After each matchday programme this season, we will publish the regular column from the Coventry City board on our website. Read Coventry City Chief Executive Dave Boddy's column from Saturday's game against Rochdale below:
"Good afternoon and welcome to St Andrew’s for our game against Rochdale. I would like to welcome the officials, players, staff and supporters who join us from Rochdale today.
Since my last notes, we have had progressed in two cup competitions. Our home victory against Southampton Under 21s in the Leasing.com Trophy, including a spectacular hat-trick from Max Biamou, saw us virtually guaranteed runners-up spot in the group, which was then confirmed when Walsall beat Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday night.
Then last Saturday we travelled to Colchester United in the First Round of the Emirates FA Cup. Ahead of the tie, I felt that it was a really tricky draw on the back of Colchester’s form this season, including their impressive Carabao Cup run which has seen them beat two Premier League sides.
On the day, we were outstanding and came out comfortable winners to progress to the Second Round, which has seen us with a home draw against either Ipswich Town or Lincoln City. I always believe that it’s important to have runs in cup competitions for lots of reasons.
As a football fan, the FA Cup is very special to me but I also believe it’s special to the players to see how far you can go in the competition and with the opportunity of performing on a bigger stage as you progress in the competition. Also, there are the obvious financial benefits that come with an FA Cup run, which can have a major bearing on shaping a club’s planning in the January window.
In the Leasing.com Trophy, since winning it we have taken the opportunity to give young players game time and experience, and progression on that front gives further opportunities for the Manager to give young, developing players game time.
Earlier this week, we announced the news that disabled supporters would be able to purchase tickets online. This a very welcome development, and we thank Ticketmaster for their help in getting this done. It is long overdue – it was not right that disabled supporters were the one set of supporters who could not buy online, when they are in many ways the supporters who benefit the most from buying remotely. Not being able to buy online is situation that exists at many football clubs, and we are pleased that we have been able to do this with immediate effect for fans for both home and away matches.
We announced last week with regret that the coach travel to St Andrew’s will now be priced at £7. We have kept this as low as possible and continue to subsidise this as previously. Unfortunately the cost of travel proved greater than anticipated. We have found that while the service provided by EST is a very good one and a convenient option for fans, many supporters have found making their own way to St Andrew’s an easy and convenient option too – whether it is the cheap parking options, or the good road and rail links.
We had further excellent news regarding the popularity of this season’s shirts and the move to Hummel this week. Our home and third shirts will feature in the National Football Museum’s new exhibition, STRIP! How Football Got Shirty, which opens in Manchester on Friday 22 November.
Collective sales of the three shirts so far this season has already passed the total number of shirts sold last season, and are greater than any of the shirts sales of the previous four seasons with JustSport. The volume of sales, and excellent bespoke designs, vindicates the decision to move to Hummel.
Enjoy the game, thank you for your continued support – PUSB."
Dave
Dave Boddy
Chief Executive
Coventry City Football Club