Ray Stephens grew up in Tottenham. His footballing values were honed at White Hart Lane watching Danny Blanchflower, John White and Bill Nicholson’s scintillating Spurs side.
Ray moved to Coventry in 1960, the year that Derrick Robins became Coventry City chairman. Bridging the eras of the Bantams and the Sky Blues, he witnessed the thrilling ascendancy of the club and the confident revival of the city during the Jimmy Hill years.
Ray and his wife Carol celebrate their golden wedding anniversary next week. Between them, they have supported the club for 108 years. They have been season ticket holders since 1967 when home crowds averaging 35,000 greeted thirty-four consecutive seasons among football’s elite.
Winning the FA Cup against his hometown club remains the high spot for Ray. The low spots, alas, still keep coming - Worcester the most recent.
Ray has been a committee member of the Diamond Club for six years, the last four as membership registrar. The Diamond Club, one of the community’s most precious and vibrant assets, consists of members who have supported Coventry City for fifty years or more.
As one of the SCG’s longest-standing members, Ray is uniquely placed to echo the concerns of senior supporters. “When and where will our new ground be,” he asks, “and what division will we be in?”
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