The Spring Coventry City Diamond Club Lunch was held today at The Ricoh Arena and as usual, the AGM was held before the lunch was served.
The Chairman opened the AGM and asked the club Secretary, Julie Chambers to read the minutes of last year’s AGM.
The Chairman, Alan Ludford then read his chairman’s report for the previous year.
He recalled the two anniversaries that were celebrated by the club in 2017, namely the 30th anniversary of the famous FA Cup win over Spurs in 1987 and the promotion to the then First Division in 1967.
Mr Ludford recalled the guest speakers we had at our four lunches in 2017, Mickey Adams in March. The earlier than usual summer lunch, held in May instead of the usual June saw special guests John Sillett and some of the FA Cup winning team, including the late and much missed Cyrrille Regis. Steve and Heather Taylor, who wrote and recorded the club’s FA Cup song, “Go for it City” entertained the members with music from the 1960’s and 70’s The autumn lunch recalled the promotion winning side of 1967 with some of that team as guests, they included Dietmar Bruck, Ron Farmer, Lol Harvey, Bobby Gould, etc. The Christmas lunch was very well attended as usual and the members were entertained by Steve Taylor again sang a selection of songs, including a few festive offerings.
The Chairman then thanked a multitude of people who work hard to organise the Diamond Club events, including Mark O’Shea, Kayleigh Briggs, Jim Brown, Dean Nelson, Joe Elliott, Billy Bell and his own wife Tina. He also thanked the former CCFC players who regularly attend and support the Diamond Club.
Mr Ludford concluded his chairman’s report hoping the team can either secure automatic promotion or promotion via the playoffs. He also noted that this year sees the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Diamond Club and was gratified at how much it has grown and prospered in that time.
The club treasurer, John Oughton read the treasurers report and was pleased to note an increase in club income despite small losses being made on the lunches and sale of silk scarves, these losses being offset by good sales from other merchandise including club ties and 30th anniversary keyrings. The extra income funded a small increase in prize money in the bingo.
One committee member Alan Bateman stood down and Bob Cumberlidge was co-opted onto the committee in his place, he was officially elected to the committee on a show of hands.
Membership secretary Ray Stephens spoke to the members about the Data Protection act, informing members that the club needed their individual permission for the club to obtain, store and use personal information. He would be sending out an attachment in emails to those members who opted to receive them and asked they be returned ASAP as they need to be back with the committee by 25th May 2018.
He reassured members any information, such as email addresses, postal addresses, phone numbers etc. would be stored on memory sticks and be password protected, which on he and the chairman, Alan Ludford would have access to.
Alan Ludford told members a Memory Book for the late Cyrrille Regis was available for anyone to sign.
Joe Elliott thanked the Committee members for their continued hard work.
The Chairman closed the AGM at 12:55.
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Joe Elliott spoke to David Kite, who is a Coventry Charity Cup Committee member, who said the competition had tickets for an upcoming dinner at the Royal Court, where Mickey Adams is the speaker. Tickets are available from David priced £40. All proceeds go to the Coventry Charity Cup. Last year around £17,000 was raised and donated to twenty local charities.
After the main course, Joe spoke to former club captain and recently re-signed midfielder Carl Baker.
Carl signed to play in the Indian Premier League alongside another former City player Robbie Keene at ATK, but injured his calf and Achilles tendon and had to return the Britain. He has been training with the Sky Blues and was rewarded with a contract until the end of the season.
Carl said the payers are training hard, putting in double sessions, to prepare for the last few games of the season and either push for automatic promotion or at least, make the playoffs. He recalled a similar situation last season when he was at Portsmouth, the Pompey went on a late run winning most of their remaining games and jumping from just outside the playoff positons to end the season as champions.
He did had reservations about the so called winnable games and noted they are more often than not harder to win than the tougher games against higher placed teams.
Joe asked Carl if he would be in contention for a place in Saturday’s side to face Grimsby at the Ricoh. Carl said he hoped to be but in reality he didn’t think he would be selected on advice from the physiotherapists and medical staff because his leg is still a little stiff. He admitted he is itching to get back onto the pitch and get some game time, but he believes it will be another week before he is ready. He said he was fit enough and in peak condition apart from the remains of his injury.
He is hoping he will be able to do enough to earn a contract for next season at the club.
Joe then turned his attention to the other guest speaker of the day, former manager Ron Atkinson. Joe asked Ron what he was doing now, to which Ron replied he was working for Manchester United TV, that comment got a few good natured boos.
Ron recalled some of his signing for the club, including John Salako, Noel Whelan and Darren Huckerby. Ron said the three most memorable games he managed while at Coventry City were the away game at Anfield, which Coventry won thanks to a Peter Ndlove hat trick, the snowbound game at Blackburn Rovers and the unforgettable win at White Hart Lane which City had to win to survive relegation.
Ron recalled that awful day at Old Trafford when David Buust broke his leg and ended his playing career. In a recent radio interview, David admitted he was in a position to score just prior to the incident, and as he was being carried off on a stretcher, Ron joked with David that he should have scored.
Ron praised the efforts and attitude of Manchester United in the aftermath of that horrific injury and for their part in the testimonial game which helped David in the period following the injury.
Ron paid tribute to Cyrrille Regis, who he signed when he was managing WBA. He said that Cyrrille was a great player, but an even greater bloke.
Joe rather mischievously asked Ron what he thought had gone wrong with Manchester United, after a short pause he said, “They’re a team in transition.”
After the customary game of bingo and the raffle, David Ludford present retiring committee member David Bateman with a Billy Bell Book of Jokes and a bottle of whisky.
The summer Diamond club lunch is on Thursday 7th June 2018.
Pictures copyright of CNS Sport. Credit CNS/Pete Chambers.