After each matchday programme this season, we publish the regular column from the Coventry City board on our website. Read Coventry City Chief Executive Dave Boddy's column from Friday's game against Queens Park Rangers below:
Good evening and welcome to this evening’s game against Queens Park Rangers, our first ‘home’ game back in the Sky Bet Championship. I would like to welcome our counterparts from QPR tonight who join us at St Andrew’s.
I wish that Sky Blues fans could be here in person, but clearly we are not allowed to welcome you back to games yet. The safety of supporters and the wider public is a priority and it is important that we all follow the Government regulations around Coronavirus so that we can return to normality as soon as we can.
The Government initially indicated fans would be permitted to return in October, but even after a return is confirmed there is much work required to make this happen safely. Any dates may also be affected by the circumstances of the pandemic at the time and any restrictions that may be in place, so therefore I do warn fans that a return to stadiums may not be as soon as some media are reporting it could be.
I know that a number of families have lost loved ones during the last six months, and we hope to remember those Sky Blues fans when the time is right and when we can do so together.
It has been an incredibly busy time for us off the field, especially as we have operated on a skeleton staff throughout this time. We have aimed to keep you all informed as to what’s going on at the Club with ‘Club Updates’ during the last six months, and I hope this has helped.
Of course the League One title and promotion was announced in June. It was fully deserved for the players, staff and supporters, and a very proud and historic moment for everyone connected with the Club.
It was a shame we could not celebrate in person with our fans, but the online Promotion Party was a fantastic night. From the flypast to the End of Season Awards, DJ set on Ramada’s roof and fireworks, plus the lighting in Sky Blue of iconic buildings around our great City it was a memorable night for everyone. I would like to thank everyone involved in putting it together.
We announced in July that we were continuing our stay here at St Andrew’s, and again I would like to thank Birmingham City and their staff for their help and co-operation.
Fans will have seen that our Owners are working with Warwick University to develop a new stadium on the University campus for the Club, and the Club will look to keep fans updated on this project as progress is made.
After some complications caused by the pandemic, we were able to put Championship Club Memberships and Season Tickets on sale despite the current ‘behind closed doors’ situation we are in. We worked hard to put together a package for fans which creates value regardless, including a very special, exclusive shirt for Members and iFollow access for home games for those fans buying a Season Ticket too. Unfortunately due to rights restrictions tonight’s game can’t be included on iFollow as it’s on Sky Sports, but we look forward to Season Ticket holders being able to join us remotely via this platform.
I would like to express our gratitude to all of the fans who have purchased this Membership and the Season Tickets in these unprecedented circumstances.
In August, we revealed our new home and away kits for the 2020/21 season as our successful partnership with Hummel continues. Taking inspiration from the 1990s and the 1890s respectively, they are totally bespoke and the result of a lot of hard work. Sales have again been excellent, exceeding last year’s comparative figures, and it’s very pleasing to see how popular with fans they are.
A number of quality additions have been made to the squad and we have cause to look ahead to the season with optimism for the challenge ahead and what can be achieved by this team.
While fans cannot be in stadiums at this time, we know that you are as always right behind your Club.
PUSB.
Dave