Jim's column 30.10.2021

Richard Owen was in contact recently to tell me that his father Rod is soon celebrating the 70th anniversary of his first Coventry City game and asked me to confirm the details. Rod remembers it as a game just before Christmas at home to Notts County when County's star centre-forward Tommy Lawton scored in a home defeat for the Bantams.

                                     Tommy Lawton

Rod thought it was 1951 but after checking the records I was able to confirm that it was 16th December 1950 making it 71 years since his first game. Two weeks ago I wrote about the eight game winning start to that season and City went into that game having not lost at home with nine wins and one draw and second in the table behind Manchester City.

On a snow covered pitch with blue chalk marking the lines the surface was treacherous but Lawton, more renowned for his heading ability, skated over the icy pitch in the first minute and netted with a low shot. The former England striker made it 2-0 after 15 minutes following another City defensive mistake on the slippery ground. Bryn Allen pulled a goal back in the second half and though City piled pressure on the Notts defence they held out for a 2-1 win to end City's unbeaten home record. In those days the last two Saturday's before Christmas were notorious for lower than average attendances and the club must have been pleased with the gate of 25,102.

Tommy Lawton was a prolific scorer before and after World War Two. Signed by Everton as a 17-year-old in 1937 he scored 34 goals as Everton won the league title in 1938-39 and after the war he played for Chelsea, Notts County, Brentford and Arsenal, making his last appearance in 1955 two weeks before his 36th birthday. He scored 22 goals in 23 full internationals in an England shirt and 24 goals in 23 games in war-time internationals. A true giant of the game.

Richard says that his dad tells him that he used to sneak in as a lad when the turnstile operators turned a blind eye occasionally! Richard continues: 'He was a policeman in Coventry, Warwickshire and Birmingham from the 1960s into the 1990s so policed occasional Coventry games as well as Birmingham City. It was actually through Blues that he got us Cup Final tickets in 1987. He started taking me and my sister in the late 1970s and we went together right into the mid-1990s when I went to the USA. But he kept going with friends of mine and I rejoined him on my return in 2008. When we got relegated to the fourth tier he almost retired having got back to where he started, but Mark Robins has given him a new lease of life and is going now with my 6-year-old lad and the thought of making the trip back to the top for the second time is keeping him going!'

Even though it is 71 years and not 70 Richard is hoping to do something special for the Stoke home game just before Christmas.

Jon Burton had some interesting questions for me recently. He wanted to know which City players had scored 40 or more goals in a season as well as the youngest and oldest players to score hat-tricks for the club.

Clarrie Bourton is the only City player to score 40 or more league goals – he scored 49 in 1931-32 season and 41 the following season. He was a veritable goal machine and went on to net 189 goals in league and cup for Coventry.

The youngest hat-trick scorer is Adam Armstrong, on loan from Newcastle, who was a month short of his 19th birthday when he scored three goals in the 5-0 win at Crewe on New Years Day 2016.

The oldest is probably George Lowrie who was 33 years and three months in February 1953 when he scored three goals in a 4-1 victory over Millwall in a Third Division South match. Lowrie was in his second spell with the club having joined in the summer of 1939 as a 19-year-old and having to wait seven years for his full debut! He was a prolific scorer for the City immediately after the war, scoring 47 goals in 56 games, including five hat-tricks in 1946-47, and earning a big money move to Newcastle United. The move to the North East didn't work out and following a spell at Bristol City he rejoined Coventry in 1952.

One of these days, perhaps not in my lifetime, the Sky Blues will win at Preston! Not for the first time City took the lead there with a stunning shot from Tyler Walker only to be pegged back and beaten by a lively home display in the second half. The Deepdale hoodoo continues and City have now failed to win in all 20 league visits there.

If you have a question about the history or statistics of Coventry City please drop me an email at clarriebourton@gmail.com and follow me on Twitter @clarriebourton

Brian Nicholas (20.4.1933-14.10.2021)

It's sad to report the death of former Coventry City player Brian Nicholas at the age 88. An old-fashioned wing-half, Brian made 121 appearances for the club following spells at Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers. He was a key member of Coventry's 1959 Fourth Division promotion side but was one of several players who did not survive the arrival of Jimmy Hill in 1961.

Born in the mining village of Cwmaman near Aberdare in South Wales his parents moved to Slough when he was four years-old. At school he was a natural athlete – he won the 440 yards hurdles at the All-England Schools Championships and had a cricket trial with Middlesex but football was his first love. Despite being Welsh-born, in 1948, at the age of 14, he won four England Schoolboys caps, one of them against his country of birth in a game played at Highfield Road. Playing alongside future full internationals Norman Deeley and Albert Quixall, he helped England to a 2-1 victory in front of a 25,000 crowd. Another youngster in the team was Mark Jones who later signed for Manchester United. Brian and Mark were great pals and roomed together. Mark was tragically killed in the Munich Air Disaster in 1958, an event that deeply saddened Brian.

                         Brian at QPR in 1949

Within a year Brian, who had a shocking head of red hair back then, had left school, signed as an apprentice for QPR and on 7 May 1949, at the age of 16 years and 17 days he made his debut for the Second Division side at home to Leeds United. Leeds had their own prodigious 16-year-old that day, John Charles, who went on to become a Welsh legend.

Brian turned professional on his 17th birthday but didn't appear in QPR's first team until 1950 mainly due to National Service commitments. After making five appearances in 1950-51 and six the following season, he became a regular first-teamer in 1952-53 by which time the R's were in Division Three South. Brian had other talents on the pitch - in 1954 against Bristol City he went in goal for fifteen minutes when the QPR 'keeper was knocked out. A week later with both QPR 'keepers on the injured list he played in goal from the start against Torquay. He let in two goals in the first half but kept the Torquay forwards at bay in the second half as QPR came back to win 4-2. In all he played 120 games for Rangers, scoring two goals and in 1955 was selected to play for the London XI v Swiss club Basle in the inaugural Inter Cities Fairs Cup. There was talk that season of him being selected for the full Wales side and in the summer of 1955 Brian moved across West London to recently crowned First Division champions Chelsea then managed by the legendary Ted Drake.

At Stamford Bridge competition for places was stiff and Brian had two excellent wing halves ahead of him in England international Ken Armstrong and Derek Saunders. He played 10 games in the first season including four games in seven days in February as Burnley took the Pensioners to four replays in their FA Cup tie. He was remembered at Chelsea for his lack of hair – he lost most of his hair by the time he was twenty! Over three seasons he played 29 games for the Blues and appeared against numerous Coventry past and future players including goalkeeper Reg Matthews, John Sillett, Alan Dicks and Bobby Laverick as well as a 17-year-old goalscoring sensation Jimmy Greaves.

In January 1958, languishing in Chelsea's reserves, Coventry's recently appointed manager Billy Frith swooped to sign Brian for a 'substantial' fee. City were in the bottom half of the old Third Division South and looking odds-on to be 'relegated' to the new Fourth Division in the divisional reorganisation at the end of the season. Two days later Brian made his debut at right half at Torquay in a 1-0 defeat and so poor was City's form that none of Brian's first nine games were won. His home debut came a week later against Brentford and after a 0-0 draw Nemo in the Coventry Telegraph reported: 'Nicholas, making his home debut promised well. He was fearless in defence and always fought for the ball.'

The team's away form was dire with 21 goals conceded in five games including a 7-1 loss at Southampton and any hope of avoiding relegation disappeared. Despite a brief flurry of wins at the end City finished 19th.

The following season was a different matter and the team were always in contention for promotion with Brian an influential player in the middle of the park. From the end of September the team were never out of the top four and the shrewd signings of Paddy Ryan, Ronnie Farmer and Arthur Lightening ensured that manager Frith led them to promotion at the first attempt.

             The 1959 promotion squad with Brian third from left on front row

The team hit the top of the table in early December and Brian was given the accolade of 'Player of the Year' by Nemo in the Coventry Telegraph. On Boxing Day at home to Torquay however tragedy struck when Brian sustained a serious ligament injury which kept him out of action for three months and meant he missed the promotion run in.

Back in Division Three the following season the Bantams almost made it successive promotions but missed out after two bad defeats at Easter, finishing fifth. Brian was an ever present until a loss of form at the end of March after which City's promotion challenge faltered. In 1960-61 he started the season as captain but inconsistent form cost him his place and played only 10 games all season and went on the transfer list at one stage. City's upward momentum however stalled and they finished 15th but Brian was back to full fitness in 1961-62 in what was to be a momentous watershed season in the club's history.

Brian started that season as the first-choice right half but results were very patchy and things came to head in November with home defeats to Crystal Palace and Kings Lynn, in the FA Cup. Frith was sacked and in came Jimmy Hill and the revolution started. Brian initially retained his place in the new regime but by March 1962 with Farmer fit again after injury Hill preferred him to Brian. It was no surprise at the end of the season when he was given a free transfer. In total he made 121 appearances for the club but never scored a goal.

Settled with his family in Coventry, Brian decided not to take up offers in league football but signed for Southern league club Rugby Town. He had a brief spell as player-manager with Hinckley Athletic but after suffering knee problems he left the game in October 1963, aged 30, and went to work at Massey-Ferguson, Coventry where he worked until retirement. There he teamed up with many old playing colleagues including Reg Matthews, Alf Wood and eventually Ronnie Farmer. After retiring from Massey he worked as a driver for Europa Cars well into his 80s.

In the modern game Brian would be classed as a defensive midfield player, steady, skilled and a strong tackler but capable of defence splitting passes. He was an effective defender in an era when pitches were not the best and opposing forwards were rugged and uncompromising. He was a popular member of the Former Players Association (CCFPA) and attended virtually every Legends Day before Covid. He was great pals with Lol Harvey, who passed away last year and they and their wives were also regulars at Diamond Club lunches.

                                Brian at Legends Day 2015

Brian died peacefully, surrounded by his family. He had been married to his wife Margaret for 65 years and he and Margaret had two children, Kevin and Kim, six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Brian loved football and was a regular at Sky Blues home games over many years, enjoying friendly banter with friends such as Lol Harvey and Ronnie Farmer and often accompanied by several generations of his family. Brian was a true gentleman and a genuinely nice man who will be missed by all that knew him.

Jim's column 16.10.2021

Coventry City's impressive six wins home start to the season prompted regular reader Rod Ison to contact me to check when City's record home start of eight consecutive starts was set. He thinks it might have been 1950-51 - that was the season that, as an 11-year-old, he became a City supporter. He wrote: 'From memory, the season kicked off with a 2-0 away victory at Notts County. I recall a home win over Bury and a ‘never to be forgotten’ 6-1 victory against Blackburn Rovers at Highfield Road.'

                                 Coventry City 1950-51

He asked if I could list the home record in that run with the goalscorers. Rod continues: 'My Dad, whilst drinking in the Elastic Inn persuaded Ken Chisholm and Les (Plum) Warner to visit our house, and I was somewhat tongue-tied in their presence!

The run of wins in 1950 was as follows:

August 21 Leeds United 1-0 (Roberts) (30,213)

August 26 Preston 1-0 (Roberts) (24,676)

September 9 QPR 3-0 (Chisholm 2, Lockhart) (22,298)

September 11 Birmingham 3-1 (Roberts 2, Chisholm) (30,448)

September 23 Leicester 2-1 (Chisholm 2) (33,324)

October 14 Blackburn 6-1 (Allen 2, Roberts, Chisholm, Lockhart 2) (34,918)

October 28 Doncaster 3-1 (Roberts, Chisholm, Own goal) (32,757)

November 11 Swansea 3-1 (Roberts, Chisholm 2) (29,672)

The run of victories was finally ended on November 25th when Barnsley held the rampant Bantams to a 3-3 draw. Highfield Road was certainly a fortress in those days – the previous season had ended with four home wins and a draw and only three home games were lost in the calendar year of 1950.

Rod's hero, Ken Chisholm, was in deadly form and went on to score 24 goals that season before joining Cardiff City and later Sunderland.

There is a glut of books written by former Coventry City players this year and in the run up to Christmas they include biographies of Mark Hateley, Bryan King, Julian Joachim and Garry Thompson. One book with a different tale to tell however is from City fan James Adams. His book 'Attached to Coventry City, 1958-2020' tells the story of James' support of the club from the days of Billy Frith, as a teenager, to the present day. His support during the Jimmy Hill era was, like many teenage Coventrians, obsessional but immediately after promotion to the First Division in 1967 he turned his back on the Sky Blues. He went off to university and discovered a different faith, a religious one, as well as girls, and for the next twenty years or so he barely followed the club.

His passion was rekindled in a conversion-like experience and he has been re-attached to the club for the last 35 years. In a fascinating story James describes his rollercoaster journey and points to Attachment Theory and the feelings and bond that us fans develop for our club. This is a unique and interesting book and highly recommended for any Coventry City fan. It is out now and published by Pitch Publishing.

Next week the Sky Blues travel to Preston North End's Deepdale still seeking a first league win at the old ground. In 19 league visits since 1949 the Sky Blues have failed to win having drawn seven and lost 12 games. Neither of City's great managers, Harry Storer and Jimmy Hill, won there nor did a host of other 'gaffers'. Micky Adams failed to win in three visits, Chris Coleman lost two games and Mark Robins has drawn one and lost one. There was a League Cup win under Gordon Strachan in 2000 and way back in 1910 City, then a non-league side, pulled off a giant-killing act by knocking First Division Preston out of the FA Cup but it seems that the Lilywhites have been punishing us for that Cup shock ever since.

If you have a question about the history or statistics of Coventry City please drop me an email at clarriebourton@gmail.com and follow me on Twitter @clarriebourton

Jim's column 9.10.2021

The Sky Blues bounced back from the 0-5 loss at Luton to stun one of the promotion favourites Fulham on Saturday lunchtime with another thrilling home display. Trailing to a first half goal Mark Robins' team destroyed the Cottagers in 20 devastating minutes to win 4-1 and record a sixth straight home league win (seven if you count the last home game at St Andrews. Six home wins from the start of the season is the best since 1950-51 when City set the club record by winning their first eight games at Highfield Road and were unbeaten at home until mid-December. That season City led the old Second Division on New Years Day but their promotion challenge fizzled out in the spring and they finished seventh losing only three home games all season. A half decent away record would have seen City promoted to Division 1 16 years earlier than they were!

Seven consecutive home league wins (counting the final game at St Andrews) is the best run since 1955 when under new manager Jesse Carver the Bantams had excellent home form in Division Three South. The team won six and drew two of the first eight before a run of seven home league wins before suffering a defeat to Northampton in mid-January by which time Carver had decamped to Italy. The club record run of consecutive home league wins is 11 set in 1952-53, again in Division Three South.

                       Coventry City 1955-56

Viktor Gyokeres can't stop scoring right now and has now netted 9 goals in 11 league games, the best start to a campaign by a City striker since Callum Wilson blew the doors off Sixfields in 2013-14 with ten goals in the first 11 games. George Hudson also scored 10 in the first 11 in 1963-64. Vik has some way to catch the inimitable Clarrie Bourton who in 1931-32 scored 14 goals in the first 11 games and became the fastest ever to 20 goals, reaching that figure in just 14 games.

Gyokeres' two goals against Fulham meant he was the first Coventry player to score braces in successive home games since Adam Armstrong in his amazing scoring season in 2015-16. On Halloween 2015 Armstrong scored twice in a 3-2 victory over Peterborough then four days later repeated the feat in a 4-3 win over Barnsley.

It was Fulham's first league visit to Coventry since the 1967-68 season, City's first season in the top flight, when the Londoners shocked the Sky Blues by winning 3-0 with two goals from a young Allan Clarke and one from Joe Gilroy. In the return the following April City grabbed a valuable point in their relegation battle with Brian Hill's only ever goal in the top flight and left Fulham six points adrift at the bottom and virtually doomed for relegation. In the intervening 53 years the teams have somehow avoided each other – both sides have been down to Division Four – until now.

To answer Paul Brucculeri's question, we have met Fulham in a Cup tie since 1967, a two-legged League Cup tie in 1982. The teams drew 2-2 at Craven Cottage with two early goals from Jim Melrose cancelled out before half-time by Tony Gale and former Lockheed Leamington star Roger Brown. The second leg at Highfield Road was a dire game and after no goals in 90 minutes it went to extra-time and finally ended goalless with City going through on the away goals rule. Looking at the line-ups that night it's interesting to note that Fulham had two youngsters, Paul Parker and Ray Houghton, who went on to have stellar careers elsewhere.

If you have a question about the history or statistics of Coventry City please drop me an email at clarriebourton@gmail.com and follow me on Twitter @clarriebourton

Jim's column 2.10.2021

Coventry City fans have endured the definitive roller coaster of emotions in the last week. On Friday night their team put on a sparkling display against Peterborough at the CBS Arena to secure their fifth home win of the season and retain their 100% home record since the return to Coventry with a 3-0 victory. Five days later they travelled to Luton and were on the wrong side of a 5-0 thrashing with the same eleven players who had performed so superbly on Friday looking a shadow of their former selves.

On Friday they briefly went top of the Championship, for the first time since 2001, until West Brom's late winner over QPR inched the Baggies one point ahead of the Sky Blues. On Wednesday the team went down to the biggest league defeat since 2006 when Micky Adams' team lost 5-0 at West Brom. The Baggies led 3-0 at the break with goals from Diomansy Kamara (2) and Jason Koumas before Kevin Phillips and Paul Robinson made it 5-0. Adams' side went into the game in 10th place, unbeaten in five games but the defeat put the skids under the team, they failed to win in eight games including an FA Cup exit to lower status Bristol City and Micky was given the sack. Since that dreadful day at the Hawthorns City have suffered three five-goal Cup defeats:

2007-08 West Brom (home) FA Cup (0-5)

2012-13 Arsenal (away) League Cup (1-6)

2016-17 Norwich (away) League Cup (1-6)

The first half at Kenilworth Road was particularly horrific with City shipping four goals. This last occurred at Plymouth in 2008-09 when the home side led 4-0 by the 37th minute before Chris Coleman's side shored up the defence and kept a clean sheet in the second half. City did ship four first half goals against Crystal Palace in a 2-4 home defeat during the dreadful run under Micky Adams mentioned above but one has to go back to 1991-92 for the previous instance of a 4-0 half-time scoreline when Man United scored all their goals in a 4-0 win before the break. Since 2000 City have had a 4-0 half-time lead themselves on seven occasions, the last time at Cheltenham in the 6-1 victory in League Two in 2018.

To finish on a brighter note I have to mention the crowd at the Peterborough game. The noise was something to behold and was a big influence on the result. The attendance was 20,652 and included 1,638 visiting fans, making the home following 19,014. I've checked the records and that total of City fans has only been exceeded twice in night league games since the move to the Ricoh in 2005.

The highest by far is the Gillingham game in 2014 when a crowd of 27,306 (26,811 home fans) was present with the second highest for the Birmingham game in 2006 (27,212 – 21,841 home fans). Lets hope Wednesday's hammering at Luton doesn't put the crowds off from coming today to see the Fulham game. Those fans who stay away are missing some very special football at the moment and the Luton game was a blip in an otherwise good start to the season.

If you have a question about Coventry City's history please drop me an email at clarriebourton@gmail.com and follow me on Twitter @clarriebourton