Adventures of the Association Tie Pt.26: Football Writer’s block!

Frank with Steve (left) and Terry (right)

The increasingly popular Coventry City Former Association tie sported, we would like to think, by all the smartest people around and about the club was taken by CCFPA Committee Member Frank Pritchard to the recent prestigious FWA (Football Writers Association) Gala Awards Dinner at the Lancaster London Hotel on May 12th 2011.

Winner Scott Parker with Frank

Alan Smith with Frank

Frank (and his tie) is pictured with just some of the large number of football luminaries he met at the event including (left) guest of honour West Ham’s Scott Parker (the journalists ‘Footballer of the Year’ in one of the closest results ever) and (right) former Arsenal star Alan Smith. 

As can be seen from the top picture two former England Managers, Terry Venables and Steve McLaren also had an opportunity to admire the Association neckwear as modelled by Frank! 

The Association tie has been so successful it has sold out but we are pleased to announce that a new delivery is imminent. Associate members of the Association may purchase a tie for £8 inc plus p&p and others who would like this stylish fashion item (which will go particularly well with the Sky Blues retro strip for next season!) will be charged £10 plus p&p.

Please contact the Association’s Jim Cox if you wish to purchase on 07784720373 or on   jjcox60@googlemail.com

Oggie all tied up

Bob Eales presents Oggie with his tie

The image of the Association has now become widely and frequently recognised at CCFC and CCFPA functions at the Ricoh (and elsewhere) through the medium of our official Association tie. These have been flying off the Association’s shelves being bought by our Associate Members as well as Sky Blue supporters and other club luminaries.  The ties were the suggestion of an Association member Alan Dickie and have been manufactured to our specification by another Former Player Andy Blair. Thanks to both!

Our elegant and striking piece of neckwear has become increasingly visible about the place adorning the necks of CCFC directors and management as well many of the people who keep the Ricoh ticking over and a growing number of  fans/supporters. In fact we have recently sold out and are currently reordering!  We will also soon be able to cater for our female Association members and supporters who wish to match the look with a ladies scarf in a similar design (watch out for news of how to order in due course).

We are gradually working through our membership list of Former Players to present them with this desirable fashion item as they come to visit us at the Ricoh. The latest recipient, in fact a longstanding  ‘resident’ rather than visitor, is Sky Blue ‘Living Legend’, an important part of CCFC’s managerial/training staff  and an authentic F.A.Cup hero Steve Ogrizovic! 

CCFPA Committee member Bob Eales took the opportunity of tieing Oggy down when we finally tracked him down at the recent CCFC Awards Dinner night at the Ricoh on 09 May 2011 (as pictured above).

Benno wins CCFPA award at CCFC Awards Dinner

A star studded and packed Awards night hosted by Coventry City Football Club took place on Monday night (09th May 2011) with guest speaker Matt le Tissier keeping the Sky Blues’ current managerial and playing staff, club guests, former players, sponsors and supporters thoroughly entertained in what proved to be a long and happy evening with an excellent dinner, a live band and live auction.

Dave and the other award winners on the E.ON Stage

The Association had a table at the event with most members of the CCFPA committee were present together with their own guests from the ranks of our former players, Dietmar Bruck, Ron Farmer, Bob Wesson and Dave Bennett.  

Last month the Association voted Ben Turner as its ‘Player of the Season’ voted for by fans regularly attending the post match sessions in Lady Gs in the Casino. On Monday evening, however, as one of the awards presented in front of a packed E-ON Lounge, the Association awarded Dave Bennett the accolade of ‘Former Player of the Year’ .

Dave (who joined the committee earlier this season) was presented with the award to much applause by chairman of CCFPA Jim Brown  in honour of the large contribution he has made in promoting the objectives of the Association during the year. In particular Jim referred to Dave’s role in ensuring both former and current Sky Blues players have an appreciation of each others’ experiences and challenges (and it must be said that this important work was continued informally by Dave and several members of the committee in the E-ON throughout the evening and deep into the next morning in the G-Casino!!). 

Jim also took the opportunity of reminding the audience of the work of the Association and thanked its friends, patrons, sponsors and membership (many represented in the room) for their support during the last 12 months.

A picture of the CCFPA committee and guests (taken by ‘official Association photographer for the evening’ Membership Sec. Mike Young) appears below:-

CCFPA Committee Members and FP guests

CCFPA at the Coventry Charity Cup Final

The Association’s members were heavily represented at the final of the Coventry Charity Cup Final on the night of Thursday 5th May 2011.

The Cup (formerly known as the Coventry Nursing Cup from 1907 when the first competition took place) is one of the City’s oldest and certainly the biggest! The 2011 competition was won 2-1 by Coventry Copsewood in a hard fought game over rivals Stockton.

The Cup was presented to the winning captain Scott Furlong by CCFPA’s Life President Joe Elliott (assisted by Association committee member Kevin Heffernan) and watched by Membership Secretary Mike Young who took the photographs and CCFPA Associate Member Kev Monks who is also on the Charity Cup committee.