The middle of September means just one thing to Coventry City Diamond Club members -the autumn Diamond Club lunch and a time to meet up once again for a good chat and to be entertained by the guest speakers.
Today saw the members gather at The Ricoh to hear three guests speak. in former Sheffield Wednesday, Glasgow Rangers and Leeds defender Mel Sterland. Former Coventry City favourite, midfielder Claus Bech Jørgensen, and BBC Radio CWR presenter Trish Adudu.
The Diamond Club chairman, Alan Ludford ,started the afternoon with the sad news that two club committee members had died since the summer lunch Alf Abbey died shortly after the summer lunch in June and Barbara Cassey died a few weeks ago. In addition Thelma Adnitt, the wife of club member Ken Adnitt also died recently. All of us at the Diamond Club extend our utmost condolences to their families. They will be sorely missed.
Joe Elliott spoke to right back Mel Sterland before lunch was served. Mel started his career at Sheffield Wednesday in 1978 and played for the Owls until he was sold to Rangers in 1989. then moving to Leeds later in the same year. He played 7 times for England under 21s and 1 full England cap in a friendly against Saudi Arabia in1988.
He scored 70 career goals including one for Sheffield Wednesday against Coventry City at Highfield Road, for which he was roundly, but good humouredly booed, but got a big cheer when he admitted a penalty kick he took against City was well saved by Steve Ogrizovic. Mel admitted to being of the old school in football and working hard, giving it the best and having fun. He is not a big fan of modern coaching, squad rotation and special diets. He thinks the modern player is too pampered and too remote from the fans.
Mel said he enjoyed a hostile crowd as he thought it made him play better, which was one reason he enjoyed playing at Highfield Road. He also recalled the memorable 2-2 draw between Sheffield Wednesday and Coventry City in which City’s goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic scored City’s second goal in high winds at Hillsborough. He said he saw the ball heading straight for Martin Hodge in Wednesday’s goal and assumed he would catch it and roll the ball out to him, so he turned and trotted up field wondering why the City support were going mental, he didn’t realise Oggy had scored.
After suffering an ankle injury which never healed properly after surgery, Mel retired from playing and went into management, first at Boston United where he managed the side to a promotion winning second place, only for the chairman to fail to submit the correct paperwork so Boston could play in the Conference. He left Boston, and moved to Stalybridge having promised their chairman he would get them out of the division by the end of the season, which he did, they were relegated.
After lunch Joe Elliott spoke to Claus Bech Jørgensen, who joined City from Bradford City in 2003. He spent much of his first season at Coventry out on loan at his former club Bournemouth.
The following season Jørgensen secured his place in Coventry City folklore when he became the first player to score at the Ricoh Arena, on 20 August 2005, in a 3–0 win against Queens Park Rangers. He went on to play 52 times for City, scoring six goals and receiving one red card.
Despite being born in Denmark and harbouring desires to play for his homeland in international football, the chance never came along so he opted to play for the Faroe Islands, the birthplace of his mother.
Claus effectively ended his playing career at Blackpool, for whom he made 100 appearances, although he did make four appearances for Fleetwood Town and Port Vale in 2009.
After retiring from playing he qualified for his UEFA A licence and coached the Coventry City Academy for two years.
He went on to set up the restorative floor cleaning company, Unique Floorcare which he still runs.
After lunch Joe then spoke to freelance radio and television producer and presenter Trish Adudu. Trish has always been proud of the city of Coventry and has been an avid fan of the Sky Blues for years
She told the members that her father told her there is no such word as "can’t" and that to achieve anything in life to work hard and keep on trying until you succeed. She said she wrote 83 letters to TV and radio bosses trying to get an entry in broadcasting or producing.
She met former Match of the Day presenter Des Lyneham, who said she had a big mouth so ought to try for TV and after an audition, which she thought she had failed, was offered job as an assistant producer on Match of the Day. This among other jobs required her to make endless cups of tea for the fledgling football presenter Gary Lineker.
After Match of the Day, she went on to work on the Loose Women TV programme and the One Show. She will soon record a pilot episode of a new TV program called "Talk the Talk" which will air toward the end of the year.
Trish spends much of her spare time volunteering with causes such as disability awareness and mental health issues. In addition she never give up an opportunity to promote Coventry as the future City of Culture.
After the speakers had had their say, the usual round of bingo was played and the raffle was drawn.
Date for your diary Christmas Diamond Club lunch is on Thursday 6th December.
Pictures Pete Chambers BEM for CNS Sport