The Sky Blue Trust have put together the following time-line.
The purpose of these documents is to present the facts that can be publically verified. It is not to put forward disputed details or the arguments. As far as has been possible all entries are capable of independent third party verification and the sources of that verification disclosed.
Please contact the Sky Blue Trust with details of any errors, amendments or additional information – verifiable public third party proof will be required.
The Sky Blue Trust will not be held liable for any action by a user of this information, and reserves the right to refuse to publish any information that in the Trust Board opinion does not meet the verification criteria above.
Abbreviations
- CCFC = the club
- CCFC Ltd = Coventry City Football Club Ltd
- CCFC H = Coventry City Football Club Holdings Ltd
- SBS&L = Sky Blue Sports & Leisure Ltd
- ARVO = ARVO Master Fund
- F L = Football League
- F A = Football Association
- CCC = Coventry City Council
- Charity= Alan Edward Higgs Charity
- AHCT = Alan Higgs Centre Trust
- ACL = Arena Coventry Limited
- Trust = Sky Blue Trust
- Co Hse = Company House
- HMRC = H M Revenue & Customs
Useful links
http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/ Companies House (documents can be downloaded for £1 per document)
http://www.football-league.co.uk/ Football League
http://www.thefa.com/ The Football Association
http://www.ccfc.co.uk/ The official Coventry City FC website
http://www.coventry.gov.uk/ Coventry City Council
http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/ Charity Commission
http://www.justice.gov.uk/about/hmcts H M Courts
Index
1) The Original Club & Company Years 1883 to 1993
2) The CCFC Ltd/ Holdings and Ricoh Build Years 1993 to 2007
3) The early SISU Years 2008 to 2011
4) The Ricoh Dispute Years 2012 to 2014
5) The company structures
THE ORIGINAL CLUB & COMPANY YEARS 1883 to 1993
(please note our Trust Historian Lionel Bird has a large amount of research available in respect of the early years)
1883
13th August 1883 Singers FC formed by Willie Stanley and fellow employees of the Singers bicycle factory. First pitch was at Dowell’s Field, just off Binley Road, at Gosford Green
Source: Research docs.
1891
18th April 1891 Singers won first trophy defeating Willenhall Pickwick 1 : 0 in the Birmingham Junior cup final
Source: Trust Historian Research Docs.
1894
Singers elected to Birmingham & District League
Source: Trust Historian Research Docs
1898
12th August 1898 Name changed to Coventry City
Source:FA & FL data
1899
Club moves to Highfield Road. First competitive match was on 9th September 1899 beating Shrewsbury Town 1 : 0 in front of a crowd of 3,000
Source: Trust Historian Research Docs and League records
1907
24th July 1907 The Coventry City Football Club Limited incorporated
Source: Companies House
1908
29th May 1908 Coventry City FC elected to Southern League Div.
Source: One League records
1919
11th March following League reorganisation CCFC elected to League division 2. First match lost 5 : 0 to Tottenham Hotspur at Highfield Road. Attendance 16.500
Source: Football League records
1936
CCFC win Third division South Championship beating Torquay 2 : 1 at Highfield Rd. Attendance 30,514
Source: League records
1964
25th April CCFC Third Division champions under manager Jimmy Hill Beating Colchester 1 : 0 at Highfield Rd, Attendance 36,901
Source: League records
1967
29th April club record gate of 51,451 set beating Wolves at Highfield Rd
13th May CCFC is promoted to Division 1 of the Football League and are to stay in the top division for 34 years
Source: League records
1970
April 1970 CCFC finish 6th and qualify for European Fairs Cup
Source: FL statistics
1987
16th May 1987 Winners of the FA CUP. Beating Spurs 3:2 after extra time
Source: FA statistics
1988
Highfield Road property valued £3,850,000 Company Accounts 1988 onwards
Source: Companies House
1992
20th February 1992 CCFC are founder members of the FA Premiership.
Source: Premiership records, FA
THE CCFC LTD/HOLDINGS & RICOH BUILD YEARS 1993 to 2007
1995
16th May 1995 Clubon Limited incorporated, on 30th May 1995 changed its name to CCFC Limited. Wholly owned subsidiary
Source: Companies House
1st June 1995 All football business/players purchased by CCFC ltd from its holding company The Coventry City Football Club Limited
Source:CCFC Ltd, CCFC H accounts 1995
1st June 1995 management services agreement to allow CCFC Ltd to run the facilities owned by CCFC H
Source: CCFC Ltd, CCFC H accounts 1995 1996 Companies House
1996
16th February 1996 The Coventry City Football Club Limited changed its name to Coventry City Football Club (Holdings) Limited. CCFC Limited changed its name to Coventry City Football Club Ltd
Source: CCFC H and CCFC Ltd Accs. 1996, Companies House
1999
11th March 1999 Arena 2001 Ltd incorporated. Development company for new stadium wholly owned by CCFC H
Source: Companies House
2000
5th May 2001 CCFC relegated toChampionship
Source:F L Statistics
2002
Year to 31st May 2002 CCFC H accounts note that option to purchase the land on which Ricoh Arena was built lapsed. £4.8m net costs treated as cost of investment in Arena Coventry Limited (joint venture with CCC) (net costs is the costs spent less relevant loans/creditors) 50:50 Joint venture with CCC.
Source: Companies House, CCFC H accounts 2002
2003
Accounts for CCFC Group show a net investment of £6,808,425 which was then sold to the Charity for £6,500,000. The balance of £308,425 was written off
Source: CCFC Group Accs, Companies House
19th December 2003 Alan Edward Higgs Charity acquires 50% of ACL from CCFC ltd. Shares owned by Football Investors Limited, becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of the Charity. Cost to Charity £6,523,184 inc. fees. AEH Charity and payment made £2m cash £2.5m waiver of loan and £2m to two directors who had outstanding loans to FIL who then re loaned the money to CCFC ltd. CCFC Ltd acquires option to purchase shares back from the Charity
Source: CCFC H accounts, Judicial Review docs, AEH Charity and CCFC Ltd accounts
19th December 2003 development agreement between ACL and CCFC signed
Source: Administrators report
2004
13th February 2004 Escrow account deed signed £500,000 deposited
Source: Administrators report
September 2004 CCFC Academy opens at the Alan Higgs Centre
Source: Official Press release AHCT accounts
2005
30th April 2005 last game played at Highfield Road won 6:2 vs Derby Attendance 22,777
Source: FL statistics
19th August 2005 Ricoh Arena opens
Source: Coventry Council minutes
20th August 2005 CCFC first game at Ricoh Arena won 3:0 vs QPR Attendance 23,043
Source: FL statistics
2006
29th March 2006 Lease & Licence agreement at Ricoh Arena signed
Source: Administrators report
2nd June 2006 ACL draw down Yorkshire Bank loan £21m to pay lease premium rather than pay annual rent of 1.9m
Source: Coventry Council minutes 27/06/06
27th June 2006 Council Arena Construction Completion Report £ 115,729,000 build cost
Source: Coventry Council minutes
THE EARLY SISU YEARS 2008 to 2011
2007
31st October 2007 SBS&L incorporated (1100 shares issued increased to 13698 by 31/05/2009)
Source: Companies House
14th December 2007 Conditional offer from SISU to buy CCFC H Group CCFC Group avoid administration
Source: SBS&L Accounts 2008
2008
22nd February 2008 Unconditional offer from SISU for CCFC H Group CCFC H Group acquired at a net “fair value” of £8,600,589 plus costs and cash etc £932,563
Source: SBS&L Accounts 2008
February 2008 Original shareholders issued with Class B non voting shares entitling them to an annual review and meeting, but no vote
Source: Companies House
23rd March 2008 to 14th April 2008 all existing mortgage charges settled
Source: Companies House
31st May 2008 Option to purchase Charity’s shares in ACL included in SBS&L accounts at £1,000,000. Also 2008 accounts include contingent liability of up to £6m payable to certain creditors if CCFC promoted to The Premiership by 2012/13 season. Accounts filed 30/03/2009
Source: SBS&L Accounts 2008
31st May 2008 SBS&L Group debt owed to SISU investors £11,039,686
Source:SBS&L Accounts 2008
6th June 2008 Prozone Group acquired by SBS&L
Source: SBS&L Accounts 2009
8th December 2008 liquidator appointed to Arena 2001 Limited
Source: Companies House
2009
30th March 2009 Accounts year ended 31st May 2008, CCFC H Ltd & SBS&L are approved by Directors to be filed at Company House.
Source: Companies House
31st May 2009 SBS&L Group debt to SISU investors is £23,399,055
Source: SBS&L accounts 2009
2010
26th February 2010 Accounts year ended 31st May 2009, CCFC H Ltd & SBS&L are approved by Directors to be filed at Company House.
Source: Companies House
31st May 2010 SBS&L Group debt to SISU investors £24,099,055
Source: SBS&L accounts 2010
24th September 2010 SISU funds shareholdings transferred to Sconset Capital LP (11495 shares in total)
Source: Companies House
2011
1st March 2011 Club placed in embargo for late filing of accounts 31/05/10
Source: F L regulations
28th March 2011 Arley Group shares (a R Ranson company) transferred to Sconset Capital (2203 shares)
Source: Companies House
29th March 2011 SBS&L takes charge over assets of CCFC H Ltd
Source: Companies House
21st April 2011 Otium Entertainment Group Ltd incorporated (2 Shares issued later increased to 1000)
Source: Companies House
28th April 2011 Accounts year ended 31st May 2010, CCFC H Ltd & SBS&L are approved by Directors to be filed at Company House. Delivered late.
Source: Companies House
FL embargo subsequently lifted
26th May 2011 Standard Memorandum & Articles for OEG amended
Source: Companies House
31st May 2011 SBS&L Group debt to SISU investors and ARVO Master Fund is £29,679,942 and £2,000,000 respectively
Source: SBS&L 2011 Accs
7th June 2011 Prozone Group sold to S U P SAS and SBS&L loans to Prozone Group taken over by SUP SAS
Source: Prozone Group Accs
THE RICOH DISPUTE YEARS 2012 to 2014
2012
28th February 2012 Club placed in embargo for late filing of accounts 31/05/11
Source: F L regulations
19th March 2012 ARVO Master Fund takes a charge over CCFC Ltd and CCFC H Ltd assets.
Source: Companies House
1st April 2012 Club ceases to pay rent under the original lease & licence terms. Payments were subsequently drawn from an Escrow account. CCFC then agreed to make match day payments to ACL for use of the arena.
Source: Judicial Review Papers
28th April 2012 CCFC relegated to League 1
Source: F L statistics
May 2012 SISU in talks with Higgs Charity regarding purchase of 50% interest in ACL. Heads of terms agreed but not taken further
Source: Confirmed by SISU and Charity
31st May 2012 SBS&L Group debt owed to SISU investors and ARVO Master Fund was £28,554,706 and £8,025,814 respectively
Source: SBS&L Group Accounts 2012
20th June 2012 Accounts year ended 31st May 2011, CCFC H Ltd & SBS&L are approved by Directors to be filed at Company House. Delivered late. FL embargo subsequently lifted.
Source: Company House
13th August 2012 ACL obtain Judgement on rent debt - Unchallenged
Source: H M Courts
18th October 2012 Arena 2001 Ltd wound up
Source: Companies House
December 2012 talks between CCC and SISU regarding ownership of the stadium
Source: Judicial Review papers
5th December 2012 ACL issue statutory demand - Unchallenged
Source: H M Courts
2013
15 January 2013 Coventry Council replaces Yorkshire Bank finance for ACL with loan from the Council to ACL of £14.4m Source: H M Courts
14th February 2013 ACL third party debtor orders on CCFC bank accounts Unchallenged
Source: H M Courts
1st March 2013 CCFC placed under transfer embargo for non filing of Accounts to 31/05/12
Source: FL Regulations
13th March 2013 ACL petition for CCFC Ltd administration
Source: H M Courts
21st March 2013 ARVO Master Fund places CCFC Ltd in to administration
Source: Administrators Report & Companies House
21st March 2013. P Appleton appointed joint administrator
Source: Administrators Report & Companies House
28th March 2013 FL impose 10 point penalty because of insolvency event
Source: FL Regulations
20th April 2013 Last game played at Ricoh Arena lost 0:1 Leyton Orient
Source: FL statistics
15th May 2013 First administrators report. Lists the following creditors
- ACL £636,381
- ARVO Master Fund £10,250,977
- CCFC H £44,738,004
- SBS&L £14,497,639
Total creditors £70,123,001
Source: Companies House
24th May 2013 Statement of Administrators proposals filed. CCFC has debts claimed to be over £70m and very few assets
Source: Company House
29th May 2013 first creditors meeting adjourned until 12th June 2013
Source: Companies House
8th July 2013 CCFC given permission by FL to play “home” games at the Sixfields Stadium Northampton
Source: FL Announcement
27th June 2013 Assets of CCFC Ltd are sold to OEG by the administrator For £1,500,004
Source: Administrators Report and Companies House
25th July 2013 ARVO take charge over 901 shares SBS&L own in OEG
Source: Companies House
2nd August 2013 CVA rejected by non related creditors (ACL & HMRC)
Source: Administrators Report
2nd August 2013 Otium Entertainment Group ltd awarded Football League share
Source: Football League
2nd August 2013 FL impose 10 point penalty because the football club did not exit administration by a Creditors Voluntary Arrangement (CVA)
Source: Football League Regulations
9th August 2013 Right claimed by SBS&L, ARVO, CCFC H for Judicial Review of CCC actions rejected but oral examination requested
Source: HM Courts
10th August 2013. ARVO Master Fund takes charge over OEG Ltd and SBS&L Ltd
Source: Companies House
9th September 2013 SBS&L adopts new Memorandum & Articles
Source: Companies House
27th September 2013 Administrator of CCFC Ltd applies for that company to be wound up
Source: Companies House
8th October 2013 final administrators report
Source: Companies House
19th October 2013 mortgage charge in favour of ARVO Master Fund released in respect of CCFC H. SBS& L charge over CCFC H also released
Source: Companies House
21st October 2013 Liquidator appointed to CCFC Ltd
Source: Companies House
23rd October 2013 £500,000 new shares issued in OEG
Source: Companies House
31st October 2013 Accounts for OEG, SBS&L filed late at Company House.
Source: Companies House
No accounts for CCFC Ltd & CCFC H to be filed. CCFC in “limited” FL transfer embargo, CCFC no longer classed as insolvent by FL.
Source: FL announcement
1st November 2013 SBS&L, ARVO, CCFCH claim for release of documents by CCC in respect of Judicial Review rejected in Court Source: H M Courts
28 & 29th November 2013 Oral hearing for right to a Judicial Review takes place. SBS&L, ARVO & CCFC H obtain permission for a Judicial Review hearing against Coventry City Council. A date for Full Judicial Review hearing yet to be set (as of 01/01/2014)
Source: H M Courts
3rd December 2013 Club & owners issue legal challenge to Guardian article written by David Conn dated 02/12/13
Source: CCFC & Owners Solicitors letter
4th December 2013 Club & owners issue solicitors letter to Sky Blue Trust in respect of Guardian article web link
Source: CCFC & Owners Solicitors letter
10th December 2013. CCFC sign agreement with the Alan Higgs Centre Trust to allow the CCFC Academy to use the facilities so helping to safeguard the Category 2 status of the Academy
Source: Official announcement CCFC & AHCT
10th December 2013 Class ‘B’ shareholders of CCFC H meet to discuss voluntary winding up the original CCFC company, CCFC Holdings Ltd
Source: shareholders notice of meeting
20th December 2013 Club owners present artist impressions of potential new stadium
Source: Official press release
30th December 2013 ARVO take mortgage charge over all assets of OEG and 1,484,000 £1 Preference shares issued to ARVO
Source: Companies House