We are sure all fans and colleagues will be excited to hear that Sky Blue Legend and goal poacher extraordinaire Ian Wallace will be the Coventry City Former Player Association’s last guest of the 2015-16 season at the Sky Blues final home game against Sheffield United next Saturday 30th April 2016. Ian will be hoping that the Sky Blues complete their Ricoh season with a third victory in a row.
Wally
Ian needs little introduction to Sky Blues’ fans being fondly remembered as a will o’ the wisp inside forward during the late 1970s, chiefly famous for the potent partnership he forged as the more delicate foil to forceful centre forward Mick Ferguson between 1976-80. Ian was signed from Dumbarton and in the four seasons before departing in July 1980 (for one of the first ever £1m transfers) to Nottingham Forest he managed a brilliant strike rate of 59 goals in 140 first team appearances as well as several Under 21 and full caps for Scotland.
After showing almost equally impressive form with the Forest from 1984 he tried his luck in France, Madeira and Australia (as well as Sunderland) before returning to manage Dumbarton from 1977-79.
‘Wally’ has proved to be a pretty regular visitor (and good friend to the Club and Association) in spite of him having to travel down from his home in Scotland. He was here in February for the memorable Legends Day weekend when Coventry celebrated the life of the late Jimmy Hill and the Sky Blues demolished Bury 6-0 in front of forty of our former players. He will be here again in early June as a participant in our Golf Day 2016.
We expect Ian will not only visit the Family Zone and the JSBs before the game but hope he will also be present at 1pm for the dedication of the extended ‘Garden of Remembrance’ at the Ricoh as the Jimmy Hill Memorial Garden by the Bishop of Coventry and the sprinkling of some of the ashes of the late Sky Blue icon there. We also expect Ian to tour the supporters’ lounges at the Arena before the game and take part in some friendly banter with CCFPA’s Billy Bell on the stage of Lady Gs in the G-Casino after the match is finished (all welcome). Those fans who cannot make the game will be able to hear Ian on the airways providing expert live commentary and analysis for the BBC CWR team. Welcome Ian!!