[themaclad]

The Coventry Building Society Arena (formerly known as the Ricoh Arena) is a complex in Coventry, England. It includes a 32,609-seater stadium which is home to the owners, rugby club Wasps and to the football team, Championship club Coventry City F.C. along with facilities which include a 6,000 square metres (65,000 sq ft) exhibition hall, a hotel and a casino. The site is also home to Arena Park Shopping Centre, containing one of UK's largest Tesco Extra hypermarkets. Built on the site of the Foleshill gasworks, it is named after its sponsor, Coventry Building Society who entered into a ten-year sponsorship deal in 2021.[2] For the 2012 Summer Olympics, where stadium naming sponsorship was forbidden, the stadium was known as the City of Coventry Stadium.[3][4]

Originally built as a replacement for Coventry City's Highfield Road ground, the stadium was initially owned and operated by Arena Coventry Limited (ACL), with Coventry City as tenants. ACL was owned jointly by Coventry City Council and the Higgs Charity.

Following a protracted rent dispute between Coventry City and ACL, the football club left the arena in 2013; playing their home matches in Northampton for over a year before returning in September 2014. Within two months, both shareholders in ACL were bought out by rugby union Premiership Rugby club Wasps, who relocated to the stadium from their previous ground, Adams Park in High Wycombe.[5] A further dispute with Wasps prior to the 2019–20 season saw Coventry City leave the Ricoh for a further two seasons.[6] In March 2021, Wasps and Coventry City agreed to a ten-year deal to return to the arena and the city of Coventry.

The stadium was the first cashless stadium in the United Kingdom, with customers using a prepay smartcard system in the ground's bars and shops.[7] However, the stadium now accepts cash at all kiosks.[8]

LAST TIME OUT



FORM GUIDE

COVENTRY CITY 14 PNE 12

Tourist attraction

The Cathedral Church of Saint Michael, commonly known as Coventry Cathedral, is the seat of the Bishop of Coventry and the Diocese of Coventry within the Church of England. The cathedral is located in Coventry, West Midlands, England. The current bishop is Christopher Cocksworth and the current dean is John Witcombe.

The city has had three cathedrals. The first was St Mary's, a monastic building, of which only a few ruins remain. The second was St Michael's, a 14th-century Gothic church later designated as a cathedral, which remains a ruined shell after its bombing during the Second World War. The third is the new St Michael's Cathedral, built immediately adjacent after the destruction of the former.

Coventry had a medieval cathedral that survived until the Reformation. This was St Mary's Priory and Cathedral, 1095 to 1102, when Robert de Limesey moved the bishop's see from Lichfield to Coventry,[1] until 1539 when it fell victim to Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries. Prior to 1095, it had been a small Benedictine monastery (endowed by Leofric, Earl of Mercia and his wife Godiva in 1043),[2] Shortly after 1095 rebuilding began and by the middle of the 13th century it was a cathedral of 142 yards (130 m) in length and included many large outbuildings.[3] Leofric was probably buried within the original Saxon church in Coventry. However, records suggest that Godiva was buried at Evesham Abbey, alongside her father confessor, Prior Æfic.[4] It was the only medieval cathedral to be demolished at the Reformation.[5]

St Michael's Cathedral[edit]
First structure[edit]

The old cathedral, painted in 1802 by William Crotch

The interior of the old cathedral, c. 1880

The roofless ruins of the old cathedral.
St Michael's Church was largely constructed between the late 14th century and early 15th century from red sandstone. It was one of the largest parish churches in England when, in 1918, it was elevated to cathedral status on the creation of the Diocese of Coventry.[6] This St Michael's Cathedral now stands ruined, bombed almost to destruction during the Coventry Blitz of 14 November 1940 by the German Luftwaffe. Only the tower, spire, the outer wall and the bronze effigy and tomb of its first bishop, Huyshe Yeatman-Biggs, survived. The ruins of this older cathedral remain hallowed ground and are listed at Grade I.[7] Following the bombing of the cathedral in 1940, Provost Richard Howard had the words "Father Forgive" inscribed on the wall behind the altar of the ruined building. The spire rises to 284 feet (87 metres)[8] to the base of the weathervane, and is the tallest structure in the city. It is also the third tallest cathedral spire in England, with only Salisbury and Norwich cathedrals rising higher. When the height of the weathervane is included, it is 290 feet (88 metres) high.[8]

Present structure[edit]
The current St Michael's Cathedral, built next to the remains of the old, was designed by Basil Spence and Arup, built by John Laing[9] and is a Grade I listed building.[10]

The selection of Spence for the work was a result of a competition held in 1950 to find an architect for the new Coventry Cathedral; his design was chosen from over two hundred submitted. Spence (later knighted for this work) insisted that instead of rebuilding the old cathedral, it should be kept in ruins as a garden of remembrance and that the new cathedral should be built alongside, the two buildings together effectively forming one church.[11] The use of Great Gate sandstone for the new Coventry Cathedral provides an element of unity between the buildings.

The foundation stone of the new cathedral was laid by Elizabeth II on 23 March 1956.[12] The unconventional spire or flèche is 80 feet (24 m) tall and was lowered onto the flat roof by a helicopter, flown by Wing Commander John Dowling in April 1962.[13]

The cathedral was consecrated on 25 May 1962, and Benjamin Britten's War Requiem, composed for the occasion, was premiered in the new cathedral on 30 May to mark its consecration.[14][15]


The Angel with the Eternal Gospel, one of the panes of Hutton's 'Great West Screen', which was smashed in 2020
Coventry's new cathedral adopted a modernist design. The interior is notable for its huge tapestry (once thought to be the world's largest) of Christ, designed by Graham Sutherland, the emotive sculpture of the Mater Dolorosa by John Bridgeman in the East end, and the Baptistry window designed by John Piper (made by Patrick Reyntiens), of abstract design that occupies the full height of the bowed baptistery, which comprises 195 panes, ranging from white to deep colours. The stained glass windows in the Nave, by Lawrence Lee, Keith New and Geoffrey Clarke, face away from the congregation. Spence's concept for these Nave windows was that the opposite pairs would represent a pattern of growth from birth to old age, culminating in heavenly glory nearest the altar—one side representing Human, the other side, the Divine. Also worthy of note is the Great West Window known as the Screen of Saints and Angels, engraved directly onto the screen in expressionist style by John Hutton. A pane of the Hutton window, depicting The Angel with the Eternal Gospel, was smashed during a burglary in January 2020.[16][17] (Although referred to as the West Window, this is the 'liturgical west' opposite the altar which is traditionally at the east end. In this cathedral the altar is actually at the north end.) The foundation stone, the ten stone panels inset into the walls of the cathedral called the Tablets of the Word, and the baptismal font were designed and carved by the émigré German letter carver Ralph Beyer. The lectern has a bookrest in the form of an eagle, by the sculptor Elisabeth Frink.[18] She also designed the canopy for the Bishop's throne.[18]


Famous Coventry person

Delia Ann Derbyshire (5 May 1937 – 3 July 2001)[1] was an English musician and composer of electronic music.[2] She carried out pioneering work with the BBC Radiophonic Workshop during the 1960s, including her electronic arrangement of the theme music to the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who.[3][4] She has been referred to as "the unsung heroine of British electronic music",[3] having influenced musicians including Aphex Twin, the Chemical Brothers and Paul Hartnoll of Orbital.[5]

[themaclad]

PNE Team News

After being forced off through injury on Tuesday night, defender Patrick Bauer will be assessed ahead of the weekend.

Josh Murphy is getting closer to a return to action and could be involved against Coventry City, but he will also be assessed before Saturday.

Greg Cunningham, Sean Maguire and Tom Barkhuizen will all miss out once again through injury.

The Opposition


After finishing 16th in their first season back in the Championship for just short of a decade, Coventry City have pushed on this term, currently sat just three points outside of the top six.

Boasting one of the division’s best home records this term, they’ve made the most of a permanent return to their stadium, now known as the Coventry Building Society Arena, having spent the last two seasons at St Andrew’s.

With Mark Robins into the sixth year of his current spell in charge, he’s targeting a third promotion as the Sky Blues’ boss.

Key Stats

The Sky Blues have secured last-gasp victories in their last two Championship games, scoring in the 90th and 89th minute in wins over Barnsley and Bristol City respectively.

Scoring late has been a common theme for Coventry City so far this term, having netted 13 goals between the 76th and 90th minute this campaign – the joint-most in the division during that period.

PNE have enjoyed their recent fixtures against the Sky Blues, having won each of the last five, with just one goal conceded in those games.

Our Last Meeting


In the reverse fixture earlier this season, PNE came from behind at Deepdale to take all three points against fourth-placed Coventry City.

Tyler Walker had given the visitors the lead just before half-time, but after Patrick Bauer had drawn level, Emil Riis slammed home to seal victory for his side.

Man In The Middle


Experienced EFL official Keith Stroud will referee this fixture, what will be his third PNE game of the season.

The previous two have seen North End come out on top, at home to Barnsley in Ryan Lowe’s first game in charge and the 2-0 away victory against West Brom.

Stroud has taken charge of 24 matches so far this season, showing 103 yellow cards and three red cards.

MACS VIEW

This should be an entertaining game against a side who over the years have defied the odds, having been booted out of their ground a couple of times have fought their way back from the bottom divisin to the verge of the play oss this season. Vastly under rated manager is Mark Robbins, apparently applied for our job when Neil was potted, would have been a good choice. After Tuesday's excellent performance would probably not expect us to reach those dizzy heights agan but backed by almost 3000 you never know

[themaclad]

Coventry City 1 Tavares Preston North End 1 Johnson pen

Coventry City line-up: Moore; Hyam, Rose, Clarke-Salter; Kane (Dabo, 64), Hamer, Sheaf, O’Hare (Tavares, 90+3), Maatsen; Waghorn (Bidwell, 63), Gyokeres. Subs not used: Wilson, McFadzean, Allen, Shipley.

PNE line-up: Iversen; van den Berg, Lindsay, Hughes; Potts, Whiteman, Browne, Johnson, Earl (Riis, 73); Evans (Ledson, 90+6), Archer (Diaby, 90). Subs not used: Ripley, McCann, Rafferty, Sinclair.

Attendance: 19,743 (2,594 PNE fans).

Referee: Mr K Stroud.

Probably should have won this but let a great strike deep into extra added time, gave the hosts a point, to be fait it was a good finish although giving the lad five yards of space at the corner may have cost us, as for the two extra minutes, oersonal view Stroud was correct, th celebrations following ou goal took ages, Evans took an age to leave the pitch when subbed and City also made a substitution although O'Hare had to hobble from the far side of the pitch all the way to the opposite side were the bench was, but c'est la vie.
Earl came in for Bauer otherwise we were unchanged, first 20 minutes we struggled, two early bookings and the afoementioned Earl was making Todd Kane look like the greatest attacking full back ever. Efforts by Waghorn and Gyokeres were easily dealt with from then on we were in control, Evans forced two good save fom Moore, he was to get busier as the game wore on.
Evans again unlucky in the second half his header hitting the post before Moore cleared, the home stopper also had reasonably comfortable saves from Johnson and Archer.
The game was drifting away to a scoreless draw when in the last 15 minutes of actual play it exploded into life, Lindsay clattered into Gyokeres and the forward lay prone next to the advertising hordings, second yellow and off he goes, City have a free kick which they waste and Johnson picks up the ball runs 50 yards to find Riis steaming down the inside left channel having made a lung busting 80 yards run, his touch takes the ball away from the goal but his run his halted by Dabo collapsing on him, penalty, a red card for Dabo.
Two City fans invaded the pitch and took a full three minutes to take the kick, Johnson sent Moore the wrong way .
Looked to have secured victory but we give away a cheap free kick and from the resulting play Tavares does the rest.
This led to a mass coming together on the touchline between the two technical staff, just enough time to kick off and that was that. Disappointing not too take all three points.

The Stadium is interesting must be the only ground in the country to have a garden of rememberance and a Job Centre.

Coventry City boss Mark Robins told BBC CWR:

"The people that came onto the pitch deserve everything they get coming to them, because that is sacrosanct. Stay off the pitch. You earn the right to be on that football pitch. They haven't earned the right to be on it.

"It's happening more and more frequently and they shouldn't be allowed back in. That's a disgrace, an absolute non-starter, a criminal offence.

"At the end of the day I'm sure he's complained about the minutes added on because of people invading on the pitch. That isn't what contributed to the added-on time. That was because of the fouls, the sending-offs. All those things culminated in what was added on.

"But they can complain as much as they like. Ultimately, it's a big point for us. We celebrated a goal that they didn't want us to celebrate. I don't think you're allowed to celebrate against them."

Preston boss Ryan Lowe:

"When you put six minutes up and you play seven minutes 20 seconds, it's definitely tough to take. I'm a little bit disappointed with how things were going off, people running on the pitch, threatening players and running round, it shouldn't happen.

"But we probably could have done better in terms of the foul, Hughesie's slipped and the ball dropped down and the kid scored a great goal but I'm quite firm here. If it's six minutes it's six minutes. It's not any longer

"There was only one team that was going to win it when we got a man sent off but then we went down the other end and got a penalty.

"But we've still come to a place where they've been winning games of late, a good team, well coached, well managed."