The Coventry City Former Players Association hosted a highly successful Golf Day last Thursday.
The Association’s Annual Golf Day was held on Thursday 14th June 2012, once more at the invitation of Stoneleigh Deer Park Golf Club and proved, as usual, a resounding success. Eight of our Association former player members who played their part are pictured above. Can you name these illustrious former players of Coventry City?
Overall, the play featured nearly a score of our former players including Ken Brown, Dietmar Bruck, Dave Busst, Kevin Drinkell, Dean Emerson, Ronnie Farmer, Kevin Gallacher, Ian Goodwin, Micky Gynn, Peter Hormantschuk, Mick Kearns, Claus Bech Jorgensen, Dennis Mortimer, David Phillips, David Smith, Kirk Stephens, Bob Wesson and Peter Wyer along with defending “Title Holder” Paul Culpin. Ken Satchwell also came along to watch the fun and is pictured (above) sandwiched between two other CCFC veteran participants Peter Wyer (left) and Ken Brown (right).
CCFPA Former Players partnered a similar number of guest teams (of 3 players each) who were drawn from a wide range of local businesses and organisations in the name of, for example, BT Promotions, Scott Joyce, Coventry Plumbing & Heating (CPHS), Grosvenor Casinos, David Tandy- Penmans, Gould Landscapes and The John Hartson Foundation. It was disappointing that John Hartson was due to attend personally to lead his team (but logisitical problems with his travel prevented him appearing). Andy Blair also sent apologies but injury prevented his participation. CCFPA itself also fielded three teams pictured (below). Left to right CCFPA1 -Ian Goodwin, Bob Wesson, Ron Farmer & Ken Brown; CCFPA2 Dean Emerson, Peter Wyer & Kirk Stephens; CCFPA3 Dietmar Bruck; Billy Bell; Johnny Reay & Claus Bech Jorgensen.
CCFPA Committee member Frank Pritchard reports, ”After a welcoming cup of tea or coffee and a bacon roll tee-off began from both the 1st and 10th tees at noon. Those teeing off early enjoyed the best of the weather as the wind became stronger during the afternoon making playing conditions pretty tough off the back-tees but all the Former Players and their teams successfully completed their rounds in dry weather before the ‘heavens’ opened during the evening!
David Smith with his prizes
Chairman Jim Brown welcomed all participating FPA’s and their sponsored teams and some additional guests and congratulated the management at Stoneleigh Deer Park Golf Club for an excellent evening meal. Tony ‘Banger’ Walsh entertained the dinner gathering with his unique insight into the world of security and his wrestling exploits when weekly TV audiences topped 15 million viewers. This was followed by the prize presentations which included ‘longest drive’ and nearest-the-pin.”
John Darling of BT Promotions scored by far the best round of the day (41 points). However, the overall winning performance from our CCFC former players was David Smith (who tied with Ian Goodwin) on a points score of 32. However, Dave was awarded the ‘Buildbase Cup’ on the strength of a superior ‘back 9′. Third was Dean Emerson on a score of 30. Claus Bech Jorgensen was mightily relieved to pass on last year’s ‘wooden spoon’ for the worst Former player’s round score to Ken Brown!
The winning team (pictured above) who scorched round the course were BT Promotions with 84 points who were led by Mick Penny together with John Darling and Chris Donnachie with Dennis Mortimer as their guest from CCFPA. Second was Scott Joyce’s team (partnered by Kevin Gallacher) and third was one of the CPHS teams with David Phillips guesting.
Former central defender (and now CCFC’s Community Manager) Dave Busst (in action left) was nearest the pin on the 9th and Kev Kingham in one of the CPHS teams was nearest on the 15th. CCFPA President Kirk Stephens ‘fluked’ the longest drive on the 3rd hole and Rob Laing of the John Hartson Foundation had the longest drive on the 16th. All received prizes.
The FPA Committee would like to say a very special thank you to the Club’s professional, John Reay. Besides being the perfect host, John conducted a most entertaining auction (to benefit the Association) that included a number of unique items including an England shirt signed by Manager Roy Hodgson and a Premier League Referee’s Shirt signed by all of the current ‘Select Group’ officials including Howard Webb (currently officiating at the European Championships).
Pictures of these Auction items together with an F.A.Cup replica as well as the contents of the raffle prize table (together with the new trophy for best individual performance on the day) were provided in an earlier news report on this site.
The Association’s sincere thanks also go to all who assisted in making CCFPA’s Golf Day 2012 an occasion to remember, particularly John and Cherrie and all the staff at Stoneleigh Deer Park Golf Club and of course the hard working members of the Association Committee.
Ron Farmer & Bob Wesson fighting over the next drive!
We also send a huge thank you to our two main sponsors, G Casino and Coventry Plumbing and Heating Supplies as well to Buildbase who in providing us with a new trophy (in future be known as ‘The Buildbase Cup’) which will ensure a permanent link with our Golf Day. Thanks also go to those who donated either raffle or auction items (including PING Golf Europe Limited; Martin Rumble Vauxhall (Nuneaton); John Reay at SDPGC (and both Frank Pritchard and Kirk Stephens of CCFPA) all of whom helped to make the day a financial as well as sporting and social success for the Association!
A full photo record of Golf Day 2012 including these photographs and many others featuring action shots of all players – Former Players and all team guests – together with all the team portraits as well as other entertaining snapshots of the day will appear in the next few days on our ‘Galleries’ pages. The pictures have all been taken by (and are copyright to our ‘official’ photographer Tony Thomas (Tony Thomas Photography 07841 538676 tonythomas@btinternet.com). Look out for the announcement!