After each matchday programme this season, we publish the regular column from the Coventry City board on our website.
After 7 years of programme notes, this edition marks the final column from Coventry City Chief Executive Dave Boddy before he leaves the Club at the end of this month:
Good afternoon and welcome to the Coventry Building Society Arena for today’s game.
I would also like to welcome the players, staff, supporters and officials of table-topping Leicester City, who visit the Arena for the M69 Derby – their first visit here since August 2011.
We are expecting today a crowd of over 29,000, which is virtually a capacity crowd due to seat kills for Sky Sports camera positions and segregation in the away end. This is the second occasion that we have managed to achieve a ‘sell-out’ this season.
With the postponement of the Bristol City home game due to us being in the Fourth Round of the Emirates FA Cup, these are likely to be my final ever programme notes as your Chief Executive.
As I have previously said when my departure was announced in early December, the last seven years have been an amazing journey – from the depths of League Two to a penalty kick away from the Premier League.
There have been some dark moments along the way, none more so than being forced out of the Arena and having a two-year groundshare with Birmingham City at St Andrews. The dark periods have made our achievements over the period of time even more impressive and at times against all odds. We have great people throughout the Club and it is a huge testament to them, and what we have achieved has been a real team effort. I would like to thank each and every one of them for their support along the way.
Last week, we launched the plan to build a statue outside the South Atrium to honour the legends that were George Curtis and John Sillett. Former Chairman Joe Elliott has led a committee of like-minded people, including both the Curtis and Sillett families, and received initial pledges of £135,000 from various generous donors, including a donation from the Football Club. We launched a crowd funding platform to try and raise the remaining £87,000 required to complete the project – there are details elsewhere in the programme of how supporters can donate to this fantastic memorial. After the first few days, at the time of writing these notes, we have already achieved £11,500.
The plan is to unveil the statue of the two giants in Coventry City’s history holding the FA Cup. It is my intention to remain part of the Committee that have driven this project and I intend to be around for the unveiling in May 2025.
My final thanks go out to all Sky Blues supporters, whose support throughout the journey has been incredibly important to me, particularly during those darker and difficult times. Your support to myself, the team and the Club has been truly amazing and played a massive part in the success that we have achieved together. The atmosphere that we have created at the Arena is up there with the best in the Championship and I urge you all to continue to help make the Arena our fortress.
Thank you once again – wherever my future takes me, I will always remain Sky Blue.
As always, enjoy the game. PUSB
Dave
Dave Boddy
Chief Executive
Coventry City Football Club