Coventry City F.C.

Coventry City

Full name	Coventry City Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Sky Blues
Founded	13 August 1883 (as Singers F.C.)[1]
Ground	Ricoh Arena, Coventry CV6 6GE (Capacity: 32,609)
Chairman	Ray Ranson
Manager	Aidy Boothroyd
League	The Championship
2009–10	The Championship, 19th
All-time top scorer	Clarrie Bourton (182)
Home colours Away colours
Current season

Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are an association football club based in Coventry, central 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 possibly the greatest FA Cup Final of all time.^[2] They also reached two League Cup semi-finals in 1981 and 1990.

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 Singer, 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 PFA chairman Jimmy Hill is appointed manager following an embarrassing FA Cup defeat at home to non-league 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 as Second Division champions 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 - officially recorded as 51,455, (although many people who were at that game suggest the attendance was a lot higher, possibly much over 60,000) against Wolverhampton Wanderers, the team which Coventry would only just finish above at the top of the table.
• 1969-70 - Under Noel Cantwell, Coventry finish 6th in the First Division, their highest League placing.
• 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. In that same year, Highfield Road became the first all-seater, floodlit stadium in the country.
• 1978 - The strike partnership of Ian Wallace and Mick Ferguson helped the Sky Blues finish in seventh position in the First Division, their second-highest ever final league placing, but fractionally miss-out on a UEFA Cup place.
• 1981 - The club reaches the League Cup semi-final but are denied their first Wembley appearance by West Ham United after leading in the first leg. Highfield Road becomes the country's first all-seater stadium.
• 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 Charity Shield. Coventry also won the FA Youth Cup in this year.
• 1989 - Coventry defeated by non-league Sutton United in the FA Cup.^[3] However, their impressive league form meant they equalled their best ever end of season placing, finishing in the top seven once more.
• 1990 - Coventry reached the League Cup semi-final for the second time, but were defeated by eventual winners Nottingham Forest.
• 1998 - The club reached the FA Cup quarter-final but were denied a semi-final appearance as Sheffield United (a league below them) won the replay at Bramall Lane. They also attained their highest Premier League finish of 11th position.
• 2001 - Coventry relegated from the Premier League after 34 years in the first tier. At the time, only Liverpool, Everton and Arsenal could boast longer tenures in the top flight.
• 2004 - Their football academy, based in southeast Coventry at The Alan Higgs Centre, owned by the Alan Higgs Trust, was opened in September 2004.^[4][5]
• 2005 - Coventry relocated to the 32,609 seater Ricoh Arena after 106 years at Highfield Road. The club's last game at Highfield Road stadium results in a scintillating 6-2 win over Midlands rivals Derby County in front of a sell-out 23,000 crowd.
• 2007 - Coventry narrowly avoided administration when Ray Ranson took over the club with twenty minutes to spare.
• 2008 - The club celebrated its 125th anniversary. They avoided relegation to League One despite being beaten 4-1 at Charlton on the final day of the season.
• 2009 - The first ever complete sell-out of Ricoh Arena was announced for the FA Cup quarter-final match against Chelsea on 7 March 2009, which Chelsea won 2-0. The Ricoh became the first cashless stadium in the UK.
• 2010 - On 3 June 2010, it was announced that Coventry's home ground, the Ricoh Arena, will be a host stadium for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

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. In the 2008-09 season, Coventry used 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 wore a special brown shirt in the last home game of the 2008-09 season against Watford. The choice of a brown kit is owed to the infamous chocolate brown Admiral away kit that Coventry had worn in the mid-1970s, regularly cited as the worst kit in English football history. For the 2009-10 season the club will revert to a sky blue shirt, rather than stripes.

Fans

Former Players Association

In February 2007 a Former Players Association was launched. Set up by club historian and statistician 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. To qualify for free membership players have to have made at least one first team competitive appearance for the club or been a manager. Members are entitled to a ticket for any home league game.

Around 50 former stars of the club attended the launch including Coventry City legends George Hudson, Cyrille Regis, Charlie Timmins and Bill Glazier. The association's first newsletter was published in autumn 2007 and a website www.ccfpa.co.uk had been launched. The launch of 2007 was followed by subsequent Legend's Days in 2008 and 2009. The 2009 event, held at the home game against Doncaster Rovers was attended by 43 former players including the first visit to Coventry for many years of Roy Barry and Dave Clements. In March 2009 the association had 142 members. Two former players not mentioned in the all time list of Coventry City players on this site but who made a significant contribution to the teams they played in were Ray Graydon and Bobby McDonald.

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 then Third Division team reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup before losing to eventual winners Manchester United. To the tune of the Eton Boating Song;

Stadium

Grounds

Ricoh Arena, Coventry's stadium since 2005

• Dowells Field - 1883-1887
• Stoke Road - 1887-1899
• Highfield Road - 1899-2005
• Ricoh Arena - 2005-date

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 51,455 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. Although many people who where at that game suggest the attendance was a lot higher, possibly much over 60,000. Supporters climbed onto the roofs of the stands and up the floodlights. The ground has an interesting history. In 1940 the main stand which backed onto terraced houses in Mowbray Street was bombed by the Luftwaffe, heavy turnstiles from the ground and gas meters from houses in Mowbray Street were discovered in Gosford Park some 500 yards away. In 1968, the main stand burnt down and its replacement was 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, which many criticized as killing the atmosphere of the ground. Some seats very removed a few years later. [1]. It had been gradually upgraded since then, with the final phase of work being completed in the mid-1990s, including two fully enclosed corners. The final game played at the great stadium was against Derby County on 30 April 2005, with Coventry hammering Derby County, winning the game 6-2. Many great players graced the turf of Highfield Road, on an emotional day, the final goal at Highfield Road was fittingly scored by a homegrown youngster Andrew Whing. Other goals came from 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 Konjić. The land on which the stadium once stood is now a housing estate.

Relocating to Ricoh Arena

For the 2005–06 season, Coventry City moved to the new 32,609 capacity ^[6] 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, this could appear to raise concerns over the managing of the clubs financies by previous club officials, as, as of the year 2001 the club were the fourth longest serving club in the top flight of English football.

The stadium naming rights were originally sold to Jaguar Cars which has strong links with Coventry. Jaguar 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 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 Jørgensen, with an 11th-minute diving header. Dele Adebola then added two more for the Sky Blues.

Playing staff

First team squad

As of 31 August 2010.

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Keiren Westwood 2 DF Richard Keogh 3 DF Stephen O'Halloran 4 MF Sammy Clingan 5 MF Lee Carsley (captain) 6 DF James McPake 7 MF David Bell 8 MF Michael Doyle 10 FW Freddy Eastwood 11 FW Lukas Jutkiewicz 12 MF Gary Deegan 13 GK Iain Turner (on loan from Everton) 14 DF Chris Hussey 15 DF Martin Cranie

No. Position Player 16 MF Isaac Osbourne 17 MF Aron Gunnarsson 18 MF Carl Baker 19 FW Gary McSheffrey 20 DF Ben Turner 21 MF Michael McIndoe 22 FW Clive Platt 23 GK Danny Ireland 24 DF Richard Wood 26 DF Jordan Clarke 29 FW Roy O'Donovan 30 DF Nathan Cameron 32 FW Callum Wilson 33 GK Michael Quirke

Out on Loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 25 DF Jermaine Grandison (at Tranmere Rovers until October 2010) 31 FW Shaun Jeffers (at Cheltenham Town until September 2010)

Academy squad

As of 26 July 2010.^[7]

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 38 DF Cyrus Christie 39 FW Jonson Clarke-Harris 40 MF Conor Thomas 41 MF Gael Bigirimana 42 MF Conor Grogan GK Lee Burge DF Joe Henderson

No. Position Player DF Aaron Phillips DF Connor Gudger MF Josh Ruffels MF Luke Adams MF Luke Bottomer FW Billy Daniels FW Jamie Spencer

Backroom staff and club officials

Name Position Aidy Boothroyd Manager Steve Harrison Assistant Manager Steve Ogrizovic Goalkeeping Coach Andy O'Boyle Fitness Coach Gregor Rioch Academy Manager Andy Thorn Chief Scout Michael McBride Physiotherapist Dave Hart Assistant Physiotherapist

Name Position Ray Ranson Chairman Gary Hoffman Vice Chairman Joe Elliott Director Mike Parton Director Walter Bosco Director Mike McGinnity Life President Nathan Kosky Commercial Director Jim Brown Club Statistician

Seasons, awards and honours

Season Review & Statistics	Player of the Year	Top Goalscorer	Most Appearances	Other
1967–1968 season	Ernie Machin	Ronnie Rees 9	Ernie Machin 44	FA Youth Cup Runners-up
1968–1969 season	Bill Glazier	Ernie Hunt 13	Bill Glazier 49
1969–1970 season	Neil Martin	Neil Martin 15	Mick Coop 44	FA Youth Cup Runners-up
1970–1971 season	Willie Carr	Ernie Hunt 12	Jeff Blockley 48
1971–1972 season	Ernie Hunt	Ernie Hunt 12	Willie Carr 45
1972–1973 season	Tommy Hutchison	Brian Alderson 17	Mick Coop 48
1973–1974 season	Bill Glazier	Brian Alderson 15	Jimmy Holmes 53
1974–1975 season	Tommy Hutchison	David Cross 8	Tommy Hutchison 46
1975–1976 season	Tommy Hutchison	David Cross 16	Mick Coop 47
1976–1977 season	Mick Ferguson	Mick Ferguson 15	John Beck 45
1977–1978 season	Ian Wallace	Ian Wallace 23	Bobby McDonald 47
1978–1979 season	Bobby McDonald	Ian Wallace 15	Tommy Hutchison 45
1979–1980 season	Ian Wallace	Ian Wallace 13	Tommy Hutchison 45
1980–1981 season	Gary Gillespie	Garry Thompson 15	Paul Dyson 54
1981–1982 season	Danny Thomas	Mark Hateley 18	Gary Gillespie 46
1982–1983 season	Gary Gillespie	Steve Whitton 14	Gary Gillespie 48
1983–1984 season	Nick Platnauer	Terry Gibson 19	Trevor Peake 40
1984–1985 season	Terry Gibson	Terry Gibson 19	Steve Ogrizovic 46
1985–1986 season	Trevor Peake	Terry Gibson 13	Steve Ogrizovic 47
1986–1987 season	Steve Ogrizovic	Cyrille Regis 16	Steve Ogrizovic 53	FA Cup Winners: FA Cup Final 1987; FA Youth Cup Winners
1987–1988 season	David Speedie	Cyrille Regis 12	Brian Borrows 45
1988–1989 season	David Speedie	David Speedie 15	Brian Borrows 42
1989–1990 season	Brian Borrows	David Speedie 9	David Smith 46
1990–1991 season	Kevin Gallacher	Kevin Gallacher 16	Brian Borrows 47	PFA Merit Award: Tommy Hutchison
1991–1992 season	Stewart Robson	Kevin Gallacher 10	Lloyd McGrath 44
1992–1993 season	Peter Atherton	Micky Quinn 17	Peter Atherton 42
1993–1994 season	Phil Babb	Peter Ndlovu 11	Phil Babb 44
1994–1995 season	Brian Borrows	Dion Dublin 16	Steve Ogrizovic 40	PFA Merit Award: Gordon Strachan OBE
1995–1996 season	Paul Williams	Dion Dublin 16	John Salako 40
1996–1997 season	Dion Dublin	Dion Dublin 13	Steve Ogrizovic 46
1997–1998 season	Dion Dublin	Dion Dublin 23	Dion Dublin 43	PFA Merit Award: Steve Ogrizovic
1998–1999 season	Richard Shaw	Noel Whelan 13	Magnus Hedman 42	FA Youth Cup Runners-up
1999–2000 season	Gary McAllister	Gary McAllister 13	Gary McAllister 43	FA Youth Cup Runners-up
2000–2001 season	Gary Breen	Craig Bellamy 8	Craig Bellamy 38	PFA Merit Award: Jimmy Hill OBE
2001–2002 season	Gary McAllister	Lee Hughes 15	David Thompson 45
2002–2003 season	Muhamed Konjić	Jay Bothroyd 11	Muhamed Konjić 48
2003–2004 season	Stephen Warnock	Gary McSheffrey 12	Stephen Warnock 46
2004–2005 season	Michael Doyle	Gary McSheffrey 14	Michael Doyle 48
2005–2006 season	Gary McSheffrey	Gary McSheffrey 17	Michael Doyle 49
2006–2007 season	Andy Marshall	Dele Adebola 9	Andy Marshall 42	Birmingham Senior Cup Winners
2007–2008 season	Jay Tabb	Michael Mifsud 17	Jay Tabb 49
2008–2009 season	Aron Gunnarsson	Clinton Morrison 12	Keiren Westwood 49	PFA Team of the Year: Daniel Fox, Keiren Westwood
2009–2010 season	Keiren Westwood	Clinton Morrison 11	Keiren Westwood 46
2010–2011 season	TBA	Eastwood / Jutkiewicz 2 *	Bell / Platt 5 *

* Season in progress.

Other club honours (before 1968)

Notable players

Official Hall of Fame

Player[8] Apps Goals Dave Bennett 187 33 Brian Borrows 474 13 Clarrie Bourton 241 181 Willie Carr 280 36 Mick Coop 485 22 George Curtis 534 13 Jimmy Dougall 237 14 Dion Dublin 168 72

Player[8] Apps Goals Ron Farmer 311 52 Mick Ferguson 141 57 Ian Gibson 101 14 Bill Glazier 402 0 Frank Herbert 200 89 George Hudson 129 75 Ernie Hunt 166 51 Tommy Hutchison 353 30

Player[8] Apps Goals Mick Kearns 382 15 Leslie Jones 144 74 Jock Lauderdale 182 63 George Lowrie 85 59 Ernie Machin 284 39 George Mason 350 8 Reg Matthews 116 0 Steve Ogrizovic 601 1

Player[8] Apps Goals Trevor Peake 330 7 Ronnie Rees 262 52 Cyrille Regis 274 62 Richard Shaw 338 1 Danny Thomas 123 6 Ian Wallace 138 60 Alf Wood 246 0

Player records

• Highest fee paid: Craig Bellamy, £6,500,000 in 2000 from Norwich City
• Highest fee received: Robbie Keane, £13,000,000 in 2000 to Internazionale
• Last goal at Highfield Road: Andrew Whing
• First goal at Ricoh Arena: Claus Bech Jørgensen
• 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) 49 league, 1 F.A. Cup.
• 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: Jonson Clarke-Harris, 16 years 20 days (substitute vs Morecambe, 2010)
• Youngest player to start: Brian Hill, 16 years 273 days (vs Gillingham, 1958)
• Most capped player: Magnus Hedman, 38 caps for Sweden

Managers

See also Category:Coventry City F.C. managers

Local rivals

Coventry's rival clubs include:

• Aston Villa
• Birmingham City
• Leicester City - 'M69 Derby' (Named the 26th fiercest rivalry in English football in an in-depth report by the Football Pools in 2008^[9])
• West Bromwich Albion
• Wolverhampton Wanderers

Other information

References

External links

• Official club website
• Coventry City F.C. on BBC Sport: Club News – Recent results – Upcoming fixtures – Club stats
• Sky Sports Coventry City
• Coventry City Former Players Association