Highfield Road (9 Viewers)
- Thread starter Liquid Gold
- Start date
torchomatic
Well-Known Member
Bryan. Fucking. Richardson.
Ring Of Steel
Well-Known Member
I’m in there albeit I’m looking away from the camera for some reason. I went to the auction they held and came away with a few bits & pieces, and I have quite a few bits of rock from the rubble of the East Stand- yes sad I know
looking back through all these comments- seems that the CBS was never really the issue in terms of atmosphere & feel, it was the mess at the club. I did get nostalgic for HR seeing this thread bumped, but I wouldn’t swap the CBS for HR.
Gynnsthetonic
Well-Known Member
Plenty of grounds on there that didn't need knocking down for a bowl. Some though I agree
Sky Blue Goblin
Well-Known Member
I know it was major pie in the sky never happening etc but I loved the Butts Park Arena Development Plan.
Obviously the ground would of had to be built in a certain way and probably would have to be clever to have even 25,000 in there but the location would be amazing and did think at the time the whole Ricoh was toxic
Obviously the ground would of had to be built in a certain way and probably would have to be clever to have even 25,000 in there but the location would be amazing and did think at the time the whole Ricoh was toxic
Domo
Well-Known Member
That's the kind of stuff you'd never see for saleI’m in there albeit I’m looking away from the camera for some reason. I went to the auction they held and came away with a few bits & pieces, and I have quite a few bits of rock from the rubble of the East Stand- yes sad I know
looking back through all these comments- seems that the CBS was never really the issue in terms of atmosphere & feel, it was the mess at the club. I did get nostalgic for HR seeing this thread bumped, but I wouldn’t swap the CBS for HR.
Gynnsthetonic
Well-Known Member
There was once talk of building a stadium at Parkside for Cov Rfc. Sure 25k was muted. Think it was Gerry Sugrue who was chairman at the time. They were on about collaborating with the Football Club. A great location that would of been
Ring Of Steel
Well-Known Member
One has been on my desk ever since, and I’d be a rich man if I had a quid for each time someone has asked why I have a smallish lump of rock next to the screen.
TomRad85
Well-Known Member
This is one of my best mates, I had my season ticket with him and his old man in the terrace. He got in so many pics with that Highfield Road sign, dunno where I'd run off to here.
Don't speak to him about football much now, he abandoned us when we moved to St Andrews, gave his shitty reasons. I thought it was just a convenience thing, follows Spurs and for some reason Rangers (even though he used to like Celtic) to impress his father in law.
He was such a big fan once upon a time it's quite sad really, but needless to say he's not on here but I'll happily call him a massive bellend again if anyone wants me to pass on that message.
Ring Of Steel
Well-Known Member
I think the only things that can be levelled at the CBS now are location obviously, the gap between the goal lines and the stands (we have Rugby to thank for that), the crush underneath, and I still personally think the corporate area looks crap.
I’d also say that when it gets rocking there are few to touch it in the ‘modern era’, but as we’ve discovered that’s down to us at least as much as the ground
blunted
Well-Known Member
Ahh a ground with its own song.
Invaded the pitch against Sunderland and Wolves. Ankles in mud.
Covered End, West End, West Stand.
A ground we owned.
Free parking apart from "Look after your car mate".
Could walk there from town.
Unfortunately, too small for our ambition now with no room for expansion.
Love Highfield Rd for the memories. Love the CBS for the future (until we move to our bigger ground).
Invaded the pitch against Sunderland and Wolves. Ankles in mud.
Covered End, West End, West Stand.
A ground we owned.
Free parking apart from "Look after your car mate".
Could walk there from town.
Unfortunately, too small for our ambition now with no room for expansion.
Love Highfield Rd for the memories. Love the CBS for the future (until we move to our bigger ground).
People forget that it was half full in our championship days and it was just as toxic. I always prefer grounds within streets, but I do think nostalgia has made people forget the good days at the CBS and the bad at HR.
Peter Billing Eyes
Well-Known Member
I loved Highfield Rd. West Terrace Block 5 season ticket holder for years. LOVED IT! But how much of that nostalgia is based on the proliferation of decent boozers for a few pre-match pints is debatable.
With the exception of Newcastle, the recreational element of the matchday experience was literally second to none. 30 pubs within a 10 minute walk.
However, Highfield Rd would never have reached 26-28k comfortably, and if it had reached anywhere near that with redevelopment, the mass of spectators would have been confined to a much larger Sky Blues Stand as there wasn’t elsewhere around the stadium capable of expansion. Would a new Sky Blues Stand have improved the atmosphere? Probably not. Think of what the East Stand, Elland Rd and the East Stand at Stamford Bridge added, for e.g. - vidiprinter result: Capacity 5, Atmosphere nil.
What the CBS offers is, on occasion, a spine-tingling atmosphere that I never ever felt at HR (and I have been in attendance with 35-40k in there in the 70’s and very early 80’s). Other fans have recently commented on our noise at the CBS.
Also, we need 30k now. Not for us old duffers, but for the youngsters to get involved. A 23-25k stadium with limited hospitality would drive ticket prices for the average and younger fan right up.
Sorry, I loved HR, but with diminishing sands of time, my memories of the CBS will be just as visceral and joyous as those from Stoke. Our Stoke, not the oatcake gobblers from the Potteries.
With the exception of Newcastle, the recreational element of the matchday experience was literally second to none. 30 pubs within a 10 minute walk.
However, Highfield Rd would never have reached 26-28k comfortably, and if it had reached anywhere near that with redevelopment, the mass of spectators would have been confined to a much larger Sky Blues Stand as there wasn’t elsewhere around the stadium capable of expansion. Would a new Sky Blues Stand have improved the atmosphere? Probably not. Think of what the East Stand, Elland Rd and the East Stand at Stamford Bridge added, for e.g. - vidiprinter result: Capacity 5, Atmosphere nil.
What the CBS offers is, on occasion, a spine-tingling atmosphere that I never ever felt at HR (and I have been in attendance with 35-40k in there in the 70’s and very early 80’s). Other fans have recently commented on our noise at the CBS.
Also, we need 30k now. Not for us old duffers, but for the youngsters to get involved. A 23-25k stadium with limited hospitality would drive ticket prices for the average and younger fan right up.
Sorry, I loved HR, but with diminishing sands of time, my memories of the CBS will be just as visceral and joyous as those from Stoke. Our Stoke, not the oatcake gobblers from the Potteries.
Domo
Well-Known Member
I mean I'd never understand anyone that changes support for another team
TomRad85
Well-Known Member
No me neither. I did feel he was trying to worm back a conversation about ccfc when I spoke to him recently but I wasn't having it
Domo
Well-Known Member
There was someone on twitter that did a Highfield road expansion concept, imagine this...
Peter Billing Eyes
Well-Known Member
Looks good, but it genuinely has a similar capacity to what Highfield Rd was (Possibly less on the Sky Blue Stand and West End sides, but with the corners more effectively filled in). So, in today’s money, £100-200 million for zero net increase?
mmttww
Well-Known Member
Same block where I was, row five / E, I think. Sh*t view, brilliant for giving the other team abuse and asking Sam to do fwd rolls.
mmttww
Well-Known Member
also a funny day for someone to bump the thread...
More than 100 cannabis plants seized in Coventry police raid
Officers target a building after reports of suspicious behaviour.
www.bbc.co.uk
Gleneagles65
Well-Known Member
Highfield Road on very special nights trumps anything at the CBS. West Ham semi springs to mind.
Peter Billing Eyes
Well-Known Member
I was near the back from around ‘91 when they reopened the terrace - Block 5, Row T. Sometimes sat near the front, towards the goal line if the attendance was sparse, which it occasionally was. Memorable games from the seated west terrace? The hammering of high flying Blackburn in the ‘Orange ball’ game and the 5-4 win over Forest. Standing games? West Ham, Arsenal, Derby, Birmingham and Villa, although I was pre-occupied with personal protection as much as the result In those days.
Ring Of Steel
Well-Known Member
That was 25 years before the end of HR, which gives a clue as to how few & far between those special atmospheres were.
Peter Billing Eyes
Well-Known Member
I was at that game. It was a special evening but the CBS will deliver those, too.
bigfatronssba
Well-Known Member
I miss HR and it will always be the clubs spiritual home. However we've put to bed the myth that there is something wrong with the CBS in terms of atmosphere.
When things are going right it can be just as good as HR was
When things are going right it can be just as good as HR was
Oh that'll be why the chopper was out the other night.also a funny day for someone to bump the thread...
More than 100 cannabis plants seized in Coventry police raid
Officers target a building after reports of suspicious behaviour.www.bbc.co.uk
Sky Blue Wozza
Well-Known Member
I’ve got a “Block 3” sign from the West Terrace. Used to display it proudly in the garden, but wife has had enough of “that eyesore” and stuck it in the loft.
Bought it for a tenner (!) at an auction of the all the stuff at the ground - did anyone else go to that??
Bought it for a tenner (!) at an auction of the all the stuff at the ground - did anyone else go to that??
Gynnsthetonic
Well-Known Member
Alvis Retail Park, Rolls Royce Armstrong Siddley, Coventry Buisness Park Canley where Rover used to be. All on train lines and close to the City Centre. All more beneficial for the economy rather than an out of town stadium stuck right next to the M6. It's my dream that one day we move closer to the City Centre
Sky Blue Goblin
Well-Known Member
Still would love for the proposed 25,000 butts park arena stadium to happen. Obviously never would but thought that would be the only city centre spot we could develop realistically these days
Old Warwickshire lad
Well-Known Member
Nah,better off where we are. I first went to Highfield Rd as a child in 1962 and fell in love with football and the city there.
I had times I will never forget, but remember the cold winter nights with 7 or 8 thousand souls freezing in silence watching FIRST division football.
Let’s be honest it’s just nostalgia, we can all miss it but we have to admit we are better off at the CBS.
And anyway if I fancy a seat at Highfield rd. I can go up the Newdigate club in Bedworth and sit watching the bowls with a beer in the sun ,as their green is surrounded by seats from the old stadium.
I had times I will never forget, but remember the cold winter nights with 7 or 8 thousand souls freezing in silence watching FIRST division football.
Let’s be honest it’s just nostalgia, we can all miss it but we have to admit we are better off at the CBS.
And anyway if I fancy a seat at Highfield rd. I can go up the Newdigate club in Bedworth and sit watching the bowls with a beer in the sun ,as their green is surrounded by seats from the old stadium.
Kneeza
Well-Known Member
Gerry and the Dreamers.
(Yeah I know, a mish-mash of two sixties groups
).But! Gerry was just dreaming there. There was also a mooted stadium on the site where the Higgs is now. Neither were ever serious enough to happen, sadly.
Thinking back even further, some clown even spread a rumour about building one at Brownshill Green, where Cov had a training paddock for a while. Ffs.