Source: FOOTYMAD
Sillett made Life President of Coventry City
Honour for FA Cup winning coach Coventry City Football Club have announced that former Coventry City player and manager John Sillett has been made a Life President of the club. John Sillett, who with another former player George Curtis, led the Sky Blues to the 1987 FA Cup Final in which they beat an excellent Spurs side 3-2 after extra time. Mr Sillett has been involved with Coventry City for nearly 50 years now, joining the club as a player in 1962 when he was the first player Jimmy Hill signed. He became the club coach in 1980 when he teamed up with the new manager George Curtis. Be took over the managerial reigns when George stood down after the memorable FA Cup win in 1987. John Sillett still lives in Warwickshire and can often be seen at matches or at the Diamond Club lunches. He is not replacing Joe Elliott as Life President, who has been sidelined because of his links and friendship with Gary Hoffman during takeover talks with the current owners of the club. The two men will eventually work alongside each other promoting Coventry City Football Club. The next 12 months are going to be busy ones for Mr Sillett as in addition to becoming Life President, he will be celebrating 50 years involvement with the club and it will also be the 25th anniversary of that FA Cup triumph. Chairman of Coventry City Ken Dulieu said, "John is a larger than life character who is loved by City fans of all ages and we felt it was wholly appropriate that his contribution should be recognised." "Not only are we soon to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the 1987 FA Cup triumph, but John first signed for the club in 1962, starting a very long and happy association with Coventry City." "It was great to see John and George at the unveiling of the Jimmy Hill statue and they were rightly given a great reception by supporters." "We are delighted to make the association formal once again and look forward to John being a very regular figure at the Ricoh Arena." Mr Sillett later managed managed Hereford United on two separate occasions and his last job in professional football was a a scout under the England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who now manages Leicester City. John Sillett said, "Everyone knows that Coventry City has a hugeplace in my heart. I was Jimmy Hill's first signing at a time when the Sky Blues were blazing a trail up the leagues." "The whole city was alive with everything Sky Blue and it was a tremendous period. That was enough to seal my affection with the club, but then to come back and help guide the side to its greatest day was quite fantastic. I am sure everyone in the city will remember that time forever." "I always lived locally and have maintained links with the club, and I am very flattered that it has been made formal. I know that times have been tough for Coventry City supporters, but I am also aware of how the club is trying to strengthen its links with its past and thelocal community."
