Matchday Memories: On The Last February Day Of 1908 – CCFC Set A Leap Year Record!

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Joe Beaman

As we discovered in the previous post today Coventry City (and their predecessor club Singers FC) have only ever won once on the rare occasion that Leap Year (February 29th) fell on a match day. Since this is an off year we cannot mark it on its correct day so do so on this last day of the month (28th).

That record setting day was on February 29th 1908 when the club was known (among other nicknames) as the ‘Citizens’ and played in the Birmingham & District League. In fact this season was to become their best ever since converting to CCFC from Singers FC in 1898.  Manager Joe Beaman‘s team, who wore ‘Light and Dark Blue’ jerseys and white knickers, today played and beat Burton United 2-0 at Highfield Rd. in front of about 2,000 fans.

Albert Lewis

City’s performances in the league so far this season were extremely patchy with a good start until mid December and then something of a slump until today losing six out of their last nine games. However, today’s victory sparked a ‘purple patch’  of 10 victories in their next eleven league and cup games. This run was ended when they played United again in Burton in April and this time they were soundly beaten by four clear goals. However, City’s prowess in the qualifying rounds of the F.A.Cup had set their fans pulses racing.

They had already overcome Brierley Hill Alliance 6-2 away, Darlaston 7-1 (h), Bilston United 2-1 at home after a replay, Worcester City (h) 2-0, Oswestry United (h) 2-0 after a replay and Bishop Auckland at Highfield Road 7-1.  Reaching the first round proper for the first time ever, the previous month they had faced Crystal Palace at Highfield Road in front of a then record gate of 9,884 but bowed out after a 4-2 defeat.

‘Tubby’Warren

Today, in the BDL, the crowd saw Coventry City score through Albert Lewis (whose nickname was ‘Spider’) a minute before the half hour and the win ensured by another goal in the 65th minute from centre-forward, Nuneaton lad George Warren (whose rotund physique led locals to nickname him ‘Tubby’ or ‘Chubby’ Warren) leaving the winners in 14th place in the BDL.  George, who was killed in action in France during WWI in May 1917, had moved to Nuneaton Borough after leaving CCFC.

CCFC’s team that day was:-

Joe Moult; Eli Juggins & Arthur Bivins; Harry Jones (c), Bert Gilbert & Fred Chaplin; Billy Smith, Harry Parkes, George Warren, Albert Lewis and John Tooth     

Burton‘s XI lined up as follows:-

Matthews; Warren & Kirkland; Robinson, Azell & Nelmes, Fairburn, Wileman, Bailey, Webb and King       Referee:- C.Austin (Kidderminster)

In the Birmingham League buoyed by their Cup success the club’s results substantially improved in 1908, so much so that they eventually finished in a very creditable 4th position. Aston Villa Reserves took the title, Burton United finished 13th and Stourbridge languished at the bottom (18th) at the end of the season.

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the photos

 

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