The RETIREMENT of Coventry United's goalkeeper, JOE CONNOR...

The Retirement of Young Joe…

Farewell to the grin and hair of burnished copper

Of Joe Connor, the celebrated Coventry United stopper…

It was so innocuous,

Or so we all believed,

When a wayward boot of predatory studs

Into the goalie’s lower leg cleaved…

It was quite inconspicuous,

Or so we all perceived,

But an awkward wait and a physio’s frown

Foretold that we had been deceived…

It was painfully obvious

And so we all, aggrieved,

Watched and realised the ‘keeper’s fitness

Would not easily be retrieved…

Would retirement arrive too early for him?

Would a fracture hasten his demise?

Or would healing accelerate, despite the cigarettes,

For a rousing swan song and prize?

Fortunately for him, his ultimate appearance

Was in a Cup Final success against Knowle:

He played his part, took away a medal

And went out as a winner, his goal…

So farewell to the grin and hair of burnished copper,

For retired is Joe Connor, the Cage’s unique stopper…

Pete Ray

May 2015

Joe Connor retired from playing in May 2015 and deserved the accolades attributed to him during Coventry United’s Presentation Evening @ the Coventry Hilton Hotel…