In the next in the current series where we present images of Coventry City programmes and memorabilia through the years we reach CCFC’s 1922-23 Season and a radical change in programme design (and team colours) for the Bantams!
Former CCFPA chairman Jim Brown and committee member Mike Young have been building up a collection of full programme images from CCFC issues pre 1945. We have currently exceeded 700 full programme images -home and away! All images are taken from the collection and copyright CCFPA (and must not be reproduced without permission).
The first team played in Division Two of the Football League and the Reserves are now moved to the Southern League from the Birmingham and District League.
September 23rd 1922 Coventry City 2-0 Manchester United (attendance c.19,500)
Programmes from the club’s fourth season post World War One remain very scarce. For this season the programme reverts to a more ‘normal’ size from the previous season’s broadsheets (and the interesting front page cartoon is also dispensed with). The ‘official organ‘ remains priced at two-pence (old money) for sixteen pages plus cover. The cover reflects the change to the team’s official team strip which had changed from blue to the civic colours of red and green. The front page is now mostly paid adverts with the civic coat of arms and motto (‘Camera Principis‘) framed each side by a fairly crudely drawn ‘three spires’ and St Mary’s Hall.
Albert J.Evans is still in the gaffer’s chair and David Cooke, the club’s main benefactor, is still ‘Acting President’. Walter J.Harris headed a Board of Directors of seven hardy souls! The programme itself is full of ‘sober’ and erudite content apparently intended for a ‘discerning reader’!
The programme editor’s front page ‘Passing Thoughts‘ reports pleasingly on the previous Saturday’s win for both first team and reserves but, unlike today, feels obliged to set it in a classical context with a couplet quoted from Butler’s Hudibros, “Caesar himself would never say, he got two victories in one day; As I have done, that can say, twice I, In one day ‘Veni, Vidi, Vici”!
There is also in this issue a book review of Mr Harras Moore‘s ‘The Rise and Progress of Modern Football‘ as well as musings about both ‘The Art of Captaincy‘. Also included is a consideration of the positive experience of attending football games as an alternative to, ‘loafing at street corners or even less elevating occupations’! There is also congratulations given to Mr J. Matthews, conductor of the Coventry Silver Band (who played at every home game) for his selection as judge at the National Band Contest at Crystal Palace! There is a full page tribute (with photo) to the qualities of one of the CCFC Directors, Councillor F.W.Kimberley to both club and City. This is part of an ‘In the Limelight‘ series which profiled City players and club officials in each issue (above left).
As well as advertising throughout other pages report City’s upcoming fixtures and there is a full page review of the visiting club, its history and players penpics, making reference to United’s recent capture of famous player Frank Barson. Room is made for ‘Supporters Club Notes‘ by its Hon.Secretary H.W.Kendall.
Joey Jones 1922-23
A few ‘humorous’ Snapshots precede the double page centre-spread (above) of players (numbered 1 to 22) and officials bounded by more brief notes from ‘Peeping Tom’s Corner‘ and the Silver Band’s ‘Gig List’ pre-match and half-time! Two pages are devoted to the Fixture Lists of First and Reserve Teams and their respective tables (the stiffs were currently top of the Southern League and CCFC first team in a mid table thirteenth spot).
Bill Toms (1922-23)
The inside back page has space for codes and fixtures for reporting half-times at the ground. As part of the incentive to purchase the programme it included photo portraits of club personalities. This issue apparently offered photos of CCFC’s Welsh international centre half Joe Jones and No.10 Bill Toms.
Alick Mercer
As far as the game itself, a contemporary match report is also reproduced here (below). City were held by the visitors until well into the second half. Then Bill Toms grabbed a goal on 68 minutes and the game was made safe by centre forward Alick Mercer three minutes from the end!
Most of City’s matches this season were played in pairs so the return took place at Old Trafford the following Saturday when the Red Devils gained revenge with a 2-1 win in front of 30,000 fans. City went down to ten men when our No.6 George Hadley broke his collar bone and we succumbed to a Bill Henderson penalty only two minutes before the break. Alick Mercer equalised with nine minutes to go but, cruelly, the draw watched snatched away with almost the last kick of the game as Joe Spence scored United’s winner. CCFC produced a slightly better season than last and finished in relative safety this time!
Season 1922-23 P42, W15, D7, L20, F46-63A, Pts 37, Pos 18th/22
CCFC 1922-23
If anyone knows the whereabouts of any other CCFC home programme from this season we would be eager to hear from you!
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Some of these featured programmes can be seen in more detail by clicking our ‘Progs’ tab (at top). There are still lots of gaps which you may be able to help fill so if you have any prewar programme – home or away – of City games, the earlier the better, we would be grateful if you could let Mike Young know what you have got so he can check whether it fills a hole in our database (his contact email is m.young9@ntlworld.com). If it is, then he will make arrangements with you to get it scanned or photocopied as appropriate.
Though we have asked before we still hope that some of our FPA members, associate members (and general readers) will be able to protect a bit more of the club’s important heritage for posterity and in doing so help make the Club’s (and your) history come alive again!
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for researching the article and sourcing the images.
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