Match Information

  • AFC Coventry Rangers 2-1 Fairfield Villa

  • When: Bank Holiday Monday 1st May 2023

  • Kick-off: 3pm

  • Where: The Cov Tech Sporting Club, Mitchell Avenue, Coventry CV4 8DY

  • Competition: Midland Football League Division Two

  • Attendance: 91


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I have enjoyed visiting the city of Coventry many times for groundhopping entertainment. My first excursion took in Coventry City’s old Highfield Road stadium on 21st August 1979.

I saw a 3-1 win against Bristol City before 19,293 spectators on my way to chalking off all the 92 League grounds when I was a humble schoolboy.

Since then, I have returned to watch several Non-League sides including Coventry Sporting FC, Coventry Sphinx FC, Massey Ferguson FC, Coventry Marconi FC and Coventry United FC plus a couple of ventures to see the Coventry City Under-18’s youth team play at different training grounds.

I also went to the historic opening fixture within Coventry City’s newly opened Ricoh Arena where the Sky Blues defeated my own beloved Queens Park Rangers 3-0 (attendance 23,000 exactly) on 20th August 2005.

Anyway, the new kids on the block nowadays are AFC Coventry Rangers - founded as recently as July 2020. They currently compete on the seventh tier of Non-League football in the Midland League Division Two having already ascended up through two lower divisions.

I had heard nice things about this fledgling club regarding how excellent community links were swiftly established. Therefore I felt it would be worthwhile taking a look myself.

Consequently, I set off on a 170 mile round trip to Coventry. Nice sunny Bank Holiday weather prevailed so my wife and daughter joined me in the car for a day out.

Although I solemnly promised my four year old her McDonald’s stop off afterwards to provide much anticipated Happy Meal sustenance!

Ground Description

This large sporting site has housed rugby in the past. However, the main football pitch projects a semi-enclosed feel coming in from an entrance on Mitchell Avenue.

Covered standing accommodates 50 supporters on one side while grass banking enables decent elevated matchday views behind the far goal.

Tony Incenzo Coventry Rangers Diary of a Groundhopper

Elsewhere, the clubhouse walls display old Coventry City FC memorabilia making interesting perusal.

I understand AFC Coventry Rangers desire a long lease so they can install floodlights and develop the facilities further to climb the national Non-League Pyramid.

As these matters are ongoing, the club sensibly decided not to seek Step 6 promotion this year. Even so, I expect them to attain that leap upwards in the next season or two. 

Programme Details

I spotted an extremely helpful tweet prior to kick-off which declared: “45 printed programmes available”.

Copies sold at the main gate table, priced £1.50p. Sixteen pages of thoughtful reading material including the club history, chairman’s notes, stats and line-ups.

The Match

An important encounter for AFC Coventry Rangers in their push to clinch the Midland League Division Two title.

Opposing outfit Fairfield Villa gave a good performance though and opened the scoring through Oliver Parsons’ expert lob after 15 minutes.

Diary of a Groundhopper Coventry Rangers

Nevertheless, the home side rallied as the contest advanced whereby substitute Connoll Farrell mustered decisive goals on 75 and 85 minutes.

I particularly admired Farrell’s second strike via a scorching 25 yard left footed free-kick. 

The People

I must say AFC Coventry Rangers rank as one of the friendliest clubs I have been to in a long time.

Everyone I met extended a truly warm welcome including chairman/manager Kev Kingham, vice-chairman John Powell and Laurence Woodroffe on the coaching side. 

Kev told me: “We are really proud of everything we have achieved on and off the pitch in just three years since formation.

“We possess some fantastic people involved who continue to keep moving things forward in the right direction. It is great to see Coventry-based football fans supporting us by coming along to find out what we are about.

“We are talking to the local council in a bid to increase the lease for 20-25 years so we can get our teeth into the progress of the ground with governing bodies.

“Floodlights being top of the shopping list to reach Step 6 level and beyond. My overall dream would be FA Cup action here at AFC Coventry Rangers one day in the future.”


*Credit for photos in this article belongs to @TonyIncenzo*

Tony is an experienced football broadcaster who has worked for Clubcall, Capital Gold, IRN Sport, talkSPORT Radio and Sky TV. 

His devotion to Queens Park Rangers saw him reach 50 years without missing a home game in April 2023.

Tony is also a Non-League football expert having visited more than 2,500 different football grounds in his matchday groundhopping.

You can follow Tony on Twitter at @TonyIncenzo.