The Coventry City Former Players Association announces with pleasure that popular Sky Blue Star of the 1980s Dave Bennett will be the Association’s ‘Special Guest’ this Saturday at the Ricoh (19th March 2016). This League One clash with Swindon Town (the club where he finished his professional career in 1992 is a must-win fixture. Dave will be hoping for a repeat performance from the last time he did these duties last November when the Sky Blues pulverised the then table toppers Gillingham 4-1 as part of an unbeaten home League One record during the whole of the first half of the 2015-16 season.
One of our 1987 Sky Blue F.A.Cup winners, Dave is a regular at the Sky Blues home games at the Ricoh. As a nominated true ‘CCFC Legend’ Dave will be hoping to bring some inspiration to the Sky Blues squad to get their ‘Fortress Ricoh’ and play-off aspirations back on track following four home defeats out of the last five in 2016 (to Buprton, Scunthorpe, Fleetwood and Rochdale). This dip in home form was punctuated only by that scintillating 6-0 demolition of Bury on Legends Day last month. However, Mogga’s men achieved an important win at Blackpool last time out so should be in good heart for the clash!
Benno in Action
Readers will need no reminding that he was an integral part of the magnificent Sky Blues F.A.Cup winning squad in 1986-87 having already built an illustrious career with Manchester City and Cardiff City. He is pictured below right with then Sky Blues manager (and fellow CCFPA member) John Sillett remembering the fantastic day at the 25th anniversary celebrations in 2012.
From 1983-89 ‘Benno’ scored 25 league goals in 172 league appearances for the Sky Blues before moving on to Sheffield Wednesday and finishing his career with Swindon Town. Unluckily twice breaking a leg there, despite a loan spell with Shrewsbury and a brief stint with non- league neighbours Nuneaton Town he couldn’t overcome the effects of this injury and he hung up his boots in 1992.
Benno was appointed President of Coventry Sphinx FC in their 70th anniversary season and is working hard to find ways to build success for the club. He is no stranger to media work being BBC CWR’s live match analyst at the Sky Blues 2-2 draw at Swindon Town earlier in this season as well as the Gills game so is bound to be an entertaining commentator when he performs the same service for them again the Ricoh press box on Saturday. Not only a long standing CCFPA committee member, Dave has done much to support the work of various Legends’ charitable games over the years as well as other charity events.
Look out for Dave on Saturday around the Ricoh Lounges and in the Family Zone under the stands before the main event and, no doubt, immediately after the game Benno and CCFPA’s Billy Bell will reprise a well-worn but very entertaining double act on the stage of Lady G’s in the Ricoh’s G-Casino. All are welcome.