After each matchday programme, we will be publishing the 'From the Boardroom' article on our website. For Tuesday's match against Lincoln City, Coventry City Chief Executive Dave Boddy wrote the column and his article is published below:
"Good evening and tonight we extend a warm welcome to the Ricoh Arena to everybody connected with Lincoln City FC, for this vital Skybet League Two fixture for both clubs. I think it’s fair to say that everybody in the Sky Blues camp has been looking forward to this fixture for a long time since the disappointment of the original game being postponed due to the snow we had in March.
That day was a frustrating day for everybody involved. The pitch was in perfect condition due to the undersoil heating, but the game was postponed due for spectator safety. The snow storm that came in on the Friday evening drifted into the South Stand & large parts of the East Stand and North stand which made it impossible to open the stands safely. We had about 50 people (a combination of supporters, staff & stewards) clearing the snow from the seating areas but it just made the stair ways treacherous. A difficult decision was made just before 10am to try and stop Imps fans travelling. The attendance that day would have toped 13,000, with a massive 4,000 travelling from Lincoln. But we are hopeful it will be touching 12,000 with still 3,000 following the Imps, which is impressive for a midweek fixture.
We are pleased to be able to offer Junior Imps free tickets for tonight’s game in line with our own policy for Junior Sky Blues members in a spirit of co-operation between the two clubs. We have a good working relationship with Lincoln and I believe that it is important to try and foster relationship with other clubs.
The initial Early Bird Season Ticket period went off sale at midnight last night and at the time of writing these notes on Monday morning we had sold 2,700, with a phenomenal number of 1,200 being purchased between Friday morning and Monday morning!
Early Bird prices are obviously the best priced Season Tickets and a reward to loyal supporters who are prepared to make the commitment for next season at this stage of the year. We have deliberately brought Season Ticket sales forward this year in line with a large majority of other EFL clubs for whom it is the norm to be selling in March/April, or even earlier. We are, however, this season introducing a secondary period and tier of Early Bird prices from today which will run to beyond the end of the season (whenever it may end) to 3rd June.
On the back of the success of our two sporting Dinners this winter with Kevin Keegan & Harry Redknapp, we are expanding our commercial department team to create an Events Executive post. The aim is to promote an annual calendar of non-matchday events to bring a new income stream to the club.
Finally, I would like to welcome our new Head Groundsman Colin Wilson who joined the club yesterday, replacing Julien Morris who recently left to take up a position at the Institute of Groundsmen.
Enjoy the game tonight & PUSB."
Dave
Dave Boddy
Chief Executive
Coventry City Football Club