Rugby Union in Coventry

This forum has been remiss in not congratulating 'Cov' in clinching the SSE National League One title back in March, having won 27 of their 30 fixtures. They will take their place in the RFU Championship for the 2018-19 season.

Thank you MR. I had wondered. Particularly as I had followed their match day progress avidly weekly on their internet site "Coventry Rugby", only sorry I cannot be an actual spectator, stuck as I am out here in the sticks (love it really!) Sad day they ever left Coundon Road, particularly as I lived in Coundon. But, they "got it wrong" with the advent of professional Rugby and paid the ultimate price and an ignominious existence. So even heartier congratulations, they set to and they`ve got their act together. Has anybody noticed perhaps an unique "double"? City up and Cov up in the same season n.b. I followed the City play offs similarly avidly, particularly as my friend is a Lincoln supporter and you know what happened to them. I have also had a note from Cov Rugby to say that there is an early season celebratory match with old rivals Moseley for Harry Walker. I hope some on here will get a chance to go to this great occasion.

So sad to hear of the passing of Bill Gittings great Coventry rugby player of the invincible Coventry and Warwickshire sides of the 1960s. Unjustly dropped by England after being behind a badly beaten pack against the All Blacks.

Yes, really sad news - a great amongst many in those great teams RIP Bill

Yes, I was sad to read of the death of Bill Gittings. Unfortunately I never saw him play, as "my watching time" was George Cole, who was an old boy of the school my father taught at, Hen Lane/Whitemoor. However I did see and even spoke to Bill in an evening game when he was running the line. I was watching from the cow shed rails and Cov threw into a lineout right opposite me - they lost the ball badly. In fact they were particularly inept and I shouted out that well known "Luton term" - Rubbish! Bill turned round to me and said "You mean, that don`t you". Yes I did, they were particularly playing a load of rubbish that night - and I had travelled all the way down from Scotland, partly to take in that game. After so many years away, I was most disappointed

I am researching the formation of Coventry Rugby Supporters Club. There was a Coventry Football Club Supporters Association formed in October 1920 by Herbert Coulson and Matthew Wale. It appears this disbanded around 1929 probably due to the global recession at that time. In 1935 a Supporters Club was formed led by H. P. Chapman. Any information pre-WW2 would be greatly appreciated. The Supporters Club probably disbanded in 1939 due to WW2. It must have reformed when the war finished. Any information on this would also be greatly appreciated. Maya - I noticed a previous posting in which you stated your father, Charlie Prescott, was a previous Secretary of the Supporters Club. Can you provide any information please? I will be handing all of my research to the chairman of the current Supporters Club. There may be a possibility of a booklet publication covering the story as to why they formed. Any money raised from the sale of the booklet will go directly to the Supporters Club and they can use this revenue as they see fit. All my efforts are on a voluntary basis and I will not receive any financial reward. Any information would be greatly appreciated. LIONEL BIRD CCFC HISTORIAN

Lionel, I have had a look on www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk which is where I get a lot of answers to questions like this. In this case there is such a lot of information if you search for H P Chapman and the Rugby Supporters Club that if it was possible it would be better for you to look for yourself to do it justice. It is a subscription site but would be well worth it. This is one if the things I came across.

I suspect the player receiving the cup is TF (Tom) Windridge, who went on to play for "Cov" and later became a rugby union referee. He was a next door neighbour of ours in the late 1950s/early 1960s.

Many thanks for your help Annewiggy and Midland Red.

Phil Judd was a great friend of mine in the 1950s. I know nothing of rugby but Phil did have a hut between Elmsdale Ave and Arbury Ave down a small pathway, where he worked. Have no idea if this interests anyone.

My dad, Charlie Prescott, was secretary of the supporters club in the 1950s and 60s and probably into the 90s. I had left home by then so not sure. I remember Alf Wyman as treasurer. When he died his ashes were scattered on the pitch, it was quite a windy day!! My mum, Frances Prescott, took over as treasurer. The supporters club office was a small concrete building at the side of the main stand. My sister and I helped every Saturday by selling tote tickets from wooden booths near the entrance gate. Another way of raising money was the tea bar in the cowshed. This was run for many years by my mother. In 1990 my dad was made president of the club in recognition of his years service to the supporters club. This was an unusual honour as he had not been a Cov player. The event was reported in the Evening Telegraph with a photo of dad, the supporters club hut is in the background. When the club was finding it hard to afford a full time groundsman in the 1990s he even worked part time at the club getting the pitch and grounds ready. Lionel, if you can make contact with a man called John Butler, I am sure he could give you plenty of information. He was involved with the supporters club from when he was a teenager. I'll chat to family members and see if I can find out more for you. Maya.

Hi Maya Many thanks for the information. I will contact John Butler asap. If anyone can confirm when the Coventry Rugby Supporters Club re-formed after the end of World War 2, I would be very grateful to receive this information. Cheers Lionel.

JB's a lovely man, and a mine of information as the Club Historian and matchday announcer. If you need his email address, drop me a personal message. Steve

You now have JB's email as requested, via PM, Lionel. One thing I would say is that he may have limited info on pre-war stuff as virtually all club records were destroyed in air raids, but good luck!

Hi Kimbo Many thanks for your help. Very much appreciated. Best wishes Lionel.