Pat Raybould (Family Zone) Stepping Down

Nick · Sep 4, 2026

It looks like she is stepping down after 20 years of running the family zone voluntarily. Hard to use the word for some people but an actual legend.

I know when my daughter was younger she loved the family zone more than the actual match, same with the Christmas Parties etc.

She must have put thousands of hours in over the years arranging, sorting and making the kids enjoy games even when we were really in the shit.

Personally, I think she should have a free season ticket in one of the Balconies for life from the club.

clint van damme · Sep 4, 2026

Nick said:
It looks like she is stepping down after 20 years of running the family zone voluntarily. Hard to use the word for some people but an actual legend.

I know when my daughter was younger she loved the family zone more than the actual match, same with the Christmas Parties etc.

She must have put thousands of hours in over the years arranging, sorting and making the kids enjoy games even when we were really in the shit.

Personally, I think she should have a free season ticket in one of the Balconies for life from the club.

Well said.

alexccfc99 · Sep 4, 2026

There was a time when she was literally the only thing positive off the pitch to do with Coventry City Football Club

An amazing lady and one of our very finest

SkyBlueCharlie9 · Sep 4, 2026

Remember her at St Andrews setting up a tressle table for mascots to collect a little freebie gift and make it a more of a positive experience for kids.

Sky Blue Pete · Sep 4, 2026

Nick said:
It looks like she is stepping down after 20 years of running the family zone voluntarily. Hard to use the word for some people but an actual legend.

I know when my daughter was younger she loved the family zone more than the actual match, same with the Christmas Parties etc.

She must have put thousands of hours in over the years arranging, sorting and making the kids enjoy games even when we were really in the shit.

Personally, I think she should have a free season ticket in one of the Balconies for life from the club.

Damn straight Nick
A force of nature
A lovely lovely woman

fatso · Sep 5, 2026

They could name a room or suit after her, or name a pre season home game in her honour.

She's definitely a sky blue legend.

oscillatewildly · Sep 5, 2026

Sort it, Doug!

LastGarrison · Sep 5, 2026

fatso said:
They could name a room or suit after her, or name a pre season home game in her honour.

She's definitely a sky blue legend.

Doug will have them in the club shop by the end of the week!!!

Joy Division · Sep 5, 2026

She needs to lead the team out at a home game soon in front of a packed stadium so we can all say thanks

San Francisco · Sep 5, 2026

A super fan. Been to most games for the longest time now. Am I right in saying she was also a deputy head of a primary school?

Sky Blue Pete · Sep 5, 2026

fatso said:
They could name a room or suit after her, or name a pre season home game in her honour.

She's definitely a sky blue legend.

Sometimes there is a real reason to do something just like that and in this occasion it’s right

Raybould jsb room

ptr · Sep 5, 2026

A prime example of someone not giving up on the club after the going gets tough.

Some of the cry babies on here should take note of such loyalty.

lifeskyblue · Sep 5, 2026

Couldn’t agree more with everything said by all posters above. There are a lot of young adult fans now who would not have remained City supporters if it wasn’t for her efforts and enthusiasm.

covcity4life · Sep 5, 2026

ptr said:
A prime example of someone not giving up on the club after the going gets tough.

Some of the cry babies on here should take note of such loyalty.

Well said

junglej13 · Sep 5, 2026

Nick said:
It looks like she is stepping down after 20 years of running the family zone voluntarily. Hard to use the word for some people but an actual legend.

I know when my daughter was younger she loved the family zone more than the actual match, same with the Christmas Parties etc.

She must have put thousands of hours in over the years arranging, sorting and making the kids enjoy games even when we were really in the shit.

Personally, I think she should have a free season ticket in one of the Balconies for life from the club.

Completely agree with all of this. Some of the success the club is seeing at the moment I honestly think is testament to the work of her and the other volunteers involved with the club in the community and the family zone. Kept so many young people connected to the club during the miserable times.

M&B Stand · Sep 5, 2026

All clubs need someone like that. The lifeblood of English football. Unseen graft they do to make their club that little bit more special

Mild-Mannered Janitor · Sep 5, 2026

She and others had to fund it all as well so commitment, time, loyalty and money.
She is a true legend and set something up that fans will never forget, either the parents or those children who attend them.

A true legend and very special lady

Adge · Sep 6, 2026

Mild-Mannered Janitor said:
She and others had to fund it all as well so commitment, time, loyalty and money.
She is a true legend and set something up that fans will never forget, either the parents or those children who attend them.

A true legend and very special lady

You beat me to it. I’ve known another volunteer who has worked beside her for years and there were times during the dark years that the club wouldn’t give them the time of day. They had to beg/borrow and steal and would end up asking the players themselves for any donations etc. I remember a friends son winning a signed Nathan Clark boot-not even a pair.

A shout out aswell to Dom Hyam who really got involved and was an ambassador for the family zone helping move it forward and help it become the success it is today.

JAM See · Sep 6, 2026

Never heard of her.
Never met her.

I've shed a little tear reading through this thread.

We really are an entitled bunch at times, expecting lots while giving little.

Pat seems the polar opposite.

Thanks Pat.

#BeMorePat

Ccfc_Addy · Sep 7, 2026

I'm childfee by choice and had no reason to avail the fan zone, and am emotional reading this thread.

How wonderful to see so many people recognising and celebrating a clearly one-of-a-kind and wonderful human being who made it her life's mission to make people's lives better just out of pure love.

I really hope some kind of tribute can be arranged, sounds like she deserves it.

CC_Si · Sep 7, 2026

Unbelievable timing, this... I'm going through my Dad's old programmes and CovTel match reports and listing them on ebay, and came across this gem from a 3-0 loss to Boro in the League Cup 22 years ago. Don't hold back, Pat

Echo all that everyone else has said, she definitely needs some sort of recognition!

Sky Blue Harry H · Sep 7, 2026

I used to work in the Education service at Coventry City Council, and happened across Pat, who worked at one of the schools in the Tile Hill area iirc, in the admin team. I knew of her then as a big City fan. Was a pleasure to meet her, and I've seen her at a few games here and there. Lovely lady - deserves all the plaudits.

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