Coventrians Rugby Football Club :
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Club History
When people ask who I played rugby for, I say, “Coventrians.” They reply, “old Coventrians?” I pause (sometimes tempted) but always say no, the real Covents. At this point they usually pull out a memory of the old baths, singing ‘til the early hours or one of the great characters associated with the club such as Spanner or Red.
The playing side is a serious business and everyone wants to be successful but it isn't all about winning trophies and being the best. It's about the club and the pride you have in the blue and white shirt. It's about the people you play and drink with, it's about the legacy of Jeff Daniel's “Eskimo Nell,” Hodgy's “Hooded Poet,” or Golly reciting Shakespeare, it's about Martin Trenholm's bonfires, Scholesy's chuckle and Sean's refereeing on the bottom pitch.
In the past when someone from a “big” club has sneered at us I've detected an envy of our closeness, our craic and pride in what we've got. Covents is an institution with a togetherness forged from adiversity, it's alive, it's kicking and it's ours.
It just leaves me to say, congratulations to everyone last season, it was fantastic to see the club do so well. I can't remember the last VP's do (thanks john Kenny & Platty) so the tradition remains! I'm looking forward to another great year in 2006/07
Mick Winterton
Club History
The actual date that the name 'Coventrians' was adopted is rather vague. A brief history of the Club is as follows:
1914-1918
During the First World War, local players and old boys from King Henry VIII Grammar School formed a team from players home on leave from their wartime services. Sometimes during this period the team played under the name of the Warwickshire Yeomanry - named after the County Regiment
1914-1935
The name Coventrians may have been used before this period, but it was during this period the name was used. During these years the club was still a mix of old boys and non-school members.
A 50 th Anniversary celebration was held on 18 th Sept 1971 indicating the Coventrians were formed in 1921.A Post card and Post mark were created for the anniversary.
In 1930 the school formed its own club, Old Coventrians, and only old boys were eligible to play - hence the two, Coventrians and Old Coventrians, Maudslay Road was still being used as a ground.
One member of the club worked at The Maudslay (car and lorry manufacturers) and used to 'borrow' lorries for transporting the players to away fixtures.
During this period the first Tin Bath was purchased.
1935-1937
The Club moved to The Grove, Kenilworth Road , situated on the corner of Kenilworth Road and the Leamington Rd. A member of the Club has some spare land at his home and a pitch was situated there.
The tin bath was also moved!
1937-1939
The club and tin bath moved to Sheriff Avenue .
1939-1945
No games during the war. At the end of the war the changing rooms were burnt down to celebrate V.E. night. (The bath survived.)
1946-1947
The next move was to the Boat Inn, Shilton Lane , and guess what - so did the bath.
1947-1987
The club purchased land at Kirby Corner Road , Canley. For a short period the teams
changed at the Abbey Hotel, Kenilworth and cycled the 5 miles to the ground.
A nissen hut was purchased for £25.00 to house the tin bath and changing rooms. Sometime later a second tin bath was acquired. Visitors used to be entertained at the Royal Oak , Kenilworth .
In 1966 the clubhouse was built and a year or so later the wooden changing rooms were built, leaving its nissen hut as the bath area. During this period extensions were made to the clubhouse.
In 1987 the land was sold and a new ground was purchased at the Old Radford Aerodrome.
1987
Coventrians RFC was re born in September 1987 when it moved from the Kirby Corner Ground to a purpose built site at its current Ground off Holbrook's Lane, Radford.
The facilities at the grounds include a licensed members bar, 4 changing rooms two dedicated football pitches. Dedicated floodlit training area and a Crown green bowls pitch, two rugby pitches
- November 7th - 48-12 home win over Shottery clinches the Warwickshire 3 league title with 2 games to go.
- November 21st - Coventrians field a 4th team for the first time.
- December 19th - Last game at Kirby Corner Rd - 2nd team lost 6-20 to Pinley.
1988
- January 2nd - First games at The Black Pad - 2nd team lost 0-3 to Post Office - 3rd team lost 4-18 to Birm Civ Service.
- September 25th - Coventrians new clubhouse is officially opened.
1988/89
Coventrians 2nd team unbeaten until April 15th 1989.
1989
May Coventrians tour North America including Darren Garforth & Bob Massey as guest players.
1999
Coundon Cockerells Football club, rent pitches and become club members.
2006
Coundon Cockerels football club rent football pitches and can boast seven junior teams from under 8's to under 18's.
