For a team nicknamed the Sky Blues, the atmosphere around Coventry City as we approach the 24/25 season appears to be brighter than ever. Compared with previous seasons in the Championship, it actually feels as if things are coming together and Coventry could finally return to the promised land of the Premiership. Season-ticket sales at the Coventry Building Society Arena have broken the 20,000 mark for the first time and in April, a Championship victory against Leeds United saw the biggest single attendance for a league game.
No doubt this has been spurred by Coventry City’s adventures at Wembley- it’s been 4 appearances in 7 years, including 2023’s heartbreaking play-off final defeat in a penalty shoot-out against Luton Town, and last season’s epic FA Cup semi-final, where Coventry were a Haji Wright toe away from completely overturning a 3-0 deficit and throwing Manchester United out of the competition they’ve won so many times… many fans, of all stripes… even Leicester fans, believe Coventry woz robbed by VAR on April 21st - what joy would have come from an all-Sky Blue final against Manchester City. Alas. The FA Cup run, which also included an 100th minute winner against Wolves after being 2-1 down in injury time, contributed to Coventry’s promotion push fizzling out last term.
23/24 was an odd season - as said, there was the play-off final defeat in May. One suspects Fankaty Dabo’s missed penalty that day is still orbiting the Earth. Inevitably, the key drivers of that Sky Blues team, Gustavo Hamer and Viktor Gyokeres, both moved on, and it was a challenge to fill the gap. However, chairman Doug King did what previous Coventry management failed to properly do, and allowed manager Mark Robins to spend big. The result was a club record signing of US International Haji Wright for £7.7 million and a strike partner in seasoned Championship scorer Ellis Simms, signed from Everton. We also saw the arrival of Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, Milan van Ewijk and Victor Torp. All these players stand a great chance of making a massive impact for Coventry this season.
During the close season, the inevitable departure of Callum O’Hare, Solihull’s answer to Jack Grealish, occurred as O’Hare left City on a free transfer for recently relegated Sheffield United - O’Hare joins Hamer at the Blades, although there is a significant minority of fans that get excited every time Gustavo is seen out on the town in Kenilworth, anticipating the return of a fantastic midfielder. In place of O’Hare, Coventry have brought in Jack Rudoni from Huddersfield Town - from the looks of it, Rudoni promises to be even better than the sometimes-invisible O’Hare. We also welcome in the pacey Ephron Mason-Clark from Peterborough.
Defence has been a thorny issue for Coventry- the spine of our defence was brought in from Barnsley in 2023. Liam Kitching and Bobby Thomas made an interesting trio with goalkeeper Brad Collins - however, Coventry have also retained the services of Luis Binks, an English-born defender originally loaned from Bologna. Binks is sadly not related to Jar-Jar from the Star Wars Universe. Another senior goalkeeper has been brought in - Swedish international Oliver Dovin. If he is anything like Magnus Hedman, from Coventry’s Premier League days, the Sky Blues defence should be more secure.
The most telling addition, however, came in the last week, when Brandon Thomas Asante joined from West Bromwich Albion - another exciting attacking player to add to the mix. The most intriguing change in personnel, though, came off field. Since 2017, when he re-joined the club, manager Mark Robins had had Adi Viveash as his right-hand man. In the close season, the popular Viveash was released, to be replaced by First Team Coaches Rhys Carr and former Coventry midfield George Boateng. Boateng and Carr look to have had a positive impact so far.
It hasn’t always been plain sailing - in 2017, Coventry were about to start life in League 2, the lowest rung of the EFL ladder after relegation. Our owners at the time, a hedge fund called SISU, caused conflict over the ground and at one point in their ownership had the Sky Blues playing 34 miles away from home in Northampton. Thankfully, Mark Robins stuck the course and has guided the team to the brink of returning to the Premiership. Perhaps any Coventry City fan would exchange an FA Cup run for a chance to play the big boys again - City were a founding member of the Premiership, but 2001 saw a 34-year run in the top flight ended and it’s been a struggle to get back there ever since.
It galls Coventry fans to see Leicester and Aston Villa being the main Midlands representatives in the Premiership. Then again, we always have the memories of 1987, and the best FA Cup final of all thanks to Garry Mabbutt’s knee. On April 21st 2024, Viktor Torp’s knee nearly achieved the same cult status for City fans, but for VAR. City would love to get back into the Premiership if only to get their own back on that technology.
The season starts on Saturday against Stoke City - and there is a strong chance that this is the season City fans have been waiting for. The sky is BLUE!
Essential Information
Tom Pratt is a Coventry City fan from Sutton Colfield, he was at Wembley for that VAR Semi-Final defeat against Manchester Disunited. And we're not sure if he's over it yet. Tom does promo work for non-League midlands club Romulus FC and mans the PA there. He loves the grass roots game. A music fanatic, especially for indie music from all over the world and classic psychedelia. Tom regularly presents late-night DJ sets himself at the Sunflower Lounge in Birmingham city centre. I'd say bands like Joy Division, The Doors and Tangerine Dream are among his favourite groups, he has very eclectic tastes! Thanks Tom!
