By CovSid67
July 21 2013

With only two weeks to go until the new season starts (Three weeks till the first home game), somewhere between 2,000 and 7,000 Coventry City supporters (Estimates varied massively!) marched to protest about ‘their team’ moving to Northampton.

Whatever the number, it was far more than the dismal hundred or so people that gathered round the Jimmy Hill statue recently, and proof that people are finally taking the situation very seriously. Sadly, little will probably come of the impressive turn-out, as it’s extremely unlikely that anything could change before the recently postponed (Till September) court case between SISU and ACL. If ever.

And, as if to prove nobody outside Coventry actually cares, there was no big name rolled when the sound-bites and rabble-rousing started. No offence to Kirk Stephens et al., but I’m guessing their names didn’t exactly have the national press speeding up the motorway to see what was going on. Said protest didn’t even get a mention on Sky Sports, which is beyond disgraceful.

Local news were there, but at least one interview was scrapped because of muppets’ shouting ‘Tim Fisher, What A W***er’. Pointless, and not helpful to the cause (As is threatening TF’s children).

There were a few supporters from other clubs, including AFC Wimbledon and Ipswich, but the rest of the ‘football family’ was obviously too busy to show they care (Was one shirt from each club really too much to ask for?). Here’s hoping they never need the favour returned.

The march started on Gosford Park – led by two Lady Godiva’s on horse-back (Nice touch, though both horses were clearly scared at being in a crowd!) – where Coventry City’s story began some 130 years ago, and ended in Broadgate. Upon the approach to the town centre the march detoured by Brown’s (With said venue rightly receiving boos from the crowd), and avoided the Council House.

I would have been interested to see if any anger was directed in the council’s direction had they gone past said building, as they are equally as culpable, possibly more than equally if certain rumours are to be believed.

The timing of the majority of the crowd reaching Broadgate coincided with the clock striking one o’clock, with Lady Godiva and Peeping Tom coming out to great applause (‘Peeping Tim’ would have been more apt, and I would be interested to know if he was hiding somewhere to see how well supported the day was).

If I was going to be critical (And I am!), the stage was too low, and the microphones not loud enough, with people nearer the back unable to hear properly. Said problem was alleviated with un-necessary breaks to incorporate local musicians (Another criticism: why not try changing the lyrics of the song you’re covering to contain relevant lyrics?). I am not the only person that thinks this was a mistake as each time this happened a few dozen more people left the area.

The negative me thinks the day was a total waste, while the positive me thinks pretty much the same. In ACL and SISU we have two organisations’ who seemingly only care about winning their personal battle against the other. Coventry City supporters are absolutely irrelevant, and the Ricoh will remain unused until further notice (Though nobody has yet answered my questions: Can we still play there this season if agreement can somehow be reached? Can we change venues once the season has started?). It’s doubtful the casino will still be there if/when the club go back.

The majority seem to think they never will, and, whether you're siding with ACL, or SISU, or simply hate both of them, that's just wrong....