As the saga at the Sky Blues rolls on, one Coventry football team have seen a massive increase in attendances at their home games. Coventry Sphinx FC are on for a top six finish in the Midland Alliance but are already at the top of the league when it comes to attendance at a league game this season.
Home attendances have increased by 110% on last season and the game against Coleshill on Easter Monday drew a crowd of 280, the highest attendance of any team in the league all season.
Supporters are being drawn to watch the Sphinx Drive based side to see a team of young Coventry lads playing attractive football in a highly competitive league. Coventry Sphinx are the top ranked non-league side in Coventry and while the Sky Blues continue to play in Northampton they are the highest placed football team playing in the City. Familiar faces in the current team include Ashley Cain and Ricky Fletcher who both came through the Coventry City Academy. Sphinx are also very keen on developing players through their junior and youth sides with at least 5 of the team on Monday having come through the ranks. Luke Downes recently re-joined the club after a spell at Leicester City and the team captain in front of the record crowd was Adam Bilic who started with the club at under 9 level as did top goal scorer Ricky Cutting.
Manager Luke Hopkins hopes to see attendances increase even further next season “Fan base coming through the gate for every game is the only realistic way a club can grow, and that’s what we want to achieve here at Coventry Sphinx. These are young players and they have really responded well to the support coming from the increased crowds on the touchline”.
Club Chairman Dannie Cahill echoes this “It is always our intention to ensure that the life blood of our club, the supporters, are made welcome and feel entertained and looked after. Funds obtained through increased gate receipts are ploughed back into our facilities and mean that we as a football club can continue to push forward to the next level.”
Local Coventry charity Zoe’s Place also benefitted from the record attendance on Monday. Supporters were asked the make a contribution to the charity instead of being charged an entry fee. Over £300 was raised for the baby hospice in Ash Green.
Coventry Sphinx play their home games at Sphinx Drive, Coventry, CV3 1WA and season tickets are now on sale for the 2014/15 season and are priced at just £100 for adults and £60 for concessions. Email info@coventrysphinx.co.uk for more information.