25th Anniversary: CCFPA Assists Herbert’s ‘From Highfield Road to Wembley Way’

Flying Postman to Deliver to Peterborough

John in 1993

John at Legends Day 2012

We are delighted to announce that the Association’s special guest for the Sky Blues’ vital home game against Peterborough United next Saturday April 7th 2012 will be John Williams.  This will be John’s second visit to the Ricoh in successive home games as he was one of the ‘Fabulous Fifty’ Former Players who turned out to Legends Day 2012 at CCFC’s last home game against Portsmouth. 

After being entertained to lunch at the Ricoh John will be doing the honours meeting supporters in the various corporate lounges pre-match. He will be introduced to fans on the pitch at half-time and after the game we hope to tempt him once more onto the stage of the G-Casino’s Lady Gs Show Bar where CCFPA’s Billy Bell will submit him to a light hearted grilling in front of a roomful of footy fans (all welcome).  

A Brummie, John earned the knickname the ‘Flying Postman’  since he was a postie when discovered playing for Cradley Town in 1990 as a 22 year old by Swansea City (46 appearances, 11 goals) and won the Rumbelow’s sprint challenge against other speed merchants from the world of soccer at the Cup Final on the Wembley turf  in 1992. The Sky Blues brought him to Highfield Road in July 1992 for £250k and for a time he terrorised top Division defences with his pace. John eventually scored 11 times in his 86 appearances for the Sky Blues (also having loan spells with Notts County, Swansea City and Stoke City) before moving to Wycombe Wanderers in September 1995 for £150k.

John’s subsequent career made him something of a wandering star, however,  featuring for Hereford United, Walsall and Exeter City in 1997, Cardiff City (1998), York City (1999), Darlington (2000), and Swansea City again (2001) and Kidderminster Harriers (2003) producing a total of 71 goals in just over 450 appearances in the Football league. John then dropped down to non league football with Bath City (2004) and between 2005-08 the likes of Redditch United, Evesham United, Weston-Super-Mare, Stourbridge, Willenhall Town and Boldmere St. Michaels for whom he scored a hat-trick (aged 40) in August 1998 against Shifnal Town!

After this ‘grand tour’ of Britain’s footballing outposts John tried a spell on the continent in 2008 playing for Aris Salonika (Greece) and Austria Vienna before hanging up his boots in 2009 . John has since worked as a youth and community worker in Birmingham whilst keeping links with the game as an agent with a Sports management company. His company ‘Flying Postman productions’ also produces football themed evening entertainments (we featured one with CCFPA member Cyrille Regis in January 2011). John is a fairly regular visitor to the Ricoh and represented the Sky Blues and CCFPA  in last year’s Midland Masters in Birmingham where unfortunately he sustained a worrying leg injury (which former Sky Blue star Danny Thomas now a professional physiotherapist kindly assisted in treating). Welcome John!!

Current Players meet Former Players at Legends Day

One of the many benefits of Legends Days is the opportunity for former players (FPs) of the Club from all playing eras to meet each other and share experiences. CCFPA are always keen to facilitate this and whenever opportunities arrive would like to encourage members of the current Sky Blue playing squad to meet each other.  Legends Day 2012 was no exception and after the ‘Fabulous Fifty’ FPs watched the current Sky Blue team ease their relegation fears a little with a well deserved victory over Portsmouth some of the squad came up to the 1883 Lounge at the Ricoh after the game.  

Carl (left) with Dave

Chris (right) with Frank

Current left back Chris Hussey was introduced to some of the FPs by CCFPA committee member Frank Pritchard and Sky Blues attacking midfielder Carl Baker was also interviewed by CCFC host and Association Member Dave Busst in front of an appreciative E.ON audience.

Frank sent in the following report:-“Chris Hussey has put all his injury problems behind him to emerge with a ‘license to thrill’ despite being very conscious of his defensive duties but with a very strong and committed ‘dressing room’ Chris along with our very young squad is looking both onwards and upwards along with myself and ALL our former players along with our very hard working FPA committee. The former Woking & AFC Wimbledon defender who’s just 23 years old  just wants to stay fit and injury free for the remainder of the season and along with his team mates is totally dedicated to the cause.  

Suddenly the atmosphere appears to have changed and when the ‘chips are down’ the Manager, Players and Supporters ALL unite and suddenly we all believe in miracles, well at least I do! It’s now 5 games unbeaten and we probably require at least another 4 or 5 wins and the odd draw to retain our Championship status but we’ve done it before and I’m sure we can do it again, so I was really pleased to meet up with one of our young players who’s worked extremely hard on his game throughout the season despite being hampered by a succession of ‘niggling’ injuries’ to emerge with a number of vital ‘assists’ including the one for our opening goal against Portsmouth from our own Gary McSheffrey”. 

Key defender, some time captain and ever present for the Sky Blues Richard Keogh  was also awarded ‘Man of the Match’  yet again for his sterling work protecting a clean sheet during the game in front of  his veteran counterparts and is pictured below being interviewed in front of the 1883 Restaurant guests by CCFC host and Association member Brian ‘Harry’ Roberts. What odds on him cleaning up on all the Sky Blues’ ‘Player of the Season’ awards come May? his