Blast From The Past: Today In 1984 – See Ex Sky Blue David Icke’s CCFC Visit For Saturday Superstore (&Ryton 2024)!

David Icke

Thanks to former CCFPA committee memberDean Nelson for reminding us that, on this day (2nd March) in 1984 former Sky Blue youth player turned TV presenter David Icke visited his old club for his programme Saturday Superstore the day before City’s home game with Birmingham City (CCFC lost 1-0 to their recent landlords)!

David was CCFC goalkeeper in the 1970 FA Youth Cup final when the young Sky Blues beat Northfield, Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest, Ipswich Town and Manchester United in the two leg semi-final. City were unlucky to miss out on the cup as opponents ‘Spurs required four games to dispose of CCFC’s youngsters.

Both legs of the Final went the way of the home team by a single goal, a penalty from  Jimmy Holmes (now a CCFPA member who has frequently been our matchday ‘special guest’ at the Ricoh/CBS Arena) securing the Highfield Road win albeit after extra time. In the first Replay at Highfield Road a 2-2 draw after extra time was the result. The second replay of the Final at Tottenham sadly saw the ‘Spurs prevail by the only goal.

David saves one against ‘Spurs

The former ‘keeper was able to show viewers the club’s training, backroom routine and preparation for the game marshalled by CCFC manager, himself a ‘Cov Kid’ and former Sky Blue striker Bobby Gould (who is now an Association member).

City characters that feature in the video include the ‘gaffer’, then appretices Andy Harvey (who went on to become the first team kit man), Sean McGrory and Tony English (brother of Sky Blue favourite and CCFPA member Tom English). Of the senior players there were Dave Bamber, Ashley Grimes and Martin Singleton and (all CCFPA members) ‘skipper’ at the time Brian ‘Harry’ Roberts (now CCFC club host), future Sky Blue manager Micky Adams, Jim Blyth, Terry Gibson, Trevor Peake, Perry Suckling  and our own CCFPA committee member Dave Bennett!

Dean has supplied us with the video which can be accessed by clicking on the link or image below:-

https://youtu.be/AMj42KnpIp0

Starting out as a CCFC apprentice in 1967 David Icke became a professional with the Sky Blues two year’s later and made many reserve appeances though never made the first team. He also had loan spells with both Oxford United (1970) and Northampton Town (1971) without appearing for their first XIs. He was transferred to Hereford United in August 1971 and made 37 appearances for them.

Sadly, severe rhumatoid arthritis forced his retirement from the game and he subsequently became a journalist, Sports Commentator for the BBC and later not just a Green Party spokesman but also multiple author. broadcaster and  propagator of controversial and unconventional theories about the nature of life and the governance of humankind (once allegedly claiming to be the ‘Son of the Godhead’)!

Fully forty years later, quite coincidentally, according to his X/formerly Twitter account (@davidicke), David paid a trip to his former training ground at Ryton at the end of last month (Feb.2024) and posted this picture and comment:-

David Icke visits Ryton Feb.2024

“I drove by a place today that I haven’t seen for so long where I spent most of my life between 1967 and 1971. It was amazing to see it again after all this time, changed a bit, but still recognisable. The Coventry City training ground at Ryton just outside the city. Oh, the memories. I still watch for their result every week”.