Members Take Posh Away Day but see Sky ‘Blues’

The Happy ‘CCFPA Away Day Team’ Before the Game

More than twenty members of the Association and guests travelled over to the Sky Blues game at Peterborough United last Saturday in a specially booked ‘Away Day’ coach. The party, which included former players Ken Brown, Paul Culpin, Ron Farmer, Ian Goodwin, Lol Harvey, Brian Nicholas, Gordon Simms, Bill Tedds and CCFPA President Kirk Stephens, a number of CCFPA Associate Members and committee member (and trip organiser) Bob Eales, set off from the G-Casino Coventry around 11 am. The coach party amused themselves during the ninety minute trip with reminiscences, a Q & A session and a ‘blackout’ competition (won by Bill Tedds).

The coach arrived at the London Road ground in Peterborough on time and met up with other members of the party who had travelled independently, including former Sky Blue star Micky Gynn and CCFPA committee members Mike Young and Frank Pritchard.  We were welcomed to ‘Posh’ by its former manager, chairman and current director of football Barry Fry and shared a tasty pre-match meal in the executive lounge of the Peterborough Club.

Paul, Barry & Micky

Maggie Cantwell with Ian Goodwin

Before the meal Barry introduced some of the players to another guest Maggie, wife of the late Noel Cantwell. Noel who died in 2005, had achieved fame as a Manchester United player and succeded CCFPA member Jimmy Hill as Sky Blues manager in 1967 before moving on to manage Peterborough United in 1972.

Ian Goodwin who was at CCFC at the same time as Noel in particular was pleased to spend time with Maggie talking over old times (below). Barry Fry also spent some additional time with Micky Gynn and Paul Culpin since both had memories of their time playing at London Road (right). A ‘team photo’ of the party was also taken in the main stand overlooking the pitch before the game started (at top).

The match itself was made particularly poignant by kicking off 7 minutes late to allow for a moving silent tribute (below) by players, officials and crowd to the ‘Hillsborough 96′ who died at the F.A.Cup Semi Final Liverpool v Forest tragedy at Sheffield Wednesday exactly twenty five years before (15/04/1989).  For the record,  the only disappointment of the Association ‘Away Day’ was that the Sky Blues lost 1-0 after an early reverse to the Posh (who cemented themselves into League One’s top six).

CCFPA Members Watch the Match

The Pre Match Silent Tribute to the Hillsborough 96

After the game the party said their goodbyes, thanking the staff at London Road for their hospitality. The coach returned to Coventry and a few of the occupants finished off an eventful and enjoyable day by taking advantage of the wonderful G-Casino facilities at the Ricoh. Thanks to Bob for organising the outing which was greatly enjoyed by all.

Dean joins the Committee

Last Thursday evening, the April meeting of the CCFPA committee took place in Lady Gs at the Ricoh Arena’s G-Casino and we had a very good turnout including President Kirk Stephens, Chairman Jim Brown, Vice Chair Billy Bell and committee members Dave Bennett, Dietmar Bruck, Bob Eales, Sandra Garlick, Frank Pritchard and Mike Young. We were also very pleased to welcome new committee member Dean Nelson to his first meeting.

Dean, (who also works in the same company as Dietmar) has been a long standing Associate member of the Association and has helped out as a volunteer at a substantial number of our events in the last few years. He is particularly well known for his expertise in putting together audio-visual material to support the likes of Legends Days and other reunions. He is keen to increase the number of Sky Blue fan based film evenings showing video highlights of games featuring Sky Blue stars of the past around the community that he has been promoting already.  Dean reminded us that the first match he attended was in August 1968 (aged 8) and CCFC lost at home to West Ham 2-1 with a goal scored by the late Gerry Baker. From that early start his enthusiasm for all things Sky Blue led him to put together numerous scrapbooks (at the last count it was 28) continuing well into the 1980’s. Since then he has moved onto collecting film archives of matches from the 1920s to current times (which now reached around 700 match highlights). From 1968-2001 has has also collected the matchday programmes of the Club.

Dean Nelson

He has a well established presence on the web where fans can see clips of many of the best bits of CCFC’s past action on his site on YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/user/covonthebox.  All in all, Dean’s enthusiasm, technical expertise and visual collection of the club’s visual heritage over last 5 decades will prove a great asset to the Association. Welcome!

Amongst the items considered by the committee was a review of the CCFPA Q&A held at member Lloyd McGrath‘s Social Club recently, arrangements for today’s Association ‘Away Day’ at the Sky Blues’ important game at Peterborough United and preparations for a number of Charity games in prospect involving our Former Player members. Also considered was how best to celebrate this year’s 50th anniversary of the 1963/4 Sky Blue squad’s Division Three Championship achievement as well as plans for the next CCFPA newsletter to be published at season’s end. We also made further consideration as to the mounting of our major annual reunion Legends Day 2014 given the Club’s current exile in Northampton and heard that there was already considerable interest in our Annual Golf Day on June 5th.

Our next committee meeting is set for Thursday 8th May 2014 at the same venue and time.

Our FPs To Turn out for CCFC Legends Team for Leukaemia

Coventry City’s team for the indoor ‘Club Legends Cup’ to be held at the LG Arena in Birmingham on Saturday July 12th is substantially made up of members of Coventry City Former Players Association.

The Sky Blues squad is reported to comprise Steve Ogrizovic, Noel Whelan, Lee Carsley, David Busst, Dele Adebola (newly signed up to CCFPA), committee member Claus Bech Jorgensen, Barry Quinn, Steve Morgan, Darren Huckerby, Liam Daish, Richard Shaw and Coventry City manager Stephen Pressley.

Tickets are available priced at Adults £10 and U16s £2 and the tournament, which involves ‘Legends’ from several other Midlands clubs, is being organised to raise funds for the Cure Leukaemia Charity.  As well as CCFC, teams will represent Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion, Birmingham City, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Walsall as well as a Rest of the World and a Celebrity/Media squad. The Sky Blues have been already drawn against the Villa, Wolves and the Rest of the World team in Group Two.

For further information see:- http://www.clublegends.cup.co.uk.

Last Chance for Seats on the CCFPA ‘Away Day’ Coach to the Peterboro’ Game

There are still a few seats left on the Association’s ‘Away Day’ coach to the Sky Blues’ game at Peterborough this weekend. Currently a full squad’s worth of CCFPA Former Players plus committee members will be travelling to the game hoping for a great performance from CCFC’s young team. Why not book a special trip to the game alongside such illustrious former players as Kirk Stephens, Dave Bennett, Gordon Simms, Ron Farmer, Dietmar Bruck, Ian Goodwin. Paul Culpin will be travelling to meet up with Micky Gynn both also former players for ‘the Posh’

Hurry as time is running out! A place on the coach is priced at £10 return.  The coach will leave from outside the G-Casino reception at 11:00 am prompt this Saturday 12th April 2014 and return to the G Casino after the match for the option of a social beverage or two. We intend to run a raffle on board as well as a ’blackout’ opportunity and hopefully a Q & A with the FPs. Why not join us and enjoy a great day out with some of those Sky Blue heroes you have seen from the Highfield Road and Ricoh terraces?  To get more details and/or book your place please contact committee member Bob Eales on 07538154239 or email him on covbob@msn.com in the next 24 hours.