Sky Blue Cup Magic Online

That Houchen Goal!

If you want to relive happier times for CCFC and the City of Coventry, brand new CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson tells us that Mercia Sound’s Coventry City FA Cup story is available to listen to on-line.

The tour of the Sky Blue memories of that fabulous F.A.Cup Run in 1987 is conducted by broadcaster Stuart Linnell with Association President Kirk Stephens prominent in commenting on the games. The programme is stuffed full of Interviews with many of the Sky Blue Heroes involved in bringing the silverware back to Cov. Enjoy!  The link is http://www.cwn.org.uk/skyblues/FA-Cup-87/sky-blue-magic.htm

While you are at it why not have a look at our news items at the time of the Association’s 25th Anniversary celebrations of the great event where all the ‘Boys of 87′ (all CCFPA members) – and not forgetting the Young Sky Blues who also carried off the FA Youth Cup that year – were involved in various commemorative events including a fabulous reunion dinner at Nailcote Hall. Just enter ’25th Anniversary’ ‘Nailcote’ or ‘F.A.Cup Memories’ into our search engine on the right to see plenty of memories revealed of a wonderful year for the Sky Blue F.A.Cup Legends of 1987 and 2012.

1987 Cup Final Team

The Victorious 1987 F.A.Cup Senior Squad Members

Golf Day 2014: Two weeks to go before the Early Bird deadline!

It’s just about two weeks to go before the Early Bird deadline for signing up to this year’s golfing extravaganza. CCFPA’s Golf Day 2014 is being held – once more at Stoneleigh Deer Park Golf Club (SDPGC) – on Thursday 5th June 2014. This is early warning to put the date in your diary and enter a team, each of which will play with one of our Coventry City stars of the past. We expect the usual splendid turnout from our former players including a truly legendary Sky Blue from north of the border!

These are brilliant discounts so the earlier you book your place the cheaper your entry will be. Our Golf Days have picked up a reputation for an entertaining and sporting event with a competitive round of golf shared with some of your Sky Blues heroes followed by an excellent and convivial dinner and craic. We have many former players already signed up including several members of the famous 1987 City F.A.Cup winning squad and we have already registered interest from a record number of partner teams. Team places are therefore filling up really fast so best act now!

If you pay in full before the Early Bird Deadline of 2nd May 2014 entry for your team of three is just £180; or teams making a deposit of £100 by the 2nd May with the rest paid before the end of the month will be charged £200 in total. Full price entry is £240. Pre tee-off refreshments and a 3 course Dinner after the 18 holes are included in the price. Individual entry at £80 (discounts  £60 &£70 for early entry) is also available (as may be, subject to demand, observer attendance if you want to watch but not play and dinner-only attendance if there are any spare places).

Further details and an application form can be supplied via CCFPA’s Frank Pritchard at 07815 899224 /  frank.pritchard1@ntlworld.com or from Linda Edmondson at SDPGC on 02476  639991 x.1 or through this site (contacts page),

All cheques should be made payable to ‘Coventry City Former Players Association’.  Book soon to lock in the early bird savings and avoid disappointment. It would be great if you can join us!

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.