FOCUS ON COVENTRIANS FC, FROM THE MIDLAND LEAGUE DIVISION 3...

AN INTERVIEW WITH 

JANE CONNOLLY 

OF COVENTRIANS FC...

JANE & JOHN APPEAR TO HAVE WON A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF TROPHIES... (JUST JESTING...)

I believe that the club was formed in 2007, with just two teams playing. How did that situation come about and how many teams are currently representing Coventrians?

"We had been involved with a couple of other local clubs for a couple of years and learned a lot from them but decided that we wanted to take things along our own route, aim for charter standard, involve girls' teams, etc, which wasn’t the route the previous club was taking at that time. We were both managing our own boys' teams and the parents were behind us branching out and forming our own club. 12 years later here we are with 24 teams, playing across 5 leagues all over the Midlands." 

THE FATHER & THE SONS...

The club’s message that: 

‘Grassroots football is not about winning trophies, it’s about the difference you make to somebody’s life’ 

is clearly important to you and John. How do you instil that into your players?

"As a club we do try to make football accessible for everyone. We have had kids come to us with learning difficulties, living in care, being the carer, but we try to ensure that they primarily have fun and enjoy their football, as well as the wider social aspect that being part of team, a club and a community can give them. We formed a youth council to give them a voice in the running of their club and we encourage them to go on to become coaches themselves." 

THE EVENING WHEN SMILES ARE GENUINE...

How much was your commitment to Coventrians linked to your sons’ football aspirations? 

"I suppose in the beginning we did continue because they wanted to continue but once they moved on past the youth set-up into adult football both John and I went back to coaching younger teams again and are bringing them through. I get a real buzz out of listening to them tell me that one day they will be playing in the first team too!" 

WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT, I GUESS...

Have Liam and James played through the age groups for Coventrians?

"Yes both played all the way through the junior and youth teams and then into the U21 squad and finally the adult team." 

Which of your young players have gone on to play at higher levels and have any achieved further footballing success?

THE FIRST TEAM WHICH WAS RUN BY JANE AND JOHN... 
LIAM & JAMES ARE IN THERE TOO!

"We have one at the Wolves Academy, a lot at the Coventry Academy, one in Coventry United's 1^st team, one at Racing Club Warwick and several others who have played for clubs like Coventry Alvis, Coventry Sphinx, Bedworth United, Coventry United and Leicester Road, who have since returned to us." 

Your teams have recently moved from your previous ground to the Colliery. Why was that decision taken?

A TOTALLY EAGER BUNCH OF PLAYERS HERE...

"A lot of it was to do with space! We are using the Colliery ground to host the senior section and the U17/U18 sides whilst all the juniors stay at Holbrooks. The bigger the club gets, the more space we take up! We saw the Colliery as a perfect step into securing a long term future for adult players." 

Your need to support kids in an area of high deprivation has been remarkable, providing a place for a number of children from low income families to ‘belong’. You have insisted that money would not be a barrier, providing a boots/kit exchange and making sure that food and snacks have been available for the players too, even at training sessions. Has this become harder to achieve during the last dozen years? Do the players have more of a sense of loyalty because of the ‘Coventrians way’?   

"I think so. As I said we often get them choosing to return. We try to treat them with respect and look after their best interests. The boot exchange in particular is a great example of 'giving something back'. We have had a recent donation from a former player of over 20 pairs of boots that he’d somehow accumulated!" 

A QUICK GAME OF BINGO IN THE DUGOUT.
SOMEONE HAS ONE AND FIVE, 15, IT APPEARS...

You were quoted as saying that having a business plan in place meant that you still needed help with the administrative side of running the club, including cash flow and the nitty gritty background tasks for so many of your teams. ‘Sported’ have been useful, I believe? How did this organisation support you in particular?

"Sported have been a godsend! They helped us with grant applications as well as regular funding newsletters. They have involved us in workshops and projects that have helped focus where we want to go and what we want to achieve. Taking part in Project 51 was a particular example of how we have managed to drive our female section forward." 

TYPICAL NEATNESS FROM COVENTRIANS  FC...

Your first team has had a decent finish this term, so what is the aim for 2019-20?

"More of the same! The first team is the flagship team for the club and has gone through some huge changes this season. We need now to settle in with the new players and management structure (and new home!) to push forward for more cup finals and be a force to be reckoned with in this league. I believe MFL Division 3 is one of the hardest to get out of as this is where everyone starts. You’re constantly up against new clubs with a playing budget competing in this division.

Next season too we are looking to field 3 adult male teams." 

ON MY RECENT VISIT TO SEE THE 1-1 DRAW v CHAMPIONS ALCESTER...

The new ground is a project, so what is hopefully going to happen to the Colliery area over the next few years and how will you fund the changes?

"We are looking to work with the Football Foundation, our landlord and private investors in making the site more of a community hub. We are currently developing the pitches at the rear to provide Gaelic Football for the summer and then utilise it for an additional football/training area in the winter. The idea is to add additional changing rooms as well provide a bigger player lounge/social space for use by not only the club members but the wider local community too." 

SOMETHING OF A RACECOURSE ABOUT THIS IMAGE...

New houses are being built on the site I understand, so would that impact on the installation of floodlights?

"There are currently floodlights on a small part of the facility so we believe that a precedent may have already been set to allow the ongoing use of floodlights. Alternatively we may have to re-site the 1^st team pitch to the ground at the rear and that would mean the local residents would be less affected by their installation." 

THE COLLIERY GROUND...

Your players don’t get paid, I presume?

"No, they don’t get paid. At present, they pay us! We try to keep this as low as possible and use fund raisers/FA grants to subsidise the costs." 

How do you see the club in five years’ time? 

"My dream is that in 5 years we will have a minimum of two teams at every junior/youth age group as well as a thriving female section with a girls' team at each age group and 2 women’s sides. Alongside this I would love to see a minimum 3 adult men’s sides." 

COVENTRIANS EVEN PROVIDED ME WITH A TERRACE...
MAYBE A SMALL GAZEBO TOO NEXT TIME, HUH?

I am full of admiration for you and John and you seem to be one of the favourite teams to visit by other clubs. Is that something you want to continue to cultivate?

"Of course! We work very hard at trying to be “welcoming” to visitors, match officials and opposition teams. A smile costs nothing and goes a long way. I was bought up to believe that you never get a 2^nd chance to make a 1^st impression!" 

THE BODGING MET COVENTRIANS' NOSELESS MASCOT RECENTLY WHICH HAS NOT ONLY BEEN POWERING UP ITS FOREARMS BUT HAS ALSO TAKEN UP KNITTING...

Do you have time left for another life? !!!

"We both have full time jobs too! Luckily we do this together as a couple and as a family so we do get to spend time with each other. We have also made some of our best friends doing this craziness!" 

THANKS TO JANE AND COVENTRIANS FC!