1883

Singers FC formed by Willie Stanley and other Singers factory workers at the Lord Aylesford Inn, Aylesford Street, Hillfields on 13 August.

1884

Club joins Birmingham County FA.

1885

Harry Hathaway replaces Stanley as secretary.

1886

Earliest known team picture taken.

1887

Move from Dowells Field to Stoke Road and drew 1-1 with Small Heath Unity (Birmingham) in their first match.

1888

1,400 spectators watch Singers beat Unity Gas 3-0 in the Birmingham Senior Cup.

1889

Singers win first local derby with Rudge 2-0 on 12 October.

1890

On 29 November William Cashmore, Singers principal trainer, was stabbed during a fight in the Trafalgar Arms pub, Spon End, involving Albert Kirk and William Lawrenson, both Rudge FC committee members.

1891

The club win the Birmingham Junior Cup beating Willenhall Pickwicks 1-0 in the final at Villa’s Perry Barr ground on the 18 April.

1892

Singers win the Birmingham Junior Cup, Walsall Junior Cup and Wednesbury Charity Cup.
Singers FC turned professional after a vote taken at the club’s AGM on 16 August 1892.
First FA Cup match – Preliminary Round, 28 September, Burton Swifts 3 Singers 0.

1893

On 22 April Singers lost 6-0 to Walsall Town Swifts in the Walsall Senior Cup Final held at the Wednesbury Oval.

1894

Singers join the Birmingham & District League.

1895

Furthest progress in the FA Cup – Third Qualifying Round, 23 November. Singers 0 Burton Swifts 3.

1896

The club’s supporters encircle the pitch with lattice boarding to keep their feet dry.

1897

The pitch is moved 40 yards nearer Swan Lane after George Storer, a housebuilder buys the land.

1898

Letter from Frederick Wall, secretary of the Football Association, confirms the name change to Coventry City FC on 12 August.

1899

Highfield Road opens with a 1-0 win over Shrewsbury watched by a 3,000 crowd.

1900

City lose 1-14 to Aston Villa Reserves and 0-10 to Small Heath Reserves.

1901

City suffer a record FA Cup defeat 2-11 to Berwick Rangers.

1902

A club record victory, 9-0 over Ironbridge.

1903

City finish seventh, equalling their best finish in the Birmingham League.

1904

First refreshment bars erected at Highfield Road.

1905

Crowds fall to 300 as City finish one place off the foot
of the league.

1906

Under the stewardship of former player Joe Beaman City’s form improves.

1907

City reach the FA Cup First Round Proper for the first time but lose 2-4 to Crystal Palace.

1908

The club, now nicknamed the Bantams, are voted into the Southern League and 5,000 watch the first game, a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.

1909

The first season in the Southern League sees City finish 20th out of 21 teams.

1910

City reach the quarter final of the FA Cup after victories over First Division Preston and Nottingham Forest.

1911

Another Cup giantkilling feat as City win 2-1 at First Division Sheffield Wednesday.

1912

Manchester United visit Highfield Road in the FA Cup and win 5-1.

1913

For the second season running City draw Manchester United in the FA Cup and achieve a great 1-1 away draw before losing a home replay.

1914

Disaster as the club is relegated from Southern League Division One.

1915

Organised football closes down because of the Great War.

1916

Large financial losses put the club’s future in doubt.

1917

Chairman David Cooke pays off the club’s debts

1918

Football resumes and City play in a strong Midland League with several First Division teams.

1919

City voted into the Football League Second Division but lose their first game 0-5 at home to Spurs.

1920

A record 22,000 watch City win their final game v Bury to avoid re-election but the game is later found to have been fixed.

1921

Relegation avoided with six wins in the last ten games.

1922

A new green and red strip, the civic colours, is introduced.

1923

Prolific scorer Bill Toms is sold to Stockport after 19 goals in 30 games.

1924

Albert Evans sacked as manager after four years in charge.

1925

City relegated from Division Two and suffer embarrassing Cup defeat at non-league Worksop.

1926

City switch from Third Division Northern section to Southern section.

1927

With the help of the Supporters Club, a terrace cover is bought from Twickenham rugby ground for £1,700.

1928

The club’s smallest ever league crowd 2,059 watch a midweek game with Crystal Palace.

1929

A record crowd of 26,000 watch City go out of the Cup to Fulham.

1930

The ground record is smashed as the Cup visit of First Division giants Sunderland attracts 31,673 but City lose 1-2.

1931

33-year old Harry Storer becomes City’s fifth manager since the Great War and within weeks signs Clarrie Bourton.

1932

Clarrie Bourton heads the league’s scoring lists with 49 goals.

1933

City beat QPR 7-0 with all the goals coming in the last half hour and Billy Lake scoring a nine-minute hat-trick.

1934

Bourton is out injured but he is not missed as his stand-in Arthur Bacon nets 16 goals in 14 games.

1935

40,000 cram into Highfield Road to celebrate King George V’s golden jubilee.

1936

City win the Third Division South championship and build a new stand to celebrate and 42,809 watch the crucial home game with Luton.

1937

A record 44,492 watch City lose 2-3 to West Brom in
the FA Cup.

1938

City finish fourth in Division Two, one point off promotion, after looking favourites to go up for most of the season.

1939

In the final season before the outbreak of war City again finish fourth.

1940

Highfield Road bombed during Blitz & subsequently closed for two years.

1941

Accountant Phil Mead reports that the club’s financial situation is dire.

1942

Captain George Mason becomes the club’s first England international, albeit in an unofficial wartime game.

1943

City beat West Brom 8-0 with Tommy Crawley netting
five goals.

1944

American Football is played at Highfield Road with the US Army beating the US Navy.

1945

Manager Harry Storer leaves to join

Birmingham

1946

League football re-commences and City have a new hero, George Lowrie who nets 29 goals.

1947

Storer’s replacement Dick Bayliss dies suddenly after picking up a chill during a scouting trip.

1948

Storer returns as manager after the sacking of Billy Frith and steers City to safety in the league.

1949

City slump out of the FA Cup, beaten 0-1 at Third Division Torquay.

By Christmas City look hot favourites for promotion to the First Division but they slump and finish seventh.

1951

Legends Alf Wood and George Mason are dropped from City’s ageing team.

1952

City suffer relegation to Division Three after a dire season.

1953

The first floodlights are inaugurated with a game against Queen of the South.

1954

Jack Fairbrother ‘resigns’ after only nine months as manager.

1955

City pull off a major coup by attracting former Juventus coach Jesse Carver as manager. His number two is former Sweden coach George Raynor. Carver stays only six months before joining Inter Milan.

1956

Reg Matthews becomes the first Coventry player to be selected for England. In a friendly game with Argentinian side San Lorenzo the referee abandons the game when he is kicked by an Argentinian.

1957

Billy Frith returns for a second spell as manager.

1958

City are dumped into the new Fourth Division after a disastrous season sees them finish in the bottom half of Division 3 South.

1959

Promotion from Division Four as runners up to Port Vale.

1960

City win the Southern Floodlit Cup beating First Division West Ham in the final.

1961

The biggest Cup shock in the club’s history as Kings Lynn beat City at Highfield Road. Days later Frith is sacked and Jimmy Hill takes over.

1962

Chairman Derrick Robins lends the club £30,000 to sign a complete new forward line.

1963

A 2-1 victory over Sunderland in front of an estimated 50,000 is the highlight of the best Cup run since 1910 as City lose to Manchester United in the quarter final.

1964

Third Division Champions after a 1-0 final day win over Colchester and the club celebrate by opening the Sky Blue Stand.

1965

City become the first club to relay an away match on closed circuit television.

1966

A club record transfer fee of £57,000 is paid for Scottish inside forward lan Gibson.

1967

Second Division Champions after the Midland Match of the century, a 3-1 win over Wolves watched by over 51,000.

1968

On the final day of the season City survive by drawing 0-0 at Southampton.

1969

The legendary George Curtis plays his final game after 13 years and 538 games.

1970

A 1-0 victory at Wolves clinches sixth place and qualifies City for their first European campaign.

1971

In a 3-1 win over Everton Willie Carr and Ernie Hunt conjure up the memorable ‘donkey-kick’ goal.

1972

Noel Cantwell is sacked and replaced by Joe Mercer and Gordon Milne.

1973

After an exciting season of attacking football City lose an FA Cup quarter final to Wolves.

1974

City play their first Sunday home game and attract over 40,000 for an FA Cup tie with Derby.

1975

Serious financial difficulties force cut price sales of key players including Willie Carr and Dennis Mortimer.

1976

David Cross scores hat-tricks on the first and last day of the season.

1977

In a dramatic drawn final game against Bristol City both teams avoid relegation as Sunderland kick off earlier and lose at Everton.

1978

Milne’s attacking team with Ferguson and Wallace to the fore score 75 goals but miss out on Europe by one point.

1979

Mick Ferguson becomes the first City player for twenty years to score four goals in a league game as Ipswich are beaten 4-1.

1980

City pull off a major shock by ending league champions 19-match unbeaten run in front of the Match of the Day cameras. A week later they are humbled in the Cup by Third Division Blackburn.

1981

Gordon Milne’s young team reach the League Cup semi final but lose to West Ham.

1982

Despite an exciting young team gates fall to the lowest level for twenty years following the introduction of the all-seater stadium.

1983

Bobby Gould replaces Dave Sexton as manager but eight first team players walk out as their contracts are allowed to run out. Jimmy Hill resigns as chairman.

1984

Gould’s makeshift team beat Norwich 2-1 in their final game to stay up.

1985

Another last day survival act as City win their last three games including a 4-1 win over champions Everton.

1986

For the third year running City are only safe on the final day, beating QPR 2-1.

1987

City win the FA Cup in a classic Wembley final beating Tottenham 3-2 after extra time.

1988

The Villa bogey is ended after 51 years as City beat their rivals 2-1 at Highfield Road.

1989

Wembley seems a million miles away as City are humbled at Sutton United.

1990

The legendary manager John Sillett is sacked on his sickbed as Terry Butcher replaces him in charge.

1991

The Wembley team is broken up with Peake, Kilcline, Regis and Downs allowed to leave.

1992

Despite losing at Villa Park on the final day City are saved by Notts County who send Luton down. City will be inaugural members of the Premier League.

1993

The famous Spion Kop is demolished to make way for the new East Stand.

1994

After an outstanding World Cup for Phil Babb City cash in and sell the Irish international to Liverpool for £3.75 million.

1995

Big Ron Atkinson takes over from Phil Neal as manager and is given millions to spend.

1996

Gordon Strachan succeeds Atkinson as manager after a poor run of results.

1997

In their greatest Houdini act City stay up on the final day by winning 2-1 at Spurs whilst their rivals fail to win.

1998

City have their best season for years but lose an FA Cup quarter final to Sheffield United after a penalty shoot-out.

1999

A club record fee of £6 million is paid for Robbie Keane who scores twice on his debut.

2000

Keane leaves for Inter Milan for £13 million and with McAllister also going City struggle.

2001

Relegation after 34 years in the top flight. Strachan is axed five games into the new season.

2002

A form slump costs City a play-off place and Roland Nilsson his job.

2003

With the finances biting hard manager McAllister has to rely on youngsters and loan signings. They win only one game in 21 and are humbled at Rochdale in the Cup.

2004

Eric Black takes over from McAllister but is sacked despite a good run of form.

2005

Micky Adams replaces Peter Reid and City leave Highfield Road after 106 years to move to the Ricoh Arena.

2006

The arrival of Dennis Wise brightens the gloom for struggling City.

2007

lain Dowie becomes manager and the club are saved from administration at the eleventh hour.

2008

Following the takeover by SISU Chris Coleman takes charge and City avoid relegation by the skin of their teeth.

2009

Club reach the FA Cup sixth round for the first time in 11 years but lose to Chelsea in front of Ricoh record 31,407.

2010

Aidy Boothroyd replaces Coleman but lasts less than a season.

2011

Andy Thorn steers City away from relegation & is appointed permanent boss.

2012

Relegation to League One after a miserable season. Mark Robins appointed manager.

2013

Robins lured away to Huddersfield and repalced by Steven Pressley. Rent row leads to club playing home games at Northampton.

2014

Club goes into administration and have 10 points deducted. SISU re-purchase club from administrator. Return to Ricoh.

2015

Tony Mowbray replaces Pressley and his exciting team head the table at Christmas.

New Year slump sees club finish 8th in League 1. Mowbray steps down and first Mark Venus, then Russell Slade labour to keep City up.

2017

Relegation to League 2. Robins returns and EFL Trophy success at Wembley, 2-1 over Oxford.

2018

Promotion to League 1 through famous Play-off final win over Exeter at Wembley. Marc McNulty’s 23 league goals is best for a City striker since 1967.

2019

After a rent row with stadium owners Wasps club play home games at St.Andrews.

2020

14-game unbeaten run leaves City top of League 1 when Covid lockdown ends season prematurely. City awarded title and promotion to Championship.

2021

Ricoh rent resolved and City back in Coventry.

2023

Doug King buys club from SISU. City reach play-off final after impressive post-Christmas run but lose to Luton on penalties. Viktor Gyokeres’ 21 goals earns record £20m move to Sporting Lisbon.

2024

City reach FA Cup semi final for only second time in their history and lose to Manchester United on penalties after controversial VAR decision rules out what would have been a winning goal. Robins sacked in November and replaced by Frank Lampard.

2025

City finish fifth in the EFL Championship but lose the play-off semi-final to a 122nd minute Sunderland goal. The club purchase the CBS Arena.

2026

City win the EFL Championship by 11 points and return to the Premier League after 25 years. Record attendance at the CBS v Sheffield Wednesday of 31,647.