The annual Diamond Club Christmas lunch, held today at The Ricoh Arena, was as usual a well-attended event with around 220 guests in attendance.
Before the lunch was served Joe Elliott spoke to club historian Jim Brown about his new book, Ian Davidson, chairman of the London Supporters Club and Coventry Music Museum curator Dr Pete Chambers.BEM
Jim promoted his new book Play Up Sky Blues: Champions 1967. Ian presented a cheque to Pat Raybould for the Family Zone and Pete was congratulated for his recent award of an honorary degree from Coventry University.
Mention was made of Coventry's bid to become the UK City of Culture 2021. The winners of the bid will be annouced tonight live on BBC One's One Show at 7:00pm. Good luck Coventry.
Coventry City manager Mark Robins was supposed to be a guest at the event but a prior family commitment meant he had to cancel. As very late replacements two of the young Sky Blues defenders, Jordan Willis and Jack Grimmer arrived to speak to the members.
Joe Elliott spoke to Jordan Willis and Jack Grimmer about the mood and confidence in the City team as they approach the vital Christmas period. Jordan was asked which he thought was City’s best performance so far this season and without a shadow of doubt it was the 3-0 away win at Luton Town. In a light-hearted manner Jordan spoke about the changing room facilities at some of the away ground in League 2 and suggested that more than one toilet was required in the changing room at Accrington.
Jack spoke about his journey from Aberdeen to Fulham and eventually signing for Coventry City. He said he was very happy and settled at the club now and now lives in Royal Leamington Spa, which his friends in Scotland thought sounded a bit grand and too posh for him.
Both players are optimistic of achieving a top seven finish and at least a place in the play offs at the end of the season. They wished injured Jodi Jones all the best as he has his cruciate knee ligament operation tomorrow.
Both players said confidence is high but the team are disappointed at their lack of consistency especially in the defeats to lower placed teams in the league. It is a problem they are acutely aware of and are working hard to achieve greater levels of consistency in the second half of the season.
Joe read out a letter of apology from Mark Robins. In the message, Mark thanked the supporters for their continued support both home and away. He said he was delighted to be hosting a Premier league team, Stoke City in the next round of the FA Cup after the excellent 3-0 win I the previous round at home to Boreham Wood. Mark went on to praise the work of the Academy and hinted that some of the Academy players were closer to their first team debuts than they may think.
The P R and Marketing manager of the club, Mark Hornby brought the Checkatrade Trophy in the show off to the Diamond Club members.
After the raffle and bingo, the Diamond Club members and guests including members of the Coventry City Former Players Association, were entertained by Coventry based Steve Taylor who sang a selection of songs from the 1950’s and 1960s including a couple of Christmas favourites, several Buddy Holly and Searchers songs.
The next Diamond Club lunch will be held at The Ricoh on March 22nd when the AGM will also be held.