Jim's column 25.8.2018

Coventry City slipped up at Blackpool's Bloomfield Road in midweek, losing 2-0. It was no real surprise to me as the seaside stadium is one of City's bogey grounds. The two clubs have spent little time in the same division over the years – Blackpool were fixtures in the top flight for the post-war years up until their relegation in 1967, the same year that City reached Division One for the first time and the clubs passed like ships in the night. In the next 34 years it was City who were the unmoveable team in the top division whilst Blackpool slipped down the league after a brief season in the sun in 1970-71. Since 2001 the clubs have been in the same league for six seasons before this season.

City's record there is dreadful. In twelve league visits now they have won twice (1923 & 2016) and drawn one (2008) with the other nine all ending in defeat. There was one Cup visit there, a League Cup tie in 1997, and the Sky Blues lost 0-1 to a team two levels below them but at least had a home second leg to atone and see themselves through. The Tangerines record in Coventry is not impressive however; they haven't won in eight league and cup visits since the last win in 1937 but have drawn their last three games at the Ricoh.

During the summer I heard from the family of Bryan Allen who passed away aged 83 in July. They had always believed that he had played for City in the early 1950s but I had to tell them that no one of that name had appeared in the first team. Then they sent me a team photo from 1952-53 and sure enough Bryan is there alongside other young players including Lol Harvey and Frank Austin.

Margaret Richards provided me with Bryan's story.

'He was born to Leonard Arthur and Elizabeth Allen in Walsall on 3rd. June 1935.  His mother Elizabeth died when he was very young, from the dreaded 'TB'. Subsequently Bryan came to live with my Dad and his second wife Margaret (my Mum) at the age of about six I believe. He attended Wolverhampton Road School, Walsall with two of my older siblings, Arley and Rita. He was a talented football and recalled how two men came from Coventry City to sign him, one being a Mr Storey (ed.- Harry Storer, City's legendary manager).'

'After leaving Coventry City he married Ruth Harris, daughter of the Aldermans Green couple who boarded Bryan whilst he was at the club. They then lived at 'The Lodge', Parrots Grove, in Coventry for many years - he ran a successful Egg production business from there.  Bryans  life was varied and full, he was a skilled diamond (industrial) cutter for over 40 years, played and coached Badminton for the county and was active within the Bowls league - maintaining his fitness - almost right to the end. I understand that Bryan also spent some time in the Army, based in Dorchester and played for Yeovil Town FC at some point. He and his second wife Anne retired to Dorchester and within the past two years moved to be near Anne's parents in Kent.'

Bryan leaves his wife Anne, his only child Lorraine, four grandchildren, and many great and great/great grandchildren. His funeral took place on Friday 20th July at Medway Cremation East Chapel in Chatham, Kent.

Fellow City historian Mike Young was then able to provide a team picture from 1951-52 with Allen on and we believe he played for City's 'A' team in the United Counties League for these two seasons.

                                                     Coventry City 1952-53

In the team photo from 1952 Bryan is seated second from the left on the front row next to Lol Harvey.

Jim's Column 19.3.2016

Last week I wrote about Coventry City's poor form against Lancashire clubs and what happens - the Sky Blues end a 97-year hoodoo at Blackpool and record only their fifth win in the North West in 15 trips since they were relegated from the Championship in 2012. It may have been an ugly win over a poor side but that is just what is required to get the team into the play-offs.

City's record at Bloomfield Road has historically been atrocious with only one win and one draw in 13 visits in League & Cup games since they joined the league in 1919. The clubs didn't meet in league games between 1925 and 1970 and have only played them regularly since 2007. The solitary win came in March 1923, a month before the old Wembley stadium was opened. Jimmy Dougall netted the only goal in a dour game as City pulled off a shock result by beating the league leaders despite being in the relegation zone. Since then there have been some dreadful results including City's 1-0 loss at Bloomfield Road in 1970-71 when the Seasiders were rated as one of the worst sides to play in the top division since the war.

Talking of Blackpool, regular correspondent Keith Ballantyne reminded me of comments made by Ernie Hunt regarding the famous donkey-kick goal against Everton in 1970. Ernie has often mentioned that he and Willie Carr had tried the trick before in a game at Blackpool. Keith wondered if it was the league defeat there in December 1970 but in fact it was a pre-season friendly at Bloomfield Road in August 1970, two months before the famous goal against Everton. The free-kick, which Ernie has always said almost hit the clock, was so much a failure that the Coventry Telegraph's Derek Henderson didn't even mention it in his match report. I reminded Keith that Alan Green and Johnny Stevenson pulled off the donkey-kick trick in an FA Youth Cup tie against Shrewsbury soon after the Everton game. Henderson reported that this goal, the final one in a 6-0 home victory, was 'further out than Hunt's and left the Shrewsbury 'keeper helpless'.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about famous City slumps, one of which turned out to have silver lining (1964) and one which ended in disaster (2002). Dave Long reminded me about a slump in form in 1973 after City went out of the FA Cup in the sixth round. With new signings Tommy Hutchison and Colin Stein dazzling and homegrown youngsters Willie Carr, Dennis Mortimer and Brian Alderson impressing, Joe Mercer and Gordon Milne's team had an impressive winter which took them to a comfortable mid-table place in Division One and an FA Cup run that had fans talking about a first ever trip to Wembley. However after their FA Cup defeat at Molineux the side lost form completely and lost nine of their final ten games, the only result being a 3-1 victory over Ipswich at Highfield Road. In the modern era that sort of run would probably result in a sacking as it did for Chris Coleman in 2010 when his Sky Blues team fell from eighth place to 19^th in their final eleven games which failed to produce a win and gleaned only five points.

Susan Andrews from Hinckley was in touch recently regarding an old programme she wanted to donate to the club's archives. Sue and her friend Jean McCormick (who now lives in Canada) were both born in Coventry, and trained as Nursery Nurses. They both moved to the island of Bermuda and were working at a children's nursery in Paget in 1967 when they heard that the Sky Blues were visiting the island and planning a friendly game nearby.

Sue takes up the story:

'We made a banner out of babies muslin nappies (clean ones of course!!) and wrote upon it 'SKY BLUES' in the children's pale blue paint. I think that's what drew the players attention to us, as they were only known as Coventry City FC in the advertisement of the game there. Before the kick off several of the players came across for a chat and I recall that's when we were invited to the after game party !'

The Sky Blues were enjoying a promotion celebration holiday in the West Indies with a few friendly games thrown in and the game against a Police Recreation Select XI was the final game before they returned to the UK. City won the game, played at the Pembroke Hamilton Club Stadium, 8-0 with goals from Ronnie Rees (2), Brian Lewis (2), John Tudor, Ernie Machin, Dave Clements and Dietmar Bruck.