Today saw the summer Diamond Club lunch at the Ricoh, which coincided with the Euro 2016 game between England and Wales. The game was shown live on the big screen after the meal.
Before the lunch got underway, the members were informed of the death yesterday of John Bloxham who worked for the Sky Blue Academy for several years. (For more on this click http://www.ccfpa.co.uk/?p=20244 )
Among the guests at today’s lunch were radio, TV and newspaper commentators, Bob Brolly, Andy Turner, Alan Poole, Stuart Linnell, Clive Eakin, Ian Winter and Geoff Foster.
Joe Elliott spoke to each in turn to ask their opinion of the forthcoming match. Irishman Bob Brolly said he was supporting England and thought they would win, but had reservations about England’s manager Roy Hodgson’s team selections decision making.
Stuart Linnell also shared Bob’s anxieties about Hodgson’s thinking and he condemned the rioting in the towns.
Andy Turner thought it would be a tight and close game and that England would win. He mentioned the amount of former Coventry City players that were at the tournament and rued the fact that many of them could not have been retained by the club.
Geoff Foster raised a laugh when he was given the microphone. He said they had been discussing how he could possibly follow on from Turner, Linnell and Brolly, suggested, “With a bucket and shovel”.
Clive Eakin said that England had all to lose and that Wales would be under less pressure.
Ian Winter tipped England to win 3-0 and speculated that the late Jimmy Hill would have had plenty to say before, during and after the game.
There was an excellent atmosphere in the room during the game with lots of groans, moans and head in hands and massive cheers when the two England goals went in, especially as the late winner was scored by a former Coventry City Academy player Daniel Sturridge. There was a comment at half time that watching England is much the same as watching Coventry City, not so much in levels of skill, but in a lesson on how to frustrate the fans.
The date for the autumn Diamond Club lunch is September 22nd.
Picture copyright of Pete Chambers BEM