Coventry City is celebrating the centenary of its admission to the Football League. Unfortunately, this happening against the backcloth of the club playing its home games this season at Birmingham City. A hundred years ago what would people have made of a 'hedge fund' owning the club? Or how would they have interpreted the banner I saw at this afternoon's pre-season friendly at Leamington, 'London Wasps not welcome in Coventry.'? (The Sky Blues won 4-0).
Here is a contemporary account of a meeting held 100 years ago in Coventry to celebrate the club's admission to the Football League (I wrote it for the Leamington programme):
A well-attended and enthusiastic meeting was held at St. Mary’s Hall in Coventry on 3rd May 1919 to re-launch Coventry City after the war and to celebrate their admission to the Football League. The Coventry Evening Telegraph noted, ‘the club have the city behind them in their endeavours to maintain for Coventry its rightful place in the football world, and provide for the inhabitants an opportunity of supporting one of the most successful first-class teams in the country.’
The importance of the occasion was emphasised by the presence of the Mayor wearing his chain of office. The Mayor referred to the great crowds that attended City matches, and expressed his firm belief in the value of sport to the town and the nation, a belief founded on his experience as headmaster of Bablake School. Football clubs throughout the country contributed a good deal to the victory this country won over Germany. There was no doubt if we could induce more people to become footballers our physical capacity as a nation would be very much increased and we should have very few C3 men.
The Telegraph reported that Mr David Cooke, ‘the popular Chairman of Directors, was accorded an enthusiastic reception.’ He gave a brief history of the club. The club was founded between 30 and 40 years ago by Singer and Co. workmen. During a recession they erected what was now called the old stand out of wood given to them. They had won various junior cups and were then admitted into the Birmingham and District League ‘with the consequent improvement in the class of football provided.’ They won admission to the Southern League in 1908-9 but in 1913-14 they were relegated to the second division, described as ‘a most disastrous event.’
However, the club had risen phoenix-like from the ashes. They owed a deep debt of gratitude to the owners of their ground, the Mercers’ Company. They had now paid up all arrears of rent.
He continued, ‘Coventry City’s gates had been considerable, but they had to bear in mind they came only once a fortnight, travelling expenses were enormous, and the payment of entertainments duty, approximately 25 per cent of the gross gates. They had paid off their liabilities (applause), they did not owe a creditor a penny (applause) and players arrears had been wiped out. (The meeting was interrupted by prolonged applause and enthusiastic shouting). All the club wanted now was the citizens’ support. They realised their responsibilities as tenants of the Highfield Road ground.
Other speakers called for a push to get promoted from the second to the first division of the Football League. It was emphasised that if the club wanted good players they would have to get their cheque book out and sooner rather than later otherwise they would be left with remnants rather than bargains.
The MP for Coventry, Mr E Manville, said that the chairman of the club, David Cooke was little short of a hero. No one else would have done what he had done in difficult conditions. (Applause). He appealed to individual shareholders to come forward to contribute and for the firms in the city to give their backing. The Midland Daily Telegraph immediately increased their shareholding. In concluding, the Mayor said that he would never enjoy a meeting as much as he had enjoyed this one. The meeting ended with prolonged applause and enthusiastic shouting.
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