Archive News

21 August 2026

Wreath laying ceremony at London Road cemetery in Coventry

Left to right: Martin O’Donnell (Arsenal Scotland Supporters Club), Ian Woolley (Chairman, Friends of London Road Cemetery), Wendy Wyatt (David Danskin’s great granddaughter) Ian Devoy (great grandson of Willie Stanley) and Lionel Bird (Sky Blue Archive)

On Friday 21 August at 2pm (prior to the Arsenal v Coventry City fixture that evening), a wreath laying ceremony took place at London Road Cemetery in Coventry. Both the founder of Arsenal FC, David Danskin, and founder of Coventry City FC (formerly Singers FC), Willie Stanley, are buried there, the Sky Blue Archive believed it was appropriate to honour them both. The ceremony was attended by both Arsenal and Coventry representatives, and flowers depicting the club’s colours were laid on the respective graves.

Both graves were left unmarked for nearly 80 years. Arsenal funded the headstone for David Danskin in 2019, with family across four generations travelling to the cemetery for the unveiling. Similarly in 2007, following a fundraising appeal from Lionel Bird and Ian Devoy, money was raised for Willie Stanley’s gravestone thanks to donations from the Sky Blue Trust, various supporters clubs, and fans.

Future fixtures between the two clubs are now being dubbed the ‘London Road Cemetery Derby’!

Special thanks to Lionel Bird (historian), Ian Wooley (Chairman of Friends of London Road Cemetery), Richard Williams (BBC CWR), and Matt Dille (photographer).

Left to right: Mark Hornby (CCFC Head of External Affairs), Lionel Bird (Sky Blue Archive), Ian Devoy (great grandson of Willie Stanley) and Joe Elliott MBE (former CCFC Chairman/Director). Willie Stanley’s grave is situated to the rear of the Non-Conformist Chapel in the Old Part of the cemetery
David Danskin’s grave located in the New Part of the cemetery, next to the graves of two Royal Field Artillery soldiers (Gunners)
Matthew Dille (photographer) next to his ‘CCFC Mini’ with Ian Devoy, great grandson of Willie Stanley
Left to right: Ian Devoy (great grandson of Willie Stanley), Martin O’Donnell (Arsenal Scotland Supporters Club) and Wendy Wyatt (great granddaughter of David Danskin)
Former player Andy Whing (middle-left) pictured with club historian Jim Brown (middle-right)

18 August 2026

Highfield Road Park

On Tuesday 18 August, a brand new sign was opened on the site of our former home, Highfield Road. Former player and final Highfield Road goalscorer Andy Whing cut the ribbon to officially open the sign, which is at the Thackhall Street entrance of the park area, now named Highfield Road Park.

Sky Blue Archive want to further develop this area, but need supporters help funding, we have set up a GoFundMe appeal where you can make a donation; gofundme.com/highfieldroadpark. Your donations are greatly appreciated.

12 August 2026

Highfield Road Park

A visual of how the sign will look

Sky Blue Archive are delighted to announce that a new sign will be installed on the former grounds of Highfield Road, which will now be known as Highfield Road Park!

We’re also planning to install four ‘vision boards’, each depicting one of the four stands at Highfield Road alongside information about the history of the ground. We need your help to fund this though, so we have set up a GoFundMe appeal where you can make a donation; gofundme.com/highfieldroadpark

This marks a significant step in making Highfield Road Park a focal point for fans to reminisce about their own experiences at Highfield Road.

A massive thanks to Martin Carolan from LFE Engineering (who also did the stairs at the new COV store!), Paul Hughes from Coventry Neweld, Pete from Auto Japanese Spares, and Tim Wetherhill & Frances Briscoe from Coventry City Council for making this happen.

Announcements about when the sign will be installed will be made in due course. In the meantime, join our Facebook Group, ‘Friends of Highfield Road‘, to keep updated and share your Highfield Road memories.

10 June 2026

Award for the Sky Blue Archive

Lionel Bird, team member of the SkyBlue Archive, receives the prestigious Diamond Distinction Award trophy for Most Innovative Football Club History Website 2026, from Michelle Harris, a director of the awards company. From left to right: Jake Witherow, Simon Cliff, Lionel Bird (all team members of Sky Blue Archive), Michelle Harris and Jess Harris (Diamond Distinction Awards).

The group of volunteers who have created skybluearchive.com have had their hard work recognised. They have been awarded Most Innovative Football Club History Website 2026 by Diamond Distinction Awards.

Michelle Harris, a director of the Coventry-based Awards company said: “I am delighted to present this award to Sky Blue Archive. Recently they lost their entire database when the previous hosting provider deleted the website by mistake. Having visited the Archives I fully appreciate the hard work and dedication provided by a small group of volunteers, who have restored the database and continue to add new content. The website provides an invaluable resource relating to the history of Coventry City Football Club, who support this project.”

Mark Hornby, CCFC Head of External Relations said: “The Sky Blue Archive committee have done fantastic work since their inception, including the creation of the website. Cataloguing and celebrating the Club’s history is so important. It’s great to see their work acknowledged with this award.”

Jim Brown, Official CCFC Historian said: “We are delighted to receive this prestigious award in recognition of the excellent efforts by our team of enthusiastic volunteers.”

The impressive Diamond Distinction Awards trophy was presented at the CBS Arena on Wednesday May 20th.