At a time when Sky Blues fans are eagerly awaiting news of some new Mark Robins‘ signings for the upcoming 2021-22 Championship season, thanks to CCFC historian Steve Phelps for reminding us of some of the comings and goings during this busy day (27th June) in three Sky Blues close seasons in the noughties! The memories above are excerpted from his book ‘Coventry City On This Day’ (Pitch Publishing 2010) which points up lots of interesting Sky Blue anniversaries*.
The text is self explanatory so here is a photo of each of the players mentioned above. It is fair to say that CCFPA member Richard Shaw was the only one of the four to have developed either substantial popularity, respect or longevity during their time in the Sky Blue ranks. Shawsy is one of only two of the quartet have since joined this Association!
Signed from Crystal Palace ‘Shawsy’ performed consistently well for the club over the ten years from 1995-2006 before leaving for Millwall. He made over 350 Sky Blue appearances and scored his first and only goal for the club only after over 250 games with the club against Gillingham in May 2004!
His Testimonial in April 2006 against Scottish Champions Celtic in front of a big Ricoh crowd (with many Scottish supporters travelling down to Cov for the game) was a big success as the Sky Blues won 3–1. Richard returned to CCFC in 2012 as Assistant Manager to (now fellow CCFPA member) Andy Thorn and was briefly caretaker on Thorn’s departure.
He relinquished his managerial position soon after current Sky Blue ‘gaffer’ Mark Robins began his first spell at the club. Richard has come back to Cov from time to time with Crystal Palace when with them as their U23 coach and since January 2021 has been assistant U23 coach on the other side of London at Watford.
Craig Bellamy was with the Sky Blues in the first season of the millennium and scored six goals in his 34 Sky Blue league appearances. Craig is currently (since 2019) a development coach at Belgian club Anderlecht.
Ellery Cairo made only seven league outings for CCFC (no goals) in 2007-08. We are not sure whether he he is still in the game after moving into coaching in the Netherlands, his home nation in the late noughties. He has also worked as a personal trainer.
Much travelled forward Trevor Benjamin (the other one who is now a CCFPA member) played a dozen games for the Sky Blues (one goal) in 2004-05 before moving to the Posh. In an extremely long career (1995-2012) Trevor turned out for approaching thirty league and non league clubs never staying too long at each place.
*Steve’s most recent work on the Sky Blues about the 1980-81 squad ’29 Minutes From Wembley’ was published by Pitch Publishing in 2017 and all his CCFC books are available online and from all good bookshops.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images