Ninety-three years ago, on May 2nd, 1931, Coventry City found themselves embroiled in Division Three South football, with a fresh face at the helm—Harry Storer. Storer, only just appointed on April 11th, stepped in to guide the team through the remainder of the season, marking his inaugural stint as manager for CCFC. This match against Fulham would be the Bantams’ final showdown of the season.
The preceding manager, James McIntyre, a former player turned coach, had a turbulent relationship with the CCFC Board, especially chairman Walter Brandish. McIntyre’s dismissal in mid-February left the team in a temporary managerial vacuum until Storer’s arrival. Interestingly, Fulham, now under McIntyre’s leadership, were the opponents for this crucial fixture.
Despite the stakes, the attendance at Highfield Road was rather modest, with 5,959 eager spectators hoping to witness a victorious finale for the Bantams. Coventry had drawn with Fulham earlier in the season, and the tension was palpable as the Londoners took an early lead through Johnny Price. However, Coventry’s resilience shone through, with Jack ‘Curly’ Phillips equalizing in the first minute of the second half. The winning moment came later, courtesy of George Reay’s goal in the 65th minute, sending the CCFC faithful home with a sense of satisfaction.
Storer’s triumph over McIntyre added an extra layer of intrigue to the match, leaving the CCFC Board pleased with the outcome. The team lineup boasted names like Tommy ‘Shadow’ Allen, Arthur Plummer, and Arthur Tilford, while Fulham’s roster featured stalwarts such as Ernest Beecham and Samuel ‘Sonny’ Gibbon.
As the season drew to a close, Coventry finished fourteenth, with Fulham securing a respectable ninth place. Notts County emerged as champions, earning promotion to Division Two, while Thames narrowly escaped relegation. However, for Newport County and Norwich City, the season’s end marked a period of uncertainty, with both clubs having to seek re-election to the Football League. Ultimately, Norwich managed to secure enough votes to retain their position, while Newport faced the harsh reality of being replaced.
GET MORE NEWS HERE
Leave a Reply