Editing Coventry (section)

==Sport==
[[File:Ricoh arena 30s07.JPG|thumb|left|[[Coventry Building Society Arena|CBS Arena]] in 2007, then called the Ricoh Arena.]]

On the sporting scene, [[Coventry R.F.C.|Coventry Rugby Football Club]] was consistently among the nation's leading rugby football sides from the early 20th&nbsp;century, peaking in the 1970s and 1980s. [[Association football]], on the other hand, was scarcely a claim to fame until 1967, when [[Coventry City F.C.]] finally won promotion to the top flight of [[Football in England|English football]] as champions of the [[Football League Second Division]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/coventry-city-fc/coventry-city-fc-news/2008/01/17/promotion-winners-the-greatest-coventry-city-player-ever-92746-20363894/|title=Promotion winners: The greatest Coventry City player ever|newspaper=[[Coventry Telegraph]]|first=Jim|last=Brown|date=17 January 2008|access-date=17 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925085605/http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/coventry-city-fc/coventry-city-fc-news/2008/01/17/promotion-winners-the-greatest-coventry-city-player-ever-92746-20363894/|archive-date=25 September 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> They would stay among the elite for the next 34 years, reaching their pinnacle with [[FA Cup]] [[1987 FA Cup Final|glory]] in 1987—the first and to date only major trophy in the club's history.<ref name="ccfc records">{{cite web|url=http://www.ccfc.co.uk/page/History/0,,10269~1030502,00.html|title=Club Records|work=ccfc.co.uk|publisher=[[Coventry City F.C.]]|date=23 August 2010|access-date=17 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106143638/http://www.ccfc.co.uk/page/History/0%2C%2C10269~1030502%2C00.html|archive-date=6 January 2009}}</ref> Their long stay in the top flight of English football ended in relegation in 2001,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1310324.stm | website=[[BBC Sport]] | title=Coventry relegated at Villa | date=5 May 2001 | access-date=30 March 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021223162753/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1310324.stm | archive-date=23 December 2002 | url-status=live }}</ref> and in 2012 they were relegated again to the third tier of English football. [[Highfield Road]], to the east of the city centre, was Coventry City's home for 106 years from 1899. They finally departed from the stadium in 2005 on their relocation to the 32,600-seat [[Ricoh Arena]] some {{convert|3|mi|spell=in|abbr=off}} to the north of the city centre, in the Rowleys Green district.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.premierfootballbooks.co.uk/highfield_road.html |title=Highfield Road – Coventry City football Club |work=premierfootballbooks.co.uk |access-date=21 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322023811/http://www.premierfootballbooks.co.uk/highfield_road.html |archive-date=22 March 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Since 2000, the city has also been home to one of the most successful [[ice hockey]] teams in the country, the [[Coventry Blaze]] who are four time [[Elite Ice Hockey League|Elite League]] champions, and play their home games at the [[Coventry Skydome|SkyDome Arena.]]
{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto;"
|-
!Club
!Sport
!Founded
!League
!Venue
|-
|[[Coventry City F.C.]]
|[[association football|Football]]
|1883
|[[EFL Championship]]
|[[Coventry Building Society Arena]]
|-
|[[Coventry Sphinx F.C.|Coventry Sphinx L.F.C.]]
|[[association football|Football]]
|2012
|[[West Midlands Regional Women's Football League]]
|Coventry Sphinx Sports and Social Club
|-
|[[Coventry United L.F.C.|Coventry United]] L.F.C
|[[association football|Football]]
|2015
|[[FA Women's Championship]]
|[[Butts Park Arena]]
|-
|[[Coventry R.F.C.]]
|[[Rugby union]]
|1874
|[[RFU Championship]]
|[[Butts Park Arena]]
|-
|[[Coventry Bees]]
|[[Motorcycle speedway|Speedway]]
|1928
|
|
|-
|[[Coventry Blaze]]
|[[Ice hockey]]
|2000
|[[Elite Ice Hockey League]]
|[[SkyDome Arena]]
|-
|[[Broadstreet RFC]]
|[[Rugby Union]]
|1929
|National League 2 (North)
|Ivor Preece Field
|-
|[[Coventry Jets]]
|[[American Football]]
|2003
|[[BAFA National Leagues]]
|[[Coventry Sphinx]] Sports and Social Club
|-
|[[Coventry Sphinx F.C.]]
|[[association football|Football]]
|1946
| [[Midland Football League (2014)|Midland Football League Premier Division]]
|Coventry Sphinx Sports and Social Club
|-
|[[Coventry United F.C.]]
|[[association football|Football]]
|2013
|[[Midland Football League (2014)|Midland Football League Premier Division]]
|Butts Park Arena
|}

===Football===
[[File:Ricoh Arena, Coventry (stand and pitch) 14s07.jpg|thumb|Ricoh Arena.]]
There are two professional [[association football|football]] teams representing the city: [[Coventry City F.C.]] of the [[EFL Championship]] in men's football and [[Coventry United L.F.C.|Coventry United]] L.F.C. of the [[FA Women's Championship]] in women's football.

[[Coventry City F.C.]], formed in 1883 as "Singers F.C.". Nicknamed the ''Sky Blues'', the club competes in the [[EFL Championship]] (second tier of English football), but spent 34 years from 1967 to 2001 in the top tier of English football, winning the [[FA Cup]] in 1987. They were founder members of the [[Premier League]] in 1992. In 2005, Coventry City moved to the 32,600 capacity [[Ricoh Arena]] which opened in the Rowleys Green district of the city. The 2013–14 season saw the football club begin a ground share with [[Northampton Town F.C.]] at [[Sixfields Stadium]], [[Northampton]], which lasted until their return to the Ricoh Arena in September 2014. The 2019–20 season saw the Sky Blues once again playing their home fixtures out of Coventry, at [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]]'s [[St Andrew's (stadium)|St Andrew's Stadium]]. This arrangement continued until August 2021, when Coventry moved back to the newly renamed Coventry Building Society Arena.

Coventry United L.F.C. play at the Butts Park Arena and were originally Coventry City Ladies before the Sky Blues discontinued their women's team, at which point they affiliated with Coventry United, and rose through the divisions to their current position in the second-tier of the women's game.

Aside from these clubs, there are several other clubs in the city playing non-league football. [[Coventry Sphinx]], [[Coventry Alvis F.C.|Coventry Alvis]], [[Coventry Copsewood]] and [[Coventry United]] all play in the [[Midland Football League (2014)|Midland Football League]].

Both [[Coventry University]] and the [[University of Warwick]] compete in the [[British Universities and Colleges Sport]] (BUCS) football competitions. For the 2014–15 season, the Coventry University men's 1st team compete in BUCS Midlands 1a, while the University of Warwick men's 1st team competes in BUCS Midlands 2a. Both institutions' women's 1st teams both play in BUCS Midlands 2a.

===Rugby Union===
At the beginning of the 2014–15 season, there were 14 clubs based in Coventry, playing at various levels of the [[English rugby union system]]. However, on 21 December 2014, this rose to 15, when [[English Premiership (rugby union)|Aviva Premiership]] club [[Wasps RFC]] played their first home game at the [[Ricoh Arena]], completing their relocation to the city. This followed Wasps' purchase of Arena Coventry Limited (the company which runs the [[Ricoh Arena]]). The club announced that they will build a new 'state of the art' training complex in the area by 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/29631938 |title = Wasps confirm opening Ricoh Arena fixture |date = 15 October 2014 |work = BBC Sport |publisher = BBC |access-date = 15 December 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141213011113/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/29631938 |archive-date = 13 December 2014 |url-status = live }}</ref>

Wasps' stay in the City ended in 2022 after the club collapsed into administration and were forced to relinquish their ownership of the arena.<ref>{{cite news |date=17 October 2022 |title=Wasps: 167 job losses as Premiership club follow Worcester Warriors into administration |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/63244504 |access-date=11 June 2024 |work=BBC Sport }}</ref> As it stands, Wasps currently have no plans to play in Coventry again.

[[Coventry R.F.C.|Coventry Rugby Football Club]] play in the [[RFU Championship]], the second tier of the English [[rugby union]] system. The club enjoyed national success during the 1950s, the 1960s and 1970s, with many of its players playing for their countries, notable players include [[Ivor Preece]], [[Peter Jackson (rugby union)|Peter Jackson]], [[David Duckham]], [[Fran Cotton]] and [[Danny Grewcock]]. From 1921 to 2004, the club played at Coundon Road Stadium. Their current home ground is the [[Butts Park Arena]], which was opened in 2004.

[[Broadstreet Rugby Club|Broadstreet R.F.C]] are the only other club to play in a 'National league' currently playing in [[National Division 2 North]].

There are a further 12 clubs playing in the [[Rugby Football Union Midland Division|Midland divisions]] of the [[Rugby Football Union|English Rugby Union]] system. In 2015, they included Barkers Butts RFC, Dunlop RFC, Earlsdon RFC, Pinley, Old Coventrians, Coventrians, Coventry Welsh, Stoke Old Boys RFC, Copsewood RFC, Keresley RFC, [[Old Wheatleyans RFC]] and Trinity Guild RFC.

Both [[Coventry University]] and the [[University of Warwick]] compete in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Rugby competitions.

===Rugby League===
[[Midlands Hurricanes]] are the major [[rugby league]] team in the city. Originally known as Coventry Bears, the Hurricanes compete in the [[RFL League 1|Betfred League 1]], as a semi-professional team in the third tier of the game. They play their home matches at the [[Butts Park Arena]].

In 2002, the club won the [[Rugby League Conference]], and took the step up to the national leagues. In 2004, they won the National Division 3 title and have appeared in the [[Challenge Cup]]. In 2015 the Bears entered their reserve team into the [[Conference League South]] league, a level below the first team under the name [[Coventry Bears Reserves]] playing home games at the Xcel Leisure Centre.

Both [[Coventry University]] and the [[University of Warwick]] compete in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Midlands 1a competition.

===Speedway===
Coventry Speedway was based at [[Brandon Stadium]] (also known as [[Coventry Stadium]]). The stadium is located just outside the city in the village of [[Brandon, Warwickshire|Brandon]], [[Warwickshire]] ({{convert|6|mi|abbr=off}} to the east of the city). The stadium operated both sides of the Second World War. Before the Second World War [[Motorcycle speedway|speedway]] also operated for a short time at [[Lythalls Lane Stadium|Foleshill Stadium]], off Lythalls Lane in the city. Between 1998 and 2000, Coventry Stadium hosted the [[Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain]].

The [[Coventry Bees]] started in 1948 and operated continuously until the end of the 2018 season. They started out in the National League Division Three before moving up to the Second Division and, later to the top flight. The Bees were crowned League Champions on nine occasions (1953, 1968, 1978, 1979, 1987, 1988, 2005, 2007 and 2010).

Amongst the top speedway riders who represented Coventry teams were [[Tom Farndon]], [[Jack Parker (speedway rider)|Jack Parker]], [[Arthur Forrest (speedway rider)|Arthur Forrest]], [[Nigel Boocock]], [[Kelvin Tatum]], [[Chris Harris (speedway rider)|Chris Harris]], [[Scott Nicholls]], [[Emil Sayfutdinov]] and [[Speedway World Championship|World Champions]] [[Ole Olsen (speedway rider)|Ole Olsen]], [[Hans Nielsen (speedway rider)|Hans Nielsen]], [[Greg Hancock]], [[Billy Hamill]], [[Ronnie Moore (speedway rider)|Ronnie Moore]] and [[Jack Young (speedway rider)|Jack Young]].

In 2007, the Bees won the domestic speedway treble of Elite League, Knock-out Cup and Craven Shield, while Chris Harris won both the [[Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain]] and the British Championship. The Bees retained the Craven Shield in 2008, and Chris Harris added further British Championship victories in both 2009 and 2010. The Elite League Championship Trophy returned to Brandon in 2010 when the Bees convincingly beat [[Poole Pirates]] in the play-off finals.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/speedway/9062265.stm |title = Coventry Bees crowned Elite League champions |date=5 October 2010 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |access-date=5 October 2010}}</ref>

The [[Coventry Storm]], an offshoot of the senior team, competed in the [[National League (Speedway)|National League]].

In 2017, the stadium became unavailable for motorsports, with new owners Brandon Estates pursuing planning permission for housing – thus, neither Coventry team was able to compete in the leagues, although a number of challenge matches were undertaken on opposition teams' tracks.

For 2018, Coventry Bees were entered into the National League, the third tier of British Speedway, riding their home meetings at the home of Leicester Lions. The team has not operated since then.

===Ice hockey===
[[File:Cardiff Devils v Coventry Blaze-57 (8218140763).jpg|thumb|Coventry Blaze.]]
The [[Coventry Blaze]] are one of the founding teams of the [[Elite Ice Hockey League]]. They competed in the [[Erhardt Conference]] from [[2012–13 EIHL season|2012–13]] to [[2017–18 EIHL season|2017–18]] before moving to the [[Patton Conference]] playing in that conference until the conference system was removed at the end of the [[2018–19 EIHL season|2018–19 season]].They play their matches at the [[SkyDome Arena]]. In 2002–2003, they won the [[British National League (1996–2005)|British National League]] and Playoffs. They have won the Elite League Championship four times (2005, 2007, 2008 and 2010). The team has twice won the [[Challenge Cup (UK Ice Hockey)|British Challenge Cup]], in 2005 & 2007. The [[2004–05 EIHL season]] saw the club win the Grand slam (namely the Championship, the Challenge Cup and the Playoffs). To date, they remain the only team since the formation of the Elite League to achieve this feat. Coventry Blaze celebrated their 10th anniversary season in 2009–10 by winning the Elite League.<ref>{{cite web |date=10 May 2023 |title=Blaze Honours – Coventry Blaze |url=https://coventryblaze.co.uk/blaze-honours/ |access-date=6 June 2024 }}</ref> The club also run a successful academy system, developing the young players of Coventry, Warwickshire and beyond. Scorch the dragon is the official Blaze mascot. The [[Coventry Blaze (ENL)|NIHL Coventry Blaze]], an offshoot of the senior team and official affiliate of the Blaze, currently compete in the [[English National Ice Hockey League|National Ice Hockey League]].

The [[Coventry Phoenix]] is the city's only women's team; currently competing in Division One (North) of the [[Women's ice hockey in Great Britain|British Women's Leagues]]. There are also several recreational [[ice hockey]] teams (male and female) that play in the city.

The Coventry and Warwick Panthers are members of the [[British Universities Ice Hockey Association]]. The 'A' team compete in "Checking 1 South", 'B' in "Non-Checking 1 South" and 'C' in "Non-Checking 2 South".

===Stock car racing===
[[Coventry Stadium]] held [[BriSCA Formula 1 Stock Cars]] from 1954 until 2016, the longest serving track in the UK to race continuously.<ref>BriSCA Formula One – The first 50 years 1954–2004 Keith Barber p 164 & 165</ref> The first meeting was held on 30 June 1954, the first heat being won by Percy 'Hellcat' Brine, he also won the meeting Final. Up to the end of 2013, the stadium had held 483 BriSCA F1 meetings.<ref>60th Season Final Fact Book – Nigel Anderson & Guy Parker</ref> It held the [[BriSCA Formula 1 Stock Cars World Championship]] many times since 1960. As with speedway, Stock Car racing ceased in 2017 because of the unavailability of the stadium.

===Cricket===
The city's current leading [[cricket]] club is [[Coventry & North Warwickshire Sports Club|Coventry and North Warwickshire Cricket Club]]. Coventry & North Warwickshire CC is currently competing in the ECB Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League, having won the Warwickshire Premier Division in 2022, achieving promotion through the county league play-offs against the respective winners of the Worcestershire, Staffordshire and Shropshire premier leagues. 

Historically, [[First-class cricket|first class]] county games were played by [[Warwickshire County Cricket Club]] at the [[Courtaulds Ground]] from 1949 up to 1982. After Courtaulds Ground was closed, Warwickshire played several games at [[Coventry and North Warwickshire Cricket Club]] at Binley Road.

Coventry born [[Yvonne Dolphin-Cooper]] is a cricket umpire. She, alongside [[Anna Harris]], made history in 2021 by becoming the first-all female umpiring duo ever in ECB Premier League history when they officiated together in a [[West of England Premier League]] match between Downend CC and Bedminster in Gloucestershire.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Two women to stand as umpires in ECB Premier League match |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/two-women-to-stand-as-umpires-in-ecb-premier-league-match-1263021 |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref>

=== Athletics ===
The [[Coventry Godiva Harriers]], established in 1879, are the leading [[athletics (sport)|athletics]] club in the area. The club has numerous athletes competing for championships both nationally and internationally. Notable members<ref>{{cite web |title=Hall of Fame – Coventry Godiva Harriers |url=https://coventry-godiva-harriers.co.uk/hall-of-fame/ |access-date=6 June 2024 |website=coventry-godiva-harriers.co.uk}}</ref> (past and present) include:

*[[Basil Heatley]]; former world record holder for the marathon and silver medalist in the [[1964 Summer Olympics]].
*[[David Moorcroft]]; Gold medalist in the 1500m at the [[1978 Commonwealth Games]] and in the 5000m at the [[1982 Commonwealth Games]]. He is the former World 5000m record holder and still holds the British 3000m record.
*[[Marlon Devonish]]; individually in his senior career, he won Gold for the 200m at the 2003 World Indoor Championship and silver at the [[2002 Commonwealth Games]]. However, he has had great success as a relay runner in the 4 × 100 m, winning gold medals at the [[2004 Summer Olympics]], [[1998 Commonwealth Games]], [[2002 Commonwealth Games]] and the [[2010 Commonwealth Games]]. He also won bronze at World and European level at both his distances.

===Field hockey===
A [[field hockey]] club in the city is Coventry & North Warwickshire Hockey Club, which was established in 1895. Based at the Coventry University Sports Ground, the club runs four men's and two ladies' sides, as well as a junior section.

The men's first XI currently compete in Midlands Division 1 of the [[Midland Regional Hockey Association]] (MHRA), while the ladies' first XI compete in Warwickshire Women's Hockey League Division 1.

Other teams in the city include:

*Sikh Union: Men's 1st XI – (MHRA West Midlands Premier)
*Berkswell & Balsall Common Men's 1st XI – (MHRA East Midlands 1); Women's 1st XI – (Warwickshire Women's Hockey League Division 2)
[[File:2009 LPGA Championship - Laura Davies (2).jpg|thumb|Laura Davies in 2009]]
The [[University of Warwick]] field men's teams both in the MHRA and the [[British Universities and Colleges Sport]] (BUCS) hockey competitions. They compete in MHRA Midlands 2 and in BUCS Midlands 2b. The women's first XI compete in BUCS Midlands 3a. [[Coventry University]] men's first XI play in BUCS Midlands 3b, while the women's first XI compete in BUCS Midlands 2a.

===Golf===
[[Laura Davies|Dame Laura Davies]] [[Dame of the British Empire|DBE]] was born in Coventry and is among the most successful female golfers from Britain. She has had 87 tournament victories, including major wins at the Belgium Open in 1985, the [[British Open|Ladies British Open]] in 1986, and the [[U.S. Women's Open|US Women's Open]] in 1987.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=About Laura Davies – Laura Davies Biography |url=https://www.lauradaviesgolf.com/page_3153338.html |access-date=6 June 2024 |website=www.lauradaviesgolf.com}}</ref> From the early 90s  she played in 12 consecutive [[Solheim Cup]]s in the US.<ref name=":1" /> Laura has won numerous accolades during her career and was inducted into the [[World Golf Hall of Fame]] in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=Laura Davies Bio, Ladies Professional Golf Association |url=https://www.lpga.com/players/laura-davies/82630/bio |access-date=6 June 2024 |website=LPGA }}</ref>

=== Other ===
In 2005, Coventry became the first city in the UK to host the [[International Children's Games]] and three of the city sports teams won significant honours.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.coventry.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/leisure-and-culture/international-childrens-games-2005 |title=Images from the Children's Games 2005 |access-date=22 October 2005 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927071101/http://www.coventry.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/leisure-and-culture/international-childrens-games-2005 |archive-date=27 September 2006}}</ref> The Blaze won the treble consisting of [[British Elite Ice Hockey League|Elite League]], playoff and [[Challenge Cup (UK ice hockey)|Challenge Cup]]; the Jets won the [[British American Football League|BAFL]] Division 2 championship and were undefeated all season; and the Bees won the Elite League playoffs.

In 2014 the all-female [[Coventry City Derby Dolls]] was founded, now called Coventry Roller Derby (CRD).<ref>{{cite web |last=Simpson |first=Cara |date=31 March 2013 |title=LOOK: Derby Dolls thrill shoppers in Coventry city centre |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/look-derby-dolls-thrill-shoppers-3012416 |access-date=8 September 2024 |website=Coventry Live }}</ref> They were the first roller derby team in Coventry and Warwickshire,<ref>{{cite web |last=Hartley |first=Laura |date=19 April 2016 |title=Coventry Roller Derby team ready to take on best of Britain |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/a-passion-not-just-sport-11202493 |access-date=8 September 2024 |website=Coventry Live }}</ref> train weekly and have a full bout team<ref>{{cite web |title=Coventry Roller Derby – hard hitting fun |url=https://www.coventryrollerderby.co.uk/ |access-date=8 September 2024 }}</ref>