Coventry United Football Club is an English association football club based in Coventry in the West Midlands, England, United Kingdom. The team competes in the United Counties League Premier Division South, the 9th tier of English football, and is managed by Ellis Alleyne.[1]
The club was founded in 2013 by then Chairman Jason Kay [2]along with three co-chairmen, Jason Timms, Marcus Green, Pete Schofield, and Club Secretary Graham Wood, following a takeover of Coventry Spartans in reaction to Coventry City moving from the Ricoh Arena to Northampton to play at Sixfields Stadium.[3] Edwin Greaves had been in charge of the club since its foundation until the spring of 2016 when he was replaced by Terry Anderson.
On 4 July 2015, the club announced the takeover of Coventry City Ladies F.C, re-branding the ladies' side Coventry United Ladies F.C.;[4] But this arrangement ended in June 2023 when the women's team was rebranded as Rugby Borough W.F.C.[5]
History
2013
Coventry United Football Club was founded following the takeover of Coventry Spartans. The Spartans' manager, Edwin Greaves, stayed on as Coventry United's first manager, along with club secretary, Graham Wood. The club's debut league match took place at Kenilworth Town in the Midland Football League Division 3 on Saturday, 13 August 2013, with a 2-1 victory. Kenroy Dennisur and Brian Ndlovu scored the goals that day. United finished runners-up to Kenilworth, securing promotion. Coventry United also reached their first Cup final, The Challenge Vase, losing 3-1 to Enville Athletic FC. The club's first league title followed the next season. Coventry United dominated MFL Division 2, finishing 15 points ahead of its closest rivals. Their progression to Step 6 of the Non-League Pyramid followed. Season 3 saw Coventry United fighting for the Division 1 title with the likes of Bromsgrove Sporting, Lichfield, and Nuneaton Griff.[6]
2016
In March 2016, Edwin Greaves left the club and was replaced on an interim basis by Terry Anderson, along with his assistant, Luke Morton. Under Terry's stewardship, United began a run to win their final 11 matches, conceding just 3 goals along the way. Consequently, they beat their competition to the title. Afterwards, Anderson and Morton's roles were secured on a permanent basis. Following a flurry of promotions, Coventry settled into the MFL Premier Division.[6]
2017
Following stints at The Cage (Alan Higgs Centre) and Sphinx Drive, the summer of 2017 saw United move into their new home, the Butts Park Arena.[6]
2020
The club was bought from the original owners by Coventry-based businessman Joe Haggarty.[7] After 5 seasons in the MFL Premier Division and finishing as Coventry's highest-ranked non-league club for 5 years in a row, the restructuring of the non-league pyramid saw Coventry United placed in the United Counties League Premier Division South. Following the departure of Terry Anderson in November 2021, the Red and Greens hired manager, Russell Dodds, and assistant manager, Darren Acton. They resigned from their roles for personal reasons several weeks later.[6]
2022
In February 2022, Joe Haggarty resigned as chairman and manager of Coventry United Football Club, with Ivor Lawton taking charge of first-team responsibilities. Long-term club supporter Nigel Ward took over the club in March 2022.[7] After working to stabilize the club, Nigel stepped aside and was replaced as chairman by local businessman, Michael Kavanagh, with John Goodman appointed as Vice Chairman. In the summer of 2022, Carl Nolan took over as Team Manager.[6]
2023
Carl Nolan was appointed as First Team Manager in the summer of 2022 and remained in the post until he resigned on 31 October 2023.
On 1 November, Ellis Alleyne was promoted to the manager position from the under 21's to help steady the ship on a temporary basis, during this time he was assisted by John Goodman, vice chair and Rob Hennedy who stepped up from the clubs under 18’s whilst the club made a decision on the next manager. Following a tough run of fixtures on 1 December Ellis Alleyne was given the permanent role of manager and guided the team to a respectable 14th placed finish.
Michael Kavanagh made the decision to stand down from his position as chairman and was replaced in the role by John Goodman.[6]
2024
The month of March 2024 was significant for the club’s future plans as it introduced a new co ownership team with Raymond Nowack buying into the club on 7 March 2024 and Hamad Al Salem on 29 March 2024. On 25 May The club made the decision to part ways with manager Ellis Alleyne. Jamie Hood was appointed as the club’s new manager with Aaron Eales joining as assistant manager. Rob Hennedy along with Lucy Stead our team’s physio agreed to stay on as part of the backroom team and were joined by Craig Jee to complete the coaching team. After a stable pre-season campaign, the league season got off to a tough start with three heavy defeats leading to Chairman and Co-owner John Goodman stepping down on 7 August. The club also parted company with Jamie Hood, Aaron Eales and Craig Jee. Ellis Alleyne was soon reappointed as first team manager and he appointed Jamie Burkacki as assistant manager with Rob Hennedy and Lucy Stead continuing to be a part of the backroom team. On 12 August Raymond Nowack was appointed as the new club chairman, whilst he and Hamad Al Salam remain as a majority shareholders.[6]
Coventry United currently play their home games at The Butts Park Arena in Coventry.
Butts Park Arena is a multi-use sports stadium in Spon End, Coventry, England. Its main use is as a rugby stadium. It is the home ground for Coventry R.F.C.
It was also formerly the home ground of the Coventry Jets, an American football team. From the 2017–18 season, the stadium is also the home of Coventry United, a non-league football club.
The stadium was built in 2004 and currently has one stand, known for sponsorship reasons as the XL Motors stand, which has a capacity of 3,000 and includes several conference and banqueting facilities. The West Stand which was a temporary structure holding 1,000 was removed at the end of the 2005–06 season on grounds of health and safety. There is also standing space for up to 1,000 supporters around the pitch. The stadium now holds a capacity of 5,200.
In June 2019 the pitch was replaced with an artificial playing surface.
Colours
Coventry United's home kit is made up of the city's civic colours, red and green.
The shirt is red and the shorts and socks are the same shade of dark green.
The club's away strip is a full dark green strip.
Former ladies team
On 4 July 2015, Coventry City Ladies F.C. announced that they would merge with Coventry United and be rebranded as Coventry United Ladies F.C. from the beginning of the 2015–16 Women's Premier League season.[8]
In June 2023, following the team's relegation from the Women's Championship, the second tier of women's domestic football in England, Coventry United's association with the women's team was terminated and the team was renamed Rugby Borough W.F.C.[9]
