Question for the older lot (5 Viewers)

[Jackoskyblue]

The Jimmy Hill revolution was way before my time but the question is, does it have a similar feeling to it to what mark robins is doing now? Because at the minute I'm so proud to be sky blue I'm loving every second of it, before, we were disappointed with a loss now were gutted if we draw, it feels like the whole footballing world is taking notice, I would imagine that's how it felt back then ? Can anyone sum up what it was like ?

 

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[We'll_live_and_die]

Great question, I have to agree with the sentiment and would be interested to hear the opinion of our more seasoned supporters.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Even if it was a similar 'revolution', I don't think we would be able to get to the prem in the near future, now, you have to buy promotion...

 

[covcity4life]

no you dont

blackpool did with a team comprised for 350k

 

[Danceswithhorses]

Even if it was a similar 'revolution', I don't think we would be able to get to the prem in the near future, now, you have to buy promotion...

To be fair, Jimmy Hill was backed up by a great chairman in Derek Robbins, who IIRC wasnt shy with spending money when necessary

 

[Jackoskyblue]

Even if it was a similar 'revolution', I don't think we would be able to get to the prem in the near future, now, you have to buy promotion...

I meant more the feelings of the fans did that era give fans a similar feeling to the one were walking away with now. Although I do think you can get in the prem without money, just takes momentum, the right manager, off field problems SORTED, steady balanced books, committed players who play for the shirt, and fans who back the team all the way and become a 12th man. I'd say at the minute we have 4 of those 6 things

 

[SkyBlueCharlie]

The Jimmy Hill revolution was way before my time but the question is, does it have a similar feeling to it to what mark robins is doing now? Because at the minute I'm so proud to be sky blue I'm loving every second of it, before, we were disappointed with a loss now were gutted if we draw, it feels like the whole footballing world is taking notice, I would imagine that's how it felt back then ? Can anyone sum up what it was like ?

From what I can remember there is the same air of anticipation tinged with apprehension. It was difficult to believe what was happening then and it seems very similar now. You were always waiting for the wheels to come off but Hill built a team that didn't know when they were beaten and when you look at the team that MR has built and the spirit he has instilled in them you can see similar roots. In the 60's no-one fancied their chances against CCFC and I believe that is happening now, particularly after last nights result. The dream begins again!!

 

[Warwickhunt]

until city remove the "wait for it to go tits up" syndrom then no! in Jimmy hill era we felt like we was never going to lose another match and when we did it was such a rare occasion that it was soon expunged by the next game. i don't have that feeling with this squad of players! i am still going to matches in intrepidation of them waiting to kick me in the nuts like they did against Shrewsbury - when they have learnt not to lose the important games when they are on a run will be the day that I will feel its like Jimmy Hill's revolution. If they had not lost those crucial games at home and just drawed them we would be in 5th place and not 11th as now. Consistancy is the big word for me!

 

[mcullen]

One thing I would say is that I love League One. I mean genuinely love it. Here we are the big boys - a big fish in a small pond. The away grounds we get to go to are brilliant - Yeovil, Brentford and Crewe to name a few - and Leyton Orient was a great day out. We can go into every game now we have got the team organised feeling positive. When we were in the Prem I can remember going away to Chelsea just hoping that we didn't get thrashed. It's great finally being at a level where we stand a chance in every game and are looking to win more than we lose. Personally I'm not that bothered about promotion, I'd rather stay in League One and continue the party. The Championship is far too serious for me. That said, if Villa do get relegated then it's imperative that we do get promoted. It would be an absolute choker if they went down and we weren't there to play them. Other than that, I'm happy to settle for two Wembley appearances this year. Win the first but be gallant runners up in the second. Keep the feel good factor and take in some more proper old school away grounds next season. I know most won't agree with this and accuse me of lacking ambition - and that's fair, they do have a point - but it's so wonderful to be able to enjoy being a Cov fan again, I don't really want promotion to come along and wreck that....

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

One thing I would say is that I love League One. I mean genuinely love it. Here we are the big boys - a big fish in a small pond. The away grounds we get to go to are brilliant - Yeovil, Brentford and Crewe to name a few - and Leyton Orient was a great day out. We can go into every game now we have got the team organised feeling positive. When we were in the Prem I can remember going away to Chelsea just hoping that we didn't get thrashed. It's great finally being at a level where we stand a chance in every game and are looking to win more than we lose. Personally I'm not that bothered about promotion, I'd rather stay in League One and continue the party. The Championship is far too serious for me. That said, if Villa do get relegated then it's imperative that we do get promoted. It would be an absolute choker if they went down and we weren't there to play them. Other than that, I'm happy to settle for two Wembley appearances this year. Win the first but be gallant runners up in the second. Keep the feel good factor and take in some more proper old school away grounds next season. I know most won't agree with this and accuse me of lacking ambition - and that's fair, they do have a point - but it's so wonderful to be able to enjoy being a Cov fan again, I don't really want promotion to come along and wreck that....

... Because I want to spend my time supporting CCFC lingering in L1!

 

[mcullen]

... Because I want to spend my time supporting CCFC lingering in L1!

Yeah I do, personally. Just my opinion though..

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Yeah I do, personally. Just my opinion though..

Can't be much of a 'supporter' then.

 

[Astute]

Even if it was a similar 'revolution', I don't think we would be able to get to the prem in the near future, now, you have to buy promotion...

There are things you can throw money at in football, but it don't mean you can buy success.

To me you need a good manager. Not a manager where everything fell together for one season previously. A manager that can spot a player, talk a player into joining him and then knowing how to play him. With the way our season has turned around I think we have this manager.

To me you need a squad of players that are close to each other. They get on well and want what is best for their club and fans. I think we have this sort of squad.

You need to have your manager backed when he needs his squad strengthening. SISU have backed him so far.

It helps vastly to have a good set of fans. They can become the 12th man just like we did last night

You also need your fair bit of luck over the season.

If it was all down to money Fester and Cardiff amongst others would already be in the Prem.

 

[mcullen]

Can't be much of a 'supporter' then.

Hahahahahaha!! Yeah, you're right... Bang to rights there my friend....Just yet another glory hunter jumping on the band wagon...

 

[smileycov]

Mcullen......I understand where you are coming from. Hard to not want success though. I mean say we did get to wembly twice, we win the JPT then it means that we are in our 3rd major final and City dont lose at Wembly ha ha.

I appreciate the fact we are having a great time now, doesn't mean it wont happen in the championship and lets not pretend the championship grounds are all great.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Hahahahahaha!! Yeah, you're right... Bang to rights there my friend....Just yet another glory hunter jumping on the band wagon...

I never said bandwagoner or glory supporter, just questioning your support of the team. Who WANTS to stay in L1 when we could get promoted this season!

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

There are things you can throw money at in football, but it don't mean you can buy success.

To me you need a good manager. Not a manager where everything fell together for one season previously. A manager that can spot a player, talk a player into joining him and then knowing how to play him. With the way our season has turned around I think we have this manager.

To me you need a squad of players that are close to each other. They get on well and want what is best for their club and fans. I think we have this sort of squad.

You need to have your manager backed when he needs his squad strengthening. SISU have backed him so far.

It helps vastly to have a good set of fans. They can become the 12th man just like we did last night

You also need your fair bit of luck over the season.

If it was all down to money Fester and Cardiff amongst others would already be in the Prem.

Agreed.

I don't mean Man City of the Championship rich, we just need to have some money injected if we get promoted this year.

 

[mcullen]

Mcullen......I understand where you are coming from. Hard to not want success though. I mean say we did get to wembly twice, we win the JPT then it means that we are in our 3rd major final and City dont lose at Wembly ha ha.

I appreciate the fact we are having a great time now, doesn't mean it wont happen in the championship and lets not pretend the championship grounds are all great.

I hear what you're saying. But I've seen us in the Championship and it was probably the worst period of watching Cov that I can remember. Especially those first few seasons where all our rivals seemed to come to HR and beat us. It was horrible. Maybe I'm just enjoying the novelty. One thing I definitely have found is that it's more fun being a good side than a poor one. Perhaps that's what it is - we're a good side at this level. Of course I want us to do well, and we are - which is why it's so enjoyable right now. If we get promoted and we're just as good in the Championship, then I will be the first to admit I was wrong. But right now, I'm loving every minute and I don't want it to end...

 

[blueflint]

during J H time when we were getting promoted to the old first div the atmosphere was electric the ground full at every game and overflowing against wolves that year it felt great to be part of it.not the same yet but moving in the right direction

 

[Sky Blue Kid]

JH built a winning mentality, but we had a Chairman and board that lived and breathed Coventry City FC.
Players like George Curtis, wouldn't allow a losing mentality, every player "Fought till the game was won"
MR is instilling a "Never say die" attitude. Back then Coventry paid what was at that time a "Record fee for a Goal keeper" £35k for Bill Glazier.
We are getting there, but for me we're still a little way off that JH instilled feeling of "Nobody can beat us"
One more thing, I would much sooner face Crewe than Bradford in the "Northern Section Final"
PUSB.

 

[mcullen]

I never said bandwagoner or glory supporter, just questioning your support of the team. Who WANTS to stay in L1 when we could get promoted this season!

Apologies. Point taken. If we could guarantee we would do something in the Championship then I'm all for it. But based on previous experience, the Championship just holds painful memories for me. So my philosphy is based on:
Championship = painful memories
League One = good times
Simple, I know. But that's how I feel....

 

[sky_blue_up_north]

I don't think its the same. Football was a very different game then. You could get promotion to the top league and hold your own. How many teams go up, then straight down again. However this has to be best spell I can remember for many a year. Robins has really got this group of players together, slowly but surely we are rising again.

 

[johnniericoh]

The Jimmy Hill revolution was way before my time but the question is, does it have a similar feeling to it to what mark robins is doing now? Because at the minute I'm so proud to be sky blue I'm loving every second of it, before, we were disappointed with a loss now were gutted if we draw, it feels like the whole footballing world is taking notice, I would imagine that's how it felt back then ? Can anyone sum up what it was like ?

Yes it was a surreal atmosphere 1962-1968 - fuelled by continuous success both on the field and off it.

From the despair of the Kings Lynne result in '62 to promotion to the promised land in '67 it was a roller coaster of events - 12,000 for reserve team games, up to10,000 travelling to away games, Sky Blue Express train, big TV screens at Highfield Road showing away matches.

It felt truly like we were invincible season after season culminating in THAT Wolves game and ultimate promotion all due to the Pied Piper, one James Hill of which I see young Robins carrying on from where JH left off and slowly but surely creating a new dynasty from within.

I could go on but can honestly say the parallel is there and in MR we have an absolute gem of a manager we MUST keep hold of or it will collapse like a pack of cards.

 

[Moscowskyblue]

As an older supporter who reads this chat from afar it is a real eyeopener how vunerable most fans are to a real emotional pendulum, one defeat has become a disaster, one victory has become proof of our rebirth.
Jimmy Hill's period was so good that looking back upon it is pointless, it can never be that good. You felt we were the best at our level and the crowds grew in anticipation of ongoing success.That is why Division one was such as disappointment as we out of our depth and there was little investment until it became apparent we were going to go down unless we bought better players.
More relevant is Gordon Strachans golden period and even Bobby Gould having us in 4th place at Christmas in the top flight or 3rd place in March 1989 and a possibility of actually having a run at the title- as usual we then nose dived. At this time we were complacent and possibly did not enjoy it as much as the last day reprieves that gave a massive outpouring of emotion.
It is great there is a spring in the fans step but we were 2 minutes from 3 defeats in a row and fans would have been suicidal today and questioning just about everything.

 

[covcity4life]

only the idiotic fans

i agree with you, there is alot of work to be done

feel we may need a new right back to get promotion, possibly a tough header of the ball in midfield although its not like we wll play preston every week so thats not a priority

still we getting better and if we go on another run now we cant rule out double success.

 

[skyblueexile]

I have commented on this before - I for one for the first time since the cup win feel optimistic
At 64 I have lived through so many ups and downs I do genuinely feel the team is moving, with an element of style, forward and am optimistic
Unlike the 60's as has already been stated we haven't got the boards support in the same way
now is the time for SISU to take note of what success will do to the fans and

sort out the rent - negotiate stop this pontificating and agree a deal

realise supporting the manager and fans does not always mean money but visibility of supporting

I know we can't afford millions on players but wheeling and dealing is just as effective as they have done with Clarke and other incoming players. Robbins has shown his capability be seen to support him and the team and as already shoen fans will return

Our fans particularly away are the envy of most clubs div 1 and the championship they lift the players

NOW SISU ITS YOUR TURN LIFT THE FANS - SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND GET SORTED

 

[LloydB]

It shouldn't be forgotten that City in the sixties had probably a larger budget than any of its contempories in the Third and Second Divisions. Only Wolves came close.

 

[ohitsaidwalker king power]

Cant comment- dont qualify as per header.....
OSB/ASTUTE/TORCH...one for you I think.. and dont turn it into a health thread:laugh:

 

[Willie Eckerslike]

It can't really compare as the situation was unique. When Jimmy Hill first came in he said that he would take Coventry into the top flight in 5 years. Noone believed him. He then went out, backed by chairman Robbins and bought a complete forward line of 5 very good players (in today's money that would equate to 2 strikers, 2 pacy tricky wingers and a creative midfielder). As a young teenager, that alone was indescribably exciting and what ensued was truly the stuff of legends. However, I am very impressed by Robins who has instilled discipline, belief and above all real fitness into the players. I know that this city will really take off if this improvement continues.
I know that times are hard at the moment but believe when I say "If you build it they will come". Here's hoping that in times to come people remember the Mark Robin's era with the same kind of affection.

 

[SkyBlueCharlie]

It can't really compare as the situation was unique. When Jimmy Hill first came in he said that he would take Coventry into the top flight in 5 years. Noone believed him. He then went out, backed by chairman Robbins and bought a complete forward line of 5 very good players (in today's money that would equate to 2 strikers, 2 pacy tricky wingers and a creative midfielder). As a young teenager, that alone was indescribably exciting and what ensued was truly the stuff of legends. However, I am very impressed by Robins who has instilled discipline, belief and above all real fitness into the players. I know that this city will really take off if this improvement continues.
I know that times are hard at the moment but believe when I say "If you build it they will come". Here's hoping that in times to come people remember the Mark Robin's era with the same kind of affection.

Willie....Good points....one thing to we all need to remember is, as you point out, that it didn't happen overnight and in Hill's early days there was the same sense of anticipation that we are beginning to see now. Ltes hope MR gets the time and resources to build for the future.

 

[oldskyblue58]

Cant comment- dont qualify as per header.....
OSB/ASTUTE/TORCH...one for you I think.. and dont turn it into a health thread:laugh:

Would love to oblige but first game i went to was Manchester City away 21/12/68 ...... we lost 4 : 2 and Jimmy Hill was long gone by then ....... and still I was hooked :facepalm:, still cant find a cure, but to be honest right now i dont want one ! :laugh:

 

[deanocity3]

Even if it was a similar 'revolution', I don't think we would be able to get to the prem in the near future, now, you have to buy promotion...

We broke world transfer record for a goalkeeper when we bought Bill Glazier from Palace for £35,000 in 1964
we were always prepared to go into the transfer market to get a player and Jimmy Hill wasn't scared to let the likes of Bly,Hudson,Kirby go, all were goalscorers and JH knew when to buy and sell
.
He built the team around the players he trusted,that why so many had over 200 games each the like of Curtis,Kearns,Bruck,Machin,Rees,Farmer.

 

[ohitsaidwalker king power]

Would love to oblige but first game i went to was Manchester City away 21/12/68 ...... we lost 4 : 2 and Jimmy Hill was long gone by then ....... and still I was hooked :facepalm:, still cant find a cure, but to be honest right now i dont want one ! :laugh:

OSB.. I think your response is meant relative to this thread which is targeted specific to JH and at our more senior members.
http://www.skybluestalk.co.uk/threads/24826-Older-lot-on-Jimmy-Hill

This thread is just the general "Older" thread....... a faux pas perhaps which I suspect confirms your eligibility!!!

 

[deanocity3]

Would love to oblige but first game i went to was Manchester City away 21/12/68 ...... we lost 4 : 2 and Jimmy Hill was long gone by then ....... and still I was hooked :facepalm:, still cant find a cure, but to be honest right now i dont want one ! :laugh:

think man city goals are on youtube from that match

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

I sort of get where mcullen is coming from, it is more enjoyable watching us win games in league 1 than struggling in the bottom half of the championship