Coventry City

Coventry City used to be a thing.

They were founded in 1883, took their current name in 1898, and made the Football League after World War I. Legendary manager Jimmy Hill, who also hosted Match of the Day on BBC for many years and whose face is on a banner over empty seats at every game, got them to the top tier in 1967, and they stayed there for over 30 years.

Their greatest moment was lifting the FA Cup in 1987, winning at Manchester United along the way, and beating Spurs in the final. The bus they rode around the city in afterward is now in the Transport Museum in town.

They were founder members of the Premier League in 1992, but about 10 years later, the trouble began. Relegation, a manager carousel, financial troubles—it’s a common story, which in this case wound up with a sale of the club in 2007 just an hour before bankruptcy was to hit.

In 2012 they went down to League One, and in 2013 they went into administration and were kicked out of the arena where they were playing, with their home games moved for two seasons to Northampton Town, some 35 miles away. In 2017 they won the League Trophy but went down to League Two.

There were protests and a petition by fans and former players begging the owners to sell and go away. A Sky Blue Trust was formed by supporters, with the goal being to get an ownership stake in the club. From 2019 to 2021, home games were played at Birmingham City’s St. Andrews, including an odd situation when the two were drawn together in the FA Cup. The Coventry “home game” was a draw, so in the replay, in the same place, with Birmingham as the “home” team, they won in a shootout.

Despite all this, on the pitch, things have been looking up. In 2018 they finished sixth in League Two, then won the playoff to get back into League One. They almost made the playoffs again the following year, and in 2020 they won the (pandemic-shortened) season and are now playing in the Championship—and are back in Coventry as of 2021. They also nearly missed out on promotion to the Premier League in 2023, losing in the playoff final to Luton Town on penalties. They had an incredible run in the FA Cup in 2024 before being knocked out on penalties by Manchester United in the semifinals at Wembley. This was their best result in the FA Cup since they won it all in 1987.

Last season they made the Championship playoffs but lost in the semifinals on an extra-time winner at Sunderland.

2024–25 SEASON: 5th in the Championship (lost in the playoff semifinals), 4th Round FA Cup, 3rd Round League Cup

2025–26 SEASON: The Championship (promoted in 2020)

There are many in the area to choose from, and historically it was Aston Villa and Leicester City, who will join them this season in the Championship. Birmingham and Wolves get some mention, and when Coventry City was in the lower leagues, it was more about Walsall and Burton Albion.

Coventry City doesn’t officially have a women’s team, but they have a close relationship with Coventry City Women and Girls FC, whose first team are in the (take a breath) West Midlands Regional Women’s Football Club Division One South (whew). That would be tier six. Home games are at the Alan Higgs Center.

There are two main ones to know. One is “Let’s All Sing Together,” also known as “Play Up Sky Blues,” which was actually written by Jimmy Hill. The lyrics have been updated to include bigger teams than in the original:

Let’s all sing together

Play up, Sky Blues!

While we sing together

We will never lose.

Tottenham or Chelsea United or anyone,

They shan’t defeat us.

We’ll fight ’til the game is won!

City! City! City!

There is also a band version of it they play as the teams come out. But even better is “In Our Coventry Homes,” with the words:

In our Coventry homes,

We speak with an accent exceedingly rare,

You want a cathedral, we’ve got one to spare,

In our Coventry homes…

We’ll get to the cathedral thing later.

They will also sing “Twist and Shout” on occasion.

The Coventry Building Society Arena, at 32,609 seats with a casino and shopping center, is a perfectly modern stadium. It lacks charm, but it’s easy to reach and has good views of the pitch from all over. Away fans will be in the South Stand.

TOURS: None

GETTING THERE: Couldn’t be simpler: the Coventry Arena Rail Station is right next to the stadium.

PUBS: If you happen to be in Coventry, over by the cathedral, look for the Golden Cross, which dates to 1583 (though it’s been massively redeveloped recently) and has a good menu of pub classics. The Artisan Bar and Grill is also nice.

GRUB: There’s nothing out by the stadium other than fast food and a Nando’s. More options are available in the city center.

AROUND TOWN: If you’re into architecture, you may have heard of Coventry. That’s because in 1940 their beautiful cathedral was destroyed by a German bombing raid, and they completely rebuilt it. The result is a rare modernist cathedral, opened in 1962 and famous for stained glass and a massive tapestry behind the high altar.

It would appear from the song above that at least some locals don’t like it, but it’s well worth a visit. The ruins of the old one are next door, where two old timbers that landed in the shape of a cross in the destruction were preserved that way.

Museums include Coventry Music, Coventry Transport, Midland Air Museum, and St. Mary’s Guildhall, a well-preserved 14th-century building.

Elsewhere around town there are a number of old buildings, especially along Spon Street, where you can also find a pub dated 1451 called The Old Windmill, with five-foot-tall doors and tiny rooms with a stove in each. It’s super cozy.

There is a dash of hipster culture in town as well, particularly at a place called Fargo Village, named for Far Gosford Street where it’s located—a street that still has old-school barbers and discount stores but also now has a tattoo place and an artisan coffee house. Gentrification right ahead!

One of those businesses is the Phil Silvers Archival Museum. You have to see this place and meet the owner, Steve. Who was Phil Silvers? He played Sgt. Bilko, a character in a 1950s sitcom who, should someone over 50 or so Google him, will be recognized right off. He had a long career as a comedian, actor, and Broadway star and was quite a bit more popular in the UK than in the U.S., in part because he was in something called “Carry On” films. But just go to the museum and ask Steve; he’ll tell you all about it!