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Coventry City F.C.
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Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, is an association football club based in Coventry, England. Coventry City were founding members of the Premier League in 1992.
They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second-highest tier of the English league system. Their only major trophy was won in 1987 when they beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 to win the FA Cup, a game often cited as one of best FA Cup Finals of all time.
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Encyclopedia
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, is an association football club based in Coventry, England. Coventry City were founding members of the Premier League in 1992.
They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second-highest tier of the English league system. Their only major trophy was won in 1987 when they beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 to win the FA Cup, a game often cited as one of best FA Cup Finals of all time. They also reached two League Cup semi-finals in 1981 and 1989.
From 1899 to 2005, Coventry City played at the Highfield Road stadium. During the 1980s it became the first all-seater stadium in English football, but by the end of the following decade the club's directors decided it was time to build a bigger stadium and chose a site in the Foleshill area of the city. The Ricoh Arena was opened in August 2005.
History
A Brief History
- 1883 - The club is founded by employees of Singers, the cycle firm, with William Stanley one of the leading lights.
- 1898 - The club's name is changed from Singers F.C. to Coventry City.
- 1899 - The club move to Highfield Road following stints at Dowells Field and Stoke Road.
- 1901 - The club suffer their worst ever defeat with a disappointing 11-2 loss against Worcester-based Berwick Rangers in the qualifying round of the FA Cup.
- 1919 - The club are voted into the Football League, where they have remained ever since.
- 1928 - In the cold of February and with Coventry struggling near the foot of Division Three South, the club's worst ever attendance is recorded. Only 2,059 turn up for the match against Crystal Palace.
- 1932 - Centre-forward Clarrie Bourton heads the Football League scoring lists with 49 goals. The following season he scored 40 goals.
- 1934 - City record their biggest ever victory a 9-0 league drubbing of Bristol City.
- 1936 - Coventry City win the Third Division South championship after a nail-biting final day 2-1 victory over Torquay United and return to Division Two after eleven years in the lower division.
- 1958 - Goalkeeper Alf Wood becomes the oldest player to start a game for the club, this year founding members of Division Four (now Football League Two). He played against Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup aged 43 years and 207 days.
- 1961 - Former Fulham player and P.F.A. chairman Jimmy Hill is appointed manager following an embarrassing FA Cup defeat to Kings Lynn.
- 1964 - Jimmy Hill guides Coventry to promotion from Division Three (now Football League One) as champions after a final day 1-0 victory over Colchester United.
- 1967 - Coventry City promoted from Division Two to the top flight for the first time in their history. This made manager, and BBC Sport presenter Jimmy Hill a legend at the club. Coventry's record attendance was also set in this year - 51,455 against Wolverhampton Wanderers, the team which Coventry would only just finish above at the top of the table.
- 1970 - Coventry qualified for the European Fairs Cup but lost 7-3 on aggregate in the 2nd round to Bayern Munich, despite winning the second leg 2-1 at Highfield Road.
- 1987 - The Sky Blues won the FA Cup, beating Tottenham Hotspur in the final. It is their only major trophy to date. They were runners-up to Everton in August in the Community Shield. Coventry also won the FA Youth Cup in this year.
- 1989 - Coventry defeated by Sutton United in FA Cup.
- 2001 - Coventry relegated from the FA Premier League after 34 years in the first tier.
- 2003 - Ben Mackey, Coventry's youngest ever player makes his debut as a substitute against Ipswich Town aged 16 years and 167 days.
- 2004 - Their football academy, based in southeast Coventry at The Alan Higgs Centre, owned by the Alan Higgs Trust, was opened in September 2004.
- 2005 - Coventry relocated to the 32,609 seater Ricoh Arena after 106 years at Highfield Road.
- 2007 - Coventry narrowly avoided administration when Ray Ranson took over the club at the last minute.
- 2008 - The club celebrates its 125th anniversary and avoids relegation to League One despite being beat 4-1 at Charlton on the final day of the season.
- 2009 - The first ever complete sell out of Ricoh is announced for the FA Cup Quarter Final match against Chelsea on March 7th 2009.
Playing Kit
Coventry's home shirts are now always sky blue. However this hasn't always been the case. During the 1880s and 1890s, the club used black and red. Sky blue was first used by Coventry in 1898, the sky blue theme was then used until 1922, the colour made its return in 1962 thanks to the then manager, Jimmy Hill. This season, Coventry are using sky blue and white stripes, a design that has been used three times this millennium. This is a contrast to the late 1990s where sky blue and navy stripes were chosen three times. To mark the 125th year of the club, Coventry will wear a special brown shirt on the last day of the 2008-09 season against Watford. The choice of a brown kit is owed to the infamous brown Admiral kit that Coventry had worn in the 1970s.
Fans
Former Players Association
In February 2007 a Former Players Association was launched. Set up by club historian Jim Brown, former 1980s player Kirk Stephens and a committee of enthusiastic volunteers, its aim was to bring former players of the club together and cherish their memories. Around 50 former stars of the club attended the launch including Coventry City legends George Hudson, Cyrille Regis, Charlie Timmins and Bill Glazier. By February 2008 almost 120 former players had joined the association. The association's first newsletter was published in autumn 2007 and a website had been launched.
Sky Blue Sam
Sky Blue Sam is Coventry City's mascot. Famed for his acrobatics, including forward rolls and backflips.
Sky Blue anthem
The club song was written in 1962 by manager Jimmy Hill and director John Camkin. It was launched at the home game with Colchester on 22 December 1962 (a match abandoned at half-time because of fog)with the words printed in the programme. It quickly became popular with supporters during the epic FA Cup run in 1963 when the Third Division team reached the Sixth Round of the FA Cup before losing to eventual winners Manchester United. To the tune of the Eton Boating Song
Original:
- Let's all sing together
- Play up, Sky Blues
- While we sing together
- We will never lose
- Proud Posh or Cobblers
- Oysters or anyone
- They shan't defeat us
- We'll fight 'til the game is won!
- City! City! City!
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Current:
- Play up, Sky Blues
- While we sing together
- We will never lose
- Tottenham or Chelsea
- United or anyone
- They shan't defeat us
- We'll fight 'til the game is won!
- City! City! City!
Stadium
Grounds
106 years at Highfield Road
Coventry City began playing at the Highfield Road stadium in 1899, although the club did not buy the freehold to the site until 1937. The record crowd at the ground was on 29 April 1967 when 51,452 watched the Second Division title decider against Wolverhampton Wanderers. This was more than 6,000 more than the previous record set against Aston Villa in 1938. The ground has an interesting history. In 1940 it was bombed by Luftwaffe planes. In 1968, the main stand burnt down and new stand to replace it built within four months. In 1981, Highfield Road was converted into England's first ever all-seater stadium with a capacity of around 24,500 . It had been gradually upgraded since then, with the final phase of work being completed in the mid-1990s, including fully-enclosed corners. The final game played at the stadium was against Derby County F.C. on 30 April 2005, with Coventry winning the game with a 6–2 scoreline. On an emotional day, the final goal at Highfield Road was fittingly scored by a homegrown youngster Andrew Whing. Other goals came from Trinidad and Tobago international Stern John, Dele Adebola, and Coventry-born player Gary McSheffrey, who scored two of the goals. One of these was from a penalty given away by the ex-City captain Mo Konjic
Relocating to Ricoh Arena
For the 2005–06 season, Coventry City moved to the new 32,609 capacity Ricoh Arena after 106 years at Highfield Road. In 1998, the club had decided that it was time to relocate to a new stadium in the Foleshill area of the city, three miles north of the city centre and close to the M6 motorway. The original plan was for a state-of-the-art 45,000-seater, multipurpose stadium with removable pitch and retractable roof. It was due to be ready for the 2001–02 season. However, relegation, financial problems, financier/contractor withdrawals and England's failure to secure the 2006 World Cup competition led to a radical redesign. Despite initiating the project and being the principal attraction there, Coventry City's financial situation means that they no longer own the stadium and must pay rent to use it.
The stadium naming rights were originally sold to Jaguar Cars which has strong links with Coventry. Jaguar Cars pulled out of the project on 16 December 2004 and a new major sponsor was needed. A £10 million deal, which included naming rights, was signed and electronics manufacturer Ricoh became the new chief sponsor for the stadium. The project was funded largely by Coventry City Council & the (Alan Edward) Higgs Charity (of which former CCFC and ACL director the late Sir Derek Higgs was a trustee), and includes shopping facilities, a casino, exhibition halls and a concert venue.
At the beginning of the 2005-06 season, construction delays at the ground forced Coventry City to play their first three games of the season away and postpone their home games. On Saturday 20 August 2005, City hosted Queens Park Rangers F.C. in the first-ever game at the Ricoh Arena. Coventry won the game 3–0, the first goal at the Ricoh Arena being scored by Claus Bech Jorgensen, with an 11th-minute diving header. Dele Adebola then added two more for the Sky Blues.
Cashless Till System
The Ricoh Arena hosts a cashless till system inside the football stadium, which is the first of its kind in the country. You top up (very similar to pay as you go mobiles) and present your card at the till and the cost of your purchased items i.e Pie and chips are deducted from your credit. There is also a £2 deposit taken for the card itself which is refundable at any time.
Current squad
- As of 30 January 2009.
Out on loan
Season Review & Statistics
Coventry City's 2005-2006 Season Review & Statistics
Coventry City's 2006-2007 Season Review & Statistics
Coventry City's 2007-2008 Season Review & Statistics
Coventry City's 2008-2009 Season Review & Statistics
Club Officials
- Life President: Mike McGinnity
- Chairman:Ray Ranson
- Vice Chairman: Gary Hoffman
- Directors: Joe Elliott, Mike Parton
- Finance Director:Ed Baker
- Commercial Director: Nathan Kosky
- Manager: Chris Coleman
- Assistant Manager: Steve Kean
- First Team Coach:Frankie Bunn
- Reserve Team Coach: Steve Ogrizovic
- Fitness Coach: Andy O'Boyle
- Head Physiotherapist: Michael McBride
- Physiotherapist: David Hart
- Official Historian: Jim Brown
Awards and honours
Player of the Year
| Year | Winner |
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| 1968 | Ernie Machin | | 1969 | | | 1970 | Neil Martin | | 1971 | Willie Carr | | 1972 | Ernie Hunt | | 1973 | Tommy Hutchison | | 1974 | | | 1975 | Tommy Hutchison | | 1976 | Tommy Hutchison | | 1977 | Mick Ferguson | | 1978 | Ian Wallace |
| | Year | Winner |
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| 1979 | Bobby McDonald | | 1980 | Ian Wallace | | 1981 | Gary Gillespie | | 1982 | Danny Thomas | | 1983 | Gary Gillespie | | 1984 | Nick Platnauer | | 1985 | Terry Gibson | | 1986 | Trevor Peake | | 1987 | Steve Ogrizovic | | 1988 | David Speedie | | 1989 | David Speedie |
| | Year | Winner |
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| 1990 | Brian Borrows | | 1991 | Kevin Gallacher | | 1992 | Stewart Robson | | 1993 | Peter Atherton | | 1994 | Phil Babb | | 1995 | Brian Borrows | | 1996 | Paul Williams | | 1997 | Dion Dublin | | 1998 | Dion Dublin | | 1999 | Richard Shaw | | 2000 | Gary McAllister |
| | Year | Winner |
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| 2001 | Gary Breen | | 2002 | Gary McAllister | | 2003 | Muhamed Konjic | | 2004 | Stephen Warnock | | 2005 | Michael Doyle | | 2006 | Gary McSheffrey | | 2007 | Andy Marshall | | 2008 | Jay Tabb | | 2009 | | |
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Top goalscorers
| Year | Winner | Goals |
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| 1968 | | 9 | | 1969 | Ernie Hunt | 13 | | 1970 | Neil Martin | 15 | | 1971 | Ernie Hunt | 12 | | 1972 | Ernie Hunt | 12 | | 1973 | | 17 | | 1974 | | 15 | | 1975 | David Cross | 8 | | 1976 | David Cross | 16 | | 1977 | Mick Ferguson | 15 | | 1978 | Ian Wallace | 23 | | 1979 | Ian Wallace | 15 | | 1980 | Ian Wallace | 13 | | 1981 | Garry Thompson | 15 |
| | Year | Winner | Goals |
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| 1982 | Mark Hateley | 18 | | 1983 | Steve Whitton | 14 | | 1984 | Terry Gibson | 19 | | 1985 | Terry Gibson | 19 | | 1986 | Terry Gibson | 13 | | 1987 | Cyrille Regis | 16 | | 1988 | Cyrille Regis | 12 | | 1989 | David Speedie | 15 | | 1990 | David Speedie | 9 | | 1991 | Kevin Gallacher | 16 | | 1992 | Kevin Gallacher | 10 | | 1993 | Micky Quinn | 17 | | 1994 | Peter Ndlovu | 11 | | 1995 | Dion Dublin | 16 |
| | Year | Winner | Goals |
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| 1996 | Dion Dublin | 16 | | 1997 | Dion Dublin | 13 | | 1998 | Dion Dublin | 23 | | 1999 | Noel Whelan | 13 | | 2000 | Gary McAllister | 13 | | 2001 | Craig Bellamy | 8 | | 2002 | Lee Hughes | 15 | | 2003 | Jay Bothroyd | 11 | | 2004 | Gary McSheffrey | 12 | | 2005 | Gary McSheffrey | 14 | | 2006 | Gary McSheffrey | 17 | | 2007 | Dele Adebola | 9 | | 2008 | Michael Mifsud | 17 | | 2009 | Clinton Morrison | 10 | |
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Most appearances
| Year | Winner | Apps |
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| 1968 | Ernie Machin | 44 | | 1969 | | 49 | | 1970 | | 44 | | 1971 | Jeff Blockley | 48 | | 1972 | Willie Carr | 45 | | 1973 | | 48 | | 1974 | Jimmy Holmes | 53 | | 1975 | Tommy Hutchison | 46 | | 1976 | | 47 | | 1977 | John Beck | 45 | | 1978 | Bobby McDonald | 47 | | 1979 | Tommy Hutchison | 45 | | 1980 | Tommy Hutchison | 45 | | 1981 | | 54 |
| | Year | Winner | Apps |
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| 1982 | Gary Gillespie | 46 | | 1983 | Gary Gillespie | 48 | | 1984 | Trevor Peake | 40 | | 1985 | Steve Ogrizovic | 46 | | 1986 | Steve Ogrizovic | 47 | | 1987 | Steve Ogrizovic | 53 | | 1988 | Brian Borrows | 45 | | 1989 | Brian Borrows | 42 | | 1990 | David Smith | 46 | | 1991 | Brian Borrows | 47 | | 1992 | Lloyd McGrath | 44 | | 1993 | Peter Atherton | 42 | | 1994 | Phil Babb | 44 | | 1995 | Steve Ogrizovic | 40 |
| | Year | Winner | Apps |
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| 1996 | John Salako | 40 | | 1997 | Steve Ogrizovic | 46 | | 1998 | Dion Dublin | 43 | | 1999 | Magnus Hedman | 42 | | 2000 | Gary McAllister | 43 | | 2001 | Craig Bellamy | 38 | | 2002 | David Thompson | 45 | | 2003 | Muhamed Konjic | 48 | | 2004 | Stephen Warnock | 46 | | 2005 | Michael Doyle | 48 | | 2006 | Michael Doyle | 49 | | 2007 | Andy Marshall | 42 | | 2008 | Jay Tabb | 49 | | 2009 | Fox / Westwood | 36 | |
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Club honours
Players
Official Hall Of Fame
| Player | Apps | Goals |
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| Dave Bennett | 187 | 33 | | Brian Borrows | 474 | 13 | | 241 | 181 | | Willie Carr | 280 | 36 | | 485 | 22 | | George Curtis | 534 | 13 | | 237 | 14 | | Dion Dublin | 168 | 72 | | 311 | 52 | | Mick Ferguson | 141 | 57 | | Ian Gibson | 101 | 14 |
| | Player | Apps | Goals |
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| 402 | 0 | | 200 | 89 | | 129 | 75 | | Ernie Hunt | 166 | 51 | | Tommy Hutchison | 353 | 30 | | Mick Kearns | 382 | 15 | | Leslie Jones | 144 | 74 | | 182 | 63 | | George Lowrie | 85 | 59 | | Ernie Machin | 284 | 39 | | 350 | 8 |
| | Player | Apps | Goals |
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| Reg Matthews | 116 | 0 | | Steve Ogrizovic | 601 | 1 | | Trevor Peake | 330 | 7 | | 262 | 52 | | Cyrille Regis | 274 | 62 | | Richard Shaw | 338 | 1 | | Danny Thomas | 123 | 6 | | Ian Wallace | 138 | 60 | | 246 | 0 |
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Notable recent players
Player records
- Most expensive signing: Craig Bellamy, £6,500,000 in 2000 from Norwich City
- Highest fee received:Robbie Keane, £13,000,000 in 2000 to Inter Milan
- Last goal at Highfield Road: Andrew Whing
- First goal at Ricoh Arena: Claus Bech Jorgensen
- Most Appearances (all competitions): Steve Ogrizovic, 601 (1984 to 2000)
- Most Appearances (league): Steve Ogrizovic, 507 (1984 to 2000)
- All-time top scorer (all competitions): Clarrie Bourton, 182 goals (1931-1937)
- All-time top scorer (league): Clarrie Bourton, 173 goals (1931-1937)
- Top-Flight era top scorer (all competitions): Dion Dublin, 72 goals (1994-1998)
- Top-Flight era top scorer (league): Dion Dublin, 60 goals (1994-1998)
- Most goals by one player in a game: Cyrille Regis, 5 (vs Chester City, 1985), Arthur Bacon, 5 (vs Gillingham, 1933), Clarrie Bourton, (vs Bournemouth, 1931).
- Most goals by one player in a season: Clarrie Bourton, 50 (1931-1932)
- Most goals by one player in a season in the top flight: Dion Dublin, 23 (1997-1998), Ian Wallace, 23 (1977-1978)
- Oldest Player: Alf Wood, 43 years 207 days (vs Plymouth Argyle, 1958)
- Youngest Player: Ben Mackey, 16 years 167 days (substitute vs Ipswich Town, 2003)
- Youngest Player to start: Brian Hill, 16 years 273 days (vs Gillingham F.C.\Gillingham,1958)
- Most capped Player: Magnus Hedman, 38 caps for Sweden
Managers
See also :Category:Coventry City F.C. managers
| William Stanley (1883-1885) Hary Hathaway (1885-1887) J.G Morgan (1887-1892) Teddy Kirk (1893) George Maley (1893) Joe Collins (1893-1895) Tom Cashmore (1895-1900) Ben Newhall (1900-1902) Michael O'Shea (1902-1905) Joe Beaman (1905-1908) Walter Harris (1908-1909) Harry Buckle (1909-1911) Robert Wallace & committee (1911-1914) Frank Scott-Walford & committee (1914-1915) H.Howard & committee (1915-1916) William Clayton (1917-1919) Harry Pollitt (1919-1920) Albert Evans (1920-1924) Harry Harbourne (caretaker) (1924-1925) James Kerr (1925-1928)VACANT (March 1928-June 1928) Jimmy McIntyre (1928-1931) William Slade (caretaker) (1931) Harry Storer (1931-1945) Dick Bayliss (1945-1947)VACANT (April 1947-June 1947) Billy Frith (1947-1948) Harry Storer (1948-1953)VACANT (November 1953-January 1954) Jack Fairbrother (1954) Charlie Elliott (caretaker) (1954-1955) Jesse Carver (1955)
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Local rivals
Coventry's rival clubs include:
- Aston Villa
- West Bromwich Albion
- Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Leicester City - M69 Derby
- Birmingham City
Other Information
External links
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