Cedric Sees Sky Blues Conquer Colchester & Signs for CCFPA

Cedric in the Sky Blue

Our special guest for the day (and newest CCFPA recruit) Cedric Roussel said he had a great day out at his first ever visit to the Ricoh last Saturday when the Sky Blues former striker from 1999-2001 brought good luck with him and the Sky Blues ran out 1-0 winners. The game was a ‘must win’ for City and given the dogfight at the bottom end of League One was definitely a six pointer for both clubs.  Cedric saw all three points secured for the Sky Blues thanks to great goalkeeping from Lee Burge and a strike from captain Jim O’Neill in the 36th minute. Though both sides had chances in a game of sporadic quality the Sky Blues deserved to squeeze out the points.

Cedric & ‘Harry’

Cedric, who had driven up from his Belgian home with a group of friends especially to enjoy his day out in his first visit to the Ricoh commented on the fantastic facilities at the Arena given it was hosting third tier football but he praised the continuing warmth and generosity of  the Sky Blue Army (albeit currently in diminished numbers) that he remembered from his Highfield Road days in the Premier League.

During his tour round the Ricoh lounges prior to the game with club host, former Sky Blue defender (and CCFPA member) Brian ‘Harry’ Roberts, Cedric recalled his days at CCFC, the warm welcome given to him by Gordon Strachan (he still keeps in touch with Gordon’s son, former Sky Blue and CCFPA member, Gavin), the Sky Blue players of the day and the Highfield Road crowd. He also spoke of the Sky Blue heroes he played alongside and learnt from, given his relative inexperience as a striker when new to the British Premiership. We took his photo (shown at bottom of this item) alongside a picture of the great Robbie Keane with whom he forged a very effective partnership for a time

Cedric Rides the Airways with BBC CWR’s Stuart Linnell

Cedric watched the game in the company of BBC CWR’s Clive Eakin, Stuart Linnell and Geoff Foster (a welcome return after his indisposition) and provided expert commentary and analysis in his second language! He thought Tony Mowbray’s substitutions made a big difference in cementing the Sky Blues’ first half lead and was full of praise for the team’s young starlet James Maddison and the contribution of Grant Ward.

Cedric & Billy

After the game Cedric and his friends were taken down to meet fans in the Ricoh’s G-Casino and, after agreeing to a large number of ‘selfies’ and autograph requests from Sky Blues supporters Cedric took the stage of Lady Gs with CCFPA’s Billy Bell to reminisce some more and talk about the game he had just witnessed. It was evident there was still very much mutual respect and rapport between Cedric and the audience of the Sky Blue faithful packing the Lady Gs Show Bar. There was particular applause when CCFPA chairman Jim Brown publicly presented Cedric with his membership badge and official Association tie as he became the Association’s latest recruit and then CCFPA’s Mike Young completed the formalities as Cedric signed his membership forms before mixing with media representatives and fans for much more of the evening.

Jim Brown ties Cedric to CCFPA

Cedric was also presented with a two hour long video of his time at CCFC produced by Association committee member Dean Nelson (highlights of which – especially his brace at Old Trafford in 2000 -were played on the big screen behind the stage to much applause). Thanks Cedric for being a wonderful special guest on Saturday – he has promised to come back and see us at some point next season!

Cedric pictured with Robbie

(Thanks to Mike for the photos -copyright CCFPA/MY)

Cov Kid Marcus Hall Up For the ‘Latics

Marcus in 1999!

We are delighted to announce that the Association’s special guest at the Sky Blues penultimate home game against Oldham Athletic on Tuesday April 14th 2015 will be own home grown Sky Blue star and ‘Coventry kid’ Marcus Hall.  Marcus, who joined the Sky Blues from Coventry Schools in 1992 as an apprentice and quickly rose to the ranks of first team professional debuting in the Premier league against Spurs in December 1994 and subsequently became an England Under 21 and ‘B’ International, will be coming back to the Ricoh after being special guest for us earlier in the season. In early September Marcus watched the Sky Blues despatch Yeovil Town 2-1 in a successive home win a week after that emotional ‘Ricoh Return’ victory over Gillingham in front of 27000 ecstatic fans. Let’s hope marcus brings us similar inspiration against the Latics.

Ever popular in various defensive roles Marcus appeared over 150 times in his first period with the Sky Blues before leaving in 2002 and after very short spells with Nottingham Forest and Southampton settled at Stoke City where he clocked up over 80 appearances for the Potteries outfit.  Marcus returned to the CCFC’s new home at the Ricoh in 2005 and doubled his overall appearances total at CCFC to 307 first team games (5 goals).  Leaving City for a second time in 2010 Marcus spent 2010-11 with Northampton Town until released. Amongst his other activities Marcus is a Football Consultant with the Sport First Agency.  He received his benefit from CCFC in 2009 and has also turned out in Sky Blue colours in the Serco Midland Masters 6 a side tournament a few years ago as well as a number of ‘Legends’ Charity games.

Look out for Marcus around and about the stadium before the game, on the pitch at half-time, contributing match analysis on the local radio coverage (BBC CWR) and in the G-Casino after the game next Saturday. Welcome Marcus!

Ken Jones: Funeral Arrangements Announced

CCFPA has received details of the funeral arrangements for Bantam’s former defender R.K.‘Ken’ Jones who played for CCFC between 1949-56.

We are told that Ken’s funeral will take place next Tuesday (14th April) at 11.15 at Canley Crematorium, Cannon Hill Road Coventry CV4 7DF
Tel: 024 7678 5486/5492/5493 Fax: 024 7669 3863 Email: bereavement.services@coventry.gov.uk

CCFPA will be represented at the funeral by Chairman Jim Brown.

Health Matters to CCFPA: Osteo-Arthritis in FPs Research Update

Early last month we reported that CCFPA had teamed up with researchers at Nottingham University’s School of Clinical Sciences to support an investigation into ‘Osteoarthritis Risk in Retired Professional Footballers’.

Their project, supported by PFA, the FA and FIFA (amongst others) aims to break new ground in investigating the prevalence and risk of osteo-arthritis amongst ex professional footballers (matched to a similar group of non footballers). Their aim is to find out whether the rigours of playing the game has exacerbated the risk of contracting the condition especially in affecting the the chances of osteoarthritis of the knee joints.

CCFPA committee member Mike Young has been leading the Association’s collaboration with the University’s City Hospital facility in Nottingham and its lead researchers Gwen Fernandes and Sanjay Parekh. Together they organised the delivery of a detailed postal questionnaire to all the Association’s British membership aged over age 40. This was also done by a number of other Former Player bodies around the country (including, for example, the PFA, and FPAs in Derby & Cardiff and others) in an attempt to contact as large a sample of possible of former professionals.  Our own survey package contained a CCFPA covering letter from Mike as well as one from Sir Trevor Brooking, on behalf of the PFA, encouraging the recipients to join the study and return information – in strict confidence -about their medical and playing history.

Early signs are that the research is going well and Gwen has revealed that approaching 1000 completed questionnaires have been returned from all over the country so far representing a more than respectable response rate for surveys like this of over a quarter of those contacted. Early next month Gwen has promised more details of how the respondents from Coventry City Former Players Association have shaped up in total and will provide more detail on the progress of the research.

Phase Two, following the survey, will lead to an invitation to some of those who replied to attend a convenient local hospital where a free specialist knee x-ray scan (more substantial than routine x-ray investigations available to the public) will be made available. The results should show, for the first time, the extent to which osteo-arthritis is a special challenge for the footballing profession (and medically what, possibly age-related, impact it develops). This could not only benefit the treatment of past and current professionals but also lead to preventative strategies for younger players who are taking up the game.

Look out for more news on this important piece of research in due course. CCFPA is very happy to assist as one of the Association’s aims is to promote and protect the good health of our former players. As it happens, three DBs amongst our membership have taken centre-stage on health matters!

Regular readers will be aware that we are a proud supporter of the massively popular and expanding ‘Walking Football’ initiative for over 50s run every Thursday morning at St Finbarr’s Social Club in Coventry by former player David Busst and his Sky Blues in the Community organisation. Also, in the last few months CCFPA committee members and Sky Blue legends Dave Bennett and Dietmar Bruck have taken centre stage in an NHS campaign (supported by CCFC) to increase take-up amongst 40-74 year olds of a free NHS Health Check.

Any member can raise any issue involving welfare or care of our members with CCFPA Welfare Officer Bob Eales at covbob@msn.com.