Our two new recruits to the Association can now be announced. Defender Cyrus Christie who left the Sky Blues last season for our East Midlands neighbours Derby County and our former striker Leon Best who left the Ricoh in 2010 for Newcastle United are the men in question. CCFPA Committee man Frank Pritchard caught up with both Derby County debutants at the County v Rotherham fixture last Saturday (09/08/2014) thanks to the good offices of our member and recent Sky Blue favourite Richard Keogh who now captains the Rams. Frank is pictured below presenting both our new recruits with their official Association ties and Richard is also pictured below watching on. Welcome to CCFPA, Cyrus and Leon!
Frank reports:-
“Sometimes the best laid plans of mice and men go awry and Saturday was no exception but we eventually achieved our goal thanks to CCFPA member Richard Keogh and a very good friend of mine, who both came up trumps. The result was an ideal start for the Derby skipper following last seasons Play-Off Final disappointment and his recently recruited team mate, Cyrus Christie. Thanks to Richard’s efforts I was able to catch-up with Cyrus in the players lounge after their hard fought 1-0 win over difficult opposition. In the second half Rotherham often put 6 and on occasions 8 men behind the ball but they eventually succumbed when Cyrus forged his way down the right and crossed for Jeff Hendrick to slot home the winner. On behalf of the CCFPA I congratulated Cyrus on his impressive debut, he was sound and solid at the back and produced several telling crosses before coming up with his assist! Obviously we wish both Former Players the best of luck throughout in what we hope will be a very successful season for Derby County. Leon Best had to wait until 12 minutes from time to make his debut and made an immediate impact with his forceful runs and sheer strength causing the Rotherham defence all sorts of problems. During his spell with the Sky Blues he made 79 starts and netting on 23 occasions, since his time with us he’s had a number of clubs and has signed for County on a season long loan from Blackburn. When we met after the game he struck me as a most imposing figure who’s been putting in extra time in the gym. When I asked him what his ambitions for the season were he immediately replied “Promotion”!
A very warm welcome to both Cyrus & Leon, hopefully we’ll see them in the not to distant future in Coventry, who knows maybe even at the Ricoh?
Not only did the match involve 3 CCFC former players and Association members playing for the Rams with two, Cyrus and Leon, making their debuts but a fourth was set to appear for their opponents. However, former Sky Blue stalwart Richard Wood who joined CCFPA last year on joining Charlton Athletic was on the bench for Rotherham United but unfortunately ‘Woody’ was not called upon to make his debut for his new club!