Source: FOOTYMAD
Sky Blue Ros RIP
Long time club servant sadly passes away. Coventry City former managers, players and staff have been paying tribute to "Sky Blue Ros" Rosalind Cooke , a resident of Stoke Green in Coventry, worked at City training ground for many years after working with her sister and brother in law Maria and Roy Fletcher at the lodge in Catherine Street before losing her battle with illness earlier this month. A surrogate mum to many a young player who used to lodge at Ryton, Ros was the sort of person who got on well with everyone she met, always helpful, friendly and a great advert for the club. Speaking to the CT, Jenny Poole who was first team manager's secretary until Aidy Boothroyd replaced her said about Ros, “She worked hard, loved her job and was a real character. “She was always on hand to offer help and advice, particularly to the young boys who had left home for the first time, and having three sons of her own she was well equipped to do this. “She would lend them money when it was nearly pay day, order flowers for mums and girlfriends on special occasions, and even did hair cuts. “When any of the players moved to new homes she would be on hand to clean and polish, as well as doing bits of washing and ironing. “In the early days she would even take football boots home if they needed repairing. "You could walk into the cafeteria and find Ros talking to anyone from the chairman to the manager or the staff – she could relate to everyone and was a friend and confidant. “Visitors to the training ground were always welcomed warmly with a smile and a ‘hello love,’ followed by refreshments. “And if Ros finished work early she wouldn’t put her coat on ready for the off, she would mop the floor or clean out a cupboard.” As well as a real sense of fun, Ros cared about everyone at work, Jenny adding: “She would always appear in my office with a cup of tea and biscuits after all the players went out training. "And when the weather was cold and miserable she would take out tea or soup for the groundsmen. She looked after everyone. Former manager’s secretary and close friend Jenny Poole said: “She worked hard, loved her job and was a real character. “She was always on hand to offer help and advice, particularly to the young boys who had left home for the first time, and having three sons of her own she was well equipped to do this. “She would lend them money when it was nearly pay day, order flowers for mums and girlfriends on special occasions, and even did hair cuts. “When any of the players moved to new homes she would be on hand to clean and polish, as well as doing bits of washing and ironing. “In the early days she would even take football boots home if they needed repairing. "You could walk into the cafeteria and find Ros talking to anyone from the chairman to the manager or the staff – she could relate to everyone and was a friend and confidant. “Visitors to the training ground were always welcomed warmly with a smile and a ‘hello love,’ followed by refreshments. “And if Ros finished work early she wouldn’t put her coat on ready for the off, she would mop the floor or clean out a cupboard.” As well as a real sense of fun, Ros cared about everyone at work, Jenny adding: “She would always appear in my office with a cup of tea and biscuits after all the players went out training. "And when the weather was cold and miserable she would take out tea or soup for the groundsmen. She looked after everyone. “People like her make an enormous contribution behind the scenes but, sadly, don’t always get the recognition they deserve. "Ros touched the hearts of many people and will never be forgotten. She was simply the best.” Ros’s funeral takes place on Wednesday, July 20, at 10am at Sacred Heart Church, Harefield Road, Coventry. Family flowers only and donations to Birmingham Children’s Hospital. All at Covsupport News Service send our condolences to the family and many friends of Ros. More information and testimonies: http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/coventry-city-fc/coventry-city-fc-news/2011/07/14/tributes-paid-to-rosalind-cooke-the-heart-of-the-coventry-city-family-92746-29051701/ .
