Sky Blues Fancast: A Coventry City Podcast

The Sky Blues Fancasters meet Tik Toker Finn, Fingaldinz. How did he get into it, what’s his favourite game of the season been? The Fancasters discuss the Viktor Gyökeres and Ben Wilson bromance.

This Fancast was recorded in front of, and including a live audience in the BBC CWR studios on Monday 5th June. Lorna Bailey was joined by Tash, Ryan, Anthony and Sam.

The Fancasters get together to reflect on their season.

Under a cloudless sky, thousands of travelling Coventry City fans made the journey to Wembley to back their team on a quest to make it to the riches of the Premier League in the Championship Playoff Final.

Saturday May 27th, and to the beat of Lynden's Drum, The Sky Blue army made a huge noise outside and inside of the National Stadium.

But it wasn't to be as they endured the heartbreak and the nausea of the torment of defeat in a penalty shootout.

In this week's Wembley episode of the Sky Blues Fancast, Lorna Bailey met up with fans in the shadow of the stadium to share their pain at the loss to Luton in a match with a fairy tale ending for the Hatters. A fairy tale ending which we'd thought was meant for us. Alex, Sam, Ashley and Argentinian fan, Lauti, got together to talk about the rollercoaster match that mirrored all the highs and lows of an incredible season. Lauti also gives us his thoughts on his time at Wembley and the warm welcome he's had by the Sky Blue Army.

The noise from both fans was deafening but a silence fell over Wembley after just eight minutes when Luton captain Tom Lockyer collapsed on the pitch before being taken to hospital.

Luton dominated the first half, and were 1-0 ahead at half time in front of more than 87,000 fans after a poor first half from Mark Robins' team.

A much improved second half saw Gustavo Hamer equalise, sending the Coventry sections of Wembley into delirium. With the teams level at the full time whistle it went to extra time. Then came a VAR decision with just minutes left on the clock - which meant a goal for Luton was disallowed for an infringement. Coventry fans celebrated again as it still wasn't off!

The pain of a penalty shootout awaited. Could the Fancasters bear to watch as their team of heroes stood up to take the spot kicks in front of the Luton Fans. Advantage the Hatters.

And after 11 successful penalties, the match was decided in the cruellest fashion by Fankaty Dabo's miss.

On this week's episode there is the pain of that cruellest of defeats. You'll hear from manager Mark Robins, Captain Liam Kelly, and the fans. There is also the love and pride for the team and the remarkable journey they've been on, as well as positivity for the future.

Once the tears subside there will be time to reflect on a remarkable revival that brought Mark Robins' team to within touching distance of a return to English football's top division after an absence of 22 years.

See you in the Championship next season. PUSB

Wow, that 1-0 victory up at the Riverside Stadium against Middlesbrough was special. The 12th man, the Sky Blue Army, up in North Yorkshire played their part and the centre of Coventry was up in arms.

Coventry City football club! It’s been a rollercoaster ride, but one that could have a dream ending.

The Sky Blues are just 90 minutes away from Premier League football - something they haven’t achieved for 22 years.

Viktor Gyökeres was doing Gyökeres things and man of the moment, Gustavo Hamer, was on the score sheet again! Twisting and turning to fire City to victory. And well, Super Ben Wilson kept yet another clean sheet - so ‘Oioi we’re g’wan to Wembley’

Gaffer Mark Robins gave everyone a huge boost to ease the nerves before kick off, signing a new deal at the CBS Arena to keep him as Coventry manager until 2027.

On this episode of the Sky Blues Fancast, we hear from a buzzing Mark Robins after the match, and Lorna Bailey is joined by fans; Ryan, Sam as well as Katie and Jodi-Leigh up in Middlesbrough, for the lowdown on the play-offs and what it means to see Coventry just one game away from Premier League football.

IT WAS NEVER OFF!

While the skies were blue above the CBS Arena for the first leg of the Championship play-offs it was a nil-nil draw and the football on the pitch didn't match the atmosphere and anticipation amongst the Sky Blues fans before kick-off.

It was a cagey and nervy 90 minutes between Coventry City and Middlesbrough.

On this week's episode of the Sky Blues Fancast, Lorna Bailey and fans Ryan, Sam, Jas and the Singers' Corner drummer, Lynden. Lynden and his drum catch the attention of Max Biamou and Lynden gets to meet the fan who organised the crowd-funder to get his season ticket paid for because of the love of the Sky Blue Army.

Get the post-match thoughts of Martin Winch from the BBC CWR commentary team, hear from the manager Mark Robins and Brooke Norton-Cuffey talks about his dream to play at Wembley.

The team take a moment to consider that might be the last time we see Viktor Gyökeres play at the CBS - although not everyone agrees that he will be going.

Sky Blues fans know it's been a while since they played Premier League football after being relegated under Gordon Strachan in 2001. This is the closest that the team have come since their 34 year long stay ended. It's not over yet but there are nerves now amongst the Fancasters as they look ahead to Wednesday night at the Riverside. Will it go to penalties? Can we cope if it does? Will Ben Wilson take one?

Coventry fans head north with positive memories of their only previous experience of the play-offs, in 2018, when Robins' men were held at home in the first leg by Notts County, but won the second leg 4-1. The travelling Sky Blue Army will be there with their voices loud.

With either Sunderland or Luton waiting in the final, this tie could not be more in the balance when the two teams line up again on Teesside midweek.

Good luck sleeping between now and then Sky Blue Army! It’s not over yet…

WHAT A DAY! What a Season. What a team. What a six years it's been...

Sky Blues fans everywhere feeling ALL of the nerves and ALL of the joy as Coventry City make the play-offs finishing fifth in the Championship!

Yes, you read it right and yes it happened! After all the chaos off the pitch through the season, Mark Robin's men got the point they needed away on the final day of the season to secure their place in a two leg battle against ‘Boro to make it to Wembley and the dream of promotion to the Premiership.

Members of the Sky Blues Fancast got together to watch the match and ended up as full of nerves and as stressed as all the other fans, whether they were in Middlesborough as part of the 2,500 Sky Blue Army on the road, or gathered with friends or listening to BBC CWR's coverage on the radio or however else you followed the match!

In the moments after the final whistle, Lorna Bailey got Sam, Ryan and Tash in front of some microphones to try to make words happen to bring you the latest episode of the Fancast! Throughout the previous pods you may have noticed a theme developing of the positivity of Fancaster Ryan, who has consistently insisted that we were always going to make the Play-Offs.... IT NEVER WAS OFF! But even though that's now true - it is still taking some time to get our heads around the fact that we are in the playoffs...we're in the playoffs!

On this episode of the Sky Blues Fancast you'll hear the post-match thoughts of a very happy manager, Mark Robins and from the goal scorer for Coventry City in the 1-1 draw, Gustavo Hamer. As the team were recording this episode news also came through that Ben Wilson had got the Golden Gloves and as ever there's plenty of love for city's goalkeeper.

Next up for the Sky Blues it's Middlesborough (again) first at home and then away.... they are three games away from top flight football and they go into the play-offs in form. That draw extended their unbeaten run to seven games as they look to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2001.

The Fancasters look ahead to the two legs and also dream a little of Wembley and even... the Premier League. If not now, when?!

What a day at the CBS Arena! A record high crowd for a league fixture watched the Sky Blues take the three points against Birmingham City to keep Coventry City's Play Off dream alive. If they beat Middlesbrough in their final game, then a top-six finish is theirs.

This week's episode of the Sky Blues Fancast was recorded straight after the match and the player's walkabout around the pitch. Lorna Bailey headed to the Jimmy Hill statue to meet up with Singer's Corner Drummer, Lynden and they were joined by Ryan, Dan, Tash and Sam to chat about the match, the atmosphere and what might be... they also do a bit of celebrity spotting with Tom Grennan and Jude Bellingham making some slightly tenuous appearances on the Sky Blues Fancast!

The team chat about Cov Kid Josh Eccles finally getting his first senior goal from the edge of the box to put Coventry ahead 4 minutes in...and what was the discussion on the pitch about who should take that penalty? In the end it was Viktor Gyokeres who doubled the lead shortly before the break. No one wants to say it, but could that have been the last goal we see him score in Coventry?

In this episode you'll hear the post-match thoughts of our very own Martin Winch, the manager, Mark Robins and Jake Bidwell.

The Fancasters also take a look at who would get their Player of the Season and Goal of the Season awards ahead of the club's actual awards night.

It's a 20th clean sheet for the Sky Blue's defence and on 69 points in the table this is now the best Championship Campaign ever for the club and as 'Twist and Shout' got the whole CBS arena going, everyone agrees that the connection right now between players, club and fans is something very special. The Fancast talk about how that's come across post-match with the walk about after the final whistle. New owner, Doug King was really get into it! It's very special and we all know it.

30,175 at the Coventry Building Society Arena for the last home league game of the season. If the dream continues then it will be Lynden and his drum leading a much larger army down Wembley Way.

It's time to enjoy it, Sky Blues fans... it's later than you think!

What a time to be alive! In this episode of the Sky Blues Fancast Lorna Bailey is with fans Tash, Sam and Ryan to talk through that incredible moment away at Ewood Park when Goalkeeper Ben Wilson came up for a corner and scored in the 95th minute to get Coventry City a crucial point to keep the team right in the hunt for a play off place. Hear from the man who can leap like a salmon on this episode of the podcast!

So much to talk about as well after Saturday's 2-1 win against Reading in the penultimate home game of the season in front of a record home crowd for the season of 23,694. It was a win which also saw them surpass their points total from last season.

Up for discussion are Gustavo Hamer's performance, Matty Godden's finish for his 40th goal in Sky Blue, Viktor Gyokeres - how did he miss them all? You'll hear from Captain Liam Kelly as he's asked who would lift the trophy IF they get to Wembley and win? Plus, you'll hear from the Manager Mark Robins and there's a guest appearance from SIRI!

Two to go and we're on our way... the team look ahead to the massive last home game of the season against Birmingham City on Saturday and make their predictions about what they think might happen. Since recording the episode tickets have sold out for the game but the Fancast knows that this is something happening right now.

(An honourable mention here for Ben Wilson and Viktor Gyokeres who made the Championship Team of The Year since this episode was recorded.)

For a few hours, after a 0–3 win against Queens Park Rangers, Coventry City fans saw the club sitting in sixth place in the table (they were replaced later in the evening when Blackburn Rovers drew with Hull City), but that was enough to keep the dream of the play off places alive, which is all a bit much for the Fancasters – who are now just balls of anxiety.

Lorna Bailey was joined by Tash and Jodi-Leigh. Jodi-Leigh was one of the 3,000 plus Sky Blue Army who made their way down to Loftus Road, making plenty of noise on the tube and parting the crowds on Oxford Street. 

In this week’s episode Tash, Jodi-Leigh and Lorna talk about Viktor Gyökeres’ incredible twenty goals, his mysterious goal celebration and his rivalry with smiley Ben Wilson. Gustavo Hamer gets their 'man of the match' award and they take an anxious look ahead to the final four games of the season against Blackburn, Reading, Birmingham and Middlesbrough.

Plus Doug King’s comments earlier in the week about shirt sponsors, stadium deals and future season ticket prices are met with nervous positivity.

The Easter Break meant a bumper weekend of matches for Coventry City, but sadly not with bumper wins. A draw away at Swansea and a home draw against Watford mean the play offs still aren’t out of the question, just as a rainbow appeared over Jimmy Hill statue, could it be a sign?

Lorna Bailey was joined by Fancasters Sam and Charlie beside the Jimmy Hill statue after the Watford game. Alongside the usual debrief and discussions about referee decisions, Gustavo Hamer is spotted running around post-match in sliders in the car park.

Plus all the regular manager interviews with Mark Robins and player Callum O’Doyle.