The Coventry City Former Players Association are pleased to announce that the Association’s special guest at the Sky Blues next home game against Ipswich Town on Saturday 4th February 2012 will be none other than Sky Blues star of the late 1980s Steve Sedgley.
Not a frequent visitor to the Ricoh, Steve’s guest appearance is particularly welcome given that 2012 is the 25th Anniversary of our heart-stopping ‘road to Wembley’ cup run in 1987 culminating in the momentous F.A. Cup final 3-2 extra time win over Tottenham Hotspur in May. Though he did not appear in the final (being on the bench), Steve was a young member of that victorious squad and made a couple of substitute appearances in the team’s earlier round wins at Stoke and Sheffield Wednesday.
Born in Enfield, in fact Steve started out as a Spurs schoolboy before signing for the Sky Blues on youth forms in October 1984, turning professional in May 1986 and soon made his mark as a hard-working and tenacious defensive midfielder. Whilst at Highfield Road Steve made a total of 103 first appearances scoring 5 goals and gained 10 out of his 11 Under 23 England caps.
Steve left City for White Hart Lane for £750,000 in July 1989. In a long association with Spurs (226 appearances and 11 goals) one highlight was another F.A.Cup winners medal (this time ’fully fledged’) when Steve figured in the Spurs team that beat Forest 2-1 in the 1991 Final. Moving on to today’s Sky Blues opponents Ipswich Town for £1m in June 1994 Steve clocked up 125 appearances and 18 first team goals and then did similar good service for Wolves with 122 appearances (9 goals) from July 1997 up to the end of 2000 when he was forced to retire through injury. Steve always gave good value in his substantial appearances for each of his clubs in a high quality career and the Association welcomes him back to the Arena.
Since hanging up his boots Steve has managed Kingstonian and, being a qualified EUFA coach, has coached Luton Town’s youth team between 2005-07. Look out for Steve around the corporate areas before and during the game, on the pitch at half-time where he will be introduced to the crowd and (hopefully) on the stage at Lady Gs in the G-Casino after the game where he will be light heartedly grilled by the Association’s Billy Bell. Steve will also likely play a part in the matchday analysis of BBC CWR.