Irish Members News: Billy Visits Willie Who’s Well!

CCFPA Vice Chairman Billy Bell has been over the sea to his native Ireland in the last few days and paid a visit to veteran Sky Blues legend from the 1960s. Billy was welcomed, as usual, to the home of mercurial former CCFC winger Willie Humphries. Billy was particularly pleased to see Willie again because the man who did so much to support the various  strikers in Jimmy Hill’s promotion winning teams (captained by their iconic centre half George Curtis) had been unable to travel over to attend the recent funeral of his former footballing friend and colleague.

Billy was able to take Willie some recent CCFC programmes including the one produced for George’s tribute game against the Forest (which the Sky Blues won) as well as a copy of the Order of Service used at George’s funeral ceremony at Coventry Cathedral earlier this month.

Willie Humphries in Sky Blue action

JH, who took the Sky Blues to the top flight in just five seasons during the 1960s, in fact made the Irishman his first signing and therefore the first to wear the new No. 7 Sky Blue shirt! Willie played his full part in the club’s success story at the time having proved a pivotal part of the team throughout all three divisions and ending up with 126 games in all competitions for CCFC scoring 24 times.

Billy had some good craic with the 85 year old former Sky Blue star and reports that Willie “is in great fettle – a lovely man’! He reports the visit as follows, “Another lovely visit to see Willie Humphries and his wife June in Bangor, N Ireland. Willie is a very sprightly 85 and he reminisced about George Curtis and his time in Coventry. Something I didn’t know was in the early 60s Willie played in a charity match in Belfast. He was on one wing and the world famous Sir Stanley Matthews on the other!!

June, Willie’s wife, baked some wonderful scones with fresh cream and jam! They were gorgeous and I’m putting her name forward for Bake Off!! Always a joy to visit, it would be wonderful to have them both visit us for Legends Day later this season!“

Billy also took the picture (above right) to prove it -and we are delighted to share it with the Sky Blue family here!