He bought himself out of his contract but it turned out to be a bad move only playing 15 times in three seasons. The highlight came at home to West
Ham, replacing Howard Clark, Keith got in a late diving header to give City a 1-1 draw. After he moved to Hong Kong to play for Sing Toa and then back to Spain for Real Aviles.
Howard Clark
Midfielder Clark was a local lad that was on a Y.T.S (Youth training scheme) at City and made his way up through the youth ranks. He played for the Youth Team that won the Youth Cup in 87 and eventually broke into the first team a couple of years later at home to West Ham. His only goal came in the last game of that season at home to Forest in a 2-2 draw he scored the first from a tight angle. He played 20 games for City before playing for Shrewsbury, Hereford and Nuneaton Borough.
Mick Harford
Wrote his name into City’s folk law with a goal on his only appearance, came on at home to Newcastle in 1993 and scored with a well placed header but then he was injured in training he never played for us again. Before City he played for Lincoln, Newcastle, Bristol City, Birmingham, Luton, Derby, Chelsea and Sunderland leaving City he regained fitness and played just over 60 games for Wimbledon.
Gavin Strachan
Another Y.T.S kid and son of manager Gordon, the midfielder made his debut in a 3-0 defeat away to Villa in 1998. His only goal came a few seasons later in a League Cup win away to Preston, he replaced Chippo and City won a late penalty, Gavin despatched it to make it 3-1. He played 22 times for City never living up to his potential. He also played for Dundee, Peterborough twice, Southend, Hartlepool, Stockport and Notts County.
Juan Sara
The Argentine forward was loaned from Dundee with a goal scoring reputation. He started his career at Portuguese Cerro Portino and also played for Reggiana in Italy. Juan made his City debut in 2003 in a scoreless home draw with Brighton but it was his next game he would make an impact. City were away at Nottingham Forest and the home team were dominate and should have buried City but with minutes to go City
somehow were only a goal down when sub Sara brilliantly rounded the keeper to level before proclaiming his love of Jesus in front of the away fans. Sadly he could never reproduce that piece of skill and after four games returned to Dens Park.
Richard Shaw
A true legend only six players have played more games for City. Bought from Palace it took time for City fans to grow to like the defender but soon he was breaking record for not scoring until one faithful day, in 2004, on City’s last away game of that season, it was a bizarre game already as City lead 4-2 after almost giving up a 3-0 lead now deep into injury time Brian Kerr picked up the ball and sprayed it to his left, suddenly Richard Shaw was free down the right and advanced on goal, a massive realisation came over the away end and people started to jumped up and down praying for the impossible, Shawsy advanced on goal, he moved to the edge of the area he then released a terrific shot on goal, the ball whizzed past the keeper the whole end went absolutely mental, fans raced down to the front, to join in the celebrations with a beaming Richard Shaw, no one could believe what they had saw, 9 years and nearly 300 matches and what a goal until then. After finishing with City he moved to Millwall and later returned to the Sky Blues but best not to mention his time as caretaker manager.
Wayne Andrews
A forward from Palace one of 15 teams he played for. He played 11 times for City but he be best remembered for the reactions of the fans and the manager surrounding his goal. The forward had looked good pre-season but was injured against Boavista and it took until October before he was fit again. The game was away to Barnsley and City were looking turgid at 0-0 with 15 minutes to go the Sky Blues followers were increasing their demands to see Wayne Andrews in action. With eight minutes to go he came on for his debut but instead of manager Micky Adams taking off Dele Adebola or Kevin Kyle he removed Leon McKenzie to the anger of the 1,000 + followers. “You don’t know what you are doing” rang down from the away end as Andrews touch the ball for the first time a second or so later he wormed his way into the box and knocked the ball past the keeper for one of the most dramatic debuts ever. “You know what you are doing” and “Mickey Adam’s Sky Blue Army” rang out. M.A. was cupping his ear to
to listen to the praise of his substitution. At the end of the game instead of taking the praise of the away following Adams sprinted from his dug out to the tunnel in a tantrum and 7 year old would be proud off. Andrews only came off the bench another two times and that was the end of his City career.
Zavron Hines
The England U21 winger came in from West Ham on loan to help City avoid the drop in 2008. Made his debut as a sub in a 3-1 home win against Plymouth and got his goal in the following game at Wednesday. Late in the game manager Chris Coleman removed Michael Mifsud and replaced him with Hines it wasn’t long before he received a knock down from Robbie Simpson and Hines swivelled to brilliantly volley the ball home to spark off mad celebration in the away end City ended up drawing the game 1-1. Hines played his part in helping City avoid relegation. Another player who never lived up to his potential he is currently playing for Dagenham and Redbridge.
Blair Turgott
Like Hines came with great promise from West Ham, signed by Steven Pressley but didn’t make his debut until after the manager was sacked. First game was away to Barnsley in City’s last away defeat of the season and he got his goal at Peterborough. Turgott replaced Nouble with the scores at 0-0; Turgott then had his first chance but blasted over. City then put in a good move saw O’Brien find Odelusi, he put in a shot that was deflected, the ball went in the air suddenly Turgott was the only player that reacted and raced onto the ball and beat the keeper knocking the ball into the net to spark off mad celebrations in the away end. That was it for Blair as he failed to impress. The latest in a long line of players that never made it maybe the next player to score his first goal as a sub can go on to have a better career than nine of the above ten.