Coventry City v AFC Bournemouth - Friday 7.45 pm

billythekid

billythekid

UTC Legend
First Meeting Since February 2013

Our next game is away at St Andrew’s Birmingham City’s ground which is the present ‘home’ of Coventry City. After Coventry City left Highfield Road their home for over 100 years, they moved into the Ricoh Arena in Coventry but after rental disputes they left there and played their home matches at the Sixfields Stadium Northampton for a year or so. Coventry did return to the Ricoh Arena in 2014 but not long after rugby union club Wasps bought the stadium and again, after more disputes, Coventry City moved to Birmingham City’s ground for their promotion winning 2019-20 season. Coventry City have agreed with Warwick University to build a new stadium on ground owned by the University.

One name that will be remembered being associated with Coventry City football club was Jimmy Hill, best known as the former chairman of the PFA and presenter in the 1970’s of MOTD on BBC. He started what was known as the Sky Blue Revolution at their club and ground Highfield Road in 1961 when he was appointed their manager. He changed the club colours to Sky Blue, he wrote along with another person, the Sky Blue song to the tune of the Eton boating song. He introduced Sky Blue Radio, even commissioned a train they called the Sky Blue special to take fans on longer trips to support the club. Coventry City introduced the first match day colour programme, they also had the first electronic scoreboard. Also were the first to show a live game via CCTV on giant screens. Fans’ entertainment, children’s free soft drinks and sweets were all part of his match day experience.

During his time as manager the club went up from Division 3 as Champions at the end of the 1963-64 season into the old Division 2. They were to spend three seasons in this league, before they were again promoted as Champions into the top league (old Division 1) at the end of the 1966-67 season for the first time. Jimmy Hill left his job as manager shortly after to take a job in the media. His job at Coventry was only postponed as he returned to the club in 1974 as Managing Director and in his time in that role they introduced the country’s first all seater stadium. Jimmy Hill had a lot to do with changes in football in general, from the players to the spectators.

Coventry City remained in Division 1 until it became the Premier League in the 1992-93 season until the end of the 2000-01 season when they were relegated to League 1. This then became the Championship in 2006-07 season where they remained until the end of the 2011-12 season when they were relegated to League 1. Things became worse before getting better, the end of the 2016-17 season Coventry City were relegated into League 2, their present manager Mark Robins in his second stint at the club joined them in the March of that season. He was behind them getting promoted back into League 1 at the end of the 2017-18 season and after two seasons in League 1, City were promoted up into the Championship at the end of last season as Champions.

This season the Sky Blues have signed three players for undisclosed fees, striker Tyler Walker from Nottingham Forest, winger Marcel Hilssner from SC Paderborn and midfielder Gustavo Hamer from Eredvisie. Also out of contract players, midfielder Callum O’Hare from Aston Villa, defender Julien Dacosta from FC Chamois Niort. On loan, defender Leo Ostigard from Brighton, Ben Sheaf from Arsenal, defender Sam McCallum from Norwich City.

Coventry City started their life in the Championship with a 2-1 defeat away at Bristol City. Then in their first home game they beat Queens Park Rangers 3-2. In their latest game they drew 0-0 away at Barnsley. After 3 games played Coventry are 13th in the table with 4 points.

The last time our two sides met on their ground was on the 6th October 2012 in League 1, Mark Robins was in charge in his first stint at the Coventry club as manager and into his fourth league game, his side came out 1-0 victors and it was Robins first win in his new job. This game was three days after Paul Groves was replaced as manager and first team coach Dennis Rofe took charge of this game. Six days later Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall returned to our club. In the game at Dean Court in February 2013 Coventry City won 0-2, this was the third of a five game losing run. Then followed an eight game winning run and a draw in our last nine games, AFCB were promoted into the Championship in second place. In all our league games away against Coventry City, the Cherries have W 6, D 2, L 14. In all competitions, the Cherries have W 16, D 10, L 23.

Coventry City Team News
They have had a few players out injured, including Liam Kelly, Julien Dacosta, Marcel Hilssner.

Coventry Player To Watch
Their striker Matt Godden, leading scorer last season with 14 goals in 26 games, missed just over two months through injury. Scored in their first two games this season.

AFCB Team News
Junior Stanislas and David Brooks both missed the Norwich game, one through injury, the other illness. As been reported, Jason Tindall is close to his first signing, young Atletico Madrid winger Rodrigo Riquelme coming in on loan.

AFCB Player To Watch
Arnaut Danjuma is a player in form at the moment and when he gets a chance not afraid to have a shot at goal and has scored two goals in his three league games, both at Dean Court.
 
Last edited:
Coventry a club full of rich history and frankly it's a disgrace that they're having to play in Birmingham. Was pleased for them at the end of last season. Seems they're quite well tipped by many to have a solid season back up here, and frankly I'm still too ignorant about being back at this level to have much comment on that.

Question marks over so many creative options. Stanislas, probably not fit? King, might not want to play if transfer talks are on? Brooks, has he recovered from illness? Riquelme, not yet signed and surely can't start so soon? Everyone will know about Danjuma now and will mark him closely.

I'd worry that the slightly stiffer formation used again Norwich will be a bit sluggish in a game where we'll probably see a bit more of the ball, but we did look a bit better organised in that system. I'd like to swap Billing for Gosling in that shape though.
 
I think it will be another tough game. I can't imagine Coventry wanting to come out and have a right go at us. Could be a frustrating one where we will need to be patient and alert against the counter. Fortunately it appears as though our players are now allowed to shoot from outside or just inside the penalty area, so if we can't play through them, hopefully Danjuma or Brooks can smack one in from further out. Danjuma has promised more goals if he gets selected for this game, so I fancy him to get at least one, which should give us a fighting chance of the three points at least !
:utc:
 
Remember going to Highfield Road in the early sixties just after Jimmy Hill became their manager, it was for an FA Cup game.

We all went up on the train from Bournemouth station, can’t remember if it was a ‘football special’, but there were a large number of our fans on the train and at the ground.

We had our bells, football rattles and scarves and while waiting a photographer (Echo) asked us if they could take our photo and we were asked to stand on a luggage trolley.

Another good day out (except result) and letting the train take the strain, but we lost 1-0.
 
I went to that last game at the rioch arena, was about 10k there I think, seemed very empty. Is madness to have to build another stadium when there's one relatively new within Coventry
 
CherryBare said:
I went to that last game at the rioch arena, was about 10k there I think, seemed very empty. Is madness to have to build another stadium when there's one relatively new within Coventry
Click to expand...

Owned by Wasps (as mentioned in preview), hence the move.

Brighton I think had an agreement to build their new ground on university land.

Any others?
 
Loved Highfield Road. 'Studied' at Coventry mid-70's and really enjoyed watching them play. Each term end I'd come home and watch turgid displays at Dean Court!
 
Jimmy Hill will be best remembered for his comment on Match of the Day when he advised viewers that British Summer Time was coming to an end he said "Don't forget to put your cocks back before you go to bed tonight".
 
Jimmy Hill’s legacies in football are remarkable really and you don’t understand or know about these things when you’re just a whippersnapper first seeing him as a pundit on MOTD ....everyone just did “ Jimmy Hill “ chin-stroking in the playground whenever you thought a mate was fibbing...
 
northstandmark said:
Coventry a club full of rich history and frankly it's a disgrace that they're having to play in Birmingham. Was pleased for them at the end of last season. Seems they're quite well tipped by many to have a solid season back up here, and frankly I'm still too ignorant about being back at this level to have much comment on that.
Click to expand...

Personally I hope they go straight back down, along with every other club unfairly promoted via PPG (go Wycombe!).

Also hope any other team relegated by the same method immediately bounce back.
 
thegazzyb said:
This post started so well and then........
Click to expand...
Remember it as clear as day. We were still in with a shout of promotion at that point. Dean Court was packed. Beautiful Spring day and a double from magical Ray Bumstead, the first a header as I recall from probably the shortest man on the pitch.
 
CherryBare said:
I went to that last game at the rioch arena, was about 10k there I think, seemed very empty. Is madness to have to build another stadium when there's one relatively new within Coventry
Click to expand...
Please stop reminding me of that game. I didn’t go to Blyth, so Cov was probably my nadir as a travelling fan. At least Lincoln could be laughed about (albeit a bit hysterically and drunkenly) afterwards, that game at the Ricoh had no redeeming features whatsoever
 
OLDSKOOL said:
Jimmy Hill’s legacies in football are remarkable really and you don’t understand or know about these things when you’re just a whippersnapper first seeing him as a pundit on MOTD ....everyone just did “ Jimmy Hill “ chin-stroking in the playground whenever you thought a mate was fibbing...
Click to expand...
I dated the daughter of Ernie Hunt, he of the infamous free-kick, that was banned. Trust me, I bent it round her wall !!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

;