Coventry City F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | Coventry City Football Club | |||
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| Nickname(s) | The Sky Blues | |||
| Founded | 13 August 1883 (as Singers F.C.) |
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| Ground | Coventry Building Society Arena | |||
| Capacity | 32,609 | |||
| Owner | Doug King | |||
| Chairman | Doug King | |||
| Manager | Rhys Carr (interim) | |||
| League | League One | |||
| 2018–19 | League One, 8th of 24 | |||
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Coventry City Football Club is a professional football team from Coventry, England. They are known as "The Sky Blues" because of their famous blue kit. The club plays in the EFL Championship, which is the second-highest league in English football.
Coventry City started as Singers F.C. in 1883. They changed their name to Coventry City in 1898. The club joined the Southern League in 1908 and then the Football League in 1919. They moved up and down the leagues over the years. In the 1960s, under manager Jimmy Hill, they reached the top division for the first time.
Coventry City stayed in the top division for 34 years, from 1967 to 2001. They were even one of the first teams in the Premier League when it started in 1992. Their biggest win was in 1987 when they won the FA Cup. This is their only major trophy so far.
In recent years, the club has faced some challenges. They were relegated in 2012 and 2017. However, they won the EFL Trophy in 2017. In 2018, they won the League Two play-off final and moved back up. Under manager Mark Robins, they were promoted to the EFL Championship in 2020. In the 2022–23 season, they almost reached the Premier League but lost in the play-off final. In 2023–24, they made it to the FA Cup semi-finals.
For over 100 years, Coventry City played at Highfield Road. In 2005, they moved to the Coventry Arena.
Contents
Club History
How it All Started (1883–1919)
Coventry City began in 1883 as Singers F.C. It was formed by people from the Singer Cycle Company. The club played its first games at Dowells Field. In 1887, they moved to the Stoke Road Ground. They started charging a small fee to watch games. The team became professional in 1892.
In 1898, the club changed its name to Coventry City. Their new home, Highfield Road, opened in 1899. The club faced some money problems early on. In 1901, they had their biggest ever loss, 11–2, in an FA Cup game.
In 1908, Coventry joined the Southern Football League. They reached the FA Cup quarter-finals in 1910. They beat big teams like Preston and Nottingham Forest. However, they faced more money troubles and were relegated in 1914. World War I stopped competitive football in 1915. The club's debts were paid off by a supporter named David Cooke in 1917.
Joining the Football League (1919–1945)
In 1919, Coventry City joined the English Football League. They were placed in the Second Division. The club improved their stadium and signed new players. However, they struggled and were relegated in 1925. They then moved to the Third Division South.
The club had more financial problems in the late 1920s. Supporters helped with fundraising. In 1931, Harry Storer became manager. This started a successful period for the club. They scored many goals, earning the nickname "The Old Five." In the 1931–32 season, Clarrie Bourton scored 49 goals. This was a league record at the time.
Coventry City won the Third Division North title in 1935–36. They continued to play well in the Second Division. They also built a new main stand at Highfield Road. The World War II stopped the league season in 1939. Many fans believed the war stopped them from reaching the top division. The Coventry Blitz in 1941 damaged the stadium. Football in the city stopped for a while.
Reaching the Top and FA Cup Glory (1945–1987)
After the war, the team faced challenges. They were relegated in 1952. For the next six seasons, they played in the Third Division South. Attendance at games dropped. In 1958, they were placed in the new Fourth Division. They were in their lowest ever league position, 91st, but quickly moved back up.
In 1958, Derrick Robins became chairman. In 1961, Jimmy Hill became manager. This started the "Sky Blue revolution." Hill changed the team's kit to sky blue. He also introduced the famous Sky Blue Song. Hill led Coventry to win the Third Division in 1964. They then won the Second Division in 1967. This took them to the top division for the first time ever.
In 1967, Coventry City set a record attendance of 51,455 fans at Highfield Road. In 1969–70, they finished sixth in the First Division. This is still their highest league position. They played in the European Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1970–71. They beat Bayern Munich at home but lost overall.
In the mid-1970s, the club faced money problems again. They had to sell some top players. In 1981, Highfield Road became England's first all-seat stadium. This was an idea from Jimmy Hill, who was chairman again. However, fans did not like it, and standing areas were brought back later.
In 1986, the club built a strong team. Under managers George Curtis and John Sillett, they had a great season. They reached the 1987 FA Cup final. In a thrilling game, Coventry beat Tottenham Hotspur 3–2 at Wembley. This was the club's only major trophy.
Modern Times (1987–Present)
After winning the FA Cup, Coventry City had some ups and downs. They lost to a non-league team, Sutton United, in the FA Cup in 1989. However, they finished seventh in the league that season. In 1992, they became one of the first teams in the new Premier League.
The club signed famous players like Dion Dublin and Robbie Keane. But they never finished higher than 11th in the Premier League. In 2001, they were relegated, ending 34 years in the top league.
The club faced money problems again. They moved to the new Coventry Building Society Arena in 2005. This stadium was built with help from the city council. However, the club no longer owned the stadium. This meant they had to pay rent to use it.
In 2012, Coventry City was relegated to League One. In 2013, they had to play their home games at Sixfields Stadium in Northampton. This was because of a disagreement over rent at the Ricoh Arena. Fans were very upset about this.
In 2014, the club reached an agreement to return to the Ricoh Arena. Fans celebrated their return with a big march. In 2017, they were relegated to League Two. But they also won the EFL Trophy that season. The next season, they were promoted back to League One.
In 2019, they had to play their home games away from Coventry again. This time, they played at St Andrew's in Birmingham. This was due to more stadium issues. They returned to the Coventry Building Society Arena in 2021.
In 2023, local businessman Doug King bought the club. Coventry City finished fifth in the Championship that season. They reached the play-off final but lost to Luton Town. In the 2023–24 season, they reached the FA Cup semi-finals. They lost a close game to Manchester United on penalties.
Playing Kit
Colours
Coventry's home shirts are usually sky blue. But in the past, they wore different colours. In 1889, they wore pink and blue shirts. In the 1890s, their colours were black and red. In the early 1920s, they wore red and green. Sky blue was first used in 1898. It became their main colour again in 1962, thanks to manager Jimmy Hill.
In 2009, to celebrate 125 years, Coventry wore a special brown shirt. This was a nod to a chocolate brown away kit from 1978. Some people think this brown kit was the worst ever, but some fans love it.
In 2012 and 2013, the team wore a blue and white striped kit. This was to remember their FA Cup win in 1987. In 2019, they wore a black and white third kit. This honored the city's connection to 2 Tone Records.
Kit Makers and Sponsors
Since the 2019–20 season, Hummel has made Coventry's kits. The main sponsor on the front of the shirt is Monzo. King of Shaves sponsors the back.
Coventry was the first club in the Football League to have a kit sponsor. This happened in 1980 with Talbot, a car company from Coventry.
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor | Shorts sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974–75 | Umbro | None | None or N/A |
| 1975–80 | Admiral Sportswear | ||
| 1980–81 | Talbot | ||
| 1981–83 | Big T | ||
| 1983–84 | Umbro | Tallon | |
| 1984–85 | Glazepta | ||
| 1985–86 | Elliotts | ||
| 1986–87 | Triple S Sport | Granada Bingo | |
| 1987–88 | Hummel | ||
| 1988–89 | None | ||
| 1989–92 | Asics | Peugeot | |
| 1992–94 | Ribero | ||
| 1994–96 | Pony International | ||
| 1996–97 | Le Coq Sportif | ||
| 1997–99 | Subaru (home)
Isuzu (away) |
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| 1999–2004 | In House Manufacturer (CCFC Leisure) | ||
| 2004–05 | Kit@ | ||
| 2005–06 | Cassidy Group | ||
| 2006–10 | Puma | ||
| 2010–13 | City Link | ||
| 2013–14 | Grace Medical Fund (charity partner) | ||
| 2014–15 | Allsopp & Allsopp | ||
| 2015–18 | Nike | ||
| 2018–19 | Midrepro | ||
| 2019–20 | Hummel International | Allsopp & Allsopp | The Exams Office |
| 2020–21 | BoyleSports (front), Jingltree (back) | G&R Scaffolding (home), SIMIAN Aspects Training (away) | |
| 2021–2023 | BoyleSports (front), XL Motors (back) | ||
| 2023– | King of Shaves (front), XL Motors (sleeve), Coventry Building Society (rear) | G&R Scaffolding |
Stadium History
First Homes
Coventry City first played at Dowells Field from 1883 to 1887. It was in the Stoke area of Coventry. In 1887, they moved to Stoke Road. This ground was enclosed and had a small stand. Fans paid a small fee to enter.
Highfield Road (1899–2005)
In 1899, Coventry City moved to Highfield Road. The first game there was a 1–0 win against Stoke City. The stadium was improved over the years. A new stand was built in 1910. A standing area called the Spion Kop opened in 1922.
In 1936, a new main stand was built. The stadium was damaged during the Coventry Blitz in 1941. Floodlights were installed in 1953. In the 1960s, more big changes happened at Highfield Road. A new Sky Blue Stand was built. In 1981, it became an all-seater stadium. However, standing areas were brought back later.
The Taylor Report in 1990 said all top-flight teams needed all-seater stadiums. This led to the building of the new East Stand. Highfield Road hosted its last game in 2005. Coventry won 6–2 against Derby County. The stadium was then taken down to build new homes.
Coventry Building Society Arena (2005–Present)
For the 2005–06 season, Coventry City moved to the new Coventry Building Society Arena. It has seats for 32,609 fans. The stadium was planned to be very big and modern. But due to money problems, it was built smaller. It is now used for concerts and exhibitions too.
The stadium was first named the Ricoh Arena. This was after the electronics company Ricoh. The project was funded by the Coventry City Council and a charity. On August 20, 2005, Coventry City played their first game there. They won 3–0 against Queens Park Rangers. In 2011, a statue of former manager Jimmy Hill was put up at the entrance.
Playing Away from Home
In 2013, Coventry City had to play their home games at Northampton Town's Sixfields Stadium. This was because of a disagreement about rent at the Ricoh Arena. Sixfields was much smaller and far away. Many fans were very unhappy and protested.
In 2014, an agreement was reached. Coventry City returned to the Ricoh Arena. Their first game back was a 1–0 win against Gillingham. Over 27,000 fans came to celebrate.
In 2019, the club had to move again. They played their home games at Birmingham City's St Andrew's ground. This lasted for two seasons. They returned to the Coventry Building Society Arena in August 2021.
In July 2020, the club announced plans for a new stadium with the University of Warwick. But in March 2021, they signed a 10-year deal to stay at the Ricoh Arena. In July 2021, the stadium was renamed the Coventry Building Society Arena.
In August 2022, one match had to be played at Burton Albion's Pirelli Stadium. This was because the pitch at the CBS Arena was not safe. In December 2022, the stadium owners changed. The club signed a new deal to stay at the CBS Arena for at least five more years.
Supporters
The Sky Blue Army
Coventry City fans are known as The Sky Blue Army. In Coventry, people say "Going Up The City" when they go to watch a match.
In the past, fewer fans attended games when the club had money problems. When the club had to play in Northampton, average attendance dropped a lot. Many supporters protested against the club's owners at the time.
The Sky Blue Song
The club's song was written in 1962 by manager Jimmy Hill and John Camkin. It uses the tune of the Eton Boating Song. It quickly became popular with fans. The words were printed in the match programme.
Here are the original and current words:
Famous Fans
Many famous people support Coventry City.
- Television presenter Richard Keys was born in Coventry and is a lifelong fan.
- Red Bull Formula 1 team boss Christian Horner is a supporter.
- Haas F1 Team boss Ayao Komatsu also supports the club.
- Comedian Josh Pugh is a Sky Blues fan.
- Musicians like Neville Staple of The Specials and the band The Enemy are big supporters.
- Singer/songwriter Tom Grennan is a fan because of his manager.
- Actor Graeme Hawley from Coronation Street has a season ticket.
- Other famous fans include darts players Steve Beaton and Steve Hine, and Westlife member Brian McFadden.
- Actor Frankie Muniz from Malcolm in the Middle is also said to be a fan.
Rivalries
Coventry City's main rival is Leicester City. Their games are called the M69 Derby. They haven't played each other much recently. But the derby returned in the 2023–24 season.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Aston Villa was a big rival. This was because they often played in the same top leagues. They haven't met since 2001.
In the 1960s and 1970s, there was a strong rivalry with Wolverhampton Wanderers. There were also rivalries with West Bromwich Albion and Walsall.
A local rivalry exists with Birmingham City. But playing home games at St Andrew's for two seasons made relations friendlier.
Coventry also has an unusual rivalry with Sunderland. This started in 1977. On the last day of the season, Coventry and Bristol City played each other. Sunderland was also fighting relegation. Coventry's game was delayed. When Sunderland lost, Coventry and Bristol City knew a draw would keep both of them safe. They stopped trying to score. Sunderland fans felt this was unfair. This has led to some rivalry, especially when the teams played each other in League One.
Players
First-team squad
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Out on loan
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Under-21 squad
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Under-18 squad
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Player Records
Here are some interesting records held by Coventry City players:
| Record | Details |
|---|---|
| Highest transfer fee paid |  Haji Wright, £7,700,000 in 2023 (from Antalyaspor) |
| Highest transfer fee received |  Viktor Gyökeres, £20,500,000 in 2023 (to Sporting CP) |
| Most appearances (all competitions) |  Steve Ogrizovic, 601 games (1984–2000) |
| Most appearances (league) | Steve Ogrizovic, 504 games (1984–2000) |
| All-time top scorer (all competitions) | Clarrie Bourton, 182 goals (1931–1937) |
| All-time top scorer (league) | Clarrie Bourton, 173 goals (1931–1937) |
| Top-flight era top scorer (all competitions) | Dion Dublin, 72 goals (1994–1998) |
| Top-flight era top scorer (league) | Dion Dublin, 60 goals (1994–1998) |
| Most goals by one player in a game | Arthur Bacon, 5 (vs Gillingham, 1933) Clarrie Bourton, 5 (vs Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, 1931) Cyrille Regis, 5 (vs Chester City, 1985) |
| Most goals by one player in a season | Clarrie Bourton, 50 (1931–1932, 49 league, 1 FA Cup) |
| Most goals by one player in a season in top-flight | Dion Dublin, 23 (1997–1998) Ian Wallace, 23 (1977–1978) |
| Oldest player to play in a first-team match | Alf Wood, 43 years 207 days (vs Plymouth Argyle, 1958) |
| Youngest player to play in a first-team match | Jonson Clarke-Harris, 16 years 21 days (substitute vs Morecambe, 2010) |
| Youngest player to start a first-team match | Brian Hill, 16 years 273 days (vs Gillingham, 1958) |
Honours and Trophies
Coventry City has won several important trophies:
League Titles
- Second Division (level 2)
* Champions: 1966–67
- Third Division South / Third Division / League One (level 3)
* Champions: 1935–36, 1963–64, 2019–20
- Fourth Division / League Two (level 4)
* Runners-up: 1958–59 * Play-off winners: 2018
Cup Wins
* Winners: 1986–87
- EFL Trophy
* Winners: 2016–17
- Third Division South Cup
* Winners: 1935–36
- Birmingham Senior Cup
* Winners: 1910–11, 1922–23, 2006–07
- Southern Professional Floodlit Cup
* Winners: 1959–60
Images for kids
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Coventry City FC crest
See also
In Spanish: Coventry City Football Club para niños
