After each matchday programme, we will be publishing the 'From the Boardroom' article on our website. For Saturday's match against Mansfield Town, Coventry City Chief Executive, Dave Boddy wrote the column and his article is published below:
Good afternoon, and a warm welcome to the Ricoh and particularly to everybody connected with our visitors from Mansfield Town. The Stags supporters are travelling in numbers today with over 1,000 expected, which always helps to create an atmosphere here.
Talking of about away support, our support on the road continues to be phenomenal both in terms of atmosphere and vast numbers. Another away sell out at Luton last time out, and for next Saturday’s game at Lincoln our 1,400 allocation was sold out in less than 3 days! At Accrington our 1,400 plus outnumbered the home support and we have yet to take less than 1,000 to an away Saturday fixture. The players and everybody at the club really appreciate your support.
This is the last game in a particularly heavy period of 3 home games in 7 days and a Sporting Evening with Kevin Keegan thrown in just prior to that. The two Cup games saw two victories with success in the FA Cup tie against Vanarama National League side Maidenhead United and victory over WBA Under 21’s in the Checkatrade Trophy. The 2nd round FA Cup draw has seen us drawn at home again to another National League club, Boreham Wood who earned the rights by beating League One Blackpool at the weekend. At the time of writing these notes, the day of the game is undecided due the fact that Wasps are at home to Leicester Tigers on Saturday 2nd December. We are awaiting the TV selections before announcing a date.
The victory over WBA was not quite enough to see us through the group stage, so the defence of the Checkatrade Trophy is over. On the positive side though we were in a very strong group and it gave some of the younger members of the squad an opportunity, which they certainly grasped. The performance at Walsall was one of the highlights of my season so far.
The “Evening with Kevin Keegan” was an outstanding success and a memorable night for those who attended. Kevin is not only an excellent speaker, but the way that he took the time to speak to everybody in the room individually before and after the dinner was the mark of the man that he is. It was the first event of its kind that the club has hosted for many years and it is our intention to promote two or three every year. We are planning to bring the top sporting names and personalities to Coventry and are already in the process of organising the next one which will be in late February/early March.
In my programme notes earlier in the season I touched on discussion I have had with Ticketmaster following the problems we had with Season Ticket distribution. As part of the ongoing developments, Ticketmaster have recently upgraded our online ticket platform which should lead to a better and more efficient process for supporters.
We are also just about to launch our “half season” Season tickets, which will give fans similar opportunities for financial saving as a full season ticket and also will make an ideal Christmas gift and great way of watching Sky Blues in the second half of the season, which will hopefully see an exciting finale.
Enjoy today’s game,
PUSB
Dave Boddy
Chief Executive
Coventry City Football Club