Association signs two experienced current players!

Marcus Hall receives his badge from Billy Bell (CCFPA)

We are very pleased to report that we have signed up another two players early in June 2010 both of whom began their career with the Sky Blues in relatively recent years, though both have built up long and creditable careers in football including spells with Stoke City, both of whom are well regarded, wholehearted players and one of whom is a ‘Coventry kid’ through and through. 

Pictured left is the moment Billy Bell of CCFPA gave ‘our very own’ Marcus Hall his membership badge.  Marcus needs very little introduction to Coventry City fans having recently been awarded his testimonial year after two spells with the Club and who is currently considering his playing options after being released by the club in the close season.

Left back Marcus was born and bred in Coventry attending Stoke Park school and joining the club as an apprentice in 1992. He debuted in the Premier league in December 1994 and in his first spell with the Sky Blues clocked up 156 appearances scoring 4 times. He also became an England Under 21 player (8 caps) and was awarded an England B cap whilst with City. After short spells with Nottingham Forest and Southampton Marcus moved to Stoke City in December 2002 scoring once in just over 80 appearances before returning to the Sky Blues in 2005 since when he has added another 151 League and Cup appearances. Welcome Marcus!

Also signed up for the Association recently is John Eustace who joined the Sky Blues as a youngster during the close season of 1996 debuting 3 years later. Rugged midfielder John made 2 short of a century of appearances for the club netting 10 times. After loan spells with Dundee United and Middlesbrough John moved on to Stoke City in September 2003 (84 apps 20 goals) and since January 2008 has represented Watford (77 apps 6 goals) apart from a short loan spell in Derby County colours (9apps 1 goal) . In spite of John participating in the City’s embarrassing last home match defeat at the end of last season precipitating Chris Coleman’s departure we nevertheless afford John a warm welcome.

Successful 2010 Golf Day: 19th Tee Report

 

                                                           Some of our Golfing Former Players- who can you identify?

The third annual Former Players Golf Day that was held last Thursday (10th June 2010) at the Stoneleigh Deer Park Golf was a resounding success (CCFPA’s Bob Eales reports) with much positive feedback. Fully 22 FPs played and nearly a hundred people, both players and non players, in total attended the event and the dinner and presentations in the evening.

 Among the former players that hit the links were Tommy Hutchison, Dennis Mortimer, Kevin Gallacher, Andy Blair, Steve Ogrizovic, Willie Carr, Graham Newton and last minute arrival Steve Staunton.  Also present but unfortunately unable to play (due to an injury similar to Rio Ferdinand) was Micky Gynn.

 Bob reports that :-  ‘The weather was kind to us, although cold, overcast and very windy at times, the 19 teams got around the course in good time with some very good scores, with even our own Gemma McLean (CCFPA Committee) winning a nearest the pin award.  The best former player award went to the shark Kevin Gallacher with 39 points, who was also in the winning team’.

 The Former Player’s results are reproduced in full below (Sorry Wilf!):-

	HCP	Pts			HCP	Pts
Kevin Gallacher	24	39		Graham Newton	14	27
Steve Staunton	9	38		Peter Wyer	14	26
Steve Ogrizovic	5	34		Tommy Hutchison	7	25
Jimmy Holmes	14	32		Paul Culpin	14	25
Dave Smith	16	32		Peter Billing	24	25
Ron Farmer	24	31		Willy Carr	9	24
Andy Blair	16	31		Dougie McGuire	5	23
Kevin Drinkell	28	30		Dennis Mortimer	18	18
Peter Hormantschuk	24	29		Bob Wesson	26	15
Kirk Stephens	14	28		Wilf Smith	20	13
Jeff Blockley	22	28		Micky Gynn		scr

 

The Association would like to give special thanks to the Golf Day Sponsors, Geoff Harris from Coventry Plumbing and Heating Supplies and Quinton Kozma from the G Casino for their support to the association and to Johnny Reay and his team at Stoneleigh Deer Park for their organisation for the day.

We would also like to thank  Joe Elliott (of CCFC)  for his continued support and great words in the evening formalities and of course to the all our former players for their continued support.

Pictures of the day provided by our official photographer Tony Thomas (tonythomasuk@btinternet.com) have now been added to our Gallery Section. Why not also take a look at our Gallery pictures of the 2008 and 2009 Golf Days?

 

 

 

Association find a fourth Hill!

Ray Hill 1957-58

We have had some success recently in tracking down our older Former Players. Committee member Bob Bromage tells us that, after some time sleuthing his whereabouts and persuading him to join,  we have finally managed to gain the signature of ex player Ray Hill.  Ray therefore becomes the fourth Hill to join the Association alongside Brian, Peter and Jimmy (not our illustrious 1960s ex Manager).  

In fact Ray participated in something of a record game for the City being one of three Hills (along with a young Brian and experienced Peter) forming the inside forward trio in a Divison 3 South home fixture against Gillingham in April 1958. This was just the first of several occassions the 3 Hills (with sometimes Dennis Uphill) appeared to confuse the opposition.   Centre forward for the Bantams in this final game of the 1957-58 season Ray was the only Hill not to score in a 2-3 defeat!  However Ray managed to score 5 times in his 11 appearances across the forward line during that season and turned out for the Bantams a further 3 times the following year.

Ray began as an amateur with Bristol City before moving on to Redditch United from whom Billy Frith signed him in November 1957. He finished his career at Rugby Town. Seventy-four year old nurseryman Ray is still active in this business near his birthplace near Stourbridge which is where Bob Bromage of CCFPA signed him up and gave him his membership badge (pictured below).  Welcome Ray!

Norman Smith- City’s Oldest Former Player signed up

Norman Smith in his playing days

We are pleased to announce that Coventry City’s oldest surviving former player Norman Smith has just been signed up for the Association. 

A North Eastener, Norman became an apprentice at Standard and signed for the Bantams as a 19 year old junior in May 1938. Appearing at centre forward or on the wing unfortunately the Second World War heavily disrupted his career and he was only able to make 15 peacetime appearances for the City before leaving for Millwall for £3000 in December 1947 .  When war broke out in 1939 Norman had joined up and went into the RAF and became a flight lieutenant flying Spitfires and Mustangs -a highly dangerous mode of service.

Norman returned to the area in 1949 playing for Bedworth Town. He also worked at the Humber motor works in the early 50’s and then moved on to the G.E.C. from where he retired in the mid 80’s. Norman now lives in a Coventry Nursing Home and unfortunately  is not in the best of health.

However we are proud to add this 91 year old City veteran to the Association ranks!