Coventry Fan in Peace...

[Ashtonian]

Signed.

I hope the fans can make the difference in all of your troubles. I have fond memories of going the coventry games when i was a kid in the 90's so hopefully one day you will be getting beat at goodison once again! haha

Good luck Coventry.

 

[Fat Larry]

Signed

 

[IRO1977]

Thank you.

As for the Sunderland tale, I copied this of t'internet...gives a decent overview:

On 19 May 1977, Sunderland were controversially relegated out of the English top flight after losing 2-0 away to Everton on the last day of the season.

At the start of the day, Sunderland was battling Coventry City and Bristol City for the final relegation spot. Sunderland were in the third-bottom position with 34 points, one point behind the other two clubs, who were playing against each other. Coventry chairman Jimmy Hill (pictured) delayed the start of their match for 15 minutes, claiming "crowd congestion" as the reason for the late start. As soon as he learned of the Sunderland result, Hill had the score announced in the stadium, where the match was tied 2-2. Sunderland's loss meant that both teams each needed only a draw to stay ahead of the Black Cats and avoid the drop. Both Coventry and Bristol switched to very conservative game plans and the match ended 2-2.

Hill was subsequently reprimanded by the Football Association for delaying the kick-off, but the results of that day were allowed to stand.


I wasn't around then but they still harbour venom after 37 years. Hey ho, that's another story.

Thanks for everyones support!

I may be missing something here, but wouldn't the Sunderland defeat make the Coventry result immaterial anyway?

Anyhow, signed and good luck

 

[roydo]

I may be missing something here, but wouldn't the Sunderland defeat make the Coventry result immaterial anyway?

Anyhow, signed and good luck

No. Whoever lost the Bristol/Coventry game went down. Cos Sunderland lost, it meant that a draw between Bristol City and Coventry kept both up. It was 2-2 when Jimmy Hill insisted that the Sunderland result was put on the scoreboard with about 10 mins to go. Both sides just stopped playing. Open secret in Bristol that Bristol City were in on the whole thing of getting the match delayed by 10 mins or so.

 

[IRO1977]

No. Whoever lost the Bristol/Coventry game went down. Cos Sunderland lost, it meant that a draw between Bristol City and Coventry kept both up. It was 2-2 when Jimmy Hill insisted that the Sunderland result was put on the scoreboard with about 10 mins to go. Both sides just stopped playing. Open secret in Bristol that Bristol City were in on the whole thing of getting the match delayed by 10 mins or so.

But it says in that piece that Sunderland started the day a point behind the other 2 and then lost to us, is that a mistake?

 

[roydo]

But it says in that piece that Sunderland started the day a point behind the other 2 and then lost to us, is that a mistake?

*reaches for History of Bristol city book*

"Everything hinged on the final game at Coventry. Stoke and Spurs (LOL) were already relegated. The third place was between City, Coventry and Sunderland who each had 34 points on that fateful day..... At 2-2, the battle continued until 4 minutes from time. Then at Jimmy Hills urgent instruction, the Everton score was flashed onto the scoreboard. Cheering erupted around the ground as both sides realised a point was enough for both sides to stay up, and the game became a farce. City just kept possession until a bemused referee, Ron Challis, blew the final whistle."

 

[IRO1977]

Yeah looking at the table it seems Sunderland was equal on points with the other 2 at the start of play rather than a point behind but also had better goal difference, so a defeat for either would have sent them down instead

 

[roydo]

Yeah looking at the table it seems Sunderland was equal on points with the other 2 at the start of play rather than a point behind but also had better goal difference, so a defeat for either would have sent them down instead

It was deffo contrived as well. Willing to bet that if either Coventry or Bristol were leading when the Sunderland result was known, an equalizer would have been "scored". Massive connection between Jimmy Hill and the Bristol manager. Hill basically got him the job when he was a coach at Coventry.......

My postie played for Bristol at the time. He has never denied it when we have nattered about it.

 

[bignev23]

Remember beating Coventry in the FA cup at Goodison about 1998/99 there were about 6 of us and some bad bell Coventry supporter fronted us outside the Park End after the game, he was well up for it and I was absolutely frozen stiff after watching the game in the Top Balcony and forgot to bring a coat and the weather was awful, the last thing I wanted to do was have a barney I just wanted to get home and have a cup of tea and defrost. Luckily for him(honest) there were plenty of Police about and they ended up carting him off before we had to fill him in.


Sad to see the Club in this situation though they were always a top flight club when I was growing up.

 

[allezlesbleus]

The Sunderland away following that night was massive. Poor team though. It was a bit shocking more was not made of the Jimmy hill role. There was quite a fuss at first but then just seemed to die down and Sunderland accepted their fate.

 

[ultimateblue]

Signed wish you well with the petition

 

[Walter Ego]

Best of luck Coventry