Hon. Members News: Nicky Junior Supports Sky Blues (From Bulgaria)!

Nicky Junior festooned in Sky Blue

In the middle of this month, fifty one years ago, in 1970 the Sky Blues undertook their first ever home fixture in their first ever European campaign taking part in the first round of the UEFA (European Fairs) Cup over two legs. They had drawn Bulgarian side Trakia Plovdiv (now Botev Plovdiv). The first leg in Bulgaria saw the Sky Blues triumph 4-1. At the end of the month the Sky Blues repeated their victory this time by two clear goals to earn a tie against top German side Bayern Munich (who knocked us out over the two legs).

Nicky & Dinko in Broadgate with Lady G

Such international and inter-city friendships were forged between clubs and fans in Coventry and Plovdiv in these two games that forty years after these historic ties CCFC and CCFPA hosted a 2010 reunion of the 1970 Sky Blues at the Ricoh and were honoured to entertain visiting guests from Bulgaria. Instrumental in facilitating the reunion was a young Bulgarian who had already become a Sky Blue fan and helped link the two clubs together again, Nicky Dafovsky. Nicky has kept his Sky Blues support strong over the years (and his links with CCFPA through vice chair Billy Bell) and we now have photo evidence of how enduring that international link has been from Nicky himself (right) in a picture he recently sent to Billy (at top). As Billy says,

“Congratulations to Nicky on the birth of his son Nicky Junior. Nicky Senior has been a great friend of CCFPA; As can be seen his little boy will be following him in his support of Coventry City. Nicky hopes to come here for a game this season” Billy

Dinko, Ray Ranson & Nicky exchange mementos

Nicky was at the 1970 reunion with our very special overseas guest, Bulgarian International and his country’s ‘Player of the Century’ Dinko ‘Chiko’ Dermendjiev, the then Trakia captain. Both Nicky and Dinko were pleased to become Honorary members OF CCFPA.

Roy & Dinko exchange pennants on the Ricoh pitch 2010

Ten players from the original Sky Blues’ 1970 squad came, Roy Barry; Jeff Blockley; Dietmar Bruck; Willie Carr; Chris Cattlin; Mick Coop; Ian Goodwin; Trevor Gould; Ernie Hannigan; and Billy Rafferty were entertained. Ernie Hannigan (since sadly passed away) flew in from his Australian home. Roy, who was the Sky Blues’ captain of the time, and CCFC chairman Ray Ranson welcomed the two Bulgarians and the rest of the Sky Blues ‘Euro Boys of 1970’. A great day of reminiscences was had by all and the reunion prompted a great friendly social media interchange between fans of both clubs.

A full photo record of this reunion can be found by clicking the ‘Galleries’ tab and selecting the third option in the drop down list provided. We will be reviewing and remembering the visit in full later this month. In the meantime we are sure we speak for the whole of the Sky Blue family in wishing Nicky and his son all the best for the future and in sending greetings to all those who remember CCFC in Bulgaria!