"Trevor's at his peak, see Bennett's dancing feet..."

With the transfer embargo lifted its clear our focus will train on League Two players, we’re no longer shopping at Harrods or even Woolworths to quote John Sillett, we’re now in Wilkinson territory, Lidl at a push. Expectations have risen slightly as we await transfer activity with interest, we’ll pick up the old pros from the Championship similar to Lee Carsley's signing by Aidy Boothroyd but, realistically, burgeoning talents from the old Division Four will be on Andy Thorn and the newly installed Richard Shaw's radar ready to line up at Yeovil on August 18th.

The summer of 1983, albeit in the top flight, saw a welter of lower league signings brought in by Bobby Gould. Steve Ogrizovic signed from Shrewsbury Town, Nicky Platnauer (Bristol Rovers - he went on to be voted Player of The Year that season), Michael Gynn (Peterborough) and Micky Adams (Gillingham). Also wearing sky blue for the first time was a Nuneaton-born centre-half who transferred from Lincoln City for just £100,000. His name was Trevor Peake and, along with ‘Oggy’ and Gynn, would win an FA Cup winners medal and prove an outstanding signing during his eight years at Highfield Road.

Amazingly consistent and reliable, Peake and Brian Kilcline forged a superb partnership at the heart of the defence. Wembley 1987 saw them celebrate Houchen's brilliant header on the halfway line.

Peake and Kilcline celebrate (23 secs into clip) at Wembley

Peake’s reading of the game compensated for his lack of pace, he was simply outstanding in sky blue, one of the finest defenders of the Division One era. His 334 appearances place him 11th in the all-time list, team captain on many occasions Peake was terrific for the Sky Blues. Similar to the consistency of Peter Atherton, the man signed to replace him, there have not been many better in the number six shirt. His final game, the 5-0 win over Luton in August 1991, saw him join the Kenilworth Road outfit days later where he played until his retirement in 1998.

With City's facilities the best in the third tier, prospective players should want to play in our fantastic stadium with our history. The opportunity to shine in League One is a step up for League Two players but in 1983 Terry Gibson, Peake and company were joining an established Division One club when the power was not with the player and his agent. We’re now a club with expectations of an immediate promotion yet we play in a half-full arena where opposition supporters taunt us over the number of empty seats. With over 5000 season tickets sold there’s still belief and the next few weeks will show if the club shares our hopes for the coming season. They're talking up promotion on a daily basis, let's have action instead of words.

All roads lead to Yeovil...and Bury...and Oldham...

Sky Sports News delivered the reality check I was dreading at 9 o'clock on Monday. There was a ten minute wait while the opening day Premier League matches were analysed followed by a listing of the Championship fixtures. Then it was our turn as League One games for the 18th August appeared and at the bottom of the screen read YEOVIL v COVENTRY. Likewise on 'Talksport', there was a wait until the 'Moose' read our opening day trip to Yeovil's Huish Park as the lead item for League One. We're a big fish in media eyes at this level, I'm sure Sky are licking their lips at slotting us into their schedules for the coming season. Our biggest home game is the opener as Sheffield United and Michael Doyle visit on an August evening just three days after the Sky Blue Army negotiate the M5 summer holiday traffic to Somerset. It's good to see they've thought through the fixture planning on behalf of the supporter.

Boxing Day for me is one of the highlights of the season, though sadly not this time. One of the least attractive sides, Stevenage, await our festive visit to their ground while the hangovers will be shaken off with the visit of Oggy's former club, Shrewsbury Town, on New Year's Day. Game 46 is one I've viewed with trepidation for many seasons throughout our struggles. This time it's Meadow Lane, home of Notts County, just across the River Trent from the City Ground, a venue more in keeping with our past fortunes. Hopefully, promotion will be sealed for our beloved Sky Blues, we're not used to success and unbeaten runs but if we can sustain a top six placing the crowds will follow City all over the country.

The first club featured on Sky Sports News for the fixtures release were champions Manchester City, relegated alongside us in 2001. We've had some classic encounters down the years, Peter Bodak's wonder goal at Maine Road in the FA Cup tie of 1982, the 2-1 win at Highfield Road in 1989 when we topped Division One for the first time ever and the 4-3 win following relegation as David Thompson's late winner under the floodlights took the points in 2001.

Peter Bodak's moment of glory at Maine Road

When we topped Division One for the first time ever

Manchester City spent 1998/99 in Division Three for the first time in their history and won promotion via the play-offs with a win over Gillingham at Wembley. During that season they lost at Lincoln, York and Wrexham as every team raised their game to welcome them and their thousands of supporters. The same will happen to us no doubt, the Ricoh will be the best stadium many lower league players will have ever performed in while the chance to take on the Sky Blues in their smaller stadia on a cold, sodden afternoon/evening will ensure partisan capacity crowds. We have to ensure we win the battle before our quality shines through and restores the feel good factor to being a City fan.

Opening day memories...

With the fixtures release date just five days away, City supporters await the next chapter in our club's fortunes. Many memorable opening day encounters have been provided by the FA's computer, this year sees a different kind of interest. A million miles away from Anfield and Old Trafford, visits to new cities and towns beckon, uncovered terracing at stadiums we've previously only driven past.

Dave Sexton took charge of City in the summer of 1981. His bow welcomed Manchester United, the club who sacked him pre-season. Ron Atkinson's 'Red Devils' left Highfield Road on the receiving end of a 2-1 loss as we collected three points for a win for the first time.

Three months after our FA Cup triumph Tottenham were the visitors as record signing David Speedie scored on his home debut. Gary Mabbutt again appeared on the score sheet, this time at the right end, as the Sky Blues won 2-1. The visit of David Pleat's men ensured the famous trophy would not be paraded in front of the sky blue faithful.

City v Spurs - three months after Wembley


August 1988 saw Gazza's Tottenham debut against City vetoed by health and safety. White Hart Lane's new stand failed a late fitness test and would see a two point fine implemented. There was only seven days for the genial midfielder to wait - his bow came at St.James' Park, home of former club Newcastle.

Summer signings heighten expectations as day one approaches. Gary McAllister and Moustapha Hadji's respective arrivals in '96 and '99 brought the 'wow' factor to Coventry. Kevin Campbell's treble for Forest clouded Gary Mac's debut while Egil Ostenstad's late winner dashed the hopes of City's Fez wearing brigade upon Hadji and Chippo's introduction. All three, however, would light up Highfield Road in the months to come.

46 League One games will provide a culture shock, the quality will diminish but the honesty will illuminate. No more prima donnas falling over at the slightest contact - Ipswich's Lee Martin - and no feigning injury as genuine competitiveness will reign. The JP trophy and a November FA Cup tie will bring a dose of reality as we take to the pitch in yet another new kit. The bookmakers like the look of us too, installing us as fourth favourites, maybe they know more about events at the club than we do. As supporters, we're always the last to know, it's becoming habit to expect no news each morning and that's the worry, there appears to be no urgency to lift this embargo.

"Whelan, Whelan..."

The pre-season months of 2000 and 2011 saw little recruitment by Gordon Strachan and Andy Thorn. Nine months later both campaigns culminated in relegation. Lessons were not heeded from our top flight capitulation when four key players departed Highfield Road for pastures new - Gary McAllister, Robbie Keane, David Burrows and Noel Whelan. Fast forward to last summer when Marlon King, Keiren Westwood and Aron Gunnarsson were offered better contracts elsewhere and left the Ricoh. Both summers saw limited activity as David Thompson and Craig Bellamy arrived during Bryan Richardson’s spending boom while two out-of-contract goalkeepers arrived last July as the cash pot dried up completely.

The first game of 2000/01 set the tone for the year ahead. Middlesbrough and the returning Noel Whelan swept City aside 3-1 as ‘Thommo’ saw red and the defence parted at regular intervals. ‘Big Ron’ signed Whelan for £2 million in December 1995 from boyhood club Leeds United. His first two home games brought wonder strikes against Everton and Southampton as 39 goals followed in 156 appearances during his five years in sky blue. Equally at home wide left or partnering Dion Dublin prior to Huckerby’s arrival, Whelan had the ability to change matches with excellent close control and an eye for the unexpected.

His final career appearance at Highfield Road was for Derby in 2004 following spells at ‘Boro and Millwall. Following a running battle with Calum Davenport, Whelan was replaced on the hour to strains of ‘Whelan, Whelan..’ which were applauded by the player as he jogged off the pitch. Last month, with the Sky Blues 45 minutes away from relegation to League One, Whelan appeared on the pitch during ‘Legends Day’. As he made his way over to ‘Singers Corner’ the entire area stood to applaud, memories of his time at City very much at the forefront of the supporters’ appreciation, in the days when we had cult heroes. (forward clip to 1:25 - 2:10 mins)

Five of Noel Whelan's finest Coventry goals



Pre-season there is expectation for who will be joining the ranks but only if you’re not under a transfer embargo. Players supposedly lined up will only wait so long before they look elsewhere. Off-field matters need addressing, Mr Fisher needs to cut the spin otherwise we’ll struggle to fill the substitutes bench come August. The likes of Noel Whelan, Darren Huckerby and Dion Dublin must shake their heads in disbelief at the situation the club finds itself in at present. All three scored in the famous 3-2 win against Manchester United in December 1997. In three weeks time we’ll find out the fixtures for next season, 15 years on the sky blue army could be eating their turkey sandwiches at Shrewsbury or Crawley. Coventry supporters deserve better than the off-field shambles currently prevailing - sort it out City and quick.

"...Walking in an Ndlovu wonderland..."

The summer of 1997 bid farewell to one of the most unique talents seen in recent years at Highfield Road. After 197 appearances and 41 goals over six seasons, City's 24 year-old Zimbabwean international, equally at home on the wing or up front, journeyed up the A45 to join Birmingham City. Not many players score a league hat-trick at Anfield or weave through the Villa defence to slam home an unstoppable shot on their full home debut but Peter Ndlovu did just that.

A regular under Bobby Gould, Phil Neal and ‘Big Ron’ the ‘Bulawayo Bullet’ eventually fell out of favour with Atkinson and Gordon Strachan but not before he had entertained the terraces with his dancing feet and electric pace. On his fifth appearance he scored the winner at Highbury, three weeks later at Highfield Road one of his best ever strikes sank the Villa 1-0 before The Hawthorns witnessed him in his prime in the FA Cup: (forward to 1:45 mins)

Peter Ndlovu at his very best

On a scorching day at Selhurst Park (Wimbledon) in 1996 two goals from 'Nuddy' helped maintain City’s top flight status, a year after his treble against David James in front of the Kop. He may well have peaked that March 1995 night as knee injuries soon began to reduce his match time and hamper the pace which made him such a threat to opposition defences. Gordon Strachan explained the decision to sell Ndlovu in Rick Gekoski's 'Staying Up' written during season 1997/98. He thought Ndlovu needed a new challenge and had gone backwards at City, a fact demonstrated by just ten league starts in his final campaign. Birmingham, then in the second tier, signed him on a pay-as-you-play deal for four seasons before he moved to Sheffield United where he played until the summer of 2004.

City's first season post-Premiership saw the return of Ndlovu to Highfield Road. Midway through the second-half Blades' boss Neil Warnock substituted him which necessitated a jog from the Sky Blue Stand over to the dugouts. Sky Blues' supporters accompanied this with strains of "Walking along, singing a song, walking in an Ndlovu wonderland", a warm tribute acknowledged by the player who lit up Highfield Road and provided some great moments. City supporters always deliver when a former favourite returns, 4-0 down at home to Watford and John Eustace still received warm applause as he was replaced, as has Dele Adebola on his frequent returns. Since 2001 the majority have been sold rather than submitted transfer requests so the goodwill is there. Craig Bellamy will remain our record signing for many years to come, there was such hope when he arrived, 12 months later few tears were shed upon his departure.