Founded: 1883
Nickname: The Sky Blues
Honours:
FA CupWinners: 1986–87
Football League CupSemi-finalists: 1980–81, 1989–90
FA Charity ShieldRunners-up: 1987

Workers from the Singer’s Bicycle Works formed together into a football team in 1883, playing at first at Dowell’s Field, off Binley Road. They moved to the properly enclosed Stoke Road in 1887 for a further 12 years. The pitch was between Wren Street and Swan Lane, just south of the current ground. They were renamed Coventry City in 1898. Highfield Road was opened in time for the 1899-1900 season with a 2,000 seat stand painted in chocolate and light blue. In 1981 Highfield Road became the first all-seater stadium in England.

The first reported colours were black and red, being the corporate colours of the Singer firm. While most followers of Coventry City believe that sky-blue is a more recent innovation actually a sky blue kit was first introduced in 1889. The city used to be a major producer of coloured materials, especially sky blue. There is an old expression “As true as Coventry Blue”. Red and green, the civic colours, were worn for a short spell during the 1922-23 and 1923-1924 seasons. This outfit saw relegation to the Third Division and despite a return to the light blue and white stripes of 1913 the club’s fortunes did not change until 1936, when Coventry City were back in Division Two.

Northampton 1 Port Vale 0- Matchday 1 Leauge Two

Northampton got their League Two season up and running with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over 10-man Port Vale at Sixfields.

The Cobblers fielded eight debutants but it was an old name that scored the only goal of the game as Benny Ashley-Seal’s first-half strike ultimately proved the difference.

Vale started on top but they fell behind in the 23rd minute when a long throw into their box caused problems and Ashley-Seal was on hand to score from close-range after Nicke Kabamba’s shot had been blocked.

Tom Pett drew a low save out of Liam Roberts as Vale sought a quick response and the visitors should have been back on level terms before half-time when Devante Rodney picked out James Wilson but the striker somehow steered wide.

Vale’s chances were severely hampered 10 minutes into the second half when goalkeeper Lucas Covolan came racing out of his goal and saw red for tripping Kabamba.

Shaun McWilliams had a long-range shot tipped away by substitute goalkeeper Aidan Stone late on as Northampton claimed three points on the opening day.

Coventry City 2 Nottingham Forest 1

In their first game in the city since April 2019, on a day when they were also markinglast month’s passing of Sky Blues legend George Curtis, City looked out for the count when Lyle Taylor’s first-half strike fired Forest ahead.

But Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres lashed in an 81st-minute equaliser to spark a late turnaround for Coventry, who had spent the past two seasons ground-sharing at Birmingham City’s St Andrew’s home.

Then, six minutes into added time, Forest twice repelled goalbound efforts before big defender McFadzean fired through the crowd and Brice Samba could not prevent the ball squirming across the line.

It was anguish for Forest, who had led at the break when Brennan Johnson’s breakaway stretched the Coventry defence, allowing Taylor to slide in and convert from close range.

That was only a sixth goal for the club for last summer’s signing from Charlton Athletic – but his first away from the City Ground and his first in front of a crowd too.

There might have been a second Forest goal just before the break but home keeper Simon Moore spread himself well to come to City’s rescue as he denied Johnson.

Coventry, perhaps daunted by the occasion of returning to their home city in the first half, looked an improved side after the break, going close when Ben Sheaf’s side-footed effort hit the bar.

But the hosts gradually wore Forest down as the majority of the 20,843 crowd really got behind them – and Mark Robins’ side had a double sting in the tail.

First, Callum O’Hare caused enough confusion down the right for his blocked cross to rebound into the path of Gyokeres, whose shot took a slight deflection before finding the back of the net.

Then, after Dom Hyam’s header was saved and O’Hare’s shot was blocked, McFadzean brought the house down when his follow-up effort somehow made it across the line.

28th January 2017 – The Cobblers 3 Coventry 0

The game was held up several times through flares being thrown on to the pitch and some Coventry supporters coming on to the playing area in protest at the club’s owners.

But, on the Sky Blues’ return to the ground where they played as tenants in 2013-14, it was the Cobblers who bagged the three vital points against the bottom club.

City received an early setback when they were reduced to 10 men after Jordan Willis was given a straight red card for a reckless challenge in the 19th minute.

The Cobblers had the better chances of a poor first half, but they began brightly after the restart, breaking the deadlock in the 53rd minute when a quick break ended with Richards finding Anderson in the box and he fired into the top corner.

John-Joe O’Toole was also denied by the excellent Burge as Cobblers got on top. And, after another delay, Cobblers doubled their advantage in the 64th minute.

Burge tipped over a shot from Anderson and, from Matt Taylor’s ensuing corner, Zander Diamond set up Anderson, who fired home from six yards.

Burge produce more heroics to thwart Richards while O’Toole should have done better when he fired over from a good position, but Anderson completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute when he swept home a cross from Boateng into the bottom corner.

That led to more fans and flares coming onto the pitch but the delays failed to prevent Cobblers from picking up three crucial points to leave City in deep trouble – now eight points adrift of safety.

Played	Won	Draw	Lost	F	A
75	29	22	24	111	101

Biggest Win	31/8/1957 – H – Divison 3 South – 4-0w – Dave Smith
Biggest Loss	07/03/1936 – A – Divison 3 South – 4-0L – Syd Puddefoot.
First-Ever Game	05/09/1908 – H – Southem Leauge – 3-1W – Herbert Chapman

Played for both

Here’s an in-depth look at a player that has played for both the Cobblers and Coventry.

View Profile

FLASHBACK: Northampton Town 1 Coventry City 0, FA Cup 1990

It will be the first time that Speedie has taken charge of a game involving Coventry as he officiates his second match of the season after taking charge of Portsmouth’s 0-1 victory at Fleetwood Town on Saturday. This is his second Cobblers game as he last was at the County Ground Swindon when the Cobblers lost 2-1 on 23rd Febuary 2021. Mr Speedie gave 4 yellow cards including one to Mills.

This year will be Ben’s second season as a referee in the Football League and he awarded 78 yellow cards and 5 red cards in the 29 games he officiated last season across the FA Cup, Sky Bet League One, Sky Bet League Two and EFL Trophy.

Speedie will be assisted by Darren Wilding and Ian Smedley whilst Richard Morris will act as the fourth official.

Program

Tickets

Follow the match

Each of Coventry’s last five competitive wins against Northampton have come in home matches, the first of which was in 1957, and most recently in 2016.
Northampton have lost only twice in their last 12 competitive meetings with Coventry (W5 D5), winning the most recent meeting in January 2017 in League One.
Coventry have progressed beyond the first round of the League Cup in consecutive seasons, last doing so three seasons running between 2002-03 and 2005-06 (a four-season run).
Northampton have lost each of their last six away matches in the League Cup against sides with ‘City’ in their name, a run that started with a 1-3 defeat against Manchester City in the third round in 1981-82.