Coventry City F.C.#Player records

{{main|History of Coventry City F.C.}}

File:CoventryCityFC League Performance.svg

Coventry City was founded in 1883 as Singers F.C., following a meeting between William Stanley and seven colleagues from the Singer Cycle Company at the Lord Aylesford Inn in Hillfields. It was one of several 19th century clubs linked to Coventry's bicycle factories, and the company founder George Singer was its first president.{{cite news |title=Revealed: The Blitzed pub where Coventry City were born |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/revealed-blitzed-pub-coventry-city-3017278 |work=Coventry Telegraph |first=Duncan |last=Gibbons |date=24 November 2012 |access-date=10 April 2023 |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410093220/https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/revealed-blitzed-pub-coventry-city-3017278 |url-status=live}}{{sfn|Brown|2000|p=5}}{{sfn|Brassington|1989|pp=9–10}} Singers joined the Birmingham County Football Association in 1884 and played around forty games in their first four years at Dowells Field in the Stoke area.{{sfn|Dean|1991|p=8}}{{cite news |title=Home ground! Sky Blues historian believes he has located Coventry City's first ever pitch |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/home-ground-sky-blues-historian-6364128 |work=Coventry Telegraph |first=Ben |last=Eccleston |date=3 December 2013 |access-date=10 April 2023 |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410093208/https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/home-ground-sky-blues-historian-6364128 |url-status=live}} In early seasons they lacked a regular playing staff and sometimes lacked equipment such as goal nets.{{sfn|Brown|2000|p=5}}{{sfn|Henderson|1968|p=15}} In 1887, the club moved to the larger Stoke Road Ground, which had rudimentary stands, and they charged an entrance fee for the first time.{{sfn|Dean|1991|p=8}} The following five seasons were very successful, culminating in back-to-back Birmingham Junior Cup titles in 1891 and 1892.{{sfn|Brown|2000|p=5}}

Singers turned professional in 1892 and joined the Birmingham & District League in 1894, competing against strong reserve sides from established regional teams such as Aston Villa.{{sfn|Dean|1991|pp=9–10}} Coventry residents not connected to the cycle company began supporting the club, and it was renamed Coventry City in 1898.{{sfn|Henderson|1968|p=17}}{{sfn|Brassington|1989|p=19}} Highfield Road opened in 1899, but its construction caused a financial crisis and subsequent salary disputes with the players.{{sfn|Brassington|1989|pp=19–20}} The club endured several poor seasons on the field, having to re-apply for membership of the league three times in the space of five years.{{sfn|Brassington|1989|p=21}} In 1901, Coventry suffered their worst ever defeat with an 11–2 loss against Worcester-based Berwick Rangers in the qualifying round of the FA Cup.{{cite news|url=http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/coventry-city-fc/coventry-football-club-info/|title=Coventry City Football Club information|newspaper=Coventry Telegraph|access-date=22 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902212305/http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/coventry-city-fc/coventry-football-club-info/|archive-date=2 September 2012|url-status=live}} The club became a limited company in July 1907 and the team was more successful the following season, reaching the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time before being eliminated by Crystal Palace.{{cite web |url=https://www.skybluetrust.co.uk/index.php/club-information/timeline/356-ccfc-company-and-group-structures |work=Sky Blue Trust |title=CCFC Company and Group Structures |access-date=10 April 2023 |archive-date=20 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120193324/http://skybluetrust.co.uk/index.php/club-information/timeline/356-ccfc-company-and-group-structures |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/engcup1908.html |title=England FA Challenge Cup 1907–1908 |work=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=10 April 2023 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924161551/http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/engcup1908.html |url-status=live}}

In 1908, Coventry joined the Southern League, at the time the third-strongest English division.{{sfn|Dean|1991|pp=11–12}} In their second season, Coventry reached the FA Cup quarter-final, beating top-flight teams Preston and Nottingham Forest before losing to Everton.{{sfn|Dean|1991|p=13}} Another two successful seasons followed but in 1914 the club was relegated, amid renewed financial problems.{{sfn|Brown|2000|p=5}} Its economic health worsened as attendances dropped sharply, and the club was in danger of dissolution. It was saved in part by the abandonment of competitive football in mid-1915 due to World War I.{{sfn|Dean|1991|pp=15–16}} The club's debts were then paid off by benefactor David Cooke in 1917.{{sfn|Brown|2000|p=18}} During the war, they played some friendly matches against local clubs and joined a temporary wartime division for 1918–19.{{sfn|Brassington|1989|p=29}}

In 1919, Coventry submitted a successful application to join the Football League and were placed into the Second Division for the 1919–20 season, the first played after the war.{{sfn|Henderson|1968|p=23}} In preparation for league football, the club invested in new players and increased Highfield Road's capacity to 40,000.{{sfn|Dean|1991|p=17}} They avoided finishing last in 1919–20 when they won their final game against Bury, but this result was later found to be rigged, the club receiving a heavy fine in 1923.{{sfn|Brassington|1989|p=34}} In 1924–25, after their sixth successive relegation battle, Coventry finished bottom of the table and dropped into the Third Division North.{{sfn|Dean|1991|p=19}} A year later they were asked by the League to switch to the Third Division South, to keep the sizes of the divisions even.{{sfn|Henderson|1968|p=23}} Their poor form continued, and in 1927–28 they narrowly avoided having to seek re-election.{{sfn|Dean|1991|p=20}} Supporters rioted after the final game that season, some calling for the club to be wound up and a phoenix club established in its place.{{sfn|Brassington|1989|p=37}} In 1928, the club's worst ever attendance was recorded with a gate of 2,059 for a match against Crystal Palace.{{cite web |title=Jim Brown: Goals galore but a record low gate for first Coventry City 'home' game at Sixfields |last=Brown |first=Jim |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=17 August 2013 |access-date=10 April 2023 |url= https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/sport-opinion/goals-galore-record-low-gate-5742347}}

In addition to poor form on the field, the club ran into financial difficulties by the end of the 1920s, having to rely on fundraisers by supporters and a cash injection by Cooke, who had become club president. A committee of enquiry in 1928 concluded that the club was being mismanaged, leading to resignation of chairman W. Carpenter and his replacement by Walter Brandish.{{sfn|Brown|2006|pp=49–50}} The club's form began to improve under the new board,{{sfn|Brassington|1989|pp=37–38}} and the appointment of Harry Storer as manager in 1931 brought in an era of success at the club.{{sfn|Brown|2000|p=28}}{{sfn|Henderson|1968|p=24}} Coventry scored a total of 108 goals in the 1931–32 season, gaining the nickname "The Old Five" as a result of scoring five or more in many games.{{sfn|Brassington|1989|p=45}} New signing Clarrie Bourton's individual tally of 49 goals was the Football League record for that season, and his overall total of 50 remains the club record.{{cite news |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/jim-brown-clarrie-bourton---3090608 |work=Coventry Telegraph |title=Jim Brown: Clarrie Bourton – Coventry City's greatest scorer |date=6 October 2008 |first=Jim |last=Brown |access-date=10 April 2023 |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410093158/https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/jim-brown-clarrie-bourton---3090608 |url-status=live}} Two further 100-goal seasons followed, the first time in the league that a team had achieved three in a row, and Coventry recorded their largest ever league victory in April 1934, 9–0 against Bristol City.{{sfn|Brassington|1989|p=46}} Despite scoring heavily, Coventry missed out on promotion every season until 1935–36, when they finished as Third Division North champions.{{sfn|Henderson|1968|pp=26–29}}

The club continued their good form in the second tier, finishing eighth, fourth and fourth again between 1936 and 1939.{{sfn|Brassington|1989|p=47–48}} They also constructed a new main stand and purchased the freehold of Highfield Road, utilising a loan of £20,000 from local motor-industry entrepreneur John Siddeley.{{sfn|Brassington|1989|p=47}} In 1937–38 they met with Midlands rivals Aston Villa the first time in league football, securing with a win and a draw in the two meetings as well as a higher-placed finish than the Birmingham club.{{sfn|Henderson|1968|p=29}} In September 1939, the league season was aborted after three games due to the start of World War II.{{sfn|Dean|1991|p=27}} Many supporters at the time blamed the war for robbing the team of a probable imminent promotion to the First Division, although several top players including Bourton had been sold by 1939, and attendances had begun to fall.{{sfn|Brassington|1989|p=48}} Coventry continued playing some friendly games until November 1940, when the Coventry Blitz damaged the stadium and brought all football in the city to a halt. Friendly matches resumed again in 1942, as parts of Highfield Road had been rebuilt, and the team joined the Midland Regional League.{{sfn|Dean|1991|p=27}}

Storer left Coventry for Birmingham City after the war, and many of the 1939 squad had retired by 1945. New manager Dick Bayliss assembled a squad with a mixture of pre-war players and newcomers,{{sfn|Dean|1991|p=27}} but his tenure was cut short when he died after being stranded in a snow storm in 1947.{{sfn|Brassington|1989|p=53}} Replacement Billy Frith was dismissed following a poor start to 1948–49 and the club persuaded Storer to return from Birmingham.{{sfn|Dean|1991|p=28}} In 1950–51, Coventry led the Second Division table at Christmas, but a poor run ended their promotion hopes and the following season they were relegated.{{sfn|Brown|2000|p=42}}{{sfn|Henderson|1968|p=34}} They spent the next six seasons in the Third Division South, with seven different managers, but were never in contention for promotion.{{sfn|Brown|2000|p=61}} The average attendance at Highfield Road dropped sharply during this period, and several top players had to be sold amid financial difficulties.{{sfn|Dean|1991|p=31}}{{sfn|Brassington|1989|p=54}} In 1958, the north and south divisions were replaced by a single nationwide third and a new fourth. Coventry were placed in the latter as a result of a bottom-half finish in 1957–58.{{sfn|Dean|1991|p=32}} Three games into 1958–59, the club occupied its lowest ever overall league position, 91st, but recovered to secure promotion back into the third tier.{{sfn|Brassington|1989|p=63}}{{sfn|Henderson|1968|p=43}}

The appointment of Derrick Robins as chairman in 1958 and Jimmy Hill as manager in 1961, marked the start of the "Sky Blue revolution" at the club.{{sfn|Henderson|1968|p=44}}{{cite news |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/look-jimmy-hill-sky-blue-10536377 |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=2 December 2015 |title=Look: Jimmy Hill and the Sky Blue Revolution – 1961 to 1967 |first=Aidan |last=McCartney |access-date=10 April 2023 |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410093201/https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/look-jimmy-hill-sky-blue-10536377 |url-status=live}} Hill changed the club's kit colour and nickname, introduced the Sky Blue Song, and added pre-match entertainment.{{cite web |url=https://www.ccfc.co.uk/club/club-history/ |work=Coventry City F.C. |title=Club History |access-date=10 April 2023 |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410093201/https://www.ccfc.co.uk/club/club-history/ |url-status=live}} Backed by an injection of cash from Robins, Hill led Coventry to the Third and Second Division championships in 1964 and 1967 respectively, taking them to the top division for the first time.{{sfn|Brassington|1989|pp=67–71}} Coventry's record attendance was set in 1967, against fellow title-chasers Wolverhampton Wanderers; the official gate was 51,455 although the club estimated that the figure was higher.{{sfn|Brown|2006|p=143}}{{cite web |title=City board will "bend" for fans |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122605137/coventry-evening-telegraph/ |via=Newspapers.com |date=13 July 1967 |work=Coventry Evening Telegraph |page=23 |access-date=10 April 2023 |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410092323/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122605137/coventry-evening-telegraph/ |url-status=live}} In 1969–70, under Hill's successor Noel Cantwell, the club finished sixth in the First Division, which {{as of|2022|lc=y}} remains their highest ever position.{{cite web |url=http://fchd.info/COVENTRC.HTM |title=Coventry City |publisher=Football Club History Database |access-date=28 January 2025 |archive-date=30 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630202209/https://www.fchd.info/COVENTRC.HTM |url-status=live}} The top-six finish earned them a place in the 1970–71 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, which ended in the second round with a 7–3 aggregate defeat against Bayern Munich.{{cite news |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-digest-day-sky-12124143 |title=Coventry City digest: The day Sky Blues beat European giants Bayern Munich |date=3 November 2016 |first=Mantej |last=Mann |work=Coventry Telegraph |access-date=10 April 2023 |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410093233/https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-digest-day-sky-12124143 |url-status=live}} In the mid-1970s, the club faced renewed financial difficulty and sold several top players.{{sfn|Dean|1991|p=39}} A relegation battle followed in 1976–77, which culminated in a controversial 2–2 draw with Bristol City that saw both sides survive at the expense of Sunderland, playing out the final minutes without any attempt to score further goals.{{sfn|Brown|1998|pp=57–58}} A season of success followed in 1977–78, as Coventry finished seventh, narrowly missing a European place.{{sfn|Brassington|1989|p=91}} In 1980–81, Coventry reached their first major semi-final, losing to West Ham United in the League Cup.{{sfn|Brown|1998|pp=76–77}}

Hill returned to the club as managing director in 1975, and was elevated to chairman in 1980.{{sfn|Brown|1998|pp=46–47}}{{sfn|Brassington|1989|p=92}} He initiated several transformations at the club, including the conversion of Highfield Road to England's first all-seat stadium in 1981,{{sfn|Ward|Williams|2010|p=176}}{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/incoming/gallery/things-you-didnt-know-coventry-6919666 |work=Birmingham Mail |title=Things you didn't know about Coventry |first=David |last=Bentley |date=4 April 2014 |access-date=10 April 2023 |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410093201/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/incoming/gallery/things-you-didnt-know-coventry-6919666 |url-status=live}} and the opening of a sports centre and training ground in Ryton-on-Dunsmore. Hill attempted to rename the club "Coventry Talbot", after their sponsors, but this was rejected by the Football Association.{{sfn|Brassington|1989|p=92}} To pay for the developments, the club sold top players including popular striker Tommy Hutchison, and results suffered.{{sfn|Brown|2000|p=114}} Hill was forced out of the club in 1983 and terraces reintroduced two years later.{{sfn|Brown|2000|p=124}} Despite surviving relegation battles for four successive seasons, with three changes of manager, by 1986 the club had assembled a strong squad. Under duo George Curtis and John Sillett, they spent most of the following season in the top eight, and advanced to the 1987 FA Cup final.{{sfn|Brown|2000|p=124}} In a match later described by Steven Pye of The Guardian' as a "classic final", Coventry beat Tottenham Hotspur 3–2 at Wembley which, {{as of|2024|lc=y}}, is the club's only major trophy to date.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/that-1980s-sports-blog/2014/may/16/fa-cup-final-tottenham-coventry-classic-1987 |work=The Guardian |first=Steven |last=Pye |title=How Coventry City shocked Tottenham Hotspur to win the 1987 FA Cup final |date=16 May 2014 |access-date=1 December 2020 |archive-date=4 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104212102/https://www.theguardian.com/football/that-1980s-sports-blog/2014/may/16/fa-cup-final-tottenham-coventry-classic-1987 |url-status=live}}

Coventry's FA Cup defence ended with a fourth-round defeat to Watford, followed a season later by one of the biggest upsets in FA Cup history when they lost 2–1 to non-league Sutton United in the third round.{{sfn|Dean|1991|p=43}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/jan/03/vault-sutton-united-coventry-city-fa-cup-1989-giantkilling |work=The Guardian |date=3 January 2014 |first=Paul |last=Campbell |title=From the Vault: Sutton United knock Coventry City out of the FA Cup in 1989 |access-date=10 April 2023 |archive-date=12 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112033444/https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/jan/03/vault-sutton-united-coventry-city-fa-cup-1989-giantkilling |url-status=live}} They finished seventh in the league that season, however, their highest finish since 1978.{{sfn|Dean|1991|p=43}}{{sfn|Brown|1998|p=113}}{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-one/21-february-1989/ |title=League Division One table after close of play on 21 February 1989 |publisher=AFS Enterprises |website=11v11.com |access-date=10 April 2023 |archive-date=1 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201101825/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-one/21-february-1989/ |url-status=live}}{{sfn|Dean|1991|p=43}} A last-day escape in 1991–92 earned Coventry a place in the newly-formed Premier League.{{sfn|Brown|1998|pp=128–129}}{{cite web |url=http://www.premierleague.com/page/History/0,,12306,00.html |title=A History of The Premier League |website=Premier League |access-date=22 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118121453/http://www.premierleague.com/page/History/0%2C%2C12306%2C00.html |archive-date=18 November 2011}} Bryan Richardson took over as club chairman in summer 1993, making large sums of money available for players over subsequent years.{{sfn|Brown|2006|p=292}}{{sfn|Brown|2006|p=300}} With Ron Atkinson and then Gordon Strachan as manager, Coventry signed several high-profile players such as Dion Dublin, Moustapha Hadji, Peter Ndlovu and Robbie Keane, but did not finish higher than 11th place for the remainder of their Premier League tenure.{{cite web |title=Former boss picks his best Sky Blues XI |last=Turner |first=Andy |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=20 March 2019 |access-date=10 April 2023 |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-gordon-strachan-16000551 |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410082249/https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-gordon-strachan-16000551 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Strachan the victim of market forces |last=Joseph |first=Tom |work=The Independent |date=11 September 2001 |access-date=10 April 2023 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/strachan-the-victim-of-market-forces-9234219.html |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410082249/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/strachan-the-victim-of-market-forces-9234219.html |url-status=live}}

In 1997, Richardson revealed the initial proposals for a new stadium in the north of Coventry, at the time envisaged as having 40,000 seats and included in England's unsuccessful bid for the 2006 World Cup.{{sfn|Brown|2006|p=309}}{{sfn|Gilbert|2016|pp=9–10}} The project was backed by Coventry City Council and gained planning permission in 1998, but involved high costs, inducing the board to sell Highfield Road to a property developer and lease it back, before construction had started.{{sfn|Gilbert|2016|pp=13–14}} On the field, Coventry were forced by the rising debts to sell their top players without replacement, and were finally relegated in 2000–01, ending 34 years of continuous tenure in the top flight.{{sfn|Brown|2006|pp=316–318}}

In their first season back in the second tier, Coventry occupied 4th place with seven games remaining, but ultimately finished 11th, outside the play-off places.{{sfn|Brown|2006|p=319}} The new stadium opened in 2005, having been reduced in size and delayed several times;{{sfn|Brown|2006|pp=320,322,329}}{{cite news |title=Stadium guru works his magic at Coventry |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122251991/the-daily-telegraph/ |date=18 August 2005 |first=Lee |last=Corden |work=The Daily Telegraph |via=Newspapers.com |page=43 |access-date=10 April 2023 |archive-date=4 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404175221/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122251991/the-daily-telegraph/ |url-status=live}} the club had previously sold its 50% share to the Alan Higgs charity to repay debts.{{sfn|Gilbert|2016|p=22}} The club's financial situation remained poor, and by 2007 they faced the possibility of being forced out of business; this was averted when the club was bought by hedge fund owner Sisu Capital.{{sfn|Gilbert|2016|p=46}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122373847/the-independent/ |via=Newspapers.com |page=73 |first=Gordon |last=Tynan |work=The Independent |title=Coventry to be saved from administration |access-date=10 April 2023 |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408020859/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122373847/the-independent/ |url-status=live}} Led by chairman Ray Ranson, Coventry signed several promising youngsters in the early Sisu years, but they failed to achieve on-field success.{{sfn|Gilbert|2016|pp=61–62}}{{cite web |title=What happened to Chris Coleman's Coventry City side? |last=Turner |first=Andy |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=12 April 2018 |access-date=10 April 2023 |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-chris-coleman-premier-14522176 |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410080647/https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-chris-coleman-premier-14522176 |url-status=live}} Sisu began reducing investment from 2009 as debts mounted, leading eventually to Ranson's resignation in 2011.{{sfn|Gilbert|2016|pp=64–65}}{{cite web |title=Sisu mortgage £1m training ground to keep Coventry City afloat |last=Turner |first=Andy |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=30 March 2011 |access-date=8 April 2023 |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/sisu-mortgage-1m-training-ground-3048243 |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408111439/https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/sisu-mortgage-1m-training-ground-3048243 |url-status=live}} They were relegated to League One in 2012, and were forced to groundshare with Northampton Town for more than a year from 2013, following a rent dispute with the Ricoh Arena owners.{{sfn|Gilbert|2016|p=86}}{{cite web |title=Coventry City start new life in Northampton but some shall not be moved |last=Nakrani |first=Sachin |work=The Guardian |date=11 August 2013 |access-date=8 April 2023 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/11/coventry-city-ricoh-arena-northampton |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408111439/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/11/coventry-city-ricoh-arena-northampton |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Coventry to return to Ricoh Arena |work=Reuters |date=21 August 2014 |access-date=8 April 2023 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-england-coventry-idUKKBN0GL0YB20140821 |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408111439/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-england-coventry-idUKKBN0GL0YB20140821 |url-status=live}} Coventry City Football Club Ltd was dissolved, but the team were allowed to continue playing in League One under Sisu Company Otium.{{cite web |title=Coventry City Football Club Limited dissolved |last=Gilbert |first=Simon |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=18 August 2015 |access-date=8 April 2023 |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-city-football-club-limited-9879034 |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408140422/https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-city-football-club-limited-9879034 |url-status=live}}

In 2016–17, Coventry were relegated to League Two,{{cite web |title=Coventry relegated to League Two amid flying pigs protest against Charlton |work=The Guardian |date=14 April 2017 |access-date=4 April 2023 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/apr/14/coventry-charlton-delayed-flying-plastic-pigs-league-one-ricoh-arena |archive-date=4 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404142347/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/apr/14/coventry-charlton-delayed-flying-plastic-pigs-league-one-ricoh-arena |url-status=live}} but also won the EFL Trophy in the same season, their first trophy for 30 years. The following season, their first in the fourth tier since 1959, they were promoted straight back, finishing sixth and beating Exeter City in the play-off final. Two seasons later, they were promoted again, being awarded the League One championship via a points-per-game system after the season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jun/09/league-two-league-one-clubs-vote-to-curtail-season-promotion-relegation-hold-play-offs |work=The Guardian |title='A disgrace': Peterborough furious as League One and League Two curtailed |date=9 June 2020 |first=Ben |last=Fisher |access-date=17 October 2020 |archive-date=10 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200710113445/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jun/09/league-two-league-one-clubs-vote-to-curtail-season-promotion-relegation-hold-play-offs |url-status=live}} At the time of curtailment in March 2020, they led the table with 67 points from 34 games.{{cite news |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/city-sunderland-rotherham-oxford-promotion-18261852 |work=Coventry Telegraph |title=EFL confirm where Coventry City will finish if League One landmark vote goes their way |first1=Elliott |last1=Jackson |first2=Steve |last2=Nicholson |date=21 May 2020 |access-date=17 October 2020 |archive-date=2 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202193954/https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/city-sunderland-rotherham-oxford-promotion-18261852 |url-status=live}} They were exiled from the Ricoh Arena again from 2019 to 2021, playing their home games at St Andrew's in Birmingham, amid ongoing legal action by Sisu over the 2014 purchase of the stadium by rugby club Wasps, which concluded only in 2022 when the European Commission declined to hear an appeal.{{cite web |title=Coventry City's reported Ricoh return 'great news', says council leader |last=Davis |first=Tom |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=4 March 2021 |access-date=10 April 2023 |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-citys-reported-ricoh-return-19962065 |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410080700/https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-citys-reported-ricoh-return-19962065 |url-status=live}}

The Sisu era at Coventry City ended in 2023, when local businessman Doug King purchased the club.{{cite web |title=NEWS: Doug King completes full purchase of Coventry City, alongside company name change |url=https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2023/january/news-doug-king-completes-full-purchase-of-coventry-city-alongside-company-name-change/ |access-date=28 January 2023 |website=www.ccfc.co.uk |archive-date=28 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128035956/https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2023/january/news-doug-king-completes-full-purchase-of-coventry-city-alongside-company-name-change/ |url-status=live}} King had also attempted to acquire the CBS Arena, after both Wasps and the stadium holding company had fallen into administration, but his bid came too late and the stadium was eventually sold to Mike Ashley.{{cite news |title=Ex-Newcastle owner Ashley takes over CBS Arena |work=BBC Sport |date=17 November 2022 |access-date=10 April 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63659933 |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410081729/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63659933 |url-status=live}} Coventry finished fifth in the Championship and then progressed to the play-off final at Wembley, missing out on promotion to the Premier League in a penalty shoot-out defeat against Luton Town.{{cite web |title=Championship goals and round-up: Sunderland and Coventry seal play-off spots on dramatic final day |work=Sky Sports |date=9 May 2023 |access-date=27 May 2023 |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11688/12872843/championship-goals-and-round-up-sunderland-and-coventry-seal-play-off-spots-on-dramatic-final-day |archive-date=27 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527210040/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11688/12872843/championship-goals-and-round-up-sunderland-and-coventry-seal-play-off-spots-on-dramatic-final-day |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Luton promoted to Premier League after beating Coventry – as it happened |last=Murray |first=Scott |work=The Guardian |date=27 May 2023 |access-date=27 May 2023 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2023/may/27/coventry-city-v-luton-town-championship-playoff-final-live-score-updates?filterKeyEvents=false&page=with:block-64722b148f08e69f06832e9d |archive-date=27 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527210040/https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2023/may/27/coventry-city-v-luton-town-championship-playoff-final-live-score-updates?filterKeyEvents=false&page=with:block-64722b148f08e69f06832e9d |url-status=live}} The following season, the club reached the FA Cup semi-final for the first time since 1987, facing Manchester United at Wembley. After going 3–0 down, Coventry levelled the match in stoppage time but went on to lose on penalties.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68860463 |title=Coventry City 3–3 Manchester United |first=Simon |last=Stone |website=BBC Sport |date=21 April 2024 |access-date=21 April 2024}} Later in 2024, Coventry sacked long-time manager Mark Robins following a run of poor results, replacing him with Frank Lampard.{{Cite web |title=Chelsea, the Championship and replacing Mark Robins: Inside Frank Lampard's first Coventry City press conference |first=Chris |last=Nee |work=FourFourTwo |date=29 November 2024 |access-date=30 December 2024 |url= https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/chelsea-the-championship-and-replacing-mark-robins-inside-frank-lampards-first-coventry-city-press-conference}}

{{Commons|Coventry City F.C. kits}}

Coventry's home shirts are either completely or predominantly sky blue. However, in past seasons, different 'home colours' were worn. For example, in 1889, the then Singers FC wore pink and blue halved shirts (mirroring the corporate colours of Singers Motors). Furthermore, in the 1890s, black and red were the club's colours. In the early 1920s, the club wore red and green (to reflect the colours of the city crest). Sky blue was first used by Coventry in 1898 and the theme was used until 1922. Variations of blue and white were then used until the 1960s and the beginning of the 'sky blue revolution'. The colour made its return in 1962 thanks to the then manager, Jimmy Hill. To mark the 125th year of the club, Coventry wore a special brown shirt in the last home game of the 2008–09 season against Watford, having first worn a chocolate brown away kit in 1978. This kit has been cited by some as the worst in English football history, but also has an iconic status with some fans.{{cite web|url=http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/transfer-news/coventrys-infamous-chocolate-brown-kit-4066416|title=Look: Coventry's infamous chocolate brown kit named as the worst strip in English football history|work=Coventry Telegraph|publisher=Trinity Mirror|date=6 June 2013|access-date=9 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608231120/http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/transfer-news/coventrys-infamous-chocolate-brown-kit-4066416|archive-date=8 June 2013|url-status=live}}

In 2012, in the Third round FA Cup tie versus Southampton, the team wore a commemorative blue and white striped kit, marking the 25th anniversary of the club winning the FA Cup in 1987.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/jan/07/coventry-city-southampton-fa-cup|title=Coventry fans protest as Southampton dump home side out of FA Cup|work=The Guardian|date=7 January 2012|access-date=29 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615035940/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/jan/07/coventry-city-southampton-fa-cup|archive-date=15 June 2015|url-status=live}} The strip was worn again in January 2013 for Coventry's 3rd round FA Cup fixture with Tottenham Hotspur, whom they beat in the 1987 final.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/jan/04/coventry-tottenham-fa-cup-final-1987|title=Coventry head to Tottenham awash with memories of their finest hour|work=The Guardian|first=Daniel|last=Taylor|date=4 January 2013|access-date=29 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615023647/http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/jan/04/coventry-tottenham-fa-cup-final-1987|archive-date=15 June 2015|url-status=live}} In 2019, Coventry City announced a new third kit in black and white honouring the city's connection with 2 Tone Records on the 40th anniversary of the record label.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50027298|title=Coventry City to wear 2-Tone kit inspired by The Specials|date=12 October 2019|work=BBC Sport|access-date=13 October 2019|archive-date=13 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013113949/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50027298|url-status=live}}

Since the 2019–20 season, the kit is made by Hummel. The home, away and third kit is sponsored by Monzo as the main club sponsor across the front of the shirt and King of Shaves on the reverse.

The first official kit manufacture deal came in 1974 when Umbro signed a deal with the club. Coventry also had the first kit sponsorship deal in the football league, when Jimmy Hill, then chairman of the club, negotiated a deal with Talbot, who manufactured cars in the city.

Coventry's first ground was at Dowells Field, where they played as Singers F.C. from their founding in 1883 until 1887.{{sfn|Brassington|1989|p=11}} It was located in the Stoke area south of Binley Road close to a landmark called Robinsons Pit, in an area of fields which belonged at the time to a landowner named Samuel Dowell. The site was later the location of the Gosford Park Hotel and the Coventry loop line railway, and much of the former pitch is now occupied by housing.{{Cite web |title=Home ground! Sky Blues historian believes he has located Coventry City's first ever pitch |last=Eccleston |first=Ben |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=3 December 2013 |access-date=23 April 2023 |url= https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/home-ground-sky-blues-historian-6364128}}{{Cite web |title=Coventry City FC / Sky Blues history - 100 Years of Highfield Road |last=Brown |first=Jim Brown |work=cwn.org.uk |year=1999 |access-date=23 April 2023 |url= https://www.cwn.org.uk/skyblues/history/highfield-road-100-years.htm}}

The club's second pitch was at Stoke Road, to which Singers moved in 1887. It was located between Paynes Lane and Swan Lane, immediately to the south of the eventual Highfield Road stadium.{{sfn|Brassington|1989|p=11}} The move coincided with the appointment of J.G. Morgan as club secretary, who transformed the club's operations and was the first to hold a manager role. Unlike Dowells Field, Stoke Ground was fully enclosed by hedges and trees and featured a small stand and entrances close to the White Lion and Binley Oak pubs.{{sfn|Brassington|1989|p=11}}{{sfn|Dean|1991|p=8}} An admission fee of two pence was charged for attendance at games.{{sfn|Dean|1991|p=8}} Singers' biggest rivals during the Stoke Road years were the Rudge Cycle Company team, with games between the two clubs attracted crowds as high as 4,000 by the end of the 1880s.{{sfn|Dean|1991|p=8}}{{sfn|Brassington|1989|pp=12–13}}

{{main|Highfield Road}}

File:Highfield Road Stadium 22April04.jpg between 1899 and 2005]]

In 1899, shortly after Singers became Coventry City, they were forced to vacate Stoke Road due to an extension of King Richard Street and a housing development to accommodate Coventry's rising population.{{sfn|Dean|1991|p=10}}{{sfn|Brown|2006|p=9}} The club acquired a site previously owned by the Craven Cricket Club and built the new stadium there. It was named Highfield Road after the road to the north of the ground, at the time the only access route from the city centre, which was in turn named after a Highfield Farm that had stood on the site earlier.{{sfn|Brown|2006|p=12}} Construction cost £100, a large amount for the club at the time, and on opening the ground featured a single stand on the southern side of the field.{{Cite web |title=The History of Highfield Road - by Coventry City Club Historian Jim Brown - News - Coventry City |last=Brown |first=Jim |publisher=Coventry City F.C. |date=30 April 2015 |access-date=7 May 2023 |url= https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2015/april/the-history-of-highfield-road---by-coventry-city-club-historian-jim-brown/}} The first game at the ground was a 1–0 win against Stoke City with an attendance of 3,000, but the club went on to finish bottom of the Birmingham & District League in the opening season.{{sfn|Brassington|1989|p=19}}

A run to the FA Cup quarter finals in 1910 saw a then-record 18,995 attendance at Highfield Road, and the club spent the revenue generated by the cup run on the construction of a new stand on the northern side.{{sfn|Brown|2006|pp=25–26}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/midland-daily-telegraph/124250917/ |via=Newspapers.com |date=20 August 1910 |page=2 |work=Midland Daily Telegraph |author=Nemo |title=Association Football: Notes by "Nemo"}} A new terrace at the east of the ground, known as the Spion Kop, was opened in 1922, and in 1927 a roof was added over part of the western terrace, taken from Twickenham Stadium and funded by the supporters' club.{{sfn|Brown|2006|pp=48–49}} In 1936, a new main stand was built and in the club also bought the freehold of the ground from the Mercers' Company, following a £20,000 loan by automotive entrepreneur John Siddeley.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/144369404/ |date=23 May 1936 |page=15 |work=Coventry Evening Telegraph |via=Newspapers.com |title=Coventry City F.C.: New grandstand to be erected – £5,000 scheme}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/144370246/ |date=23 November 1936 |page=10 |work=Coventry Evening Telegraph |title=Coventry City F.C. to purchase Highfield Road ground}} The stadium was bombed in the Coventry Blitz in 1941, damaging the pitch and the main stand, writer Nemo in the Coventry Telegraph said that Adolf Hitler had "done a spot of ploughing".{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/144371099/ |author=Nemo |title=City F.C. may close down |date=23 May 1936 |page=8 |work=Coventry Evening Telegraph |via=Newspapers.com}} The first floodlights were installed at the ground in 1953, and were upgraded in 1957, using money raised by the supporters' club.

The "Sky Blue revolution" of Derrick Robins and Jimmy Hill in the 1960s saw large-scale development at Highfield Road, including construction of the new Sky Blue Stand on the north side of the ground.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/144535460/ |author=Nemo |date=15 January 1964 |page=36 |title=City Ground Scheme: Work will begin in April |work=Coventry Evening Telegraph |via=Newspapers.com}} Hill also oversaw the ground's conversion to all-seater as Chairman in 1981, but this was deeply unpopular with fans as well as Hill's successor John Poynton,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/148547076/ |date=31 August 1984 |page=32 |first=Neville |last=Foulger |title=All-seater barmy |work=Coventry Evening Telegraph |via=Newspapers.com}} and a report in early 1985 concluded that it was not achieving its desired effect of combatting hooliganism at Highfield Road. The Spion Kop was reconfigured and converted back to a standing terrace later that year.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/148547399/ |date=30 January 1985 |page=5 |first=Neville |last=Foulger |title=All-seater "a mistake" |work=Coventry Evening Telegraph |via=Newspapers.com}} The Taylor Report of 1990 led to a requirement that all top-flight teams should switch to all-seater. This led to what proved to be the final major development at Highfield Road, the construction of the new East Stand. The stadium hosted its last league game in a 6–2 Coventry win over Derby County in 2005 and was subsequently demolished to make way for a new housing development.{{Cite web |title=Coventry City: 10 years since leaving Highfield Road |work=BBC News |date=30 April 2015 |access-date=2 June 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-32516464}}

{{main|Coventry Building Society Arena}}

File:Ricoh Arena - geograph.org.uk - 901396.jpg

In 1997, Coventry City published plans for a 40,000-seat stadium on the site of a former gasworks in the Foleshill area of Coventry.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/148643744/ |title=Sky Blues £60m Dream |first=Adam |last=Dent |date=6 November 1997 |page=1 |work=Coventry Evening Telegraph |via=Newspapers.com}} Backed by a 50% stake from Coventry City Council, the stadium gained planning permission in 1998,{{sfn|Gilbert|2016|pp=13–14}} and in 2000 was included in England's bid for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.{{sfn|Gilbert|2016|p=10}}{{Cite web |title=Football: World Cup 2006 - England's 15 World Cup grounds |work=The Independent |date= |access-date=3 June 2024 |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-world-cup-2006-england-s-15-world-cup-grounds-1111915.html}} The failure of this bid and relegation in 2001 forced Coventry City to sell their share of the stadium to the Alan Higgs charity to repay debts.{{sfn|Gilbert|2016|pp=15–16, 22}} After several delays, decontamination work on the site, and reductions in the scope of the project, the stadium hosted its first game in 2005 when Coventry defeated Queen's Park Rangers 3–0.{{Cite web |title=Coventry 3-0 QPR |work=BBC News |date=20 August 2005 |access-date=4 June 2024 |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4148254.stm}}{{Cite web |title=Stadium deal creates new jobs |work=BBC News |date=23 January 2003 |access-date=6 June 2024 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2687747.stm}} Electronics manufacturer Ricoh were the initial sponsor of the stadium and it was named the Ricoh Arena.{{Cite web |title=Coventry hope for new era in new home |last=James |first=Stuart |work=The Guardian |date=20 August 2005 |access-date=4 June 2024 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/aug/20/newsstory.coventry}} In addition to the stadium, the venue features an exhibition hall, hotel and casino and is adjacent to a retail complex and superstore.{{Cite web |title=Mike Ashley owned CBS Arena shows significant losses in latest accounts |last=Turner |first=Andy |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=8 May 2024 |access-date=6 June 2024 |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/mike-ashley-frasers-cbs-arena-29130235}} Coventry Arena railway station was opened next to the site in 2016.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-35341487 |title=Coventry Arena and Bermuda Park railway stations open |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=18 January 2016 |access-date=18 January 2016}} It became the Coventry Building Society Arena in 2021 following a deal with Coventry Building Society.{{cite news |last1=Bridge |first1=Bobby |title=New name for Ricoh Arena after 'landmark' 10-year deal signed |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/breaking-ricoh-arena-become-coventry-20527543 |access-date=5 May 2021 |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=5 May 2021 |location=Coventry, England |archive-date=9 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909065649/https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/breaking-ricoh-arena-become-coventry-20527543 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Wasps stadium to become Coventry Building Society Arena in naming rights deal |url=https://www.itv.com/news/central/2021-05-05/wasps-stadium-to-be-called-coventry-building-society-arena-in-new-naming-rights-deal |access-date=5 May 2021 |work=ITV News |date=5 May 2021 |archive-date=11 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611224303/https://www.itv.com/news/central/2021-05-05/wasps-stadium-to-be-called-coventry-building-society-arena-in-new-naming-rights-deal |url-status=live}}

In 2012, the club defaulted on its rent amid a dispute with the stadium's owners, Arena Coventry Limited (ACL) - a company owned jointly by the city council and the Higgs charity. The two sides could not agree on a revised deal and Coventry played its home games at Sixfields Stadium for the 2013–14 season while also announcing plans to build a new stadium elsewhere in Coventry.{{Cite web |title=Coventry City head for Northampton: just how did it come to this? |last=Riach |first=James |work=The Guardian |date=9 August 2013 |access-date=30 December 2024 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/aug/09/coventry-city-northampton-league-one}}{{Cite web |title=Coventry City defaults on £100,000 Ricoh Arena rent |last=Bagot |first=Martin |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=11 April 2012 |access-date=30 December 2024 |url= https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-city-defaults-100000-ricoh-3026127}} The move was met with strong opposition and protests by Coventry fans, many of whom boycotted games at the stadium, gathering instead on an area close to Sixfields which they dubbed "Jimmy's Hill".{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-23109981 |title=Coventry fans hold Ricoh Arena protest 'to keep club in the city' |work=BBC Sport |date=29 June 2013 |access-date=2 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702062026/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-23109981 |archive-date=2 July 2013 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Coventry City start new life in Northampton but some shall not be moved |last=Nakrani |first=Sachin |work=The Guardian |date=11 August 2013 |access-date=30 December 2024 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/11/coventry-city-ricoh-arena-northampton}} Coventry City returned to the Ricoh Arena in August 2014 after reaching a deal with ACL.{{cite news |title=Coventry City agree deal to return to the Ricoh Arena |newspaper=Coventry Telegraph |url=http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/watch-coventry-city-agree-deal-7620919 |access-date=16 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007174637/http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/watch-coventry-city-agree-deal-7620919 |archive-date=7 October 2015 |url-status=live}} Wasps purchased the stadium in late 2014, relocating to Coventry from Adams Park in High Wycombe.{{Cite web |title=Wasps complete Ricoh Arena takeover |work=BBC Sport |date=14 November 2014 |access-date=30 December 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/30056170}} Coventry City were exiled from the stadium again from 2019 to 2021, playing their home games at St Andrew's and later announcing a partnership with the University of Warwick with the goal of acquiring land for a new stadium.{{cite web|title=NEWS: Coventry City and University of Warwick announce new Sky Blues stadium plans|url=https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2020/july/news-coventry-city-and-university-of-warwick-announce-new-sky-blues-stadium-plans/|access-date=21 July 2020|website=www.ccfc.co.uk|archive-date=25 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725020501/https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2020/july/news-coventry-city-and-university-of-warwick-announce-new-sky-blues-stadium-plans/|url-status=live}} They returned to the Ricoh Arena following an agreement with Wasps in 2021, also maintaining the longer-term goal of constructing a new stadium.{{cite web|title=Coventry City confirm return to Ricoh Arena from next season|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56345125|access-date=10 March 2021|website=BBC Sport|date=10 March 2021|archive-date=8 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608204433/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56345125|url-status=live}} When Ashley took over the stadium in 2022, the club for a while faced the threat of eviction but a deal was eventually reached for the club to continue playing there until at least 2028.{{Cite web |title=NEWS: Statement following receipt of an eviction notice from Frasers Group, new owners of the CBS Arena - Coventry City Football Club |last=FC |first=Coventry City |work=ccfc.co.uk |date= |access-date=31 December 2024 |url= https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2022/december/news-statement-following-receipt-of-an-eviction-notice-from-frasers-group-new-owners-of-the-cbs-arena/}}{{Cite web |title=NEWS: Coventry City and Frasers Group plc agree new five year licence for club to play at Coventry Building Society Arena - Coventry City Football Club |last=FC |first=Coventry City |work=ccfc.co.uk |date= |access-date=31 December 2024 |url= https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2023/april/news-coventry-city-and-frasers-group-plc-agree-new-five-year--licence-for-club-to-play-at-coventry-building-society-arena/}}

In February 2007 a Former Players' Association was launched. Set up by club historian and statistician Jim Brown, former 1980s player Kirk Stephens and a committee of volunteers, its aim was to bring former players of the club together and cherish their memories. To qualify for membership players have to have made at least one first-team competitive appearance for the club or been a manager.

Around 50 former stars of the club attended the launch including Coventry City legends George Hudson, Cyrille Regis, Charlie Timmins and Bill Glazier. The association's first newsletter was published in autumn 2007 and a website launched. The launch of 2007 was followed by subsequent Legends' Days. The 2009 event, held at the home game against Doncaster Rovers was attended by 43 former players including the first visit to Coventry for many years of Roy Barry and Dave Clements. In March 2012 the membership had increased past the 200 mark with former captain Terry Yorath inducted as the 200th member at the 2012 Legends' Day.{{Cite news |date=2023 |title=Members News: CCFC's Welsh '70s Sky Blue Skipper Is 73 Today. 'Happy Birthday', Terry |url=https://www.ccfpa.co.uk/?p=100948}}

Legends’ Day has become an almost permanent fixture amongst Coventry supporters. Legends’ Day has been held almost every year since the Inaugural Event. The only exceptions being in 2014 when the club were exiled playing home games in Northampton and in 2020 and 2021 after fans were shut out of stadiums as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Identity

The club's support is collectively known as The Sky Blue Army. In Coventry and Warwickshire the use of the term ‘Going Up The City’ is a term used to say you are going to watch a Coventry City match.

The club's support massively dropped off in the years of the SISU ownership, with the decline in average attendances falling in line with the club's slide down the league pyramid. The exit from The Ricoh Arena in 2013 led to many supporters protesting against SISU's ownership of the club and a section of the support enforce a ‘Not One Penny More’ policy in which its backers vowed not to give any more money to the club as long as SISU remained in charge.

In the 2013–14 season, in which the club was exiled at Northampton Town's Sixfields Stadium the average attendance dropped to just over 2,000.

The Sky Blue Trust is the largest member-based supporters club and in its peak was fighting to gain a stake in the club and to get fan representation on the board of directors. As of 2022 The Sky Blue Trust are less vocal and are viewed as obsolete by many supporters.

The words to the club's song were written in 1962 by Team Manager Jimmy Hill and Director John Camkin; The words being set to the tune of the Eton Boating Song.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-20826566|title=Sky Blue Song 50th anniversary marked at Coventry City|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC Online|date=22 December 2012|access-date=17 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926202533/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-20826566|archive-date=26 September 2013|url-status=live}} It was launched at the home game with Colchester on 22 December 1962 (a match abandoned at half-time because of fog) with the words printed in the programme. It quickly became popular with supporters during the epic FA Cup run in 1963 when the then Third Division team reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup before losing to eventual winners Manchester United:{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/dec/23/coventry-city-broken-apart-sisu-otium |title=My Coventry City are being broken apart and I fear for the club's future |newspaper=The Guardian |first=Jonny |last=Weeks |date=23 December 2016 |access-date=29 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930033535/https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/dec/23/coventry-city-broken-apart-sisu-otium |archive-date=30 September 2018 |url-status=live}}

{{columns-start|num=4}}

Original Words:

Let's all sing together

Play up, Sky Blues

While we sing together

We will never lose

Proud, Posh or Cobblers

Oysters or anyone

They shan't defeat us

We'll fight till the game is won!

City! City! City!

{{column}}

Current Words:

Let's all sing together

Play up, Sky Blues

While we sing together

We will never lose

Tottenham or Chelsea

United or anyone

They shan't defeat us

We'll fight till the game is won!

City! City! City!

{{column}}

{{column}}

{{columns-end}}Famous Supporters

The club has a number of famous supporters, Television Broadcaster Richard Keys was born in the city and is a lifelong supporter of the club. Fellow broadcaster Jon Gaunt is also a City fan.

The principal of the Red Bull Formula 1 team Christian Horner was outed as a supporter of the club when he jokingly claimed in an interview with Sky F1 he was trying to convince Kevin De Bruyne to join the club.

Haas F1 Team principal Ayao Komatsu revealed in an interview with Sky Sports F1 that he is a fan of the club.{{Cite web |last=Valantine |first=Henry |date=2024-01-20 |title=Christian Horner and Ayao Komatsu given special invite as shared interest revealed |url=https://www.planetf1.com/news/ayao-komatsu-christian-horner-coventry-city-invitation |access-date=2024-01-22 |website=PlanetF1 |language=en}} Komatusu's support stems from being introduced to the club whilst he was studying at Loughborough University.

Comedian Josh Pugh grew up in nearby Atherstone and currently lives in Coventry and supports the Sky Blues.

From the world of music, Musician Neville Staple of The Specials is also a keen supporter of the club and in 2019, appeared in a kit launch for the clubs new ‘Two Tone’ themed Third Kit.{{cite web |title=Coventry City 2-Tone kit launch a sell-out success |url=https://www.coventryobserver.co.uk/news/coventry-city-2-tone-kit-launch-a-sell-out-success/ |access-date=28 January 2023 |website=Coventry Observer |archive-date=28 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128003700/https://www.coventryobserver.co.uk/news/coventry-city-2-tone-kit-launch-a-sell-out-success/ |url-status=live}} Tom Clarke, Andy Hopkins and Liam Watts who formed local rock band The Enemy are all big City supporters.

Singer/Songwriter Tom Grennan is also a fan of the club owing to his manager and agent being a Sky Blues fan.{{cite web |last=Blackburn |first=Tom |date=26 January 2023 |title=Tom Grennan is a Sky Blues fan and was a footballer before pop fame |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/whats-on/whats-on-news/tom-grennan-massive-sky-blues-26061241 |access-date=28 January 2023 |website=CoventryLive |archive-date=28 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128003720/https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/whats-on/whats-on-news/tom-grennan-massive-sky-blues-26061241 |url-status=live}}

The actor Graeme Hawley who is best known for playing the role of John Stape in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street is a season ticket holder at the club.

Other famous fans include professional Darts players Steve Beaton and Steve Hine, Formula 1 mogul Eddie Jordan and Westlife member Brian McFadden.

Malcolm In The Middle actor Frankie Muniz is reportedly a Coventry City fan, apparently owing to a producer he made friends with on the set of the film Agent Cody Banks 2.{{cite web |last=McCartney |first=Aidan |date=26 June 2015 |title=Coventry City digest: Malcolm in the Middle |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-digest-malcolm-middle-9532263 |access-date=28 January 2023 |website=CoventryLive |archive-date=28 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128003711/https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-digest-malcolm-middle-9532263 |url-status=live}}

Politician Geoffrey Robinson is a fan of the club and once served as chairman.

{{additional citations|section|date=August 2023}}

Aston Villa are Coventry's main rival.{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2288869/football-rivals-the-census |title=Football Rivals: The Census |first=Patrick |last=Goss |website=Sky Sports |access-date=28 January 2025}}{{cite web |url=http://www.footballfanscensus.com/issueresults/Club_Rivalries_Uncovered_Results.pdf |title=Club Rivalries Uncovered |website=Football Fans Census |page=3 |access-date=28 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020074918/http://www.footballfanscensus.com/issueresults/Club_Rivalries_Uncovered_Results.pdf |archive-date=20 October 2013 |url-status=dead}} Historically, Aston Villa were Coventry's main rivals, however many Coventry supporters also view the rivalry with Leicester City as significant. This rivalry is more reciprocated due to Villa's stronger rivalry with Birmingham City. Coventry’s main rivals as of late is Sunderland AFC with the pair forging an unlikely rivalry in recent years despite the 206 miles between the clubs.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s and to the turn of the millennium, Aston Villa were considered Coventry's main rivals as they continually competed against each other in the First Division and then the Premier League.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}} The two clubs however have not met since Coventry's relegation from the Premier League in 2001. Leicester and Coventry compete the M69 Derby.{{cite news |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-championship-fixtures-leicester-27174035 |title=Coventry City's M69 derby delight and the stats behind the modern day bragging rights with Leicester |first=Andy |last=Turner |website=Coventry Telegraph |date=22 June 2023 |access-date=28 January 2025}} However, largely due to the clubs' differing fortunes meetings between the two have been rare in recent years; the two clubs had not played each other between 2012 and 2023. The derby returned for the first time in eleven years in the 2023–24 EFL Championship season, following Leicester's relegation from the Premier League. A small section of The Sky Blues' support were widely condemned in the build up to an M69 Derby in January 2024, after offensive banners mocking the death of former Foxes owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha were displayed across the City of Coventry{{Cite news |date=13 January 2024 |title=Coventry City and Leicester City condemn offensive banners ahead of match |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-67968056 |access-date=16 January 2024 |work=BBC News}}

In the 1960s and 1970s there was intense rivalry with Wolverhampton Wanderers which started in 1965 after Wolves were relegated from Division One and the two clubs met in Division Two. The two sides were promoted together in 1967 and there were fierce battles in both city centres when the clubs met during the period. There was also rivalries with West Bromwich Albion and Walsall but these are much less fierce than the ones with Leicester, Wolves and Villa. A local rivalry also exists with Birmingham City, however the ground share agreement at St Andrew's between 2019 and 2021 – which effectively spared Coventry from being expelled from the EFL – has led to friendlier relations between the two clubs’ supporters.

The club has an unusual long-distance rivalry with North-East side Sunderland, which stems back to the end of the 1976–77 season, when Coventry, Sunderland and Bristol City were all battling against relegation from Division One on the final day of the season. With Coventry and Bristol City facing each other at Highfield Road, the referee, on the advice of the police, delayed the kick-off of the match by 15 minutes as many Bristol fans were still trying to enter the ground and there was a risk of serious trouble. Sunderland, who were playing away to Everton at the same time, lost 2–0, and the result was displayed on the Highfield Road scoreboard. There were still 15 minutes left to play and Coventry and Bristol City effectively stopped playing knowing that a 2–2 draw would keep both teams up and send Sunderland down. There was an inquiry but the result was allowed to stand and Sunderland were relegated. Some Sunderland fans have held a grudge, believing that then-Coventry chairman Jimmy Hill used his influence to delay the game and give his side an advantage, and there has been some rivalry more recently as the two clubs competed for promotion from League One together in 2018–19 and 2019–20. In 2018–19 crowd trouble marred the meetings between the two at The Ricoh Arena and The Stadium of Light leading to numerous arrests among both sets of fans.

{{updated|14 February 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2024/may/news-coventry-city-confirm-players-leaving-at-the-end-of-202324-season/|title=First Team – Coventry City|website=ccfc.co.uk|access-date=10 May 2019|archive-date=21 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421100627/https://www.ccfc.co.uk/teams/first-team/|url-status=live}}

{{fs start}}

{{fs player|no=1|nat=SWE|pos=GK|name=Oliver Dovin}}

{{fs player|no=2|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Luis Binks}}

{{fs player|no=3|nat=WAL|pos=DF|name=Jay Dasilva}}

{{fs player|no=4|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Bobby Thomas}}

{{fs player|no=5|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Jack Rudoni}}

{{fs player|no=6|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Matt Grimes}}

{{fs player|no=7|nat=JAP|pos=MF|name=Tatsuhiro Sakamoto}}

{{fs player|no=8|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Jamie Allen}}

{{fs player|no=9|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Ellis Simms}}

{{fs player|no=10|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Ephron Mason-Clark}}

{{fs player|no=11|nat=USA|pos=FW|name=Haji Wright}}

{{fs player|no=12|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Jamie Paterson}}

{{fs player|no=13|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=Ben Wilson}}

{{fs mid}}

{{fs player|no=14|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Ben Sheaf|other=captain}}

{{fs player|no=15|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Liam Kitching}}

{{fs player|no=17|nat=AUS|pos=FW|name=Raphael Borges Rodrigues}}

{{fs player|no=21|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Jake Bidwell}}

{{fs player|no=22|nat=JAM|pos=DF|name=Joel Latibeaudiere}}

{{fs player|no=23|nat=GHA|pos=FW|name=Brandon Thomas-Asante}}

{{fs player|no=27|nat=NED|pos=DF|name=Milan van Ewijk}}

{{fs player|no=28|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Josh Eccles}}

{{fs player|no=29|nat=DEN|pos=MF|name=Victor Torp}}

{{fs player|no=32|nat=SCO|pos=DF|name=Jack Burroughs}}

{{fs player|no=36|nat=WAL|pos=MF|name=Ryan Howley}}

{{fs player|no=37|nat=BEL|pos=FW|name=Norman Bassette}}

{{fs player|no=40|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=Bradley Collins}}

{{fs end}}

{{fs start}}

{{fs player|no=30|nat=POR|pos=FW|name=Fábio Tavares|other=at Burton Albion until the end of 2024–25 season}}

{{fs player|no=48|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=Luke Bell|other=at Gloucester City until March 7th}}

{{fs player|no=49|nat=TRI|pos=FW|name=Justin Obikwu|other=at Grimsby Town until the end of 2024–25 season}}

{{fs player|no=50|nat=ITA|pos=DF|name=Riccardo Di Trolio|other=at Welling United until the end of 2024–25 season}}

{{fs player|no=54|nat=WAL|pos=MF|name=Kai Andrews|other=at Motherwell until the end of 2024–25 season}}

{{fs player|no=59|nat=USA|pos=FW|name=Aidan Dausch|other=at St Albans City until March 12th}}

{{fs end}}

{{updated|11 July 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ccfc.co.uk/teams/Under-21s/|title=Under-21s – Coventry City|website=www.ccfc.co.uk|access-date=10 August 2019|archive-date=21 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421100659/https://www.ccfc.co.uk/teams/Under-23s/|url-status=live}}

{{fs start}}

{{fs player|no=39|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Isaac Moore}}

{{fs player|no=41|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Callum Perry}}

{{fs player|no=42|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Kain Ryan}}

{{fs player|no=43|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Tristen Batanwi}}

{{fs player|no=44|nat=WAL|pos=GK|name=Cian Tyler}}

{{fs player|no=46|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Charlie Finney}}

{{fs player|no=47|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Elliot Betjemann}}

{{fs mid}}

{{fs player|no=51|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Harvey Broad}}

{{fs player|no=52|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Kai Yearn}}

{{fs player|no=53|nat=Grenada|pos=DF|name=Greg Sandiford}}

{{fs player|no=55|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Aston Ellard}}

{{fs player|no=56|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Jayden Smith}}

{{fs player|no=57|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=Daniel Rachel}}

{{fs end}}

{{updated|2 May 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ccfc.co.uk/teams/under-18s/|title=Under-18s – Coventry City|website=www.ccfc.co.uk|access-date=22 May 2021|archive-date=12 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112160640/https://www.ccfc.co.uk/teams/under-18s/|url-status=live}}

{{fs start}}

{{fs player|no=— |nat=WAL|pos=GK|name=Luis Lines}}

{{fs player|no=— |nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Ben Blakely}}

{{fs player|no=— |nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Joshua Gordon}}

{{fs player|no=— |nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=David Mantle}}

{{fs player|no=— |nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Jay Marshall}}

{{fs player|no=— |nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Conrad Ambursley}}

{{fs mid}}

{{fs player|no=— |nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Jack James}}

{{fs player|no=— |nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Joseph McCallum}}

{{fs player|no=— |nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Leon Osaghae}}

{{fs player|no=— |nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Mackenzie Stretton}}

{{fs player|no=— |nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Constantine Panayiotou}}

{{fs end}}

|valign="top"|

|}

{{See also|List of Coventry City F.C. seasons|List of Coventry City F.C. records and statistics|Coventry City F.C. in European football}}

|align=center|

| {{flagicon|}}

| {{flagicon|}}

|

|}

{{sup|†}} Coventry City deducted 10 points by the Football League for going into administration.{{cite news|title=Coventry City deducted 10 points by the Football League|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21970140|date=28 March 2013|access-date=11 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017175928/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21970140|archive-date=17 October 2013|url-status=live}}

{{sup|††}} Coventry City deducted 10 points by the Football League.{{cite news|title=Coventry City: Football League docks Sky Blues 10 points|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23548760|date=2 August 2013|access-date=11 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121224424/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23548760|archive-date=21 January 2015|url-status=live}}

{{sup|†††}} Bury were expelled from the EFL on 27 August 2019 due to financial issues at the club.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49451896 |title=Bury expelled by English Football League after takeover collapses |work=BBC Sport |date=28 August 2019 |access-date=28 August 2019 |archive-date=27 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827233426/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49451896 |url-status=live}} The season was postponed on 13 March 2020 and later concluded prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with league positions and promotions decided on a points-per-game basis.{{cite web|title=League One: Coventry and Rotherham promoted as clubs vote for season to end|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12003537/league-one-coventry-and-rotherham-promoted-as-clubs-vote-for-season-to-end|publisher=Sky Sports|access-date=9 June 2020|date=9 June 2020|archive-date=9 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609152148/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12003537/league-one-coventry-and-rotherham-promoted-as-clubs-vote-for-season-to-end|url-status=live}}

{{See also|List of Coventry City F.C. players|Coventry City F.C. Player of the Year|List of Coventry City F.C. international footballers}}

|valign="top"|

|valign="top"|

|valign="top"|

|}

{{unreferenced section|date=June 2023}}

{{unreferenced section|date=June 2023}}

{{See also|List of Coventry City F.C. records and statistics}}

File:MauriceCookJimmyHill.jpg (left) was manager 1961–1967, and chairman 1980–1983]]

File:RonAtkinson.JPG was manager 1995–1996]]

File:Gordon David Strachan.jpg was manager 1996–2001]]

File:Gary McAllister in Singapore, 2023.jpg was manager 2002–2003]]

File:AUT vs. WAL 2016-10-06 (097).jpg was manager 2008–2010]]

File:TimFisher.jpg

File:Mowbray Dinamo Moscow Celts.jpg was manager 2015–2016]]

File:RobinsViveash.jpg (left) was manager 2012–2013 and 2017–2024, alongside assistant manager Adi Viveash (right) 2017–2024]]

File:Frank Lampard 2017.jpg has been manager since 2024]]

{{unreferenced section|date=June 2023}}

{{See also|List of Coventry City F.C. managers|Category:Coventry City F.C. directors and chairmen}}

{{legend2|skyblue|Permanent manager|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

Sources:{{cite web |url=https://www.ccfc.co.uk/club/honours |title=Honours |website=Coventry City FC |access-date=28 January 2025}}

League

• Second Division (level 2)
• Champions: 1966–67
• Third Division South / Third Division / League One (level 3)
• Champions: 1935–36, 1963–64, 2019–20
• Runners-up: 1933–34
• Fourth Division / League Two (level 4)
• Runners-up: 1958–59
• Play-off winners: 2018

Cup

• FA Cup
• Winners: 1986–87
• FA Charity Shield
• Runners-up: 1987
• EFL Trophy
• Winners: 2016–17
• Third Division South Cup
• Winners: 1935–36
• Birmingham Senior Cup
• Winners: 1910–11, 1922–23, 2006–07
• Runners-up: 2022–23
• Southern Professional Floodlit Cup
• Winners: 1959–60

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |last=Brassington |first=David |year=1989 |edition=2 |title=Singers to Sky Blues: The story of Coventry City Football Club |publisher=Sporting and Leisure Press Limited |location=Buckingham |isbn=978-0-86023-452-4}}
• {{cite book |last=Brown |first=Jim |year=1998 |title=Coventry City: The Elite Era : a Complete Record |publisher=Desert Island Books |location=Westcliff-on-Sea |isbn=978-1-87428-703-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g-L-PQAACAAJ}}
• {{cite book |last=Brown |first=Jim |year=2000 |title=Coventry City: An Illustrated History |publisher=Desert Island Books |location=Westcliff-on-Sea |isbn=978-1-87428-736-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7CuvAAAACAAJ}}
• {{cite book |last=Brown |first=Jim |year=2006 |title=Coventry City at Highfield Road 1899–2005: Ghosts of a Vanished Stadium |location=Westcliff-on-Sea |publisher=Desert Island Books |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coventry-City-Highfield-Road-1899-2005-ebook/dp/B008QN9TC8 |isbn=978-1-90532-811-6}}
• {{cite book |last=Dean |first=Rod |year=1991 |title=Coventry City: a complete record, 1883–1991 |location=Derby |publisher=Breedon Books |isbn=978-0-90796-988-4}}
• {{cite book |last=Gilbert |first=Simon |publisher=Pitch Publishing |title=A Club Without a Home |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-78531-210-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=69PwjwEACAAJ}}
• {{cite book |last=Henderson |first=Derek |year=1968 |title=The Sky Blues: The story of Coventry City F.C |location=London |publisher=Stanley Paul |isbn=978-0-09087-480-4}}
• {{cite book |last1=Ward |first1=Andrew |last2=Williams |first2=John |year=2010 |title=Football Nation: Sixty Years of the Beautiful Game |publisher=A&C Black |isbn=978-1-40880-126-0 |url=https://archive.org/details/footballnationsi0000ward |url-access=registration}}

{{commons category}}

• {{official website}}
• {{BBC Football Info|BBClinkname=coventry-city}}
• Soccerbase – [http://www.soccerbase.com/results2.sd?teamid=621 Results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080524021031/http://www.soccerbase.com/results2.sd?teamid=621 |date=24 May 2008}} {{!}} [http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=621 Squad Stats] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026155528/http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=621 |date=26 October 2007}} {{!}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20090731111517/http://www.soccerbase.com/transfers_by_team.sd?teamid=621 Transfers]
• [http://www.skysports.com/football/teams/coventrycity/ Sky Sports Coventry City]
• [http://www.ccfpa.co.uk/ Coventry City Former Players Association]

{{Coventry City F.C.}}

{{Coventry City F.C. seasons}}

{{Coventry City F.C. matches}}

{{EFL Championship}}

{{Premier League}}

{{EFL League One}}

{{EFL League Two}}

{{Men's Football in the West Midlands}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Football clubs in England

Category:Premier League clubs

Category:Association football clubs established in 1883

Category:FA Cup winners

Category:EFL Trophy winners

Category:English Football League clubs

Category:1883 establishments in England

Category:Southern Football League clubs

Category:Football clubs in the West Midlands (county)

Category:Football clubs in Birmingham, West Midlands

Category:Sport in Coventry

Category:Sport in Birmingham, West Midlands

Category:Companies that have entered administration in the United Kingdom

Category:United League (football)