Bob Wesson, Mick Kearns, Peter Wyer & Ian Goodwin Relax Between Holes
After some serious worries about the weather, and some unfortunate depradations (due to illness) to several Coventry City Former Players Association committee members who were due to attend Golf Day 2014 got underway yesterday (Thursday 5th June 2014) in good order. We saw a great turnout from our fifteen veteran Former Player (FP) golfers (though transport conditions affected the attendance of some) and a record number of paying teams, each seeking a former CCFC FP as team partner. CCFPA’s prime Golf Day organiser Frank Pritchard deserves the plaudits (with the fantastic help of John Reay and all his staff at Stoneleigh Deer Park Golf Club) in overcoming these early challenges to deliver another great Golf Day by ensuring not only that the course was playable after a torrential soaking in the days before, but also that the day as a sporting and social occasion lived up to its hard won reputation as a wonderful day out.
Frank reports that there was
‘Great interest prior to tee-off on a gorgeous sunny day at Stoneleigh Deer Park Golf Club for the CCFPA’s 8th Annual golf day. Teams arriving early were intrigued by committee member Sandra Garlick & colleague Rachel to attempt our difficult ‘Indoor Putting” competition. The task of taking a put onto (and thereby winning) a £50 note proved impossible for most. At three attempts for £1 and after lots of unsuccessful attempts Henry Cowans went home with the £50′ (the winning shot is pictured above).
The ‘Nottingham Knights’
There were two ‘away’ teams registered this year for the first time (both pictured). On the right are Paul Pike and his ‘Nottingham Knights‘ who were joined by ex Sky Blue Dean Emerson. Pictured on the left below is former CCFC veteran Graham Newton who was paired with the ‘Villa Lions & Legends‘ consisting of (right to left) a true Aston Villa ‘Legend’ from their ‘Glory Days’, Gordon (Sid) Cowans, his son Henry (already £50 up -see above and with a newly signed first pro contract at his dad’s club) and Jonny Martin’. The full runners and riders will be reported in due course along with all the prize winners.
‘The Villa Lions’
The teams tee-ed off from either the 1st and 10th from noon, after a welcome drink and bacon batch, and were led off by the Maximum Group team and the two teams entered by Ricoh favourite Claus Bech Jorgensen‘s Unique Flooring Solutions. The Buildbase Cup was on offer for the best individual performance of the day and last year’s winner, former Sky Blue Andy Blair, managed to retain the trophy! Various additional individual and team on course prizes were also on offer and former Sky Blue Jim Holmes is shown (below left) attempting the longest drive at the 3rd. After the sport the socialising continued in the club house with an exceedingly palatable meal, speeches, prize giving and an auction (which, thanks to the generosity of those present, went exceedingly well and raised a sustantial and much needed sum to help support the future work of the Association)’. Chairman Jim Brown is pictured (below right) welcoming all the partipants, FPs and guests.
Frank adds, ‘Great credit must go to John Reay and all his staff who as usual made us all so welcome but in particular his ‘green staff’ achieved miracles in managing to prepare the course in such wonderful condition on the day following several days of torrential rain. In fact the course would have been ‘unplayable’ and the severe weather even penetrated the Club-house with buckets coming to the rescue to prevent a ‘wash-out’. The one member of John’s front office staff who deserves special mention is Linda Edmondson for not only helping to organise the Day (and me) but also paying great attention to the smallest detail. Unfortunately Linda had already left for home and was unaware of the well deserved special round of applause she received from all when her contribution was praised by CCFPA President Kirk Stephens towards the end of yet another successful Golf Day’.
