| Season | | Date | Versus | Competition | Price | Supplied by | Their comment |
| 1907 |
| 11th January 1908 | Crystal Palace | English Cup 1st Round | | Jim Brown | City lost 2-4 in front of a ground record of 9,984. This is the earliest known City programme and was published by the Midland Daily Telegraph and if the word ‘gratis’ is correct, was given away free to fans. There are no adverts in the four-page programme but some excellent articles including a history of Palace, then a Southern League side, pen pics of both teams and a fascinating piece entitled ‘If Coventry City were in the Southern League’. The quality of the paper was excellent, especially compared to the flimsy paper used by City for later ‘official’ programmes. |
| 1908 |
| 1st September 1908 | Crystal Palace | Southern League | | Jim Brown | City joined the Southern League in 1908 and their first opponents were Palace. A 5,000 crowd watched a 1-1 draw. The flimsy 16-page programme cost 1d (1/2p) |
| 1909 |
| 20th November 1909 | Wrexham | FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round | | Jim Brown | City won 3-0 in front of 7,000 fans. The same style programme as the previous season except a light blue paper used instead of cream – although I have other programmes from this season on pink paper. The admission prices are listed and ground entrance was 6d (boys 3d) and for an extra 3d you could sit in the Wing Stand. Ladies could sit in the Wing Stand free of charge. The programme included lots of adverts for local shops, pubs and services with quite a bit of editorial mainly what appear to be syndicated Southern League notes. |
| 1910 |
| 18th February 1911 | Exeter City | Southern League | | Jim Brown | City lost 1-3 in front of 5,000. Identical programme to the previous two seasons – this edition is on pink paper. City had already beaten First Division Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup and faced another top flight side Burnley one week hence and the London & North West Railway Company advertised an ‘Express Day Excursion’ to Burnley & Manchester for 5/6d (28p) but ‘no luggage was allowed’. |
| 1911 |
| 14th October 1911 | Chelsea Reserves | Reserve League | | Jim Brown | City lose 2-0 (thanks Mike). A full 16-page programme was issued for reserve games. The cover has changed but the inside is almost identical to previous seasons. The programme mentions a game on the following Monday afternoon at 4 pm with Canadians’ champions. This would be Calgary Hillhurst, the first foreign side to play at Highfield Road. |
| 1912 |
| 16th January 1913 | Manchester Unitd | | 2d | Mike Young | Lost 1-2 in front of a then record crowd of 20042. |
| 1915 |
| 11th March 1916 | Birmingham | | | Mike Young | 1-1 draw at home. |
| 1918 |
| 23rd November 1918 | Birmingham C | | | Mike Young | Lost 1-3 at home in front of 10000 |
| 1919 |
| 13th March 1920 | Stockport | Division 2 | | Mike Young | Drew 1-1 at home in front of 10000 |
| 1920 |
| 27th December 1920 | Nuneaton Town | | | Jim Brown | Reserve Game |
| 1921 |
| 25th February 1922 | Clapton Orient | Division Two | 2d | Mike Young | Lost 1-2 at home, attendance 15000 |
| 1922 |
| 25th December 1922 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | TBC | 2d | Geoff Moore | A famous 7-1 win over Wolves on Christmas Day. City in red and green. The phone number for CCFC is 461. Programme costs 2d. There is an article on Mr David Cooke (Acting President), who donated the princely sum of 20 guineas to the club in 1909. Arthur Yeates proudly advertised all requirements for pigkeepers on the center page. On the inside back cover the makers of Sunripe fags claim that the ref (Captain A J Prince-Cox, who was also a boxer and boxing referee) would be thankful to replace his whistle with their product at half time. |
| 1923 |
| 25th December 1923 | Sheffield Wednesday | TBC | 2d | Geoff Moore | Christmas Day again, this time v Sheffield Wednesday. The design of the cover changes to feature the three spires. There is a full page article on the captain Danny Shea, with a full page portrait. City won 5-1. The programme costs 2d again and supporters are urged to buy one and not borrow as the profit helps pay the players summer wages. An interesting advert:- When run down pay a visit to Len Cooper Wine & spirit merchant, 64 Far Gosford Street. |
| 1924 |
| 28th December 1924 | Chelsea | TBC | 2d | Geoff Moore | Dec 28th v Chelsea, and a 3-0 loss. The covers in this period varied in colour from yellow to orange. There is a team picture (in suits, with Richmond wearing a dickie bow), and a picture of Jerry Best “at no extra charge”. This is an insert on glossy paper. There part of an article, running over a series of programmes, on the history of football. The best English tripe and cowheels are available from Hayes of Market Street. |
| 1925 |
| 21st November 1925 | Walsall | | | Mike Young | City win 2-0 in front of a 14,500 |
| 1926 |
| TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | Geoff Moore | To be completed once information received from Geoff. |
| 1927 |
| TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | Geoff Moore | To be completed once information received from Geoff. |
| 1928 |
| 22nd December 1928 | Bristol Rovers | | | Mike Young | Won 2-0 in front of a 13,000 crowd |
| 1929 |
| | | | | Jim Brown | |
| 1930 |
| TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | Geoff Moore | To be completed once information received from Geoff. |
| 1931 |
| TBC | Gillingham | TBC | TBC | Geoff Moore | A 6-4 home win over Gillingham, coming seven days after an 8-0 demolition of Palace. There is a picture of Tilford (transferred to Fulham this week). The signing of Tom Hall is announced, but he only played in the last two games of the season. Half time entertainment was provided by the Coventry Silver Band. |
| 1932 |
| 3rd September 1932 | Exeter City | | | Geoff Moore | Sept 3 1932 vs Exeter City. With Jock Lauderdale (2) and Clarrie Bourton amogst the goals Exeter are despatched with ease. 16 pages with a photo of Bourton included. There is an application form for shares (5 shillings or sixpence a week through the supporters club), and you can become a member of the supporters club for one shilling.The supporters club advertise an extensive social programme, including two whist drives. |
| 1933 |
| 30th September 1933 | Reading | | | Mike Young | 0-0 draw at home in front of 15,000 |
| 1934 |
| 6th October 1934 | Millwall | | | Mike Young | 5-1 home win in front of 18,000 |
| 1935 |
| | Newport County | | 2d | Geoff Moore | First home match of the season vs Newport County. A hat trick from Clarrie Bourton and a 7-1 win. The programme costs 2d and contains quite a few adverts - and has only four written articles in a 16 page issue. The editorial makes comment that the midweek game at Millwall became "very rough". You could get in for between 1 and 3 shillings. City actually won their first 8 home games of the season scoring 37 goals, something of interest to C & J Evans tailors who advertised a discount of 2s in the pound on if City win. |
| 1936 |
| 19th December 1936 | Blackburn | | | Mike Young | 0-1 defeat in front of 21,984 |
| 1937 |
| | Nottingham Forest | | 2d | Geoff Moore | September 25th. A 1-1 draw with Forest. George Mason scores just after half time but the lead only lasts two minutes. A 24 page issue with lots to read. |
| 1938 |
| TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | Geoff Moore | To be completed once information received from Geoff. |
| 1939 |
| 19th August 1939 | Birmingham | | | Mike Young | Home, FL Jubilee Trophy |
| 1944 |
| 19th August 1944 | Tottenham | | | Mike Young | Friendly game at home. |
| 1945 |
| 8th December 1945 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | TBC | TBC | Geoff Moore | A 1-0 win over Wolves on Dec 8th 1945. Billy Wright is playing. The notes announce the signing of Emilio Aldecoa. Entry to the ground costs 1/- for boys and services, 4/6 in the center stand. A new Vauxhaul is advertised at £361.6.1 from Brandish. The programme still costs 2d but it’s now a flimsy 8 page affair. |
| 1946 |
| | West Bromwich Albion | | 2d | Jim Brown | Post war competitive football commenced in August 1946 and this is City’s first programme for a game with West Bromwich Albion. City won 3-1 watched by 23,816. It has the same cover as the previous season which included a photograph taken in the Parts Sales department of Brandish & Sons, the local Vauxhall dealer! The programme of only eight pages (standard cover with one folded sheet inside) is on thin paper with very little reading material and the teams in the centre pages, surrounded by adverts for such things as Shanks, the local timber merchants, Hansons, the local music shop, greyhound racing at Coventry Stadium in Lythalls Lane, etc. As the season went on and the paper shortages became acute the paper used inside the programme gets thinner |
| 1947 |
| | Leicester City | | 2d | Jim Brown | A similar cover to the previous season except that the boring photo is replaced with a drawing of hands working on a car part. Again there are only eight pages but the paper quality is superior. This issue was for the local derby with Leicester on 6 September 1947, which ended in a 0-1 defeat watched by 28,628. For the Doncaster game in October however the cover changed slightly with the three spires featuring in anew cover which would be retained the following season (see 1948-49). |
| 1948 |
| | | | 2d | Jim Brown | |
| 1949 |
| | | | | Jim Brown | |
| 1950 |
| | | | 3d | Ian Oakley | |
| 1951 |
| | | | | Jim Brown | |
| 1952 |
| | | | | Jim Brown | |
| 1953 |
| | | | | Jim Brown | |
| 1954 |
| 25th December 1954 | Southampton | | 3d | Geoff Moore | A Christmas Day match against Southampton. City draw 1-1 with a goal from debutant Alan Moore. |
| 1955 |
| 17th September 1955 | Exeter City | | | Geoff Moore | Sept 17th vs Exeter. 2-2, Club comments notes that the minimum price of admission is to rise from 1/- (5p) to 2/- (10p), and discusses the precarious state of the finances of many clubs. You might be tempted by the advert for a Humber Super Snipe, which will do 90mph and costs £95 before tax. |
| 1956 |
| | Bournemouth | | | Geoff Moore | Easter Tuesday v Bournemouth completing a grueling but successful Easter programme. City had traveled to play at Bournemouth on Good Friday and then traveled straight to Gillingham for another game on the Saturday. From the Boardroom applauds the end of Entertainment Tax. |
| 1957 |
| 7th September 1957 | Watford | | | Geoff Moore | September 7th v Watford. There is an aerial photo of the ground on the cover, and the editorial comments on good progress with the installation of floodlights. Boxley scores twice in a 2-2 draw. |
| 1958 |
| | Port Vale | | | Geoff Moore | Over 28000 see a 1-0 win over Port Vale as City press home their promotion challenge. Bantam topics deplores vandalism at the ground (someone has slashed the goal nets. Cliff Richard is on at the Coventry Theatre. |
| 1959 |
| 25th December 1958 | Wrexham | | | Geoff Moore | The last ever Christmas Day match. Satchwell gets four in a 5-3 win over Wrexham. City are playing in white with a blue trim. |
| 1960 |
| 22nd October 1960 | Bury | | | Geoff Moore | Oct 22nd v Bury. The cover shows the aerial photo with a photo of Arthur Lightning saving a shot. Bantam Topics notes that Derrick Robins has become chairman. At the foot of the cast list for the Birthday Show at the Coventry Theatre is an act by the name of Morecambe and Wise. |
| 1961 |
| | Kings Lynn | FA Cup | 4d | Jim Brown | A twelve-page programme with not very much reading material. The same cover was used throughout the season with no indication of that day’s opponents.This issue is from the most cataclysmic game in the club’s history, a 1-2 home FA Cup defeat to non-league Kings Lynn that precipitated the arrival of Jimmy Hill as manager. Among the adverts is one for W Brandish & Sons, the Vauxhall dealer owned by the former chairman. They are selling brand new Vauxhall Victors for £744.19.9d (including purchase tax). |
| 1962 |
| | Swindon Town | | 6d | Jim Brown | A modern cover was introduced to go with City’s new Sky Blue image. A player in Sky Blue kit kicking a ball with a club badge (an elephant on a football) on a white background. The same cover was used throughout the season. Manager Jimmy Hill had a page talking about topical issues in the game, and not always about the club. There was the spotlight on a first team player with a head and shoulders picture of the player. The centre pages were reserved for the team line-ups in the traditional 2-3-5 style. Also in the programme were lottery chatter, the league tables, a fixture list (including attendances). Interesting adverts in this edition were Red House coach trips to forthcoming away games at Millwall (fare 80p) and Watford (67p) and the Coventry Theatre which had David Whitfield starring in “The Desert Song”. This programme was for a Tuesday night game with Swindon Town, including a young Ernie Hunt, which ended 2-0 in City’s favour in front of 19,386. |
| 1963 |
| | Crystal Palace | Division Three | 6d | Jim Brown | The front cover has a similar feel but is all Sky Blue with a similar footballer (now in a round-necked shirt. The same cover was used throughout the season with no indication of the opponents on the cover. Inside the contents were almost identical to the previous season. This programme was for the opening game of the season, a 5-1 win over Crystal Palace – who would be promoted from Division Three along with City at the end of the season. Bill Glazier, later to join the Sky Blues, was in goal for Palace. A British Rail advert offered a trip to Walsall to see City play the following Saturday for 32p. Jimmy Hill welcomed former England manager Walter Winterbottom who was opening the newly levelled pitch that afternoon. The featured player was captain George Curtis who it tells us has the nickname “Conker”. The words of the Sky Blue Song were printed in every programme – it had been introduced by the club in December 1962. |
| 1964 |
| | Norwich City | | 6d | Ian Oakley | |
| 1965 |
| | Stoke City | | 6d | Ian Oakley | |
| 1966 |
| | Wolves | Division 2 | 6d | Ian Oakley | Sky Blues promoted to the top flight of English Football this year. |
| 1967 |
| | Arsenal | Division 1 | 1' | Ian Oakley | |
| 1968 |
| | West Ham United | Division One | 1' | Ian Oakley | |
| 1969 |
| | West Bromwich Albion | Division One | 1' | Ian Oakley | |
| 1970 |
| | | Division One | | Ian Oakley | |
| 1971 |
| 14th August 1971 | Stoke City | Division 1 | 5p | Ian Oakley | |
| 1972 |
| 19th August 1972 | Southampton | Division One | 8p | Ian Oakley | |
| 1973 |
| 25th August 1973 | Tottenham Hotspure | Division One | 10p | Ian Oakley | |
| 1974 |
| 24th August 1974 | Chelsea | Division One | 10p | Ian Oakley | |
| 1975 |
| 19th August 1975 | Derby County | Division One | 10p | Ian Oakley | |
| 1976 |
| 24th August 1976 | Manchester United | Division One | 15p | Ian Oakley | |
| 1977 |
| 20th August 1977 | Derby County | Division One | 15p | Ian Oakley | |
| 1978 |
| 22nd August 1978 | Nottingham Forest | Division 1 | 20p | Ian Oakley | A Thursday game ! |
| 1979 |
| 21st August 1979 | Bristol City | Division One | 30p | Ian Oakley | |
| 1980 |
| 19th August 1980 | Liverpool | Division 1 | 30p | Ian Oakley | |
| 1981 |
| 29th August 1981 | Manchester United | Division One | 30p | Ian Oakley | |
| 1982 |
| 28th August 1982 | Southampton | Division One | 30p | Ian Oakley | |
| 1983 |
| 12th May 1984 | Norwich City | Division 1 | 40p | Tony Thomas | |
| 1984 |
| 28th August 1984 | Norwich City | Division 1 | 40p | Ian Oakley | |
| 1985 |
| 19th April 1986 | Luton Town | Division One | 50p | Robin Morden | |
| 1986 |
| 2nd May 1987 | Liverpool | Division One | 60p | Robin Morden | |
| 1987 |
| 9th February 1988 | Ipswich Town (Simon Cup) | Division One | 50p | Robin Morden | |
| 1988 |
| 11th February 1989 | Newcastle United | Division One | £1 | Robin Morden | |
| 1989 |
| 25th February 1990 | Nottingham Forest (LCSF) | Division One | £1 | Robin Morden | |
| 1990 |
| 29th September 1990 | Queens Park Rangers | Division 1 | £1 | Ian Oakley | |
| 1991 |
| | | | | Robin Morden | |
| 1992 |
| 13th March 1993 | Arsenal | Division One | £1.20 | Ian Oakley | |
| 1993 |
| 21st August 1993 | West Ham United | Premier League | £1.30 | Robin Morden | |
| 1994 |
| 28th January 1995 | Norwich City (FA Cup) | Premier League | £1.50 | Robin Morden | |
| 1995 |
| 30th September 1995 | Aston Villa | Premiership | £1.50 | Barry Chattaway | |
| 1996 |
| 26th October 1996 | Sheffield Wednesday | Premiership | £1.80 | Barry Chattaway | |
| 1997 |
| 21st February 1998 | Barnsley | Premiership | £2.00 | Peter Reynolds | A regular full house this season; the year Moldovan scored to secure a first win at Villa Park in the Cup. Not a patch on the quality of current programmes. Thin paper and garish colours but packed with quality editorial. |
| 1998 |
| 15th November 1998 | Everton | Premier League | £2 | Robin Morden | |
| 1999 |
| 25th August 1999 | Manchester United | Premier League | £2 | Robin Morden | |
| 2000 |
| 4th November 2000 | Manchester United | Premiership | £2 | Robin Morden | |
| 2001 |
| 31st October 2001 | Preston North End | Nationwide Division 1 | £2 | Ian Oakley | |
| 2002 |
| 23rd October 2002 | Norwich City | Nationwide Division 1 | £2.50 | Peter Reynolds | A popular format with 56 pages. Littered with interesting articles, a page from then manager Gary McAllister and captain John Eustace. |
| 2003 |
| 27th March 2004 | Reading | Nationwide Division 1 | £2.50 | Peter Reynolds | Similar to the previous year at 56 pages, though title restyled. Front cover shows on-loan Bjarni Gudjonsson. This series featured regular interviews with players entitled 'Parklife'. |
| 2004 |
| 21st August 2004 | Millwall | Coca Cola Championship | £2.50 | Peter Reynolds | 56 pages as per previous seasons; this season's programme will no doubt reflect the big commercial push ahead of the new arena opening next season, and this edition is no exception. To coincide with the 'end of an era' theme; there is a 'Where Are They Now' feature tracing City stars of the past. |