As John Lennon sang “another year's over a new one's just begun.” 2006 will go down in history at Coventry City just as every year before it has as well. This was the first full calendar year at the Rioch. In 2006 we have used 39 different players this is the lowest total since 2001 when we used 39 players. This year we have earned 68 points, 5 more than our best since relegation that was 63 in 2002. In that time we have won 13 times at home this is the most in a year since 1982 when we also won 13 home games.
January (you start the year of fine, Wise after the event)
City started the year in 18th place only five points ahead of the relegation zone and ten points from the play offs. First game of 2007 was a local, derby at home to Wolves. A new attendance record was set at the Rioch for the visit of the Black Country team; it was the largest home attendance for 19 years. Whilst some of the “Yam-yams” decided to park on the A444 they saw City win 2-0 thanks to a Scowcroft goal and an own goal from Lescot. The side that day, in goal Marton Fulop, Marcus Hall, Richard Duffy, Richard Shaw, Adie Williams, Gary McSheffrey, James Scowcroft, Issac Osbourne, Michael Doyle, Dele Adebola and Stern John, with Claus Jorgensen, Andy Morrell and Andrew Whing all coming of the bench. We also had new faces at the Rioch; Paul Fletcher as MD, Ken Sharp Marketing Manager and Mel Brannington Finical Manager, maybe with a new board a new era was about to begin? A couple of days later the City board launched its “3 years to reach the Premiership plan”. Next up was a tricky trip to Brighton for a FA Cup 3rd round match, City won 1-0 thanks to a McSheffrey goal. Making their first appearance of the year were Stephen Hughes and keeper Clayton Ince. The Fourth round draw guaranteed us our first ever cup game at the Rioch, out of the hat came Middlesbrough or Nuneaton Borough the Premiership club was held at Nuneaton and we had a week of speculation that our neighbours could be the first cup team to visit the Rioch. City travelled to run-away league leaders Reading and despite an excellent display went down 2-0, or first defeat at the Madejski, Andrew Impey and Don Hutchison playing their first game of the year. A couple of day's later Middlesbrough beat Nuneaton in the replay 5-2. Then Mickey Adams announces a shock signing 39 year old Dennis Wise, opinion was divide on the signing with one City fan ringing up the Friday night Phone in on CWR stating that he is so angry with the signing that he will return his ticket for the Middlesbrough cup game! Next up at the Rioch were Derby County, before the game started Channel 4 where at the ground using the Rioch as a backdrop for a Ray Winston drama, the biggest drama was to happen on the pitch. Dennis Wise made his debut that day and was lucky to stay on the pitch after hacking down Seth Johnson after 15 seconds. Wise was to go on and grab the headlines as City put 6 past Derby for the second season in a row. Wise scored on his debut he was the oldest debutant goal scorer. Stern John also hit form for the first time that season with two against a team he had spent a sort time on loan with. Adebola scored one and McSheffrey scored twice, one was a penalty when he refused to let John take it for his hat trick, John sulked for the rest of the game before being taken off. Kevin Thornton played his first game of the year. The biggest home crowd since 1981 turned up to see the FA Cup game Vs Middlesbrough and despite going a goal down John scored an excellent volley to force a replay. City then made their first ever trip to the KC Stadium in Hull, Dennis Wise played the staring role in helping City come from a goal behind to win 2-1 scoring an incredible over head kick that was the best goal I have seen in 2006, Stern Jon scored the other and Robert Page played his first game of the season recovering from an injury City moved up to 13th place, near the end of the game Wise was hit by two plastic bottles thrown by Hull supporters no action was taken. City ended the month 11 points from the play offs and 9 points from relegation most fans were now looking up the table and not down.
February (Month of purification, purifying last relegation fears)
Dennis Wise had made a massive impact and quickly became the fans favourite as he helped him self to two goals in a 2-0 home victory against Brighton, Mat Heath played his first game of the year. City went out of the cup next but with a brave display loosing 1-0 away to Middlesbrough. City's progression was halted in front of a sell out crowd at Vicarage Road as City went down 4-0 to Watford who would go on to win promotion. City bounced back by beating Wednesday the following Wednesday 2-1, goals from John and McSheffrey. Paul Fletcher was trying to make City more like a Premiership club by cancelling the popular half time entertainment of letting kids take a penalty shoot out against Sky Blue Sam, instead he invited 16 men onto the pitch for a fight! There were the Royal Marines, Fletcher promised more Premiership level half time entertainment but since then we have had nothing. Next was the long trip to Plymouth, City again played badly away from home losing 3-1 with sub Dennis Wise scoring our goal. At the end of the month we beat Burnley at home 1-0 thanks to an Adebola goal, this meant that City where unbeaten at home since Stoke back in November the longest run for 23 years. End of the month City had moved 18 points clear of the drop this was no longer on anyone's minds but we were still just out of reach of the play offs 8 points behind.
March (Going to march you up the table? Sheff is top cook.)
First game of the month was away to Southampton and our first ever game at St Mary's. City came away with a point thanks to a late penalty from substitute Hutchison. Sheffield United were next at the Rioch but even the 2nd placed team couldn't stop City's home form as a McSheffrey and Adebola scored to give City a 2-0 win and climb into the top ten for the first time in six months. Leeds were next at the Rioch and the performance of referee Mr Oliver was the main topic. First he officiated well but in the second half he changed completely giving every decision Leeds' way and even a late controversial penalty to force a draw and prevent a seventh consecutive win at home in a row. It later turned out that the Leeds manager had visited the referee at half time, this was strictly against the rules, but since it was Leeds the FA didn't take action. Gary McSheffrey scored our goal that day a historic goal that meant he overtook Booby Gould's record for scoring most league goals for a Coventry born player. McSheffrey and Hall are two of only 62 Coventry born players that have represented the City since the Southern League days. On the 20th the new season ticket prices were announced for the following season and for some parts of the ground a large increase was revealed. Back on the road and up to the popular Gresty Road for a league game against relegation threatened Crewe, City were abysmal and went down 4-1 with John scoring the only goal. After about 30 minutes of the game Adams took off Shaw, Shaw wasn't the worst defender that day but angered he stormed off past Adams and down the tunnel, a rift had appeared between the two that would force the popular defender out of the club. End of the month City were still 8 points off the play off places with 6 league games left.
April (The month of the fool? Adams works it out.)
On April fools day we entertained Preston at home, the League must have had a sense of humour because they sent officials with the fishy names of Pike, Pollock and MacKrell! No laughing for City fans as we lost at home for the first time in 13 games 1-0. Rumours started to circulate that a certain unnamed Premiership Club were interested in McSheffrey the asking price seemed to be four million pounds. A trip to Wolves followed and when Colin Cameron made it two nil after 22 minutes it looked like another defeat was on the cards but City fought back with goals from John and McSheffrey to force a draw. Despite the allege rift that had opened up between Shaw and Adams the defender was the centre of attention in his testimonial for the visit of run away leaders of the Scottish Premiership, Celtic. A record crowd for a City testimonial of 25,075 beating the 1967 testimonial for George Curtis and Mick Kearns by 35, turned up at the Arena. A few ex City players were playing for Celtic Paul Telfer a player that always gave 100% got booed Dion Dublin one of our all time great goal scorers was booed John Hartson who used the club to get fit and had no intension of staying was cheered and manager Strachan one of a handful of managers to take us down was ignored. For the record City won 3-1 with Wise scoring one and youngsters Kevin Thornton and Liam Davis scoring the other two. We travelled to the ugly Kenilworth Road for the penultimate away game of the season and won 2-1 with John and McSheffrey scoring in a 2-1 away victory, the first time since a victory away to Chelsea in 1994 that we won our penultimate away game. Easter Monday saw “our friends” from down the M69 in town they left with a point John scoring for City. Stoke was the last away game of the season and playing his first game of the year was Stuart Giddings who had recovered from a long injury. City won 1-0 thanks to an Adebola goal; coming late for his debut was youth player Ben Turner. After the victory Mickey Adams declared that he had found the secret of winning away games. A couple days later Isaac Osbourne won the Christy Heffernan Memorial Trophy after winning the SBT Young Player Of The Year, for his form before he pick up a bad injury that forced Mickey Adams out to sign Wise. The first ever last game of the season at the Rioch saw Cardiff City in town, Gary McSheffrey won the majority of the player of the season awards before City beat the Bluebirds 3-1 with John and Adebola scoring early and in the last minute on his 593rd and last league game Dennis Wise scored his 59th league goal, what an incredible impact the little midfielder had on City as we ended in 8th place our highest position of the season. City put some silverware on the table by beating Leamington away in the Lord Mayor's Charity Cup with a 5-0 away victory against Leamington scorers were McSheffrey, Morrell, Adebola, Davis and Thornton.
The Closed season
The season ended early to give the players time to adjust for the up coming World Cup in Germany and carrying the Sky Blue banner was Stern John playing for Trinidad & Tobago the smallest ever country to play in the World Cup. The first rumour emerged on the 9th of May that Wolves' Colin Cameron was a transfer target. A couple of days later the Cardiff pair of Rhys Weston and goalkeeper Neil Alexander where rumoured to be targets. Near the end of May Crewe's Kenny Lunt was rumoured to be on his way for next season. First day of June West Ham's promising defender Elliott Ward was the latest alleged target for City, he later joined for one million the most expensive player to join City since Lee Hughes. First player in was David McNamee of Livinstone followed by speedy Wayne Andrew of Place.
Then with a great fanfare the World Cup kicked of in Germany hoping for a feast of football instead what was served up was one of the dullest competitions in history with England getting knocked out again on penalties. During the World Cup City signed defender Mikkel Bischoff from Manchester City. Near the end of June City called an EGM to present the accountants for the year in front of the shareholders this lasted all of 3 and a half minutes. The board announced that if they traded within the banks limits they could find the funding for the first part of next season, in which the Chairman hoped for a top six finish. On the same day City signed Cameron and goalkeeper Andy Marshall and were rumoured to be after forward Francis Jeffers. Both Southend and Walsall look to sign Morrell. Jay Tabb arrived on the first day of July from Brentford. Days later City jetted of to the USA for pre-season making it near impossible for anyone to follow them. First game was a 1-1 Vs Portland Timbers with Tabb scoring next game City beat the Cougars 3-0 with McSheffrey, Thornton and Morrell scoring. City returned home to the news that Birmingham City had offered £2 million for McSheffrey this was turned down by the club. In a fans forum most fans stated that a price between £4-£5 million would be the lowest price acceptable to sell Sheff. A search for another keeper was on and three ex players were in mind Marton Fulop, Stephen Bywater and Luke Steele were all targets. Andy Whing was rumour to be off to Millwall but the board called that “cobblers”. One player did move to Millwall was Richard Shaw after 362 games for the Sky Blues and one goal he stood 7th in the all time appearance list. Pre Season in Britain started with a City XI losing away to Halesowen 3-1 a few days later Hutchison and Adebola scored as City lost 3-2 away to Nuneaton. Then City won our first pre-season match on British soil since August 2003 with a 2-0 victory Notts County John and McSheffrey with the goals. A victory followed at Banbury before a 0-0 away to Tranmere on the same day it was reported that Birmingham had tabled a £4 million bid for McSheffrey. Boavista of Portugal where our first ever pre season opponents at the Rioch and we lost 2-1 with Wayne Andrews scoring an excellent goal before being forced of with an injury. City's last pre-season game was a 5-1 victory away to Kidderminster.
August (the month of honour, no honour on the board in the fans view)
Early in the month City pulled off what looked like a coup by landing Trinidad & Tobago's World Cup star Chris Birchall from Port Vale for £300,000, also Luke Steele returned on loan, he only stayed a day or so. City won the first game of the season 2-1 at home to Sunderland with Andy Marshall, Chris Birchall, David McNamee and Elliott Ward making their debuts, goals scorers were McSheffrey and John. A trip to the south coast ended in a 2-0 defeat to Southampton with Colin Cameron and Adam Virgo making their debuts. Playing for the first time in the new red strip City went down to a late goal in a 1-0 defeat away to Cardiff with Jay Tabb making his debut. A couple of days later it was reported that Birmingham had tabled their 5th bid for McSheffrey. Meanwhile Andy Morrell had moved to Blackpool on a free he played 111 games for us including a club record 41 appearances as a sub scoring 19 times. The next day was the news we were dreading McSheffrey was sold to Birmingham the last time I felt that bad is when the board sacked Eric Black. McSheffrey was the 15th highest goal scorer in our history. An air of gloom hung over the Rioch as Leicester visited and returned with a goalless draw the first ever at the Rioch. One player making his debut from the subs bench that day was Moroccan Fayal El Idrissi. Who would fill McSheffrey's shoes? Early rumours pointed at Leon McKenzie, Adie Akinbiyi or former Belgium International Mario Mpenza. The next game was away to Hereford in the League Cup and we left humiliated in a 3-1 defeat with Hereford forward Stuart Fleetwood scoring a hat trick, Adebola scored for us. This was the 23rd time we had lost in the cup to a side more than one division below us. Adams decided after his sub appearance against Leicester and starting against Hereford to end El Idrissi's loan and return him to Saarbrücken, he was only one of fifty players to have played a single game league game for us, the reason given was to make room for the youngsters to come though. We needed to bounce back and we did thanks to a late goal by Thornton to beat Hull away 1-0. New signing Kevin Kyle made his debut, a player that had more yellow cards then goals in his career. Strong rumours emerged that Ranger's forward Nacho Novo was about to join City. Other player alleged to be about to join were Fulop and Swansea's Lee Trundell. Near the end of the month it was reported that Preston, Leeds and Ipswich were all interested in signing Adebola, City were interested in the Ipswich midfielder Darren Currie, maybe a swap with Adebola was on the cards. Transfer deadline day was busy as several reliable sources claimed that Novo had signed for City, Ceefax had claimed that McKenzie had signed but an hour or so after this was announced his name disappeared from the pages leaving City fans wondering what was going on. The next morning we learnt that Coventry and Norwich had struck a late deal, City were forced to agree not to play McKenzie in the games between the clubs and City had their second one million pound player of the season.
September (Month of atonement? City still missing McSheffrey)
McKenzie's old club Norwich were the first visitors of the month and they left with a 3-0 defeat goals from Birchall, an impressive Kyle and Stern John. Another East Anglican, clash as we lost 2-1 away to Ipswich with Ward scoring McKenzie making his debut and Kevin Thornton having yet another good game. A struggling Leeds side were the next visitors and this time they couldn't influence the referee and lost 1-0 thanks to a John goal City moved into the top 6th, things were looking promising. Next to a ground were had to date won 19 times more than any other surviving ground Selhurst Park but their would be no number 20 as City slipped to a 1-0 defeat. Despite being the best player of the season so far Kevin Thornton wasn't selected for the game rumours started to spread that he had fallen out with Adams or has personal problems a kin to George Best later it turned out he officially had an injury. More rumours flying around that the board had turned down West Brom's request to speak to Adams for the vacant manager's post at the Hawthornes or was it Adams wanting the West Brom job? Last game of the month saw Plymouth return home with a 1-0 victory at the Rioch.
October (Halloween horror? “You don't know what you are doing”)
A great honour for City as England U21 hosted German U21 at the Rioch a record 30,919 turned up to see the hosts win with a brilliant Leighton Bains goal. Back on the road and City came away from Roots Hall with an entertaining 3-2 victory with goals from Hughes, Cameron penalty and Adebola. Then City put in a lacklustre performance away to Wolves losing 1-0 and dropping to mid table. Adams was facing an injury crisis at full back not helped by the fact he had sent Whing off on loan to Brighton. In came Clive Clarke from Sunderland and retuning for a record third loan was Richard Duffy who turned down a chance of a permanent contract at City to play for Portsmouth's reserves. The two both played at home against Colchester in a 2-1 win with John scoring the first and Doyle scoring for the first time in 18 months. A trip to darkest Yorkshire next to face Barnsley a ground where before the match members of the board admitted, “we had to win there”. It wasn't a great game and it was looking like City were going to be held by the struggling Yorkshire club, McKenzie looked City best bet. The away fans had been calling for Wayne Andrews for a good twenty minutes when Adams sent him on, off came McKenzie and not Kyle who had putting in another abject performance. The crowd turn on Adams with the chant “you don't know what your doing” Andrews on his debut scored with his first touch. At the end of the game instead of taking the plaudits Adams sprinted down the tunnel faster then he ever moved as a player and began to “spit his dummy out”. Their was mainly two camps the away fans at the game and the rest of the fans and the media who called us a “hate mob”, Adams threaten to resign many fans their would of accepted his resignation on the spot. This did prove that Adams has no respect for the fans and many of use had no personal respect for him. Andrews was the 89th player to score as a substitute and only the 6th to do so on his debut. Last game of the month was at home and this time the Warwickshire council had banned any parking at Ash Green despite the fact most houses around there had drives and garages for the locals to park in, again the football fan was being victimised for being a minority. The opponents were Birmingham City and their prolific goal scorer Gary McSheffrey; Sheff received a mixed reception as his side won 1-0.
November (Fireworks after Stoke, lost in London)
A day after Bonfire Night we travelled to Stoke and had to pay £19 to get whilst Stoke fans paid only £5 only 19,000 turned up. We lost 1-0 in dense fog to a wonder goal but the fireworks happen on the way home. According to some rumours on the team coach back Adams had almighty row with Hughes and Andrews, Hughes was dropped and stripped of his captaincy with Page taking over and after a brief substitute appearance Andrews was loaned out to Wednesday. During the latter part of last season Rioch was christened with the “fortress” tag but not this season as Derby came and gained revenge for conceding 12 goals on their last two visits to Coventry with a 2-1 victory with John scoring for City. City bounced back to win 3-1 in a bizarre game at home to Sheffield Wednesday, the Yorkshire club played most of the game with 9 men and despite an own goal and McKenzie's first two goals many City fans were unhappy. A visit to QPR was straight forward for the fans but not for the players who had to take the tube to reach the ground in time the lack of preparation seemed to boost City as we won 1-0 thanks to an Adebola goal. Making his debut that day was Darren Currie a player meant to supply the quality delivery from midfield that had been lacking all season. Next a daunting trip to the team that would top the table at the end of the night but City put in arguably the best performance of the season on a ground we have never won a league game a forced a 1-1 draw again with another Adebola goal.
December (oh what a night, but not for City)
A dull goalless draw at home to Stoke kicked of December as again City lacked punch up front but looked solid at the back. A single goal victory at home to Burnley with a Cameron penalty stretched City's unbeaten run to five games. A shareholders meeting was held on the 15th but no accounts were ready. The Board claiming they had no funs for new players in the New Year. They also explained off the record the reasons for McSheffrey's departure. City travelled to WBA with the 2nd best defence in the Championship but by the end were where on the end on a 5-0 drubbing one of 33 we had bean beaten by five goals or more away from home since becoming a league side, Mikkel Bischoff made his long awaited debut. The real starts of the day were the fans who sang, “twist n shout” for most of the second half. Next up a trip to the awful Kenilworth Road to face Luton, Luke Steele made a surprise return on loan and City dominated the first half but still lost 3-1. Boxing Day saw Ipswich in town and they left with a 2-1 victory, as City seemed to play with no idea the fans turned on Adams with “you don't know what you are doing.” Doyle scored City's goal and Adams preferred to stay in the bath depressed rather then face the press like he is paid to. Rumours flew around that Beitar Jerusalem were looking to buy John and Charlton were in for Ward. Late on in December Paul Fletcher was made a MBE in the Queen's honour's list officially for service to football and charity but maybe for turning things around on the board and helping City to midtable. It is said if we make it to the play off zone there could be a knighthood in it. Lat game of the year was at home to bottom placed Southend, but City could only draw thanks to a Ward goal. Last day rumours were Ward off to Fulham for three million and Kevin Keegan being lined up to replace Adams, who still insists that we can make the play offs. We started the year 18th place and 5 points from relegation we ended in 14th place 10 points from the drop but almost the same from the play offs, progress? Just about.
So what will 2007 be remembered for? We started of fighting relegation and ended up being disappointed with mid-table. A new board had arrived talking positively and looking forward to the future instead of paying for the mistakes of the past. Maybe the biggest mistake was the panic selling of McSheffrey who has gone on a goal-scoring spree sending Birmingham to the top. Hopefully City can find a goal scorer in the New Year and the season can still be saved.