Eight Years Ago (4 Viewers)

[Bad Boy]

Rock bottom time for me.

I'd lost it big time with the City, I just couldn't bring myself to go anymore, not after Northampton.

Despite my two sons pleading with me to go to Wembley with them I didn't want to know.

Didn't follow it on the TV and spent the afternoon pottering in the garden.

Sorry to all those that stuck with it, your support helped to relight my fire.

Thanks

 

---

[Great_Expectations]

Was a truly brilliant day.

Unknowingly started a pre Wembley routine we’ve followed on our subsequent trips.

Getting the extra tickets was great, a few mates who aren’t really Cov fans came and one met his now wife that day via Tinder on the train home.

His partner is a Leicester fan and by chance happened to be on the same train at the exact moment he was on the app. But it’s a joy reminding her Cov bought them together.

 

[Colin Steins Smile]

I was at the FA cup final in 1987, then the Community Shield in the same year. I went to the Oxford final thinking it's going to be the last time we'll ever see Wembley in my lifetime. How wrong! Thank you MR for resuscitating my club .....I was pretty pessimistic about our clubs future at that point.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

It would be great if he read on here

 

[pusbccfc]

Was there. Did all but two games that season and never saw a win away from home.

Losing 1-0 away at Milton Keynes with about 500 fans there 2 weeks before and then away at Sheffield United a few days later when we lost to John Fleck and Leon Clarke goals. I don't think there were many more than a few hundred that night.

Horrible, horrible season but that day at Wembley was the best day I'd had supporting Coventry until that point. Everything was new. The Green Man was incredible. It was the day where plenty realised our potential.

 

[oscillatewildly]

Didn’t go - Didn’t want to go.
The impending relegation coupled with this competition which I thought was beneath us.
I couldn’t bear the thought of ‘Checkatrade winners’ cropping up in the programme list of honours alongside the genuinely, albeit meagre but great achievements.
I even turned down the offer of a free ticket. And one of Otis’s fistful of train tickets.
Don’t want to come across as a misery but even we are too big for than tin pot tournament - Even though our lowly standing at the time suggested otherwise.
I honestly prized my trip to Kingstonian on the Tuesday evening of that week to watch us play AFC Wimbledon and tick off another ground and of course to witness the substitute appearance of Yukubi than I would have to have attended that final.
My brother and his lad went - I can’t remember the last time my brother put his hand in his pocket to pay to watch us at HR or Ricoh let alone CBS. His lad used to go a bit when he was younger but at least now has an ST.
When their constant pleas for me to join them fell on deaf ears I said we’d all go together this time next year for the play off final - And we did!
Torchy, I recall your posts at the time documenting your issue and the treatment that you were receiving- So pleased that things turned out well and you know what,
You really didn’t miss anything

 

[Rodders1]

Unbelievable that this was 8 years ago! Time flies!

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

It was a great day and a testament to Robins as he had already started to turn us around by that stage. Oxford were chasing promotion and we were doomed. They were hot favourites to win but I always felt we would do it.
Despite this being a wonderful occasion, the real indication for me that we were turning the corner came the following season at Notts County in the play off semi final. I was there with my two sons who love football and love the City like me. (I have two others who are not interested). Although we had all been at the Check a Trade final together, I felt the County game was the first real time that they had seen and experienced what it was like to follow a real football club. They had all of the rubbish that went with Sisu, mediocre and often crap football plus three relegations. That night showed them for the first time really, that following a club like ours can be joyous.
Everything about that evening was special from the balmy early summer weather to the performance of the team and the tremendous support in that stand. I just knew at that stage we would best Exeter and that we were on the way back.
Despite watching from the later stages of the Jimmy Hill years and following us through 34 years of top flight football, the last 8 years have been the best of my City supporting life, with the 90 seconds after Viktor Torp’s goal being the top individual moment.
Thanks to Robins and Viveash and the cast of players of those 8 years for memories that will last a lifetime.

 

[oscillatewildly]

It was a great day and a testament to Robins as he had already started to turn us around by that stage. Oxford were chasing promotion and we were doomed. They were hot favourites to win but I always felt we would do it.
Despite this being a wonderful occasion, the real indication for me that we were turning the corner came the following season at Notts County in the play off semi final. I was there with my two sons who love football and love the City like me. (I have two others who are not interested). Although we had all been at the Check a Trade final together, I felt the County game was the first real time that they had seen and experienced what it was like to follow a real football club. They had all of the rubbish that went with Sisu, mediocre and often crap football plus three relegations. That night showed them for the first time really, that following a club like ours can be joyous.
Everything about that evening was special from the balmy early summer weather to the performance of the team and the tremendous support in that stand. I just knew at that stage we would best Exeter and that we were on the way back.
Despite watching from the later stages of the Jimmy Hill years and following us through 34 years of top flight football, the last 8 years have been the best of my City supporting life, with the 90 seconds after Viktor Torp’s goal being the top individual moment.
Thanks to Robins and Viveash and the cast of players of those 8 years for memories that will last a lifetime.

THREE relegations?
Crikey, we all know they were a right bunch of shitbags but we can’t pin three relegations on them.

 

[Ashdown]

5 months in hospital, salutations to you Sir for coming out the other side. A good Sky Blue always by all accounts and a bit of a trojan in between to carry that on. Respect!

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

I remember sneaking into the ibis after the game looking for somewhere to take a piss. Came down the elevator with their goalkeeper and centre back, who were really polite, but obviously distraught. Was a strange but humbling interaction.

The day we had a bit of pride to be a cov fan again. Loved it immensely.

@torchomatic so glad you are back to full health. Let's hope for more memories going forward. There's been so many 'nearly' ones recently. Won't be long before we have a big one to celebrate again.

 

[ThievingScally]

Amazing day.

I promised myself I wouldn't go to Wembley until it was to watch Coventry. After years of nonsense - I gave up and went to watch a Spurs home game with my brother-in-law. I genuinely couldn't see how we'd ever get there.

Checkatrade gave us that opportunity. I shed a tear when we beat Wycombe in the Semi. The turnout and the noise at Wembley was crazy. The Burge save at the death was both glorious and horrific.

Absolutely nuts that we've been back 3 times since.

Very happy memories

TSx

 

[Terry_dactyl]

Got tickets but I was struck down by sciatica and was off work for about 2 months. I was in agony.
Watched the game around my partners flat, pacing about her living room as I couldn’t sit down.

Couldn’t get tickets for ‘87 despite going to most games that year, including the semi-final. So I’ve only ever seen us lose at Wembley…Charity Shield, Playoff final, Utd Semi final.

 

[alexccfc99]

I was really umming and aahing about even bothering with it tbh, the League form had been disgraceful and the way the club was being ran was a shambles

However I come round and put my bottom lip away eventually as I thought seeing us at Wembley was going to be a complete novelty which wouldn't come round for another 20 years minimum and I honestly believed it had a bit of a 'last hurrah' feel to it before we spent the next 5/10 years dossing about in the basement Leagues or maybe worse

Thank god my attitude changed because little did we know at the time it would be THE sliding doors moment after years and years of dross and apathy, I don't know what it exactly was, but it was the best thing to happen to our former ownership as from that day onwards peoples attitudes seemed to change, grievances were put aside and we all united behind Robins and placed our trust in him to restore the club to a respectable standing in the order

The weekend in London was incredible, we did a river cruise and then Covent Garden in the evening, and I don't like to credit the players too much as they let us down big time in the League but their performance on the day was impressive and if we had played like that for even half of the League schedule we would have never got relegated - For me it was a day for the fans and the light at the end of the tunnel

I don't like the Blues at all, but when they are there at Wembley in a couple of weeks I hope some people step back and take a minute to think before they take the piss because I do believe without this day in the same competition some of the things we have witnessed in the past few years simply do not happen and there is a parallel universe where we are still a struggling L1 side at very best

 

[Sick Boy]

It was a great day and a testament to Robins as he had already started to turn us around by that stage. Oxford were chasing promotion and we were doomed. They were hot favourites to win but I always felt we would do it.
Despite this being a wonderful occasion, the real indication for me that we were turning the corner came the following season at Notts County in the play off semi final. I was there with my two sons who love football and love the City like me. (I have two others who are not interested). Although we had all been at the Check a Trade final together, I felt the County game was the first real time that they had seen and experienced what it was like to follow a real football club. They had all of the rubbish that went with Sisu, mediocre and often crap football plus three relegations. That night showed them for the first time really, that following a club like ours can be joyous.
Everything about that evening was special from the balmy early summer weather to the performance of the team and the tremendous support in that stand. I just knew at that stage we would best Exeter and that we were on the way back.
Despite watching from the later stages of the Jimmy Hill years and following us through 34 years of top flight football, the last 8 years have been the best of my City supporting life, with the 90 seconds after Viktor Torp’s goal being the top individual moment.
Thanks to Robins and Viveash and the cast of players of those 8 years for memories that will last a lifetime.

For me, that Notts C game was better than the Checkatrade final - it was very special.

 

[shmmeee]

Got tickets but I was struck down by sciatica and was off work for about 2 months. I was in agony.
Watched the game around my partners flat, pacing about her living room as I couldn’t sit down.

Couldn’t get tickets for ‘87 despite going to most games that year, including the semi-final. So I’ve only ever seen us lose at Wembley…Charity Shield, Playoff final, Utd Semi final.

@Saddlebrains forget you, if we get there again can you get Overson to pay for a holiday for Terry?

 

[Chicken Mcgraw]

Rock bottom time for me.

I'd lost it big time with the City, I just couldn't bring myself to go anymore, not after Northampton.

Despite my two sons pleading with me to go to Wembley with them I didn't want to know.

Didn't follow it on the TV and spent the afternoon pottering in the garden.

Sorry to all those that stuck with it, your support helped to relight my fire.

Thanks

LOL. This is exactly what the points system is for. Pathetic

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

THREE relegations?
Crikey, we all know they were a right bunch of shitbags but we can’t pin three relegations on them.

My oldest son, like me and lots on here, saw 3 relegations. Only two to pin on Sisu.

 

[Terry_dactyl]

@Saddlebrains forget you, if we get there again can you get Overson to pay for a holiday for Terry?

I mean, I only have a vague understanding of this post but I’m in!

 

[AngryAnt]

Stopped going to home games a few seasons before the Northampton trips started, but would follow on ifollow (or whatever it was back then). Did a few games here and there but for the most part was just the radio.

Moved to East Yorkshire in the Feb of that year and started a new job. I 'caught' Bell's Palsy a few weeks before the final, so while I was smiling inside, I looked like I was the moodest city fan going as I couldn't smile and was wearing sunglasses the whole time, but glad I went, it was the first time I'd ever been to Wembley.
Can't believe how many times we've been since in such a short period of time. A family member won tickets to go to a concert in a box a year or two later and when we were in the fancy lift, we mentioned we were Cov fans and the guy operating it went "ah yes, you have been here a few times recently haven't you". It really did feel like a sliding doors moment for the club as someone said earlier.

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

Stopped going to home games a few seasons before the Northampton trips started, but would follow on ifollow (or whatever it was back then). Did a few games here and there but for the most part was just the radio.

Moved to East Yorkshire in the Feb of that year and started a new job. I 'caught' Bell's Palsy a few weeks before the final, so while I was smiling inside, I looked like I was the moodest city fan going as I couldn't smile and was wearing sunglasses the whole time, but glad I went, it was the first time I'd ever been to Wembley.
Can't believe how many times we've been since in such a short period of time. A family member won tickets to go to a concert in a box a year or two later and when we were in the fancy lift, we mentioned we were Cov fans and the guy operating it went "ah yes, you have been here a few times recently haven't you". It really did feel like a sliding doors moment for the club as someone said earlier.

My son had a Bells Palsy event in November. He has partially recovered but it is slow progress. As you will know, not everyone makes a full recovery from this. I just wondered how you got on and how long before your face was back to normal .

 

[bigfatronssba]

To me that day felt like the big goodbye. Like a family gathering round the death bed of a relative.
Relegation was all but confirmed at that point. In my entire football life I’d only ever seen us get progressively worse.
I expected us to hover around mid table in league 2 for a couple of seasons, before dropping out of the league completely by about 2021. The club would’ve folded by 2023.

If you’d have told me on that day what the following 8 years would be like, I’d have laughed in your face. It has been absolutely incredible

 

[bigfatronssba]

LOL. This is exactly what the points system is for. Pathetic

What’s pathetic?

 

[torchomatic]

My son had a Bells Palsy event in Novembe. He has partially recovered but it is slow progress. As you will know, not ever makes a full recovery from this. I just wondered how you got on and how long before your face was back to normal .

I had that 17 years ago. I know the time because I built a metal shed all on my own and was absolutely shattered after three days of construction. Got BP about a week after completing and lasted a month for me. I was lucky as I know it can be years for some.

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

I had that 17 years ago. I know the time because I built a metal shed all on my own and was absolutely shattered after three days of construction. Got BP about a week after completing and lasted a month for me. I was lucky as I know it can be years for some.

My son still can’t move his mouth, cheek, eye or forehead properl. If he smiles or when he speaks you can really see how his face has dropped. Seven months seems to be the optimum time for full recovery or not. It is hard for him as a relatively young man (31) to have this condition, as it must have been for you. Thanks for the info.