The Magic Of Speedo

Kevin Halls Recalls When Striker David Speedie Captured The Hearts Of Sky Blues Fans.

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IN THIS new season we supporters are all hoping that among the new acquisitions there is one player who will become a fans’ favourite. The type of player who sets the pulses racing and gets you on the edge of your seat.

There is one ex-Coventry City player who got me all excited when I heard we’d signed him back in 1987, and that was David Speedie.

What a fiery character ‘Speedo’ was - a wee firebrand who had the heart of a lion and though only 5ft 7ins tall would square up to anybody who tried to rough him up.

Speedie was a Chelsea favourite and their fans loved him, so I was surprised when I heard the Sky Blues had only gone and bought him for a club record £780,000.

As we had just won the FA Cup, this had given us some welcome extra finances, so our manager John Sillett wasted no time in getting the cheque book out and I, for one, was over the moon at this great signing.

Speedie made his debut in the Charity Shield against Everton in a 2-1 defeat, but he really made his mark in the opening game of the 1987/88 season when he was up against none other than Tottenham Hotspur, who the City had beaten at Wembley just a few months earlier.

He wasted no time in stamping his mark for his new club when he netted on his league debut in another win for the Sky Blues over the mighty Spurs.