Highfield Road

Excellent find - thanks !

Still miss the place Red

Yeah sorry Midland Red, too painful to look at. Kidded myself I had no great affinity to HR despite making my way alone from Canley in 1961 as a 7 year old and being hooked. So for 45 years I made my way there, took my 2 sons when they were 7 years old and they became hooked. Then I stood there on that last day, dressed as Georgie Porgie and wept unashamedly and realised just how much the place meant to me, all those years, all those good and bad (real bad at times) moments. To those that took the decision to move - you buffoons.

Quite a few people have made the point that it wasn't all "sunshine and lollipops" when the matches were on at HR. That is so true. I bought my first house in Swan Lane (opposite Heath Road) in 1975 and match days were horrendous. I am not a fan of any football team but can understand that other people enjoy the game. What I cannot understand however is why it becomes necessary to fight an opposing fan outside my house in the middle of the road because your team has lost. That was a regular occurrence. Swan Lane was a lovely place to live until match days came around. So I moved to Longford but I have no problems with the Ricoh.

Taken from the press release: "On 16 June there will be an official unveiling of a new piece of artwork commemorating the historic and unforgettable former home of Coventry City Football Club, Highfield Road. The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum will be launching the work on the site of the football ground between 2.00pm and 4.00pm. Entitled 'The City', it has been created by Warwickshire artist David Dewis in response to the incredible history of the site and the memories fans and local residents alike have of the ground. It will be situated in Signet Square, off Thackhall Street. The event will see shootouts, matches and games on the green take place. The artist will also be available to answer questions about 'The City'." Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend, but I just wondered whether any forum members were there and took any photos?

Tony if you look at this website of the artist here, foward to photos 5 and 6 will show photos of 'The City' artwork. I'll try to get over and take a photo of it in-situ this week. Interestingly if references George Wimpey plc who were the ground developers?

Forgotten I'd got this on an old mobile phone. Left a great big lump in my throat.

Arrgggh Bad Boy. How did you get in there to get that shot? That's Block M of the Main Stand and our seats are just out of shot on the left hand edge as you look at that photo. We'd just got the stadium right with the Swan Lane stand as well

Wasn't the stadium used in a story in a police series just before it was demolished, or maybe it was earlier? Dalziel and Pascoe if I remember rightly Just checked and it was the episode Glory Days in 2006

Right now, you can all wipe your eyes, you lads are a bunch of softies. Nearly had me going there looking at that photo. My hubby would have too, he would stand in the pouring rain on occasions. There were quite a few of us football widows about. At least I knew where he was on a Saturday.

That photo brings back so many memories. I went with my dad to see the West Stand being built in the close season before the City had their opening campaign in Division 1 (1967). We both had season tickets in that stand for several years (until I got a job working on the bar in the Sky Blue Stand). Such a bad move going the Ricoh, Highfield Road was a great stadium and its capacity was plenty for a club like Coventry City. Many happy memories of attending matches there. Come on the Old Five!!

I feel it is appropriate to resurrect this thread. On 28.12.11 I mentioned (Post #8) the appalling monument on the site of the Highfield Road stadium. It was historically inaccurate as well as being an absolute eyesore. I revisited the site of the old stadium yesterday on the way to the Yeovil match as that abomination has been removed, hopefully to a scrapyard, and replaced by a brick plinth upon which is mounted a simple blue plaque. Its inscription reads: "Site of Highfield Road Stadium. Home of Coventry City Football Club 1899-2005." Not really much to show for 106 years of history, perhaps. But it is a vast improvement on what was there before. Maybe in time there will be something more substantial on the site.

Sadly, it won't be a football stadium

In the mid 80's there were some CCFC mugs produced which had Highland Road on them as the ground! I had one but unfortunately it got broken a few years ago or it may have become a collector's item. I wonder if they were made by the same company as the "King of Spain" mugs?

Just to explain the above message, for any who don't know, mugs were made featuring Ashley Giles, and they should have borne the wording "King of Spin"!