Committee Members News: President Kirk Kicks Off Sky Blues CBS Pre-Season v. Toffees!

Kirk in the Sky Blue

The eagerly awaited Sky Blues 2024-25 Championship season kicks off in just over a fortnight’s time and their pre-season preparations are well under way. After a number of pre-season games away from Coventry, City fans will now be able to see Mark Robins current Sky Blue squad in a couple of home fixtures at the CBS Arena. The first match is a prestigious friendly against Premier League team Everton next Tuesday night, kick-off 7.45pm.

At this game we resume our programme of supplying a CCFC ‘star of the past’ to tour the supporters lounges and meet the fans pre-kick off and, after the contest, join more fans in the G-Casino under the Arena for some fun and games with our very own (new CCFPA chairman) Mr Billy Bell from the stage of Lady Gs. 

‘Harry’ Roberts chats with Kirk (right) at a Sky Blue game last season

We are keeping this fixture firmly in-house as our guest for the night will be none other than CCFPA President Kirk Stephens!! A ‘Coventry Kid’, born on 27th February 1955, Kirk has been ‘El Presidente‘ of the Association since its formation in 2006 and has been an inspiration for CCFPA’s continuing development and success.

Kirk is always heavily involved in CCFPA ‘set piece events’ like Legends Days and Golf Days and has also been a big supporter of the club’s Family Zone. He is no stranger to undertaking the ‘special guest’ stint at Sky Blues Ricoh/CBS Arena home games (left).

For the record, Kirk was actually turned down by CCFC as a youngster because he was thought not yet ready for top level football and so started his playing career with Nuneaton Borough under manager David Pleat. He then moved with Pleat when he took over the reins at Luton Town in 1978. At Kenilworth Road he accumulated nearly 250 appearances (and a couple of goals) with the Hatters and became a firm favourite as an attacking full back.

CCFPA President Kirk Stephens with committee member ‘Benno’ and  member Ian Wallace

In 1984 he was overjoyed to be brought back to his home-town by another former Caludon Castle schoolboy, ‘Cov kid’ (and fellow CCFPA member) Bobby Gould (with Ashley Grimes going in the opposite direction) At Highfield Road he made his first division debut against Aston Villa in August 1984. However, his top level career was unfortunately curtailed by a severe knee injury in May 1986 after only 37 Sky Blues appearances (and a brace of goals).

A fairly recent reunion of some of the ‘Boys of 87’ with Kirk 2nd left on back row

Sadly, he missed out on the successful F.A.Cup winning campaign of the following season, though he keeps in regular touch with the ‘Boys of ’87’ (left).

Between 1987-89 Kirk did play at non-league level with the likes of Barnet, Stockingford and Nuneaton Borough where he eventually became player-manager before hanging up his boots (and later he became a director there).

Kirk retains business interests in the locality and has also done some coaching with City Academy junior teams in the past too. Look out for kirk ‘around the lounges’ and in Lady Gs next Tuesday night as the Sky Blues test their mettle again against top tier opponents after so nearly putting Manchester United out of the F.A.Cup last season at Wembley at the semi-final stage.  The following Saturday the Sky Blues take on German side SV Werder Bremen at the CBS and look out on this site for our announcement of our ‘special guest’ for that game in due course!

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.