20 years on (10 Viewers)

[Saddlebrains]

From leaving Highfield Road

Still remember it like yesterday. Grew up round there aswell, can still recall the lights on on a midweek game, the smell of the fags, piss and pitch in the West Terrace, the compact nature of it

Third world slum round there now which is depressing

 

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[tskezz]

It was always pretty slumish tbf

 

[Gynnsthetonic]

From leaving Highfield Road

Still remember it like yesterday. Grew up round there aswell, can still recall the lights on on a midweek game, the smell of the fags, piss and pitch in the West Terrace, the compact nature of it

Third world slum round there now which is depressing

Yes it's not very nice round there now and yes it was so hemmed in. You'd of never got people staying in a hotel there if it was rebuilt as it's a dump. Would of liked a more central location. Most away fans visiting don't really see Coventry, just drive straight off the motorway and then back home again.

 

[Domo]

Used to walk across Gosford Green with my old man, walk the same route King Richard street, around the carpark, "cornershop" on Nicoholls St, walk up the steps into the ground. Miss everything about it

 

[skybluelee]

Used to get to the Binley Oak at 12:30, a few pints and 2 cheese rolls (can't bring myself to say batch like you lot) from the bar. Then head to the game at 2:50. Turning the corner (into Catherine St?...) to see the corner of the WT and hearing the crowd used to put the hairs up on the back of neck every single time.

Great days.

 

[robbiethemole]

Going in the Swan Lane entrance, past those God awful toilets stinking of piss, leaking out onto the pathway, going onto the Kop and standing behind the goal.

 

[JSL]

I used to park up Dean Street by Forum Motor Factors that was and walk round to block L. Happy days

 

[TomRad85]

From leaving Highfield Road

Still remember it like yesterday. Grew up round there aswell, can still recall the lights on on a midweek game, the smell of the fags, piss and pitch in the West Terrace, the compact nature of it

Third world slum round there now which is depressing

Great memories and the final day was something else, a day i'll never forget. Still look at the pictures occasionally. Up until recently leaving always felt like a huge mistake, but since the Wasps died, the CBS does finally have an atmosphere and feel like home, which is a good thing, we had to move on at some point.

 

[Tommo1993]

Feels weird when very young fans sing about it.

 

[MTK]

I grew up in Mowbray Street and loved living near the ground - it's why I became a City supporter really. Some of my earliest memories are all the crowds going past. I wanted to go where they were going. I sat and stood on every bit of Highfield Road at one time I think, before I got my season ticket in WT7 on the West Terrace. I remember the main stand fire - we were woken up by the police/fire brigade in the night and I remember all the hoses snaking across the road. I always wanted to go in the Sky Blue Buttery at the top of King Richard Street, but never did. I don't miss the toilets though - the ladies was a converted men's toilet I think, and it always stank. I've come to love the Arena, especially now we've made great memories there. I am a Lower Stoke girl and I didn't move far to my own house - only to Upper Stoke

 

[Saddlebrains]

I used to park up Dean Street by Forum Motor Factors that was and walk round to block L. Happy days

I grew up on the road behind, Hamilton road. Great days

 

[Covkid1968#]

Used to get to the Binley Oak at 12:30, a few pints and 2 cheese rolls (can't bring myself to say batch like you lot) from the bar. Then head to the game at 2:50. Turning the corner (into Catherine St?...) to see the corner of the WT and hearing the crowd used to put the hairs up on the back of neck every single time.

Great days.

Nick - surely there must be rules around being a member of SBT. I demand that you remove Skybluelee with immediate effect and revoke all rights. We shouldn't accept the use of the R word in any situation.....its the thin end of the wedge. What next?? are we going to accept people criticising 2 Tone!!!! FFS sort it out!!

 

[edgy]

Random Great memories of:

Bottles of Becks and a few B&H in Strikers (underage then legal).
Actually queuing for tickets
WT7 banter & wearing a fake mustache as a disguise after the Portsmouth match
Brewer & Baker
Telling coppers our dope resin was a rabbit dropping in Primrose Hill Park

 

[Domo]

 

[ovduk78]

Nick - surely there must be rules around being a member of SBT. I demand that you remove Skybluelee with immediate effect and revoke all rights. We shouldn't accept the use of the R word in any situation.....its the thin end of the wedge. What next?? are we going to accept people criticising 2 Tone!!!! FFS sort it out!!

I call it a roll (only lived in Coventry until I was 4 1/2) & think 2 Tone is shit

 

[skybluelee]

Nick - surely there must be rules around being a member of SBT. I demand that you remove Skybluelee with immediate effect and revoke all rights. We shouldn't accept the use of the R word in any situation.....its the thin end of the wedge. What next?? are we going to accept people criticising 2 Tone!!!! FFS sort it out!!

I did sing along with the Paterson song at the West Brom game. Baby steps, mate, give me time.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

Sadly got no real memories of the place due to being too young. Looked a proper vintage ground. Location seems like it would have been immense with the people walking down from the town centre. Seems a shame we moved to the outskirts of the city.

 

[Sbarcher]

Never ceased to amaze me queuing for a Bovril to be told no one turned on the hot water boiler.

 

[Gynnsthetonic]

Sadly got no real memories of the place due to being too young. Looked a proper vintage ground. Location seems like it would have been immense with the people walking down from the town centre. Seems a shame we moved to the outskirts of the city.

So many other locations near to the City Centre were available with all the factories closing down. About the CBS away fans say its stuck in the middle of nowhere but us home fans know that's not the case with many drinking establishments within a 20 minute walk of the ground, at least 20 I can think of. So it's not as bad as a some stadiums

 

[AJB1983]

I often talk to my kids about it - what it was like. The smells, how pokey it was inside the stands with some of the little kiosks almost built into the walls
At some point I sat in every bit which I’m pleased about.
First games were in the Main Stand, then the West Stand family stand as it was.
then into the new East Stand mostly.
as I got older and started going up myself with my mates or on my own, would either be East Stand, M&B stand or the west terrace for last two seasons there.
last game me and my old man we sat a couple of rows back and to the side of the derby dugout.
then my mate played in pitch after the season so got into the dressing rooms and the directors lounge bits of the main stand.
Some happy memories of the place. For whatever game it was I’d probably be able to say where I was sat.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

So many other locations near to the City Centre were available with all the factories closing down. About the CBS away fans say its stuck in the middle of nowhere but us home fans know that's not the case with many drinking establishments within a 20 minute walk of the ground, at least 20 I can think of. So it's not as bad as a some stadiums

Yeah it’s not as bad as some others or even as bad as it’s made out. Would have done some good having it in the city centre area mind as would have meant it wouldn’t be as empty on the weekend.

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

It had one good feature we owned it.

It stunk of piss (I assume that was the ground and not me).
The viewing was terrible and the facilities were hopeless.

I don’t miss it for a second the crowds were awful there mainly as well.

Long live the CBS.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

Used to get to the Binley Oak at 12:30, a few pints and 2 cheese rolls (can't bring myself to say batch like you lot) from the bar. Then head to the game at 2:50. Turning the corner (into Catherine St?...) to see the corner of the WT and hearing the crowd used to put the hairs up on the back of neck every single time.

Great days.

is it bad that I'd call it a cheese cob :O

 

[zuni]

Used to get to the Binley Oak at 12:30, a few pints and 2 cheese rolls (can't bring myself to say batch like you lot) from the bar. Then head to the game at 2:50. Turning the corner (into Catherine St?...) to see the corner of the WT and hearing the crowd used to put the hairs up on the back of neck every single time.

Great days.

What's a cheese roll? Like a roll of cheese in a circular shape.......

 

[napolimp]

So many other locations near to the City Centre were available with all the factories closing down. About the CBS away fans say its stuck in the middle of nowhere but us home fans know that's not the case with many drinking establishments within a 20 minute walk of the ground, at least 20 I can think of. So it's not as bad as a some stadiums

Where would you have squeezed the new ground in, if you had the choice?

 

[mmttww]

Third world slum round there now...

I don't remember it being Muswell Hill before we left, fella. Not a great thing to say. Implies some grim stuff.

 

[Nick]

Used to be loving life when I got to 14/15 and would get a lift with my mates brother, get served with a pie and a pint and then a couple in Strikers after.

 

[Tommo1993]

I don't remember it being Muswell Hill before we left, fella. Not a great thing to say. Implies some grim stuff.

Eh?! The walk down to Pool Meadow after the game was stunning! Especially midweek.

 

[AJB1983]

Used to be loving life when I got to 14/15 and would get a lift with my mates brother, get served with a pie and a pint and then a couple in Strikers after.

Strikers bar….. blimey had forgotten about that!
Never went in, like the old Sky Blue Tavern.

so many stories.

did a football course once in the elephant at the sports centre, was over a few weeks, and my dad would take me fishy moores afterwards then we’d walk up the hill if there was a game on.

I like the CBS, but it was a totally different matchday experience wasn’t it?

 

[Saddlebrains]

I don't remember it being Muswell Hill before we left, fella. Not a great thing to say. Implies some grim stuff.

Feel I'm well enough entitled to say it considering I lived there from 1995 - 2010

 

[Terry_dactyl]

I started off by mostly sitting in the Skyblue Terrace, went in the kop a few times, west terrace, sometimes went in the west stand. The old man became a steward up there.

Think I probably only sat in the skyblue and main stand once.
The main stand was so we could go as a whole family I think my dad thought this was the ‘safe’ option…my sister and mum came too. Ironically it’s the only time my dad nearly got in a fight up the game! Last game of the season vs Everton before they beat Utd in the cup. We were sat next to a very pissed Everton fan who got on the wrong side of my dad.
I’d like to point out he wasn’t stewarding at this time…well, he was but not officially.

 

[play_in_skyblue_stripes]

Wonderful to see this again.

Originally used to go in West End then moved to Kop but ended up as season ticket holder in West stand. Actually was looking for me in video but must have arrived a bit later than this.

Gosh those were much simpler times. Going to 'Brew and Baker' and not having to worry about life. Everything a lot more affordable and could do pretty much anything I wanted to .
I go behind goal now in North stand. I preferred life back then and before match stuff. No matter how much I loved those days, the CBS is better than Highfield Road.
So glad a lot of people are now coming around to that view too.

April 30th 2005 was a truly memorable day for me in a few different ways and will never forget that day.

 

[Gynnsthetonic]

Where would you have squeezed the new ground in, if you had the choice?

Parkside, Alvis Holyhead Rd or on the same site as the Village Hotel next to Canley Station on the old Standard Triumph site

 

[mmttww]

Feel I'm well enough entitled to say it considering I lived there from 1995 - 2010

but you're talking about what's it like now, fifteen years after you left. Calling somewhere 'third world' has some sketchy connotations is all.

 

[Pezza]

I used to sit with my dad in the main stand for pretty much all of the 90s (he sadly passed in 2006) but whenever I smell a cigar now it takes me right back to that place, the guy around us used to smoke one the whole game. I'm 38 now so only really experienced the "new HR" as it were.

I used to always have a burger with onions, no sauce and if I was lucky a snickers or something! That bar in that stand was an old, smoke filled wooded thing, no windows but I loved it!