The Coventry City Diamond Club held another successful lunch at the Ricoh Arena this afternoon.
The proceedings were started by Chairman Tom Dentith leading a minute's silence to mark the loss of long standing Diamond Club Treasurer Maureen O'Neill, who sadly passed away in March.
After an excellent lunch, the 190 members and guests were introduced to the first guest speaker in Tom Cudworth.
A former Coventry City youth teamer who played in the FA Youth Cup Final against West Ham United, Cudworth was released by Gordon Strachan and played in Atlanta in America before spells with TNS in the Welsh League and the Gap Gators in Brisbane, Australia.
Tom is a serving police officer and runs the Soccerrockz Academy with former Sky Blues - Craig Pead and Gary McSheffrey as well as coaching Coventry Sphinx's first team after taking Sphinx Sports & Social to two back to back promotions.
Next up was David Busst, who spoke about the work Sky Blues In The Community is doing, with around five hundred children expected for a player development centre event tomorrow.
The former defender also spoke about the disability teams including the team for those with Downs Syndrome, where interaction with the players is so important.
The Diamond Club then officially announced that Tom Dentith's the Diamond Club's Chairman for twelve years would be standing down and Alan Ludford would be taking over with Alan Bateman as Vice Chairman.
There was a second change and that was the announcement that John and Jean Silliett would become the Diamond Club's first ever Life President and Lady President.
This meant that there was a vacancy for President and Lady President and the committee are delighted to announce that they have awarded the honour to Joe and Grace Elliott.
After a presentation to Mother of the Diamond Club Committee Barbara Casey who has stood down, the new Life President John SIllett was next up to speak and John's life still involves horse racing with the Sillett's having one foal which they think will win the Derby and have another horse which recently won at Ascot.
Sillett spoke of his friendship with Sir Alex Ferguson and spoke about the World Cup and England's chances which he thinks will result in qualification from their group and said that Hodgson had given the young players a great for a long England career.
He spoke about the great team spirt there was at City and how the club being at Sixfields in League One breaks his heart and how he hopes Coventry City will soon again be playing in Coventry.
John Sillett was given an award by Kevin Heffernan on behalf of the 87 Association before the raffle and bingo started.
The Diamond Club will hold their next lunch in September.
Pictures courtesy of Pete Chambers