The Coventry City Diamond Club had its Annual General Meeting today in the Legends Lounge at the Ricoh Arena.
Around 150 members and guests saw three of the Diamond Club commitee - Alf Abbey, Kath Griffin and Geoff Wells retired by rotation and were re-elected unopposed.
Re-elected Alf Abbey gave the Secretary's report before Chairman Tom Dentith in his address passed his congratulations on to Joe Elliott in his new role as CCFC Life President and commented how excellent the attendances had been.
He gave a run of previous lunches in the past year which had seen guest speakers such as Tommy Hutchison, Ray Ranson, Alan Brazil and Ian Wallace amongst of a host others and the Christmas Lunch attended by a record 217 members and guests.
Treasurer Maureen O'Neill also spoke and confirmed that a loss last year had been arrested and a small profit on the lunches had been made.
During an excellent lunch, Coventry Music Historian Pete Chambers who is the brainchild behind 2-Tone Central was interviewed by Joe Elliott along with Kev Monks who is in the final of the Football League Fan Of The Year and was presented with a Coventry City Former Players Association tie.
Then Coventry City Commercial Manager Brian Philpott and head of Ticketing at the Ricoh Arena Stephen Ebanks were introduced by Joe Elliott.
Brian Philpott is a former Manchester City player who was at Maine Road at the same time as Ray Ranson. However, Mr Philpott snapped his back and with his football career over, he decided to do what footballers did then and look to move into the pub trade. After obtaining a degree in hotel management and working with Scottish & Newcastle breweries, he was approached by then Newcastle director Freddy Fletcher and asked to become their Commercial Manager.
He then moved onto the Football League and Premier League before deciding that he wanted to see more of his children and took up the role at Coventry City.
He stressed how important it was to put something back into the club to try and take it to the next stage whilst he was here .
The price increase of season tickets for concession tickets in some areas of the ground had not gone down well and it was clear there was opposition to these increases in the room from some of the members and guests. Mr Philpott said that prices would be going up from April 30th but not in all zones and Mr Ebanks chipped in that the club are currently working on the basis that 60% of season ticket holders are on concessionary tickets.
Staff from the G-Casino also spoke and enthused about the Former Players Association and the fact that the Casino is an entertainment complex than just a casino.
Before the bingo and raffle, the supporters in the City supporters club for those who have been supporting the club for fifty or more years, were laughing away at the jokes of Billy Bell who did an excellent set which included a number of songs.
The Diamond Club had enjoyed another successful afternoon and are looking forward to their next lunch in June.
Pictures copyright and courtesy of Pete Chambers