Coventry City: The Elite Era 1967-2001

The year 2001 will be remembered as the year that time finally ran out on Coventry City. For 34 years they had graced the elite of English football. In ten of those seasons they carried the threat of relegation into their last match. In all ten they had survived, leaving pulses racing and finger nails chewed to the quick. Such was the elation on each occasion that supporters greeted the final whistle as if the championship itself had been won. When the bitter end came at Villa Park in May 2001 the tears flowed. The Houdinis had at last failed to escape the dreaded clutches of relegation. City were in Division 4 in 1958, so their rise to the top was spectacular. Nor were their achievements confined to perennial survival. The club qualified for Europe in 1969-70 and, most famously of all, in 1987 they lifted the FA Cup the Sky Blues first major trophy in 104 years. There were few dull moments during the 34 seasons among the elite. Managers came and went. Players some famous, some not so famous also came and went. All gave us wonderful memories. This book will remind us of those great times. It stands as a unique record, one that can never stale or become out of date.