I heard the news from a friend. I knew what it was when I saw his name pop up on my phone. He only ever speaks to me at times like this!
Coventry City have been promoted as League One champions, YEEEEESSSSS! For me it was one of punch the air moments that only happens with sport.
Our last game, a 1-0 win at Ipswich Town on March 7th, pulled us five points clear of second place Rotherham and with a game in hand. We’d gone through the first 34 games of our season with just three defeats, an extraordinary achievement for a team with no home ground.
As it turned out that narrow win was the last game as yesterday it was agreed in an unprecedented – presumably virtual – meeting of all English Football League’s 71 clubs that points-per-game was the fairest way to conclude the season.
Crucially it was also agreed that promotion and relegation must be honoured which means the Sky Blues will now return to the Championship after an eight-year absence.
The English Football League have been dithering about the decision at countless meetings for nigh on three months now with all scenarios in play from simply voiding the leagues through to playing the remaining games and anything in between.
Although I’d have liked to have seen Coventry play their remaining 10 games and win the league, anything could have happened in those remaining games, so I’m more than happy for it to happen off the field.
Instead of away trips to Accrington Stanly, who are they! we’ll be playing Midlands rivals such as Birmingham City, Derby County, Nottingham Forest, maybe even Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion in a much bigger, more lucrative league, just one level below the all-conquering Premiership.
Our manager Mark Robins, who surely must be in line for the manager of the season award for guiding his team to a convincing league win with no ground and very little money.
He said: “I’m delighted. It’s been a slog and a long wait. In fairness, I haven’t heard anyone say anything other than we deserve to be the champions. We just had to wait six or seven weeks longer than we may have had to wait had we continued the season.”
Not sure where we’ll be playing or whether fans will even be able to go to games when the new season starts in just two months. There’ll be an online promotion party – wonder how that will work! – to celebrate the win rather than the usual open-top bus tour. Some good news at last though amidst the Covid gloom.
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