CCFPA tie presented to two Special Matchday Guests

Coventry City have recently had two consecutive home games at the Ricoh and CCFPA have been fortunate in being able to entertain two Sky Blue heroes -0ne from recent times and one from the 1970s – as our special matchday guests.

Barry (right) with Frank

Both Former Players  spent a memorable time meeting fans (and ex colleagues) in the corporate lounges, on the pitch at half-time (when both were given an extremely warm welcome by the crowd) and on the stage at Lady Gs in the G-Casino after the game where they again fielded questions from fans.

The CCFPA Committee took the opportunity to formally present both Association Members with their Association tie and Barry is shown (above left) receiving his tie from committee member Frank Pritchard and Marcus is shown (above right) being presented with his tie by committee member Bob Eales. 

Look out for the announcement of our special guest for the next home game against Nottingham Forest on Saturday October 15th 2011

John Hartson signs up to CCFPA

The Association is very pleased to announce that former Sky Blue and Welsh International John Hartson has recently signed up for CCFPA. John will be remembered as a combatative (and sometimes controversial) centre-forward whose relatively short spell with CCFC was nonetheless an inspirational one in the club’s valiant but unsuccessful attempt to avoid relegation from the top flight in the 2000-01 season.   John (left) is pictured below receiving his Association tie and membership welcome from committee member Bob Bromage at a recent charity event at Dorchester Town.

John (left) with Bob Bromage

Capped 52 times for his country, the rugged Welsh centreforward was much in demand and clocked up transfer fees of over £13m in successive moves between Luton Town, Arsenal, West Ham United and Wimbledon during the 1990s. This shows the value placed by his clubs on his muscular but skilful goalscoring prowess (63 goals in 207 appearances overall). Regular and reliable goalscorers are hard to come by and John was both.

Sky Blue manager Gordon Strachan signed him in February 2001 on a pay per play deal from Wimbledon when we were looking for another of our famous do-or-die end of season escapes from relegation. For a while, John’s stirring leadership (in a classic centre-forward role), contributing 6 goals in his 12 games, provided some grounds for hope (though relegation was eventually confirmed in a disappointing 3-2 defeat at Villa Park in our penultimate game in the top flight).  

The big Welshman made an immediate impact on his arrival at the City helping to win a point at West Ham and scoring in his home debut in a 2-2 draw with Charlton Athletic. He led the line with aplomb supplying leadership qualities missing all season – skilfully holding the ball up and always creating problems for defenders. Only two of his first 8 games were lost.  However this crucial signing came far too late for the club and at the end of this fateful season John was snapped up by Celtic in another multi-million pound deal. In 5 seasons with the Scottish club John picked up numerous League and Cup honours and in over 200 first team appearances clocked up another 109 goals before moving to W.B.A. in 2006 and finishing his career on loan at Norwich City.

Since hanging up his boots in 2008 John has faced and overcome a serious medical condition and now can often be seen providing match analysis with Sky and other media outlets. John remembers his short time at CCFC with some affection and regret that the likes of Mustapha Hadji and Craig Bellamy were not retained to help him lead a fight-back to the top flight the following season!

We are very pleased to welcome John to the Association and look forward to seeing him at a future home game (probably midweek given his work committments).

Barry Powell comes to the Ricoh for Tangerines

CCFPA is delighted to announce that Sky Blues star of the seventies Barry Powell will be the Association’s ‘special guest’ at the Club’s upcoming home game against Blackpool this coming Tuesday 27th September 2011.

Born locally in Kenilworth, Barry will be remembered as a dynamic attacking midfielder who graced Highfield Road in the middle of the 70’s decade. Usually wearing number 10 Barry was signed for £75000 in September 1975 by manager Gordon Milne from midland rivals Wolves (with whom he had served since joining as an apprentice in 1972 after, ironically, a failed trial with the Sky Blues).  Barry picked up 4 England Under 23 Caps on the way. 

Barry left Molineux having made over well over 70 first team appearances and joined a City side now established in the top tier but typically finishing in the bottom half of the table. However the new Milne blend (including Barry, Terry Yorath, Tommy Hutchison and formidable scoring duo Ian Wallace and Mick Ferguson) produced two of our best ever finishes in Division 1,  7th in 1977-78 and 10th the following season. During his four and half season’s with the City Barry notched up a tidy 30 goals in his 180 appearances before moving to Derby County in October 1979.

Barry spent summer loan periods in the USA with Portland Timbers whilst with both the Sky Blues and Derby and also played in the far east on leaving the Baseball Ground (with the Bulova and South China clubs in Hong Kong) as well as clocking up appearances in the UK for Burnley and Swansea City. He spent a swansong season back at Wolves where in 1988 he moved from playing into coaching. Barry was back at Highfield Road as Community Development Officer in 1990 and later tried his hand in non-league management/ coaching at the likes of Aberystwyth Town, Stafford Rangers and Hednesford Town.  

Barry has been an Association member for some time and a not infrequent visitor to the Ricoh. We welcome him back! Look out for him around the corporate lounges on match day, on the pitch at half-time and on the stage in Lady Gs at the G-Casino after the game where he will receive a friendly quizzing from the Association’s Billy Bell.

CCFPA Supports the Academy Golf Day

The Association is pleased to publicise the upcoming CCFC Academy Golf Day 2011 sponsored by Rybrook Warwick BMW.  The First ever Golf Day organised by the Academy will take place at Kenilworth Golf Club on Wednesday 5th October.  CCFPA hopes to further develop its existing good relation with the Academy and its future players and FPs!  There are still a number of vacancies for teams and sponsorships of some of the competitions. Entry fees and further details are provided on the poster for the event (pictured left). A number of current CCFC players will be taking part and we hope as many as possible of our Former Player members.

There will also be an auction and Association committee member Billy Bell will be acting as auctioneer and m/c for the night (which includes an evening meal)!

It is hoped the event will be of interest to many of our members both Former Players of the Association and Associate Members (especially those who take part in our own very successful Golf Days (and other readers of this website).

If you think you may be able to support the event through forming a team or offering sponsorship (or require further information about the Golf Day) please contact Richard Stevens, Assistant Director of the Academy on Richard.Stevens@ccfc.co.uk  (Tel.07939 077127)