Coventry City Former Player Association’s first ‘special guest’ of 2017 is saving his first time for the Sky Blues home game next Monday afternoon (2nd January 2017) against Bolton Wanderers.
Sky Blues F.A.Cup winning defender Lloyd McGrath will be at the Ricoh to see if the Sky Blues can resurrect their League One season after such a disappointing first half with a victory over the high flying Trotters. Lloyd will be hoping the City’s defence show the qualities of gritty resilience he brought to the Sky Blues of his day and the necessary skill (and, if needed, the luck) Lloyd brought to the 1987 F.A.Cup final by expertly pinging the ball off Spurs defender ‘Gary Mabbut’s Knee’ for our winning goal in the 3-2 extra time victory!
Lloyd’s date at the Ricoh for CCFPA follows his appearance a few weeks ago as guest speaker at the same venue for our sister organisation, CCFC’s Diamond Club (for supporters of over 50 year’s standings) at their Xmas celebration on December 8th. CCFPA and the Diamonds have many members in common as well as sharing Joe Elliott as President of both organisations.
Lloyd in the Sky Blue
As then in his Q&As around the supporters’ lounges before Monday afternoon’s game Lloyd is bound to be invited by club host and fellow former CCFC defender and CCFPA member Brian ‘Harry’ Roberts to reminisce about the F.A.Cup winning years. Lloyd may also discuss his eleven interesting years at Highfield Road from starting out as an apprentice in 1983 through to leaving CCFC in 1994 making well over 200 first team appearances. After a spell playing abroad with Sing Tao he saw out the rest of his professional career with Pompey retiring in 1997.
Lloyd remains a popular figure in the locality running the Hawkesmill Sports and Social Club in the north of Coventry. After the game he will no doubt be coaxed by CCFPA’s vice chairman Billy Bell to take the stage in Lady Gs at the Arena to comment about the result and the Sky Blues performance and further reminisce about his Sky Blues years. If you can’t make it to the game Lloyd will also be providing valuable analysis and insight, as the game unfolds, to the BBC CWR commentary team; so listen in if you can’t be there!