CoventryCitythe60s

The close season in 1963 brought a more professional approach with Hill
getting the players kitted out in suits to be worn on match days,and the first part of a new stand opposite to the main stand had started and was due for completion by the end of the season.This was to have a supporters club built underneath the seating area.
The disabled would also be catered for with a row of undercover seating at pitch side.Parking at pitch side was also given to them for their sky blue disable carriages.This showing that Hill cared about everybody who supported the team.
But at one stage there was an uproar from fans as they showed their feeling when Hill sold top scorer Terry Bly to Notts County for 13,000 pounds.He said at the time to carry this team forward decisions will need to be made that are not popular with some fans.Only time will tell.
This was soon forgotten as City won six,drew one out of the first seven games in turn scoring 21 goals.The crowds were on the up and on 17th September almost 30,000 turn up to see City hammer Crewe 5-1.
Coventry had not seen anything like before,thousands started to travel away on the new motorways and probably in Coventry built cars.Hill and Chairman Derrick Robins decided something must be done and they bought a train and called it the Sky Blue Special and would take the fans to away game and would have music and catering for them.4,000 went to Walsall,7,000 to Luton and a massive 12,000 to Peterborough.
George Hudson was freely scoring a Bly was soon forgotton.
Hill brought in a blue-eyed kid from Nelson in Lancashire for fifty pounds his name was Ernie Machin he was a scoring midfielder who was not scared to put his foot in.In october they beat Shrewsbury 8-1 and they were so far in front they were almost Champions.Then the bubble burst they went from 3rd January to Easter Saturday without a win(11 games).Hudson had lost his form,Machin was injured.
A 5-2 defeat at home to Southend United Hill brought in new faces John Smith from Spurs and George Kirby from Southampton,the corner was turned with a hat-trick from Kirby in a 4-1 home win against Oldham.
The final day had arrived with Crystal Palace top on 60 points,City second on 58 and Watford third also on 58.With only 2 teams going up at this time.City just needed to win to get promoted as their goal difference was far better than Watford.As the City used to kick off at 3.15 on a Saturday,this was to allow Saturday factory workers who would finish at 2pm to get to the game they would know the final scores of the other games.
But Colchester United would still need to be beated to make sure of promotion and they were with Hudson getting the only goal of the game.Then news came through that both Crystal Palace and Watford had lost this meant that not only were City promoted but they were Division 3 Champions on goal difference.
Celebrations were held all round the city,it was like V.E Day all over again.City were going to a higher level and Hill knew better players were requiredso progress in Division 2

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