As promotion to the Premier League edges ever closer for Coventry City, we will be going back to where it all began – League Two just eight years ago.
The Sky Blues finished sixth in Mark Robins’ first full season back at the club following relegation from League One the season prior.
The Sky Blues were victorious in the playoff final against Exeter City at Wembley to secure an instant promotion back to League One.
The Coventry-born goalkeeper was a crucial part of the promotion-winning side, playing 43 games across the league campaign.
He made 160 appearances for the Sky Blues until the end of the 2018/19 season where he left for a ‘bigger move’ to Sunderland.
He now plays his trade in League One at struggling Northampton Town and has been limited to just 12 appearances this season.
The former Scotland U19 right-back joined on a free transfer from Fulham at the start of the 2017/18 season and was a crucial part of the side that got promoted back to the third tier.
The 32-year-old made 53 appearances throughout the season and contributed three goals and four assists, including a stunner against Premier League opposition Stoke City in the FA Cup as well a superb strike for one of the goals at Wembley against Exeter City in the playoff final.
Grimmer only made 13 more appearances for the Sky Blues next season before moving to Wycombe Wanderers – where he still plays today and has made 256 appearances and is the club captain.
Another player who came from the Sky Blues academy was Jordan Willis. He was a key member to the back four throughout the season and made 42 appearances for Mark Robins’ promotion winning side.
The Centre-back contributed two goals across the season for his side – a header against Stoke in round three of the FA Cup and he opened the scoring at Wembley with a screamer to send Coventry City fans into delirium.
He left the club at the end of the 2018/19 season, along with Burge, to Sunderland on a free transfer.
Admittedly, this tarnished his reputation slightly after spending his whole career at the Sky Blues to join bitter rivals in the Black Cats and saying “I’m buzzing to be signing for a club of this stature.”
The experienced centre-half joined at the start of the season from Reading and was expected to join the Sky Blues development squad but was called upon in the second half of the season and showed his quality.
The Scottish international features 22 times across the League Two season and quickly became a fan favourite and was at the club until the 2022/23 summer transfer window where the club were forced to sell him to pay for the new pitch following the Rugby played at the Commonwealth games.
He made 192 appearances for Mark Robins’ side and now plays for Wrexham following his move at the start of the season and is also their club captain.
The 35-year-old joined from Forest Green Rovers in the 2014/15 season and made 35 appearances in the League Two campaign for Coventry City.
He was admired for his professionalism and consistent performances throughout the season but left at the end of the 2017/18 season and moved to Bury next season.
Stokes now plays his trade in the National League North with Curzon Ashton as they continue their bid to remain in the division next season.
The former Scotland international joined Coventry at the start of the season and slotted in to steady and secure the midfield and he did just that.
He went on to become a club legend at the Championship side and played 180 games until the 2023/24 season where he was released.
He saw the club go from League Two to a penalty away from the Premier League – which would have been the ultimate, lifelong dream for the fans favourite.
He became club captain at the end of the 2018/19 season and was so until he left. Despite not playing many games towards the end of his time, he was a key part of the League Two playoff final.
He also did a superb job at the end of the 2022/23 season to guide the Sky Blues into the Championship play-offs, including scoring a penalty against Luton.
Legend gets thrown around very easily these days but there is only three words to describe Michael Doyle. Captain, Leader, Legend.
265 appearances in the Championship from 2003-2011 and then returning to the side in a difficult moment in 2017, making 67 appearances before leaving in January 2019.
He was a much-needed experienced head in the middle of the pitch amongst a young squad which found themselves in League Two and he captained the side to the playoff final victory.
Another product of the Sky Blues academy and someone who was destined for big things after breaking onto the scene and scoring in his first appearance in this season at just 18.
His career hasn’t yet made it after leaving the Sky Blues in 2019 for a big fee to Preston. He broke into the side and made 73 appearances across two seasons for Coventry and now plays for League One table-toppers Lincoln City.
The former England U19 captain suffered injury and a lack of minutes at Preston and featured just 21 times following his £2m transfer.
Once again, another academy product who broke into the first team this season, which shows how much trouble Coventry City were in following a demise of Premier League to League Two in 16 years.
The 28-year-old broke onto the scene in this season and was known for his free-kick ability as well as superb on-the-ball technical ability. He scored the second goal in the play-off final with another superb finish in front of his fans.
He departed the club at the end of the 2021/22 season and moved to then League One outfit Shrewsbury Town, which caused some emotion amongst the fans as a fellow fan favourite as someone that put their all every time they wore the shirt.
The former Scottish international was a key figure for the Sky Blues after signing on a free from Sheffield United ahead of the 2017/18 season.
Despite a slow start to the season, he stood out and scored 28 goals in 52 appearances which helped bolster the promotion push. He left to Reading the following season after a big bid came in.
After his departure from Coventry, his career fell off massively and plays in Scottish League Two – with this being his first team since 17/18 where he has scored more than 10 goals.
After making the move from Sutton United in 2017, people weren’t sure what to expect from the Frenchman but he quickly became a favourite amongst fans.
He featured 116 times from 2017 until the end of the 2020/21 season and scored 26 goals. He went from being a non-league footballer in 2016/17 to becoming a Championship striker by 2020.
Despite being the clubs joint top scorer in the 20/21 season, he was released – much to the fans discontent after a promising first season in the Championship.
