THE COVENTRY CITY DIAMOND CLUB
A BRIEF HISTORY
Founded June 22nd 1993 at an inuagural meeting at Highfield Road which was attended by John Clarke and Graham Hover.
It was agreed that a number of social events be held including bingo,quizzes and tea dances and a anual luncheon.
Former City keeper Alf Wood became the club's first President in July 1993.
The club went from strength to strength and made the move to the Arena in 2005.
It now has 156 members.
THE LAST MEETING REPORT BY KEV MONKS WEDNESDAY MARCH 13TH 2008
The Annual General Meeting of the Coventry City Diamond Club was held in the Legends Lounge at the Ricoh Arena today.
Chairman Tom Dentith gave the following speech after Secretary Alf Abbey had read out the minutes of the previous AGM in 2007.:
Before I start the Chairman's report, we really must take this opportunity to congratulate the man behind our successful
events during 2007, our great friend Joe Elliott on his recent appointment on becoming a director of Coventry City Football Club. a very well deserved and popular appointment, we wish you every success Joe.
"I hope I speak for all Diamond Club members here today when I say that we have all enjoyed another year of fantastic
events in these wonderful facilities here at the Ricoh Arena and have appreciated the interest shown by Coventry City
Football Club officials in the Diamond Club in accepting our invitations to our events on numerous occasions as special
guests."
Reports of the meetings can be found below.
Treasurer Maureen O'Neill presented her report which saw the Diamond Club make a small profit that helps pay for all the stationary
There were no questions on the report, so the AGM continued with the Election of Officers. Mr Dentith said: " It is mandatory that we hold our AGM where 3 of the members of our committee retire by rotation, namely Alf Abbey - Secretary/Registrar, Derek Barnett and Kath Griffin. (all three members are agreeable for re- election). All three were duly re-elect, Ray Stephens was also voted on to the committee as where Kev Monks and Geoff Lewis. Retiring Committee Member Jim Grant who had served for nine years was given a round of applause and thanked by the Chairman for his help and encouragement.
Mr Dentith then continued and said:
"I cannot end my report without mentioning the fantastic way we have been looked after here at the Ricoh, I would like to take this opportunity to give our most grateful thanks to the Manager and his staff for the meals and service they have
so wonderfully provided for us, also for the raffle prizes they have given at our events. Thanks also go to everyone else connected with making our events so successful and enjoyable, the people who bring along something for the raffle so
we always have a lovely selection of prizes, but these fantastic social occasions that we have together at the Diamond
Club would not be possible without having the wonderful support and commitment of Joe, so on behalf of the Diamond Club, we give our special thanks to Joe Elliott.
"We also thank Coventry City Football Club Board for their kind support of the Diamond Club. Thanks also go to Kevin
Monks for all his input on the CCFC Diamond Club website. It has enabled many members here and overseas to keep in touch with us when unable to attend our events.
And finally - our commitee meet on seeveral occasions during the year sharing thoughts and ideas on improving our events so my grateful thanks to all the committee members, to our Secretary Alf Abbey, our Teasurer Maureen O'Neill , Jim Grant, Derek Barnett,Fred and Kath Griffin, Barbara Cassey,Alan Bateman and Ray Stephens for their committment given at meetings and these events held during the year.
One spot of Any Other Business saw John Sillett voted as President.
Those who enjoyed an excellent lunch witnessed Joe Elliott introduce Ray Ranson to the club. It was clear that the duo get on famously,with Joe Elliott describing Ray Ranson as the man to take the Sky Blues back into the top flight. Mr Ranson spoke about his 18 year playing career and managed to sum it up in less than two minutes.
Coventry City was the right club for Ray Ranson and SISU,he said whilst Mr Elliott admitted that the club was twice close to going into administration.
When asked about SISU Equity, Mr Ranson, who got the chance to talk about some of his playing days with Sky Blues Legend Tommy Hutchison, said that £7m had been invested in the first eight weeks and that although SISU,are secretive investors, they are specialists in turning businesses around.This he hoped to do with the integration of ACL and CCFC which will eventually lead to the club having full control of the Arena.
Mr Ranson admitted to being a huge believer in youth and said that he was trying to bring players to the club but it was proving very difficult but he would not see any Coventry City money squandered again.
Mr Ranson was given good applause as was the next guest Ron Farmer. The Sky Blues penalty king, he was born in Nottingham and played for Notts County after leaving City,then Grantham before returning to Coventry as Youth Team coach and working at Massey Ferguson. He spoke about missing that penalty and remembered George Curtis fondly.
Former City physio Norman Pilgrim also spoke. Norman was physio from 1964 to 1976 and believed that the game has changed so much since his time.
The guest speakers were not finished there and Coventry Music Historian Pete Chambers, Jim Brown, Lionel Bird and Kev Monks all spoke before the bingo and the raffle took place to end a very successful and hugely enjoyable afternoon.
THE LAST MEETING REPORT BY KEV MONKS WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 5TH 2007
Over one hundred and fifty of our senior supporters attended the Diamond Club lunch in the Legends Lounge at the Ricoh Arena.
Coventry City Chairman Joe Elliott attended along with Guests and former players Lol Harvey and Brian Nicholls.
After an excellent lunch, Joe Elliott spoke about the rollercoaster ride that City are currently on. He said that he was "Happy with where we are today".
"I'm hopeful that a deal will not be too long now that Mr Ranson is showing great interest and the bank are being more friendly. The Ricoh needs bringing together and the takeover is virtually there with ACL. Everyone is saying the right things and Ray appears to have found the club he wants. "We don't want administration but there will be people snaffling us up if we do end up with it."
Other speakers included Ray Stephens who spoke about the Sky Blue Trust and Pete Chambers - the man behind the Coventry Walk Of Fame.
One of the older members Fred Griffin was ninety today and he was presented with a signed shirt by Mr Elliott and a birthday cake from the club.
The entertainment was provided by singer Dawn Carmichael before the members settled down to a game of bingo and a raffle.
Pictures from the lunch can be found on our Lunch Pictures page
The Last Meeting Report By Kev Monks Thursday October 4th 2007
One hundred and forty City supporters attended the Diamond Club lunch at The Ricoh Arena today.
With those assembled watching a dvd of the League Cup win at Manchester United, guest speaker John Sillett. The man who led us to FA Cup glory in 1987,said it was good to see Coventry back in business.
Hero of the Diamond Club and many of its members George Hudson was mentioned with Snoz commenting: "What a man,what a player.".
Iain Dowie also received praise. "A manager is always worth his salt when he can change a result," said Sillett,commenting on City's fight back against Charlton.
Nowaday's,John is involved with race horses and has seven with three trained by his wife Jean who also attended the lunch.
He was pleased to be welcome back by the club who now look after former players. One of the men responsible for our heroes being welcomed back to the club is Paul Fletcher.
The Club's MD told us about his young grand-daughter learning a few swear words whilst sat amongst the City support at Manchester United.
"Operation Premiership" to him had three main facets. The first was a manager and in Iain Dowie,he believed we had the right man.
Two is the structure of the club which means that the club is now run better than it has been in years.
Three is new investment and Mr Fletcher said that the club must buy back its shares in the arena.
This has proved a stumbling block and he said that talks with four bidders were still on-going but he was hoping for business to be concluded in two to three weeks.
A quiz followed before those assembled were introduced to Pete Chambers - Coventry Music Historian and author whose fourth book "Godiva Rocked To A Backbeat" is now available.
Pete spoke about the Coventry Walk Of Fame which will see plaques erected to honour those over the years who have served our city in a wide variety of fields including music and sport.
Lionel Bird's whose new book about the history of the Coventry City Supporters Club which did so much for the club at Highfield Road between 1920 and 1970 is likely to be available in November, also spoke as did Covsupport's Kev Monks.
After the bingo and a raffle,the lunch finished with a tour of the Isle Of Capri Casino.
The Diamond Club's next lunch is on Wednesday December 5th and members will be informed in writing.
The Last Meeting Report By Kev Monks Wednesday June 20 2007
The Coventry City Diamond Club held it's Summer Lunch today at the Arena. Those long serving City supporters gathered in the Legends Lounge and heard from guest speaker Paul Fletcher.
City's Managing Director explained about the various parties involved in the takeover and hoped to have some news at the end of the month.
He also spoke about the Isle of Capri Casino which has £37m spent on it. It is a different set-up to most other casinos in that the American Company running it have built it as an entertainment centre where the likely spend has been predicted between £20-£25 but a venue to cater for the high rollers as well.
The Jaguar Club at the Arena which will be the new Presidents Club,is due to open in the next couple of months was also mentioned.
Like many of us, Mr Fletcher was not happy with the PA system at the Arena. Thankfully,a new system is currently being put in. Paul Fletcher said it had to be right and if it wasn't it would be ripped out and an new one introduced. With that he was off with Ken Sharp to another meeting aimed at boosting the club's finances.
The theme of the day was Ascot and those assembled enjoyed a sumptous summer lunch had fun bets on three races on the big screen. Being Ascot,hats were the order of the day and it was pleasing to see that many females had donned some fine and fancy headwear for the occasion. Joe Elliott praised those who wearing hats and awarded first prize to Mrs Jaynes.
The next Diamond Club meeting is on October 4th.
The Last Meeting Report By Kev Monks Thursday March 1st 2007
The Coventry City Diamond Club held their AGM and Social in the Legends Lounge at the Ricoh Arena today. The supporters club for those who have followed City for fifty or more years, re-elected their committee and planned to hold four meetings in the coming twelve months.
Again,a lovely lunch was provided for members who listened to an impressive array of guest speakers which started with Joe Elliott. Joe having retired from his motor parts business two and a half years ago spends around seventy hours a week working on behalf of the club and is involved on many fronts. He is still a massive City supporter and remembers his first game in 1955 which was a friendly against Preston.
The Diamond Club were then pleased to welcome new manager Iain Dowie and his assistant Tim Flowers. Both had taken time out of training with Flowers admitting that the players were now stopping late and training for longer on their own free will.
Mr Dowie reported that the players had opened their mind to his ideas and was happy to report that every player had embraced his ways. He went on to say that his early morning routine now involved the first team plus youth players having breakfast together and the whole squad were having training sessions together. Some of the new training methods include swimming and boxing and at a time when others are looking to scrap their Academies,Mr Dowie said that he believed in the system which he hoped would provide many more first team players.
Described by one supporter as "infectious", it was pleasing to hear Iain admit that if he would do the job for nothing such is his love for the game and felt very lucky to be able to do this for a living. He said that his first ten days or so in charge had been a laugh and there is a good spirit amongst the players.
Although he admitted that the squad will need tinkering with,he felt that we have a squad of talented players and players who give everything. He said that as long as every player gives everything we cannot ask for anymore and that everyone will get their chance.
Dowie was quick to praise Tim Flowers and John Harbin describing both as people he would want by his side and admitted that he had absolute trust in them both. He received an excellent ovation before shaking hands with supporters and signing autographs before heading back to the training ground.
Next up was Kirk Stephens and the former defender said that he is involved in Walsgrave Construction and Crystal Vision a company making LCD TV's. He is also involved in the Academy and believed that the future of the club is in schools. This was backed up by Ken Sharp who spoke about schools coming into the club on a match day and instead of going onto the concourses, having a kickabout and something to eat in the Jaguar Exhibition Centre before watching the game.
Micky Gynn was then introduced to those assembled. Now a postman whose round includes Ryton, Micky joked that he gets up at 3.30am every work morning and Iain Dowie was more than welcome to join him on his round! He felt that Mr Dowie and his team would do well at the club and also mentioned about the relaxed time on the night before the FA Cup Final which included a few beers and a game of cards.
Covsupport's Kev Monks spoke about the reserves and getting back into a reserve league next season with Lionel Bird talking about the headstone appeal for Singers FC founding father Willie Starley who lies in an unmarked grave in London Road Cemetery.
A raffle and game of bingo finished what was a highly enjoyable afternoon.
If you would like more information on the Diamond Club please email dentithtom@aol.com
December 2006 Meeting Report By Kev Monks December 8th 2006
The Coventry City Diamond Club for City supporters who have been following the club for fifty years or more had a successful Christmas luncheon in the Legends Lounge at the Arena.
Over one hundred City supporters were introduced by MC Joe Elliott and Diamond Club Chairman Tom Dentith to guests who included The CT's Andy Turner, Covsupport's Kev Monks, club statistican Jim Brown and historian Lionel Bird as well as City's Senior Management trio of Paul Fletcher, Mel Branigan and Ken Sharp over an excellent lunch.
Entertainment was provided by bell ringers from Fillongly who played a selection of carols and City MD Paul Fletcher who performed a couple of George Formby numbers on the ukulele.
If you have been supporting City for more than fifty years and would like more information on the Diamond Club, please contact Tom Dentith
THE
OFFICIAL COVENTRY CITY SUPPORTERS CLUB FOR SUPPORTERS WITH AROUND FIFTY YEARS SERVICE
fully supported by Coventry City FC
Membership Costs £1 For Details Contact
NEXT LUNCH
All Diamond Club members are invited to attend their Summer Lunch which will have an Ascot Races theme
All members will be written to with full details.
