After each matchday programme this season, we publish the regular column from the Coventry City board on our website. You can read Coventry City Chief Executive Dave Boddy's column from our game against Stoke City below:
Good afternoon and welcome to today’s Sky Bet Championship game as we face Stoke City.
I would also like to welcome the players, staff, officials and supporters who join us from Stoke this afternoon. In particular I would like to welcome their chairman Peter Coates who I have known for many years and his son John, who I have come to know in recent years. The Coates family has played an immeasurable part in the upward trajectory of the Club over the last three decades.
This is our annual Remembrance fixture, an important date in the Club’s diary where we come together to honour and remember our service men and women past and present for all that they have done for us. This year, our game falls on Armistice Day itself – marking 105 years since the agreement was signed which saw the end to fighting in World War I.
There will still be a minute silence before kick-off, with Armed Forces representatives pitchside for this alongside a bugler who will be playing the Last Post. Players will be wearing the Poppy on the front of their shirts, with the Club donating these shirts to raise money for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal - details how fans can support this fundraising activity will be confirmed shortly. Fans will also be able to donate around the ground, with collectors selling Poppies around the Arena.
We will also be commemorating the Coventry Blitz anniversary today, which happened on the night of 14th November 1940 and cost so many lives in this City.
Our support of Armed Forces is important to us, and is something that is not just restricted to one weekend in November. We have strong links with the Ministry of Defence. In 2020, we formally signed the Armed Forces Covenant and earlier this year we were awarded a Bronze award in the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) – this scheme encourages employers to support defence and inspire other organisations to do the same, and recognises the Club in doing so.
Supporters may be aware that in his address to Parliament on Tuesday, King Charles indicated that the Government intends to bring forward legislation for an independent financial regulator for professional football in England and Wales. The King confirmed that “legislation will be brought forward to safeguard the future of football clubs for the benefits of communities and fans.”
Whilst the EFL and the Premier League continue to discuss a major redistribution of funds, it is undoubtably an opportunity to get to a better, more sustainable place for Clubs at all levels in the pyramid. Our Club has actively supported the EFL and the process from the beginning.
This Wednesday night, players will be visiting the Superstore at the Arena to meet fans and have photos/signatures too. This is a benefit of our new, enlarged store as well as the scope for a greater range of products – some of which are in store already and with more coming in over the coming weeks and months. Unfortunately this appearance, and others, were postponed last week due to a change in the training schedule. Making sure the players are out and about in the community has been an integral part of the Club over the last few years and it is regrettable when planned appearances have to change, but obviously the training schedule and needs of the players is required to come first. We apologise for any inconvenience that this caused to fans planning to attend the Superstore and Supporter Clubs last week, but thankfully we were able to re-arrange these for this coming week.
Thank you as always for your support, enjoy the game. PUSB