Coventry City

Coventry City have increased the hours of community visits and appearances that members of the Sky Blues squad have been on in the 2018/19 season.

During the last campaign, the players took part in 629 hours of visits and appearances in the Coventry and Warwickshire community organised by Coventry City and Sky Blues in the Community – in a year when CCFC & SBitC were awarded the Midlands EFL Community Club of the Year accolade.

In comparison, during the 2017/18 season there were 540 hours of visits while back in 2014/15 it was 248.5 hours – meaning a huge increase in appearances over the last five seasons

Player community visits are all planned and arranged by Dave Busst, Head of Community, and Mark Hornby, Head of Marketing and Communications, with the support of the squad, Football Department Staff and the Medical/Fitness Department in working together to enable them to happen.

Visits made by players include to a range of Sky Blues in the Community projects across their themes of sport, health, education and inclusion, plus visits to other organisations, charities and causes - such as the annual Christmas Hospital visit and other community events including the JSB Party.

This is alongside matchday appearances in the volunteer run Family Zone, and visits to Supporters Groups such as the Leamington & Warwick and Bedworth & Nuneaton Groups.

Players from the squad are also ambassadors for SBitC and the Family Zone – each year, the community department select ambassadors who represent the values of the charity. These ambassadors will support, promote and symbolize the four main themes; Sport, Health, Inclusion and Education whilst engaging in the hard work that goes on in the Family Zone during match days. 

The 2018/19 Season’s ambassadors were Michael Doyle(Sport), Tom Bayliss (Sport), Jack Grimmer (Health), Jordan Willis (Inclusion), Tony Andreu (Education), Dominic Hyam (Family Zone).

Dave Busst, from Sky Blues in the Community, said: “I would like to thank Mark Robins, CCFC players and Mark Hornby for allowing SBITC to facilitate these visits. Player appearances have a huge impact wherever we visit, whether that is in schools or community groups or elsewhere, and their presence helps inspire both individuals and groups.

“The accessibility to players and the commitment from the club to make players available has increased, which is great, and has been vital in the appearances increasing so much.”

Mark Hornby, from Coventry City, said: “These figures are fantastic and testament to the work from everyone involved at the club, both players and staff, and Dave Busst and all of the team at Sky Blues in the Community.

“Each day Sky Blues in the Community staff are delivering a range of projects in Coventry and Warwickshire to various ages and in different areas, and being able to take players along to the projects provides a real boost for everyone and is a great asset for what SBitC do and what the club gives back to the community.

“This year, even more players visited the Family Zone activities and Supporters Groups too and that is vital in creating and building on the rapport that exists between players and fans.”

To see more about Sky Blues in the Community click here, while news of players visits in the community when they happen can be seen on the SBITC website, ccfc.co.uk and our social media channels.