2008–09 Coventry City F.C. season
The 2008–09 season was Coventry City's 89th season in The Football League and their 8th consecutive season in the Football League Championship. Along with competing in the Championship, the club also participated in the FA Cup and Football League Cup. The season covers the period from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009.
Review and events
Monthly events
This is a list of the significant events to occur at the club during the 2008-09 season, presented in chronological order. This list does not include [|transfers], which are listed in the transfers section below, or match [|results], which are in the results section.June:
- 13 - Coventry City draw Aldershot Town at home in the League Cup First Round.
- 16 - Life President Mike McGinnity and former player Cyrille Regis receive MBEs in The Queen's birthday honours list.
- 16 - Coventry City's fixtures for the 2008/2009 Championship season are announced
- 23 - Coventry City announce the new squad numbers for the forthcoming season.
- 4 - Coventry City travel to Switzerland for pre-season tour where they will face Romanian side FC Braşov and Swiss side Stade Nyonnais.
- 4 - Scott Dann is named new club captain for the 2008-09 season, taking over from Michael Doyle.
- 5 - Coventry City announce new association with Coventry Sphinx.
- 11 - Keiren Westwood on his debut, is named in the Official Football League Championship team of the week, following his performance against Norwich City.
- 13 - Coventry City celebrate their 125th anniversary, they mark the event with a victory over Aldershot Town in the League Cup.
- 13 - Coventry City draw Newcastle United at home in the League Cup Second Round.
- 23 - Elliott Ward and Daniel Fox are named in the Official Football League Championship team of the week, following their performances against Queens Park Rangers.
- 6 - Daniel Fox is named in the Official Football League Championship team of the week, following his performances against Cardiff City and Southampton.
- 9 - Marcus Hall is to be awarded a testimonial match after 14 season with the Sky Blues.
- 8 - Former Coventry City and Belgium international defender Régis Genaux passes away from a heart failure due to a pulmonary embolism
- 24 - Keiren Westwood and Daniel Fox are named in the Official Football League Championship team of the week, following their performances against Sheffield Wednesday.
- 30 - Coventry City draw Kidderminster Harriers at home in the FA Cup Third Round.
- 3 - Livingston captain James McPake signs a pre-contract agreement with the Sky Blues.
- 15 - Coventry City unveil limited edition 125th anniversary kit which will go on sale on the last day of the season.
- 4 - Coventry City draw Torquay United away in the FA Cup Fourth Round.
- 12 - Defender Ben Turner signs new two-year contract, keeping him at the club until 2011.
- 14 - Coventry City take defender Quido Lanzaat on trial, with the view of making him a permanent signing.
- 20 - Daniel Fox's freekick against Swansea City is voted Sky Blues' 2008 Goal Of The Year.
- 25 - Coventry City draw Sunderland or Blackburn Rovers away in the FA Cup Fifth Round.
- 26 - Coventry City take Indian international forward Sunil Chhetri on trial, with the view of making him a permanent signing.
- 2 - Michael Doyle is named in the Official Football League Championship team of the week, following his performances against Cardiff City and Derby County.
- 4 - Coventry City will face Blackburn Rovers away in the FA Cup Fifth Round, following Blackburn Rovers reply win over Sunderland.
- 15 - Coventry City will face Chelsea at home in the FA Cup Quarter Final if they can over come Blackburn Rovers.
- 23 - Scott Dann is named in the Official Football League Championship team of the week, following his performance against Birmingham City.
- 5 - Chris Coleman is named the Football League Championship Manager of the Month for February.
- 8 - New attendance record of 31,407 is set at the Ricoh Arena as Coventry City host Chelsea in the FA Cup Quarter Finals.
- 12 - Jordan Henderson is called up to the England Under-19 squad for the first time - for their friendly against Czech Republic Under-19.
- 18 - Chris Coleman is charged with improper conduct and/or bringing the game into disrepute for criticising referee Steve Bennett's performance against Chelsea.
- 6 - Ben Turner is named in the Official Football League Championship team of the week, following his performance against Reading.
- 15 - Keiren Westwood wins South Wales Supporters' Club's Player of The Season Award for 2008/2009.
- 27 - Keiren Westwood & Daniel Fox are named in the 2009 PFA Championship Team Of The Year.
- 30 - Goalkeeper Danny Ireland signs new two-year contract, keeping him at the club until 2011.
- 4 - Aron Gunnarsson wins Community Player of The Season Award for 2008/2009.
- 4 - Ben Turner wins Young Player of The Season Award for 2008/2009.
- 4 - David Bell wins Goal of The Season Award for 2008/2009 for his strike against Doncaster Rovers.
- 4 - Clinton Morrison wins Top Scorer Award for 2008/2009.
- 4 - Daniel Fox wins Player' Player of The Season Award for 2008/2009.
- 4 - Aron Gunnarsson wins Player of The Season Award for 2008/2009.
- 13 - Assistant Manager Steve Kean is told he is free to move on to another club.
- 22 - Steve Harrison is appointed new Assistant Manager to Chris Coleman, replacing the outgoing Steve Kean
- 29 - Keiren Westwood & Leon Best win their first full international caps for Republic of Ireland in a friendly against Nigeria.
Squad details
Players information
| No. | Name | Nat. | Place of Birth | Date of Birth | Club Apps. | Club Goals | Int. Caps | Int. Goals | Previous Club | Date Joined | Fee |
| 1 | Keiren Westwood |  | Manchester | 23 October 1984 | - | - | - | - | Carlisle United | 18 June 2008 | £500,000 |
| 2 | Stephen Wright |  | Bootle | 8 February 1980 | - | - | - | - | Sunderland | 8 August 2008 | Free |
| 3 | Marcus Hall | | Coventry | 24 March 1976 | 235 | 2 | - | - | Stoke City | 21 February 2005 | Free |
| 4 | Daniel Fox | | Winsford | 29 May 1986 | 18 | 1 | - | - | Walsall | 28 January 2008 | Undisclosed |
| 5 | Elliott Ward | | Harrow | 19 January 1985 | 82 | 10 | - | - | West Ham United | 16 June 2006 | £1,000,000 |
| 6 | Scott Dann | | Liverpool | 14 February 1987 | 16 | 0 | - | - | Walsall | 31 January 2008 | Undisclosed |
| 7 | Guillaume Beuzelin |  | Le Havre | 14 April 1979 | - | - | - | - | Hibernian | 2 June 2008 | Free |
| 8 | Michael Doyle | | Dublin | 8 July 1981 | 230 | 17 | 1 | 0 | Celtic | 1 July 2003 | Free |
| 9 | Leon Best | | Nottingham | 19 September 1986 | 40 | 9 | - | - | Southampton | 6 July 2007 | £650,000 |
| 10 | Freddy Eastwood |  | Basildon | 29 October 1983 | - | - | 9 | 4 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 11 July 2008 | £1,200,000 |
| 11 | Julian Gray | | Lewisham | 21 September 1979 | 29 | 3 | - | - | Birmingham City | 10 July 2007 | Free |
| 12 | Aron Gunnarsson |  | Akureyri | 22 April 1989 | - | - | 3 | 0 | AZ Alkmaar | 17 June 2008 | Undisclosed |
| 13 | Dimitrios Konstantopoulos |  | Thessaloniki | 29 November 1978 | 23 | 0 | - | - | Hartlepool United | 30 June 2007 | Free |
| 14 | Leon McKenzie | | Croydon | 17 May 1978 | 44 | 9 | - | - | Norwich City | 31 August 2006 | £1,000,000 |
| 16 | Isaac Osbourne | | Coventry | 22 June 1986 | 93 | 0 | - | - | N/A | 1 January 2003 | Trainee |
| 17 | Michael Mifsud |  | Pietà | 17 April 1981 | 66 | 21 | 56 | 19 | Lillestrøm | 10 January 2007 | Free |
| 18 | Jordan Henderson | | Sunderland | 17 June 1990 | - | - | - | - | Sunderland | 29 January 2009 | Loan |
| 19 | Clinton Morrison | | Tooting | 14 May 1979 | - | - | 36 | 9 | Crystal Palace | 7 August 2008 | Free |
| 20 | Ben Turner | | Birmingham | 21 January 1988 | 27 | 0 | - | - | N/A | 1 July 2005 | Trainee |
| 21 | Jay Tabb | | Tooting | 21 February 1984 | 81 | 9 | - | - | Brentford | 30 June 2006 | Undisclosed |
| 21 | James McPake |  | Bellshill | 24 June 1984 | - | - | - | - | Livingston | 2 February 2009 | Undisclosed |
| 22 | Chris Birchall |  | Stafford | 5 May 1984 | 33 | 2 | 26 | 4 | Port Vale | 3 August 2006 | £325,000 |
| 22 | Lee Sawyer | | London | 9 October 1989 | - | - | - | - | Chelsea | 26 January 2009 | Loan |
| 23 | Danny Ireland |  | Australia | 30 September 1990 | - | - | - | - | N/A | 1 July 2007 | Trainee |
| 24 | Robbie Simpson | | Cambridge | 15 March 1985 | 34 | 2 | - | - | Cambridge United | 3 August 2006 | £40,000 |
| 25 | Kevin Kyle | | Stranraer | 7 June 1981 | 47 | 5 | - | - | Sunderland | 25 August 2006 | £600,000 |
| 25 | David Bell | | Kettering | 21 January 1984 | - | - | - | - | Norwich City | 30 January 2009 | £500,000 |
| 28 | Gary Borrowdale | | Sutton | 16 July 1985 | 26 | 0 | - | - | Crystal Palace | 6 July 2007 | £400,000 |
| 29 | Kevin Thornton | | Drogheda | 9 July 1986 | 50 | 2 | - | - | N/A | 20 September 2005 | Trainee |
| 31 | Donovan Simmonds | | England | 12 October 1988 | - | - | - | - | Charlton Athletic | 1 July 2007 | Free |
| 33 | Andy Marshall | | Bury | 14 April 1975 | 63 | 0 | - | - | Millwall | 30 June 2006 | Free |
| 35 | Jermaine Grandison | | Birmingham | 15 December 1990 | - | - | - | - | N/A | 1 June 2008 | Trainee |
| 36 | Adam Walker | | Chester | 23 March 1987 | - | - | - | - | Chester City | 1 June 2008 | Free |
| 37 | Jordan Clarke | | Coventry | 19 November 1991 | - | - | - | - | N/A | 1 June 2008 | Trainee |
| 38 | Sean Fraser | | Coventry | 8 February 1991 | - | - | - | - | N/A | 1 June 2008 | Trainee |
| 39 | Curtis Wynter | | Coventry | 24 June 1991 | - | - | - | - | N/A | 1 June 2008 | Trainee |
| 40 | Ashley Cain | | Coventry | 27 September 1990 | - | - | - | - | N/A | 1 June 2008 | Trainee |
Matches
Pre-season friendlies
Football League Championship
League Cup
FA Cup
Championship data
League table
Results summary
Round by round
Season statistics
Starts & Goals
Goalscorers
| No. | Flag | Pos | Name | Championship | League Cup | FA Cup | Total |
| 19 | | FW | 10 | 2 | 0 | 12 | |
| 5 | | DF | 5 | 0 | 1 | 6 | |
| 4 | | DF | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| 24 | | FW | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | |
| 14 | | FW | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| 9 | | MF | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
| 6 | | DF | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |
| 10 | | FW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 21 | | MF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 8 | | MF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |
| 21 | | FW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 12 | | MF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| 11 | | MF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 7 | | MF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 18 | | MF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 25 | | MF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Yellow cards
| No. | Flag | Pos | Name | Championship | League Cup | FA Cup | Total |
| 6 | | MF | 9 | 1 | 2 | 12 | |
| 4 | | DF | 8 | 1 | 0 | 9 | |
| 7 | | MF | 7 | 0 | 2 | 9 | |
| 6 | | DF | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | |
| 19 | | FW | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | |
| 2 | | DF | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 | |
| 16 | | MF | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| 21 | | MF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 10 | | FW | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| 1 | | GK | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| 8 | | MF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 5 | | DF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| 14 | | FW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 24 | | FW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 9 | | FW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 18 | | MF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 3 | | DF | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 20 | | DF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 17 | | FW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 21 | | DF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Red cards
| No. | Flag | Pos | Name | Championship | League Cup | FA Cup | Total |
| 2 | | DF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 4 | | DF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Captains
| No. | Pos. | Name | Starts |
| 6 | DF | Scott Dann | 34 |
| 19 | FW | Clinton Morrison | 16 |
| 3 | DF | Marcus Hall | 3 |
Penalties Awarded
| Date | Success? | Penalty Taker | Opponent | Competition |
| 2008-08-09 | Elliott Ward | Norwich City | Championship | |
| 2008-09-17 | Elliott Ward | Sheffield United | Championship | |
| 2008-09-20 | Elliott Ward | Queens Park Rangers | Championship | |
| 2008-10-04 | Elliott Ward | Southampton | Championship | |
| 2008-10-21 | Elliott Ward | Burnley | Championship | |
| 2008-04-21 | Elliott Ward | Barnsley | Championship |
Suspensions served
| Date | Matches Missed | Suspended Player | Reason | Missed Opponents |
| 2008-11-22 | 1 | Aron Gunnarsson | Reached 5 Yellow Cards | Sheffield Wednesday |
| 2008-12-06 | 1 | Daniel Fox | Reached 5 Yellow Cards | Nottingham Forest |
| 2009-01-17 | 3 | Stephen Wright | Sent Off vs. Queens Park Rangers | Blackpool, Torquay United, Cardiff City |
| 2009-01-31 | 2 | Aron Gunnarsson | Reached 10 Yellow Cards | Derby County, Wolverhampton Wanderers |
| 2009-02-14 | 1 | Stephen Wright | Reached 5 Yellow Cards | Blackburn Rovers |
| 2009-02-23 | 1 | Scott Dann | Reached 5 Yellow Cards | Blackburn Rovers |
| 2009-05-03 | 1 | Daniel Fox | Sent Off vs. Watford | Ipswich Town |
Monthly & Weekly Awards
| Championship Team of the Week | 11-08-2008 | Keiren Westwood |
| Championship Team of the Week | 23-09-2008 | Elliott Ward |
| Championship Team of the Week | 23-09-2008 | Daniel Fox |
| Championship Team of the Week | 06-10-2008 | Daniel Fox |
| Championship Team of the Week | 24-11-2008 | Keiren Westwood |
| Championship Team of the Week | 24-11-2008 | Daniel Fox |
| Championship Team of the Week | 02-02-2009 | Michael Doyle |
| Championship Team of the Week | 23-02-2009 | Scott Dann |
| Championship Manager of the Month | February | Chris Coleman |
| Championship Team of the Week | 06-04-2009 | Ben Turner |
| PFA Championship Team Of The Year | 2008/2009 | Keiren Westwood |
| PFA Championship Team Of The Year | 2008/2009 | Daniel Fox |
End of Season Awards
| Player of The Season Award | Aron Gunnarsson |
| Young Player of The Season Award | Ben Turner |
| Players' Player of The Season Award | Daniel Fox |
| Top Scorer Award | Clinton Morrison |
| Goal of The Season Award | David Bell |
| Community Player of The Season Award | Aron Gunnarsson |
Overall
| Games played | 53 |
| Games won | 17 |
| Games drawn | 16 |
| Games lost | 20 |
| Goals scored | 58 |
| Goals conceded | 66 |
| Goal difference | -8 |
| Yellow cards | 95 |
| Red cards | 2 |
| Worst discipline | Aron Gunnarsson |
| Best result | 4-1 v Southampton - Championship - 2008.10.04 |
| Worst result | 4-0 v Plymouth Argyle - Championship - 2009.04.11 |
| Most appearances | Keiren Westwood |
| Top scorer | Clinton Morrison |
| Points | 54 / 138 |
Transfers
Transfers in
| Player | From | Date | Fee |
 Guillaume Beuzelin | Hibernian | 2 June 2008 | Free |
 Aron Gunnarsson | AZ Alkmaar | 17 June 2008 | £250,000 |
 Keiren Westwood | Carlisle United | 18 June 2008 | £750,000 |
 Freddy Eastwood | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 12 July 2008 | £1,200,000 |
| Clinton Morrison | Crystal Palace | 7 August 2008 | Free |
 Stephen Wright | Sunderland | 8 August 2008 | Free |
| David Bell | Norwich City | 30 January 2009 | £500,000 |
 James McPake | Livingston | 2 February 2009 | Undisclosed |
Transfers out
| Player | To | Date | Fee |
| Colin Hawkins | Brighton & Hove Albion | 29 May 2008 | Free |
| Liam Davis | Northampton Town | 6 June 2008 | Free |
 Arjan De Zeeuw | ADO'20 | 5 May 2008 | Free |
 Michael Hughes | Released | 5 May 2008 | Free |
| Stuart Giddings | Hinckley United | 5 May 2008 | Free |
| Wayne Andrews | Luton Town | 5 May 2008 | Free |
| Lee Hildreth | Tamworth | 5 May 2008 | Free |
| Stephen Hughes | Walsall | 12 June 2008 | Free |
| Ellery Cairo | NAC Breda | 27 June 2008 | Free |
| David McNamee | Plymouth Argyle | 14 July 2008 | Free |
| Gary Borrowdale | Queens Park Rangers | 2 January 2009 | £350,000 |
 Chris Birchall | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 January 2009 | Free |
| Jay Tabb | Reading | 19 January 2009 | £500,000 |
| Kevin Kyle | Kilmarnock | 28 January 2009 | Free |
| Julian Gray | Fulham | 2 February 2009 | Undisclosed |
Loans in
| Player | From | Date From | Date Till |
| Lee Sawyer | Chelsea | 26 January 2009 | 22 February 2009 |
| Jordan Henderson | Sunderland | 29 January 2009 | 8 April 2009 |
Loans out
| Player | To | Date From | Date Till |
| Donovan Simmonds | Kilmarnock | 13 August 2008 | 30 June 2009 |
| Julian Gray | Fulham | 1 September 2008 | 2 February 2009 |
| Gary Borrowdale | Colchester United | 25 September 2008 | 16 October 2008 |
| Kevin Thornton | Brighton and Hove Albion | 26 September 2008 | 4 November 2008 |
| Kevin Kyle | Hartlepool United | 1 October 2008 | 28 December 2008 |
 Danny Ireland | Nuneaton Borough | 6 October 2008 | 6 November 2008 |
 Dimitrios Konstantopoulos | Swansea City | 27 October 2008 | 28 December 2008 |
| Gary Borrowdale | Queens Park Rangers | 26 November 2008 | 31 December 2008 |
| Chris Birchall | Carlisle United | 27 November 2008 | 31 December 2008 |
| Danny Ireland | Halesowen Town | 15 December 2008 | 7 January 2009 |
| Dimitrios Konstantopoulos | Swansea City | 8 January 2009 | 31 January 2009 |
 Michael Mifsud | Barnsley | 2 February 2009 | 31 May 2009 |
| Dimitrios Konstantopoulos | Cardiff City | 11 February 2009 | 31 May 2009 |