Football Poets

Coventry City – Sky Blue Years ~ 1883 to Now

¶ 1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 The club were founded way back in 1883
by workers of the cycle firm who named them Singers FC.
For 15 years in football’s dawn they played the People’s Game
til 98 when Coventy City then became their name.
After stints at Dowells Field and later at Stoke Road
in 99 Highfield Road became their long-time home.

¶ 2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 in 1919 to their joy they joined the football league
and they’ve remained there ever since a part of history.
In 1936 at last they finally broke through
they won the Third Division South to reach Division Two.
In 58 their oldest player turned out for City
when Alfie Wood their keeper kept goal at 43
in 61 a poignant time that many talk of still
when their new manager arrived, the legend Jimmy Hill.
Then famous for his Fulham times he’d chaired the PFA
and been most instrumental in demanding fairer pay.
In 3 quick years he led the club into Division 2
Coventry were on their way the dream was coming true.

¶ 3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 In 67 finally Division one was theirs,
a crowd of over fifty thousand swayed in song and cheers,
As Hill turned chairman and legend through and through
Noel Cantwell took the reins and led the new Sky Blues.
In 69 they finished sixth their highest place by far
they qualified for Europe as City raised their bar.
But Bayern Munich knocked them out in that tough second round
even though the Sky Blues had won on their home ground…
And in the League Cup Wembley hopes were finally undone
they lost to West Ham in the semis in 1981,
But in that year the club became the very first around
to introduce and offer fans an all-seater ground.

¶ 4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 For many though there is one match etched in their memory
in 1987 when Cov made history.
They beat the mighty Tottenham in the Cup at Wembley
as Sky Blue flags lined ev’ry street back in Coventry..
Yet barely two years later, knocked out in the third round
they lost to lowly Sutton and shock waves rang around.
They would soon recover though from FA Cup disgrace
as league form kept them on the up they finished 7th place.

¶ 5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 In 90 in the semis the League Cup brought defeat
in 98 they made eleventh in the Premier League .
Plenty still to rave about and much to make fans smile
as Dion Dublin banged them in with power grace and style.
But after thirty four long years up in that top flight,
relegation sent them down to face another fight.

¶ 6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 For one hundred and six years played at Highfield Road
but in 05 they relocated off to the Ricoh.
So began the dramas – administration loomed
but somehow they avoided this, amid the doom and gloom.
Then in 09, the FA Cup – a quarter final tie
the Ricoh hosted Chelsea with its first sold out sign.
But three years later – relegation.. down into League One,
and after 48 long years the troubles had begin,
Now forced to leave the Ricoh,homeless and bereft
but fans were strong & marched along with only faint hopes left.

¶ 7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 At Northampton, City now were made to play their games
where fans in protest stood on hills united in their aim.
Yhey’d flock to see the Sky Blues when they would play away
but turned their back on ‘home’ games until they got their way.
Finally at last the news that they’d all waited for
they’re back here at the Ricoh…but what now lies in store?

¶ 8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 The future is a question mark for City and the team
but faithful fans still battle on and hold on to a dream,
that this once proud & mighty club will rise up from the flames
they’re Sky Blue through & through again and City is their name.

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