Only two days to go to this year's major reunion of CCFC Former Players - Coventry City Former Players Association Legends Day 2019. The grand get-together takes place on Saturday March 23rd next at the Ricoh and we are expecting a "Fantastic Forty Five"* (or more) club stalwarts (covering CCFC playing days from the fifties to the noughties) to join us on what we hope will be a fantastic day -the last Saturday home game of the season!
We have tasked one of that 'Fantastic Forty Five' to perform some additional duties on the day -that of being or Matchday 'Special Guest'. We are very pleased that a genuine CCFC star of the past, and a 'Cov Kid' to boot, has agreed to take time out from all the reunion business to be our 'special'. CCFPA are delighted to announce that former Sky Blue player AND 'gaffer' Bobby Gould has agreed to offer extra access to the club's supporters to meet and listen to him in slightly different contexts to the rest of our 'Legends'.
George Hudson & Bobby Gould
Trevor in the Sky Blue
Bobby was here last year when he met a club legend and a half George Hudson during the half-time pitch parade. George can't make it this year but Bobby's younger brother, also a CCFPA member, Trevor Gould will be joining him at Legends Day for the first time! There are also many 'Boys of 87' attending including Nick Pickering, Greg Downs and our committee member Dave Bennett. Trevor Peake says he will also drop in later! Sixties star John Tudor has flown in specially from the USA to attend and other notable attendees are David Speedie, Steve Froggatt, Darren Huckerby, Noel Whelan and another 'Cov.Kid' of a later generation of Sky Blue strikers Gary McSheffrey!
Froggy wth fellow CCFPA member Noel Whelan
As well as, like the others, joining all his colleagues (and guests) for a pre-match lunch and then taking part in the half-time pitch parade and photo op on the centre circle, the Gouldfather will be visiting the club's youngest supporters in the club's Family Zone under the Ricoh stands. The JSB's and their families will find their usual fun and games (laid on by CCFPA's AM Pat Raybould and her volunteer team) extra enjoyable as Bobby meets them for autographs and selfies.
'Team Photo' (Legends Day 2018)
When this important League One game against Oxford United kicks off Bobby will be in the Ricoh Press Box providing comment and analysis for the BBC CWR live match-day team (nipping down to join the other Former Players on the centre circle at half-time). The local lad will be hoping like the rest of us the Sky Blues can continue to build on their excellent recent form of only one defeat and five wins in the last eight. The club are building end of season momentum (as last year) just at the right time and are only a point and a place outside the playoffs.
Sky Blue Anthem closes Legends Day 2018
After the game Bobby will join many of his colleagues under the Ricoh Arena again for refreshments kindly supplied by G-Casino and then, in front of what is sure to be a packed lady Gs after CCFPA's Billy Bell doing interviews and jokes with some of the 'Legends', former players and fans will join together to wrap up Legends day with a raucous rendering of the traditional 'Sky Blue Somg' to bring a fitting close to what we are sure will be a Day to remember!
Just as a reminder, here is who we expect to attend
Dele Adebola; Roy Barry; Jim Blyth, Claus Bech Jorgensen, Dave Bennett; Ken Brown; Dietmar Bruck; Dave Busst; Willie Carr; Chris Cattlin; Paul Culpin; Greg Downs; Ron Farmer; Steve Froggatt; Stuart Giddings; Ian Goodwin; Bobby Gould; Trevor Gould; Micky Gynn*; Jimmy Holmes; Keith Houchen; Darren Huckerby; Mick Kearns; Gary McSheffrey; Steve Morgan, Brian Nicholas; Steve Ogrizovic*; Craig Pead; Trevor Peake, Nick Pickering; Barry Powell, Barry Quinn; Brian 'Harry' Roberts; Gordon Simms; Kevan Smith; David Speedie; Kirk Stephens; Bill Tedds; John Tudor; Graham Walker; Ian Wallace; Bob Wesson; Noel Whelan, Andrew Whing, John Williams, Paul R. Williams, Peter Wyer and Quintin Young
(*Micky & Oggy will be likely round and about doing their usual matchday duties)
So look out for Bobby and all these ex CCFC alumni 'around and about' the Arena on Saturday.