Club History
1946
– 2008
Coventry
Sphinx FC was formed in 1946 under the name of Armstrong Whitworth
Aircraft FC. At that time there were a number of works teams in the
Coventry Area and AWA were always a leading force in the local works
leagues and throughout the 50’s and 60’s they won many league and
cup competitions. In 1960 they changed their name to Sphinx.
Sphinx were ma
In their first season in the Midland Combination,
Sphinx were promoted from Division 2 and also reached the
semi-finals of the Birmingham Saturday Vase. After finishing runners
up in division 1 at the end of the 1994/95 season Sphinx were
promoted again to the premier league. After their appointment to the
top flight, it was decided to link the name of the club to the city
in which they play and hence the name Coventry Sphinx was born. The
ground was also named
Following their promotion to the premier league
Sphinx soon became one of the leading teams in the division. In
their first season they finished as runners up which they repeated
in both 2005 and 2006. They have reached the final of the Endsleigh
Challenge Cup Final on three occasions, losing to Alveston at Villa
Park in 1999, defeating Coventry Marconi in 2002 and Feckenham at
The New Windmill,
Other successes have seen the Coventry Evening
Telegraph Cup won in successive seasons. This is also an historic
achievement as the team are the last winners at
Whilst the first team were competing for honours
in the Midland Combination the reserves were also a dominant force
in the Coventry Alliance League and after winning the division one
title in 2005, unable to be promoted to the Premier Division of the
Coventry Alliance, they also
In 1997 the junior section of the club was formed
starting with just 3 teams under 10’s 11’s 12’s. Success on the
field soon followed and currently there are 15 teams and over 200
players representing the club at this level.
Coventry Sphinx Juniors became the first club in
In 2003 the Coventry Sphinx Junior section
introduced the junior players into youth football playing in the
Midland Floodlit League and now have a very successful team and
future several youth players now play for senior teams. This was a
ma
Over the past 60 years the club has been served
by a number of very loyal and hard working people who have
contributed greatly to the running of the club both on and off the
field and the current committee and management team are no
exception. The dedication and hard work from every body has seen the
club en
After a great start to the season tragedy struck
in November 2001 when manager Willie Knibbs was killed in a car
accident returning from a cup game at Meir KA. A former player
Willie was in his second spell as manager and his death was a great
loss to Coventry Sphinx football Club and football in general. This
was probably the club’s ‘darkest hour’. He was so well liked by
everybody and because he cared so passionately for the Sphinx it
gave everybody the determination to continue with his legacy.
Winning the Midland Combination Challenge Cup,
which was renamed the Willie Knibbs Cup, for the remainder of the
season, as a mark of respect, was an outstanding achievement after
such a painful season. Credit must go to all involved for continuing
on when it would have been easier to pack in.
As we all know time does not standstill and to
keep playing football for sixty years has been a ma
Coventry Sphinx completed a remarkable treble
achievement in May 2007 when they finally became Champions of the
Midland Football Combination and achieved promotion to the Midland
Football Alliance. Also winning the Coventry Charity Cup and BCFA
Midland Floodlit Cup.
History was also achieved in season 2007/08 when
reaching the Quarter Finals of the FA Vase for the very first time,
losing to eventual Wembley winners Kirkham & Wesham (Now AFC Fylde)
in a replay at
In the 2009/10 season Coventry Spinx went onto win there iggest hounor in football when defeating Westfields in the Midland Alliance Ploymac League Cup.
Original History, Author Unknown
Brief History adapted July 2007,July 2008, June 2011