The Coventry City Former Players Association is delighted to announce that F.A.Cup winning hero (and CCFPA member) Greg Downs will be the Association’s ‘special guest’ for the Sky Blues next home game at the Ricoh when they take on Northampton Town on Saturday 27th August 2016.
Greg travels over again from his East Anglian home. Last here in February for Legends Day 2016 Greg was due to come last June to take part in our Golf Day 2016 but had to withdraw due to circumstances beyond his control so his visit on Saturday will help to make up for it. Norwich City first discovered his talents in the mid seventies and (in addition to loan outings for Torquay United and Connecticut Bicentennials in the USA whilst with the Canaries) Greg made 169 first team appearances before signing for the Sky Blues in the summer of 1985.
Greg in 1988
He quickly became popular at Highfield Road and was always ‘game for a laugh’ once briefly sporting an outlandish wig on the pitch to cover his balding pate! He became an indispensible part of the close knit Division One squad which surprised many outside Coventry by bringing the F.A.Cup back to a jubilant Sky Blue City in May 1987 after a stirring ‘road to Wembley’ and a memorable Final against Spurs. He will be pleased to link up again with former Cup winning colleagues (and CCFPA members) Micky Gynn, Oggie and Dave Bennett (especially appropriate in the 30th Anniversary of that memorable season)!
Greg & fellow FA Cup hero Micky Gynn at a previous CCFPA event.
By the time he left CCFC for near neighbours Birmingham City in August 1990 full back Greg had clocked up 184 first team appearances for the Sky Blues (7 goals). After a season at St Andrews Greg became player-coach, then Manager at Hereford United from 1991-1994. Spells at a cluster of non-league clubs including Raunds Town, Redditch Town, Kettering Town, Forest Green, Bridgnorth Town, Malvern Town, Merthyr Tydfil, Worcester City, Lowestoft Town, Great Yarmouth Town, Mulbarton United, Blofield, Dereham Town, North Walsham Town and Wroxham followed until he retired from football in the mid noughties. Since 1997 Greg’s ‘day job’ has been as a serving policeman in East Anglia.
If you are planning to go to the game look out for Greg around the lounges at the Ricoh before the game (or visiting the club’s Family Zone) and if you aren’t able to get to the Arena why not listen to him for he is hoped to be part of the BBC C&W Radio match commentary team during the game. After the game we also hope to entice Greg down to the G-Casino where Sky Blue fans can see him ‘lightly grilled’ in a Q&A conducted by CCFPA Vice Chairman Billy Bell on the stage of Lady G’s. All are welcome!