Members News: The Sky Blue Middleton Twins Celebrate Their 55th Birthday!

Members News: The Sky Blue Middleton Twins Celebrate Their 55th Birthday!

Fans of Sky Blue were accustomed to seeing the twins, Dion and Devon Kelly-Evans, who are now also members of the CCFPA, in the Ricoh and wearing the Sky Blue shirt just a few seasons ago.

But a lot of fans overlook the fact that today is the birthday of Craig and Lee Middleton, the first twins to ever play for the Sky Blues! Today marks the 55th birthday of the “Birthday Boys,” two local boys who were born in Nuneaton on September 10, 1970! Both joined the Sky Blues YTS program, which was the Academy’s precursor.

Being a part of that “other” cup victory in 1986–87 (above) was their primary claim to fame while playing for the Sky Blues. The juniors matched their seniors’ impressive silverware by winning the F.A.Youth Cup that season, when the seniors were taking home the F.A. Cup and Wembley in a historic victory over Tottenham Hotspur in 3-2 extra time. They defeated Charlton Athletic in a two-leg final and won the championship on aggregate.

The young Sky Blues needed extra time to win 1-0 in the second leg at Highfield Road on May 13th in front of 12,142 after drawing 1-1 in the first leg at the Valley in late April 1968 (with Craig scoring from center-forward). Lee played right-back, and Steve Livingstone, a recent birthday boy and fellow CCFPA member, scored the goal!

Given the caliber of the first squad at the time, the YTS boys had little opportunity to play for the first team. In a 1-0 loss at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge in September 1989, center-half Lee made his Division One debut as a substitute.

He only made one more senior appearance, in 1989–1990, this time as a substitute. The same season, midfielder Craig made his first appearance in the Premier League, this time as a substitute in a 2-3 loss at Spurs’ White Hart Lane.

He did, however, make two full games, one in the League Cup and one in Division One, including a 2-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur at Highfield Road in December 1991.

After making one more D1 complete appearance in 1992–93, he moved on to Cambridge United on a free transfer in July 1993.

CCFPAs (the deceased) With children Harvey, Charlie, Beau, and Oliver in front of him, Bob Eales is positioned between Lee (left) and Craig (right).

Craig scored ten goals in 64 first team games across all competitions while he was there. He went on to play 143 games for Cardiff City starting in 1996 and six games (two goals) for Plymouth Argyle during a month-long loan in early 2000.

He played in 84 first-class games (scoring eight goals) after signing to Halifax Town in March 2000. In 2002, he joined Bedworth Town, a local team, in the non-league.

After an unsuccessful trial with Swindon Town in the summer of 1992, Lee joined Michael Cook, a fellow Sky Blue F.A. Youth Cup winner and member of the CCFPA, at Corby Town in 1992.

Before leaving for Atherstone Town (1996) and Bedworth United (2002) due to a severe back injury, he also played three games for Cambridge United in 1995–96.

When the twins returned to the Ricoh (with their families) to commemorate with their peers the 25th anniversary of their (and the seniors’) 2012 F.A. and F.A. Youth Cup double, they were officially registered with the Association (see image above left)!

CCFPA wishes the two of them a very joyous day today!