MAJESTIC COV - Once the kings of English Rugby

It is hugely appropriate that this tribute to one of the City of Coventry's proudest symbols should touchdown between our year as UK City of Culture and the club's 150th anniversary year. It is much more than the story of a great rugby club. It is a rich journey into the spirit of the game of rugby, the great characters who wore the blue and white hoops, the passion of its supporters, love for this club and this city, told with an easy style and the good humour that has characterised both of them through their long histories of triumph and disaster. And who better to author this than Steve "Scribble" Evans, who spent so much time in the stands (and in the bars, it seems) recording at least the printable events as they unfolded for the readers of the Coventry Evening Telegraph. We are indebted to Steve who has done this as a labour of love, and indeed to all those who have contributed, with all proceeds from book sales going to the club. 'Coventry Football Club' was founded just three years after the RFU itself and gained a name as one of the most famous clubs in the world; indeed it can fairly be said to have been the greatest club in the world in its heyday of the 1960s and 70s, providing - appropriately enough for the country's centre of automotive manufacturing - a seemingly endless production line of international players. It is worth pausing for a moment to reflect on the fact that the first ever England team to beat the All Blacks at home in New Zealand contained five of Coventry's finest (and the ref was an ex-All Black!). The club has not been without its tribulations, but we Cov kids are used to set-backs and have always hauled ourselves up again. Now, with our solid base in the Championship, our academy system developing a string of local talent, our far-reaching community projects, our state of the art pitch and ambitious site development plans, the club is in a good place. Add into the mix the spirit, passion and love that are deep in the DNA of 'Cov', and it looks well set for the next 150.