Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Coventry is a City of rugby (24 Viewers)

[torchomatic]

Jonathan Strange, chairman of fans’ group the Coventry City Supporters Consultative Committee, classical musician and biographer of Sky Blues FA Cup hero Keith Houchen, writes for the Coventry Observer ‘Save Our City’ campaign, in response to our investigation last week – headlined ‘The shadowy Coventry sports bodies, a City of Rugby, and squeeze on CCFC’.

“Hear ye, hear ye, Coventry is a City of Rugby!” proclaimeth the town crier.

The edict is mediaeval, but there is more. Take a moment to google cityofrugby.org and watch ‘Coventry, A City of Rugby Movie’. It is a piece of PR of which even Kim Jong-un could be proud.

Who says Coventry is to be a City of Rugby? The decision, apparently, has been made between Coventry City Council, Coventry Sports Foundation, Coventry Sports Network, Engage, the rugby authorities and city rugby clubs, the two universities, the Millerchip Family Fund and others. That is quite a number, but who are some of these?

And wait a minute. Was there not a Coventry Sports Strategy, approved by all Coventry councillors in 2014 to provide ‘a wide range of high quality and exciting sporting opportunities and experiences’?

Watch the video and listen to the town crier. Ask yourself what is missing from this so-called ‘wide range’.

When the Sky Blue Song rang out from 2,000 voices in Coventry Cathedral in celebration of Jimmy Hill; when Keith Houchen launched himself and the Sky Blues into global awareness, it was not because of Coventry as a City of Football. It was because of what football brings to Coventry.

That is why we should be curious as to how Wasps – which has been part of this community for only two years – is being favoured over its plans for the current site of the Coventry Academy. The Alan Higgs Centre is a crucial home not only for outstanding young talent but also for the very future of football in Coventry. It is a future that should always, in my opinion, be at the fingertips of the football club.

Are Jimmy Hill, Keith Houchen and all those others to be relegated to a quaint nostalgia in a sky monopolised by the buzz of orange and black?

Rugby is a vital cog in our heritage. Youngsters must be enabled and encouraged to play the game. But please, please, spare us such presumptuous drivel. Coventry is not City of Rugby.

Throughout all its traumas, Coventry has aspired to be a city of all sports and all opportunities – for all people, at all times. And so it should remain.

 

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[Covstu]

Just imagine that Wasps win the league, do you think 250,000 citizens of Coventry and surrounding areas would spill onto the streets and celebrate? Of course not! They know that as much as we do! Football will always be the top sport in the city unless the council go all out to remove this from the city boundaries (which is clearly what they are trying to achieve)

 

[torchomatic]

Just imagine that Wasps win the league, do you think 250,000 citizens of Coventry and surrounding areas would spill onto the streets and celebrate? Of course not! They know that as much as we do! Football will always be the top sport in the city unless the council go all out to remove this from the city boundaries (which is clearly what they are trying to achieve)

If they did, they'd all need somewhere to park though, eh?

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

Just imagine that Wasps win the league, do you think 250,000 citizens of Coventry and surrounding areas would spill onto the streets and celebrate? Of course not! They know that as much as we do! Football will always be the top sport in the city unless the council go all out to remove this from the city boundaries (which is clearly what they are trying to achieve)

Depends if they are giving away free flags as that always attracts a few

 

[skybluetony176]

"It's a piece of PR that Kim Jong-un could be proud of" what a stupid thing to say.

Pyongyang, the city of Rugby...




...and torture.

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

I am not sure I would even have known that this is the city of rugby if I hadn't read it on here.

 

[Senior Vick from Alicante]

I didnt vote for labour, they are the majority of councilors doing this to our club as well as killing off our town centre. These people have slowly strangled the life out of the city and club i love. This city needs radical change to reinvigorate the local area and give us all a chance of a better future and that does include the football club.

 

[letsallsingtogether]

Jonathan Strange, chairman of fans’ group the Coventry City Supporters Consultative Committee, classical musician and biographer of Sky Blues FA Cup hero Keith Houchen, writes for the Coventry Observer ‘Save Our City’ campaign, in response to our investigation last week – headlined ‘The shadowy Coventry sports bodies, a City of Rugby, and squeeze on CCFC’.

“Hear ye, hear ye, Coventry is a City of Rugby!” proclaimeth the town crier.

The edict is mediaeval, but there is more. Take a moment to google cityofrugby.org and watch ‘Coventry, A City of Rugby Movie’. It is a piece of PR of which even Kim Jong-un could be proud.

Who says Coventry is to be a City of Rugby? The decision, apparently, has been made between Coventry City Council, Coventry Sports Foundation, Coventry Sports Network, Engage, the rugby authorities and city rugby clubs, the two universities, the Millerchip Family Fund and others. That is quite a number, but who are some of these?

And wait a minute. Was there not a Coventry Sports Strategy, approved by all Coventry councillors in 2014 to provide ‘a wide range of high quality and exciting sporting opportunities and experiences’?

Watch the video and listen to the town crier. Ask yourself what is missing from this so-called ‘wide range’.

When the Sky Blue Song rang out from 2,000 voices in Coventry Cathedral in celebration of Jimmy Hill; when Keith Houchen launched himself and the Sky Blues into global awareness, it was not because of Coventry as a City of Football. It was because of what football brings to Coventry.

That is why we should be curious as to how Wasps – which has been part of this community for only two years – is being favoured over its plans for the current site of the Coventry Academy. The Alan Higgs Centre is a crucial home not only for outstanding young talent but also for the very future of football in Coventry. It is a future that should always, in my opinion, be at the fingertips of the football club.

Are Jimmy Hill, Keith Houchen and all those others to be relegated to a quaint nostalgia in a sky monopolised by the buzz of orange and black?

Rugby is a vital cog in our heritage. Youngsters must be enabled and encouraged to play the game. But please, please, spare us such presumptuous drivel. Coventry is not City of Rugby.

Throughout all its traumas, Coventry has aspired to be a city of all sports and all opportunities – for all people, at all times. And so it should remain.

Jonathon Strange represents NO ONE what is his agenda?

About time he put his tounge away.

 

[letsallsingtogether]

I didnt vote for labour, they are the majority of councilors doing this to our club as well as killing off our town centre. These people have slowly strangled the life out of the city and club i love. This city needs radical change to reinvigorate the local area and give us all a chance of a better future and that does include the football club.

But wasnt all of this done unanimously.( I didnt vote labour ether and I live in a concervative held area of coventry)
What we really need is a Stalinist state so we can then pump them all full of drugs and have the biggest nastiest team around.

 

[Moff]

"It's a piece of PR that Kim Jong-un could be proud of" what a stupid thing to say.

Pyongyang, the city of Rugby...




...and torture.

Its only stupid if you take it so seriously that you compare the human rights of a country to a flippant remark someone said about its PR. Get off your soapbox.

 

[Moff]

Jonathon Strange represents NO ONE what is his agenda?

About time he put his tounge away.

Perhaps he is just giving his opinion, like we do on this site.

 

[skybluetony176]

Its only stupid if you take it so seriously that you compare the human rights of a country to a flippant remark someone said about its PR. Get off your soapbox.

It's stupid full stop. Comparing a promotional video for Rugby to propaganda of a leader of a country where people are starving to death because it's being run so poorly, threatening world peace with a hunger to acquire nuclear arms and where people disappear and are murdered in genocide for being deemed to not tow a certain line even if they're family members is idiotic. If you can't see that then quite frankly so are you. There very simply is no comparison.

 

[skybluebeduff]

It will never be a Rugby city, just look at figures for total attendances for each team per season. Enough said.

 

[oldskyblue58]

The guy is entitled to express his opinion, I doubt it will make any difference to what is going on though.

Do you know what I find is most worrying is how lacking in partnerships CCFC has become. If you go on the rugby website referred to there is a whole range of organisations buying in to the concept of a "city of rugby".

That campaign is being driven and financed with set aims and targets, primarily aimed at the youngsters. That's long term planning to take over a potential market that CCFC had assumed was safely theirs to exploit. Yes CCFC fall back on SBITC but the club itself doesn't seem to have the partnerships, drive or finance to compete with this threat, even provides little finance or support to the Charity. Will the rugby campaign affect funding previously available to SBITC? This isn't a threat for this week, month or even year it is a threat long term ....... and the meaningful response from the football side of things has been ? ............................ words, but no action, no initiative, no willingness to engage, no drive or leadership

A "city of sport" is an admirable idea but involves partnerships being sought, valued and formed between decision makers, therein lays the problem................

just my opinion

 

[oldskyblue58]

It will never be a Rugby city, just look at figures for total attendances for each team per season. Enough said.

fair point ....... but then look at the incomes that rugby and football control within Coventry, the partnerships being formed, the building plans, the growing coverage - the threat is there and the football community can not just brush it off

 

[Covstu]

Don't think anyone is brushing it off but you cannot merely put a stamp across a whole city stating we are a city of Rugby where there has been little history of rugby support. Cov Rugby has been poorly supported throughout the years and this is probably why they are where they are. CCFC has been medium to poor supported for various reasons (wont poke that bear just yet) but in the main there is a decent hardcore. The still unknown quantity is the core of Wasps support, this is being masked by initiatives, free tickets to schools etc so this wont become reliable for a number of years in my opinion.

I agree that the Rugby end is being a lot more pro active and has the potential to breed a Rugby Youth rather than football but this will take 10-15 years of sustained campaigns to get this 'real'. Personally I have no interest in rugby and never will do, if CCFC did not exist then I doubt I could love another team (football or not).

 

[Nick]

fair point ....... but then look at the incomes that rugby and football control within Coventry, the partnerships being formed, the building plans, the growing coverage - the threat is there and the football community can not just brush it off

What growing coverage is there?

Surely if it is just down to CCFC then it isn't just the footballing community? If the council want to push Rugby and this then has issues with grass roots like Cov Sunday League and Cov School leagues then are you really going to blame CCFC For that? If councils or sports foundations are going to take away funding for the grass roots football stuff, is that CCFC's fault?

All of the partnerships that keep appearing seem to go way back, and you have to wonder if there is anything more to it.

I think part of the issue is that nobody is really that fussed when SBITC do stuff, like the free football training for blokes to make friends and get fit. No doubt if Wasps were to do that, you would have people like Maton creaming their pants over how it helps the community.

 

[Grendel]

It's stupid full stop. Comparing a promotional video for Rugby to propaganda of a leader of a country where people are starving to death because it's being run so poorly, threatening world peace with a hunger to acquire nuclear arms and where people disappear and are murdered in genocide for being deemed to not tow a certain line even if they're family members is idiotic. If you can't see that then quite frankly so are you. There very simply is no comparison.

It's not referring to genocide or torture but mocking the more ludicrous and amusing elements of his PR and spin - such as his golf story.

https://www.thestar.com/sports/golf...ded_38under_par_at_pyongyang_golf_course.html

It's an apt parody.

 

[Covstu]

What growing coverage is there?

Surely if it is just down to CCFC then it isn't just the footballing community? If the council want to push Rugby and this then has issues with grass roots like Cov Sunday League and Cov School leagues then are you really going to blame CCFC For that? If councils or sports foundations are going to take away funding for the grass roots football stuff, is that CCFC's fault?

All of the partnerships that keep appearing seem to go way back, and you have to wonder if there is anything more to it.

I think part of the issue is that nobody is really that fussed when SBITC do stuff, like the free football training for blokes to make friends and get fit. No doubt if Wasps were to do that, you would have people like Maton creaming their pants over how it helps the community.

I think people gravitate to what they are interested in, if I received an email about Rugby sessions for kids or myself it would be deleted, football I would read through, cycling probably think about joining.
The only threat is that council influences school agenda to play Rugby instead of Football (not sure if they can do this btw) but when I am at secondary school, it was just all football but in other schools it was the other way.

 

[Nick]

I think people gravitate to what they are interested in, if I received an email about Rugby sessions for kids or myself it would be deleted, football I would read through, cycling probably think about joining.
The only threat is that council influences school agenda to play Rugby instead of Football (not sure if they can do this btw) but when I am at secondary school, it was just all football but in other schools it was the other way.

That's the thing isn't it.

If the council are pushing things and want to stop funding for football but give more to Rugby then is that really CCFC's fault? I don't think it is.

Maybe if CCFC were sponsoring city of culture bids things would be a bit different.

 

[Philosoraptor]

Meanwhile in another country that follows a ruling dynasty.

 

[oldskyblue58]

Not apportioning blame to CCFC or even SISU be it for nuclear proliferation or the city of Rugby Nick ! It is not a question of who is at fault, it is a question of how the threat is countered.

No Coventry will not suddenly become City of Rugby (never suggested it would) but this is a long term project and partnership aimed at not just the city itself but nationally, aimed at people thinking Coventry + rugby. Like it or not it gets coverage, the sport of rugby is getting more media coverage locally and nationally

As the senior club in the City CCFC have to gain some control back or put another way maintain what it had, by what ever means is necessary and lead the battle against the new threat - that's all I am suggesting. People might just ignore what drops in their email etc regarding rugby but plenty of others do not.

Forget the conspiracies, for what ever reason the links are there and the football community (be it CCFC, its fans, grassroot, schools etc) need to recognise the threat posed and deal with it. Surely CCFC are best placed to lead that? But that will mean making partnerships and working together

Things change, partnerships change, peoples perceptions change and it doesn't happen in seismic shifts it is gradual and slow, just relying on history or what was is not a great way to go. Just feel we should not take things for granted

 

[Nick]

Not apportioning blame to CCFC or even SISU be it for nuclear proliferation or the city of Rugby Nick ! It is not a question of who is at fault, it is a question of how the threat is countered.

No Coventry will not suddenly become City of Rugby (never suggested it would) but this is a long term project and partnership aimed at not just the city itself but nationally, aimed at people thinking Coventry + rugby. Like it or not it gets coverage, the sport of rugby is getting more media coverage locally and nationally

As the senior club in the City CCFC have to gain some control back or put another way maintain what it had, by what ever means is necessary and lead the battle against the new threat - that's all I am suggesting. People might just ignore what drops in their email etc regarding rugby but plenty of others do not.

Forget the conspiracies, for what ever reason the links are there and the football community (be it CCFC, its fans, grassroot, schools etc) need to recognise the threat posed and deal with it. Surely CCFC are best placed to lead that? But that will mean making partnerships and working together

Things change, partnerships change, peoples perceptions change and it doesn't happen in seismic shifts it is gradual and slow, just relying on history or what was is not a great way to go. Just feel we should not take things for granted

It is still pretty much reading that CCFC are to blame if the council want to sack rugby off and push football. I can't see how for example how CCFC would be to blame if the council withdrew funding for an under 9's football team in Tile Hill to put the funding into Rugby instead.

I can understand CCFC needing partnerships to do things under it's own name, with schools etc.

How would you suggest the threat is countered? When we have the local council, sporting foundations etc all trying to ram Rugby down people's throats?

 

[oldskyblue58]

What I asked for was for the club to take active leadership nothing more nothing less. Because if they do that there are (a) benefits to grassroots and football is maintained as the number one sporting activity and (b) CCFC needs to "win friends and influence people" and that will maintain its number one sports position. You are the one coming up with frankly irrelevant what ifs - the points were about the bigger picture. What if they do nothing?

This is not a situation where CCFC can do nothing because history says it was always ok. The original point I made was it was worrying to see how few major partnerships CCFC have in the city - I would suggest they start there and rectify that with a view of maintaining (feeding if you like) the perception of Coventry + football rather than allowing something else. At some point the club and council will need to form a working relationship whatever the history

Oh and to be clear of course it wouldn't be CCFC's fault if CCC closed a U9's pitch in favour of rugby ............... but then again it wasn't the point that it would be that I was making in any case

 

[Nick]

What I asked for was for the club to take active leadership nothing more nothing less. Because if they do that there are (a) benefits to grassroots and football is maintained as the number one sporting activity and (b) CCFC needs to "win friends and influence people" and that will maintain its number one sports position. You are the one coming up with frankly irrelevant what ifs - the points were about the bigger picture. What if they do nothing?

This is not a situation where CCFC can do nothing because history says it was always ok. The original point I made was it was worrying to see how few major partnerships CCFC have in the city - I would suggest they start there and rectify that with a view of maintaining (feeding if you like) the perception of Coventry + football rather than allowing something else. At some point the club and council will need to form a working relationship whatever the history

Oh and to be clear of course it wouldn't be CCFC's fault if CCC closed a U9's pitch in favour of rugby ............... but then again it wasn't the point that it would be that I was making in any case

It is just weird how it is still pointing everything back to the club. Yes of course CCFC need to do their own stuff which they do with SBITC don't they?

CCFC aren't completely responsible for grassroots football though are they?

I agree about certain partnerships, but again Wasps seem to be jumping into the old boys club don't they?

Everything in a roundabout way will always be pointed back to blame the club won't it?

 

[rupert_bear]

Let's remember there is another party in this whole debacle, sisu, mention that word and it seems you are branded a bit of a one eyed sisu hater. It also seems that word sisu has been replaced by ccfc, why soil our glorious club with that word.

 

[Nick]

It also seems that word sisu has been replaced by ccfc, why defestate our glorious club with that word.

Tell the council, Higgs etc etc that....

 

[skybluetony176]

It's not referring to genocide or torture but mocking the more ludicrous and amusing elements of his PR and spin - such as his golf story.

https://www.thestar.com/sports/golf...ded_38under_par_at_pyongyang_golf_course.html

It's an apt parody.

You really are the dumbest person I have ever come across.

JS didn't mention his golf handicap either and I suspect that Kim Jong-un will be remembered for genocide, pushing for WWIII and a nuclear holocaust as well as starving his people through incompetence not for BS about his personal abilities.

It's not apt. It's stupidity.

 

[SkyBlueZack]

Difficult to build partnerships when all other organisations put personal differences ahead of the community. The academy being under threat is prime example. Not liking SISU or SISU mouthing off about a pie in the sky academy is not justification for putting at risk facilities that develop elite footballers. Facilities that the wider community have enjoyed for years. Facilities that support the cities and the nation's favourite sport. Dress it up how you want to paint any picture you want but even when CCFC make an effort it's shot down. SBITC does great work, it has done for years. Could it do more? Of course, you always can. Should it be bending over backwards because of a parachuted in London rugby team? I get the point but it don't sit well with me. Wasps being here is unethical. Stating they are here now etc etc just allows them to get away with it. At every point it needs to be highlighted whilst showing that CCFC is the way forward as they value history and tradition. That they have done and always will give young local lads a chance.

 

[rupert_bear]

Tell the council, Higgs etc etc that....

Tell the council and Higgs what, ? Spit the fucker out !!

 

[Nick]

Tell the council and Higgs what, ? Spit the fucker out !!

What I just quoted.

 

[rupert_bear]

Fuckin' clap trap

 

[Nick]

Fuckin' clap trap

What is?

You said people shouldn't get CCFC and SISU mixed up. I am agreeing with you.

 

[oldskyblue58]

It is just weird how it is still pointing everything back to the club. Yes of course CCFC need to do their own stuff which they do with SBITC don't they?

CCFC aren't completely responsible for grassroots football though are they?

I agree about certain partnerships, but again Wasps seem to be jumping into the old boys club don't they?

Everything in a roundabout way will always be pointed back to blame the club won't it?

I suppose we could sit here and point fingers at all the other parties for all the nasty things they are doing and the continued damage caused. Emperor Nero comes to mind, or shall we just sit and be victims

As the senior football team in Coventry shouldn't CCFC be taking the lead? shouldn't people involved in some way look to CCFC for that leadership in Coventry? doesn't that form links, partnerships etc that make CCFC stronger? isn't it better to be proactive?

Of course they are not responsible for grassroots football in Coventry but if CCFC take the lead, create positive focus, there are spin offs that will happen whether they are responsible or not, one of those could be a growth not decline in grassroots football. Coventry has lost many teams, divisions etc over the last decade. But forging links with grassroots directly cant be a bad thing can it? But it is the business community that are more important, and ultimately CCC

But more importantly CCFC being seen to be active, encourages partnerships, cements relationships, grounds the club in the whole community. I want Coventry to be seen first and foremost as Coventry + CCFC and that is being eroded right now.

Sorry but if I see a problem or a threat I look for solutions, we are well past pointing fingers of blame

 

[Nick]

I suppose we could sit here and point fingers at all the other parties for all the nasty things they are doing and the continued damage caused. Emperor Nero comes to mind, or shall we just sit and be victims

As the senior football team in Coventry shouldn't CCFC be taking the lead? shouldn't people involved in some way look to CCFC for that leadership in Coventry? doesn't that form links, partnerships etc that make CCFC stronger? isn't it better to be proactive?

Of course they are not responsible for grassroots football in Coventry but if CCFC take the lead, create positive focus, there are spin offs that will happen whether they are responsible or not, one of those could be a growth not decline in grassroots football. Coventry has lost many teams, divisions etc over the last decade. But forging links with grassroots directly cant be a bad thing can it?

But more importantly CCFC being seen to be active, encourages partnerships, cements relationships, grounds the club in the whole community. I want Coventry to be seen first and foremost as Coventry + CCFC and that is being eroded right now.

Sorry but if I see a problem or a threat I look for solutions, we are well past pointing fingers of blame

What would you suggest in terms of going forward? SBITC have already started to try and get more exposure for the things they do and there will be a section on here in the next couple of weeks helping them promote all of their activities / events.

What sort of links do you think need to be built? I think if it is about how ccfc are being seen, it would be local media as well wouldn't it?

How hard would you think dealing with a threat is when everybody else seems to be doing their best to help the threat while screwing you over?