|
FORMER Sky Blues striker Terry Gibson admitted he was 'extremely jealous' when Coventry lifted the FA Cup in 1987.
'Gibbo' had a fantastic goalscoring record during his time at City, scoring 51 goals in three seasons including with a hat-trick in a famous 4-0 win over Liverpool.
It was this kind of form at Highfield Road that attracted the attention of Manchester United who prised Gibson to Old Trafford in a £600,000 deal in January of 1986.
Little did the London-born hitman know, however, that he would be leaving a side that would end up going on to lift the coveted silverware the following season, and that he would be a victim of the Sky Blues' famous cup run along with the rest of the United team he had left Coventry to join.
On the way to winning the FA Cup in 1987, Coventry faced a United side that included Gibson at Old Trafford in the fourth round, beating the Reds 1-0 through a first-half Keith Houchen strike.
The former City striker recalls the tie and admitted he doubted his decision to leave the Sky Blues when he saw John Sillett's side go all the way to beat Tottenham Hotspur in the cup final.
Gibson said: "I remember the game really well as when I was at Coventry, we were fighting against relegation and trying to stay alive in the division.
Click here to watch highlights of the game!
"When you go to Manchester United though, you think you will be challenging for cup finals and trophies. I scored against Arsenal the week before so I kept my place against Coventry. The thing I remember the most about the match was that half of the pitch was frozen.
"You almost had to wear two different pairs of boots for either side of the pitch so it was a typical day for a FA Cup upset. We couldn't score a goal and Coventry played well, and ultimately got the winner."
The irony of the situation never escaped Gibson who struggled to recapture the goalscoring form at Old Trafford and he found himself struggling to keep down a first team spot.
"When they went on to lift the Cup, I was very jealous. The manager and atmosphere had changed around the club, and the team spirit they had in the Cup run drove them all the way.
"I was stuck in the reserves at Manchester United, not getting many games and seeing Coventry lift the Cup, I was thinking what have I done.
"I leave Coventry and they go and win it with one of my dreams to lift the FA Cup; it was very hard to take."
Justice was done it its own way though and Gibson did eventually fulfill his dream of lifting the FA Cup with Wimbledon just a year later as part of the famous 'Crazy Gang' squad.
Lawrie Sanchez's header was enough to give the Dons, led by Sky Blues' future two-time boss Bobby Gould, a 1-0 win over Liverpool at Wembley and the FA Cup trophy in 1988.
Gibson played alongside future footballing figureheads such as Sanchez, Dave Beasant, Vinnie Jones, John Fashanu and current City boss Andy Thorn.
Click below to enlarge!
Want to hear what 'Gibbo' has to say about Andy Thorn? Click here!
And while Gibson admitted he suffered a torrid time in Manchester, including being beaten by his old club as they steamrollered towards the cup trophy he dreamed of, he said the opportunity to move to Old Trafford was not one he could not turn down.
He continued: "It was hard to move but it happened so quickly. One minute I was playing for Coventry, the next I was at Old Trafford.
You voted Gibson in our all-time Top Ten Deadliest Strikers! Click here for more!
"They made an offer which was accepted and it was literally the next morning I was in Manchester for training. It was difficult as it went through very quickly and I didn't get a chance to say my goodbyes.
"I think generally people understood me leaving to go to Manchester United. It is one of the biggest clubs in the world, and even then, they were a massive football club. I couldn't pass up the opportunity."
During his three-year spell at Highfield Road, Gibson adhered himself to the City faithful and he believes it was his never-say-die attitude on the pitch which made him a fans' favourite.
He added: "Even though we were battling to stay in the league, I loved my time at Coventry. I was playing regular first-team football in the top flight and I was scoring goals.
"It was smashing for me. I scored a lot of goals for City and I think the supporters took to me because of my style of play. A little centre-forward battling against big centre-half's and I wasn't frightened to stand up to them.
"Supporters like someone who tries and I had a great relationship with the supporters because of that. I loved their support and it was always a boost when they were singing my name.
"Probably because of them and the players I played with, I have some really happy memories playing for Coventry." | 
