CCFPA Team Tees Off in Carl Baker Charity Golf

Carl Billy & Paul Seddon

Coventry City Former Players Association entered a team last Saturday (28th June 2014) in a Charity 18 holes organised by Sky Blues skipper Carl Baker.  Carl’s Memorial Golf Day in aid of leukaemia and lymphoma research was in tribute to Carl’s late brother Mike and Mark Seddon and was held at Windmill Village Golf Club, Allesley.

Mick Kearns in pensive mood at the prize presentations

The CCFPA team consisted of Sky Blues sixties stalwart Mick Kearns, CCFPA vice chair Billy Bell, CCFPA committee man Frank Pritchard and Ashley Williams (who kindly came on as a late substitute for CCFC veteran Ronnie Farmer who had to withdraw following a family illness).  Frank reports that the rain held off and ‘although our golf wasn’t the greatest (apart from Mick who scored 36 Stableford points), it was a superb day and raised a substantial amount (well over £1000) for Carl’s charity’.  In his usual inimitable way Billy provided entertainment for the assembled team members and guests including hosting the auction. Carl had been a special guest player at CCFPA’s Golf Day 2013 just over a year ago (see our photo report by clicking on the ‘Gallery’ tab above).

A great time was had by all and CCFPA was pleased to assist Carl in supporting a very worthy cause. (Thanks to Frank for the photos)

Billy comperes the auction

Join Dean’s CCFPA Nostalgia Quiz at Lloyd’s Place Next Month

Many of our Association members and those of the wider Sky Blue Family will be aware of both the Q&A sessions with our former players that CCFPA has put on as well as the touring Sky Blue film shows mounted by CCFPA committee man Dean Nelson. Well, why not come to a new ‘cunning mix’ of the two types of night out (as preparation for the World Cup Final to boot – as they say)! Dean has spoken to CCFPA Member and Sky Blue F.A.Cup hero Lloyd McGrath who is willing to put at our disposal the facilities of his Hawkesmill Sports and Social Club (Hawkes Mill Lane, Coventry CV5 9FN T:07977 426930) to offer a fantastic Quiz Night to all comers raise funds for Coventry City Former Player’s Association.

Dean Nelson

Sky Blue Former Players will be in attendance to help the night go with a bang, Dean will be providing audio visual memories of the Sky Blues history to back up a general knowledge quiz and a bar, food and other refreshments will naturally be available. This will take place next week (the day before the World Cup final) on Saturday 12th July 2014 and kicks off 7.30pm. The entrance fee is only £10 per team (max of 5 people). Don’t leave it too late to enter your team. If you wish to join us or would like further information please contact Dean on 02476 269130 or email him on dean.nelson27@ntlworld.com.

Welcome to our Latest Corporate Member: Askews Accountants

Welcome to Askews, the Coventry Accountants who are the latest company to have become one of our Corporate Members. They join Brett Martin Daylight Systems, Buildbase, Century PR; De Marco Solicitors; Elliott’s Car Accessories and Shortland Horne as our first seven companies gaining the benefits of Corporate Membership (see below).

Keen Sky Blues’ supporter Neil Askew founded the company, which has its HQ in Coventry, in 1997 having achieved Chartered Certified Accountant status two years earlier. He and Practice Manager Louise Challenger head a talented and dedicated Askews team that offer a complete and bespoke service to clients covering accounting, auditing, book-keeping, compliance, payroll & VAT, personal tax, planning, start-ups and taxation. They have pioneered cloud accountancy in the Midlands and are skilled internet practioners.  Neil told CCFPA committee member Sandra Garlick that Askews works alongside its clients throughout the financial year, understanding their business and making positive contributions to help achieve financial objectives. This personal and professional approach leads to long term and successful business relationships. Its clients are based in the UK and Europe, including new business start-ups, small and medium sized companies, as well as private individuals.

Askews can be contacted in person at 5, the Quadrant, Coventry CV1 2EL, by phone on 024 7623 1000 by email on enquiries@askews.co. You can also Skype Neil Askew. Their website can be consulted at www.askews.co/

If your company wishes to join Askews in supporting the work of CCFPA these are the benefits of corporate membership and details of how to apply:-

Corporate Membership Benefits

– Your company will be listed as a Corporate Member in the special section of the CCFPA website (under the ‘Sponsors’ tab) including a link through to your own website.

– Your advert will be featured on the CCFPA website carousel (design not included) You will have a Photo opportunity with a former player of your choice (subject to availability)

– Your company logo will be printed on the CCFPA newsletter (printed three times per year).

– You will receive priority booking for all CCFPA events including golf days, Legends Days, celebration dinners & forums, etc)

– Corporate membership is marked by the award of a membership badge and an Association tie or scarf.

By joining the CCFPA as a Corporate Member you are supporting a non profit-making organisation that aims to bring the former players of Coventry City Football Club together. CCFPA is run by a team of enthusiastic volunteers who raise funds to put on a range of events for former players and its membership throughout the year. If you are interested in becoming a corporate member or have any queries about what it entails, please contact CCFPA committee member Sandra Garlick on 024 7699 8055 or via email on sandra@demarcosolicitors.com. She will be able to send you an application form with information about electronic payment (or by cheque). Alternatively, you can download a corporate information application form from this site via the ‘Join Us’ tab above (top right).

Associate Members: Early Bird Renewal Deadline a Week Away

There is only one week to go before the early bird deadline for CCFPA Associate Membership renewal for 2014-15. Our £10 annual subscription, which has held since we were founded, will sadly have to increase after the end of June to £15.  A big thankyou is owed to all those so far who have already taken up the offer of renewing for 2014-15 at the old price of £10. We hope that the rest of our Associate membership will seek to rejoin us before June 30th at the generous discount on our new rate that obtains until the end of this month.
CCFPA is entirely run by volunteers (and totally independent from CCFC) and is hugely dependent for funding our activities on continuing support from our Associate Members and patrons. This is all the more so since the last year has been unusually challenging for the Association. Alternative fund raising opportunities (including auctions and raffles at events and from our memorabilia stall) have been diminished because of CCFC’s continuing exile away from the City and our running costs (e.g. publishing our newsletter three times a year (which we hope all members enjoy reading); website maintenance; Former Player’s support etc.) continue to rise. Subscription renewal from 1st July 2014 (after which we will be formally asking our Associate membership to renew) will have to be at the new fee of £15 which we feel still represents good value for money.

Next season is likely to be a critical year for CCFPA as well as the football club. If we are to maintain our professionalism and level of support to our former player members, help preserve and promote the history and heritage of CCFC as well as provide opportunities for the wider Sky Blue family (especially our Associate membership) to meet up with their sporting heroes in Coventry, we need to ensure our future income.
We would strongly encourage you to help us continue to provide a quality service to our membership by renewing and everyone benefits if you renew early before the end of June.

Please either send a cheque for £10 made out to ‘CCFPA’ to the Membership Secretary, Mike Young,  at 24, Chestnut Grove, Burton Joyce, Nottingham NG14 5DN to reach him by the end of June or you can send your subscription electronically to CCFPA (sort code 30-96-20) Account 00742803. Please email Chairman Jim Brown first at clarriebourton@gmail.com to confirm that this is your intention.

Thanks in advance for your support (and if you have already renewed thanks so much for your continuing support)!