Coventry run out of shirts for Wembley!
Coventry City will wear a specially commissioned kit for the League two play- off final after running out of this season’s design.
remarkably, the club do not have enough strips to wear at Wembley after players gave shirts to fans in celebration after beating notts County in Friday night’s semi-final.
Stock of replicas for supporters sold out earlier this month too — with some donated to charity for auctions — so Coventry’s board have decided to launch a one- off edition that rekindles memories of the club’s 1987 FA Cup final win.
this season’s kit had been plain blue but players will take to the field for the match against exeter on Monday decked in a striped version that echoes those worn by Keith Houchen and Co 31 years ago.
Coventry were unable to purchase more of this season’s style due to time constraints and the minimum order levels being of high volume.
the move was criticised as a scheme of making money from the end-of-season spectacle, with adult shirts costing fans £45 each. But the club insist the extra game and high sales have contributed to an ‘exceptional’ situation.
Coventry chief executive Dave Boddy said: ‘With our existing supply exhausted, we have commissioned a special, limited edition one- off shirt for the play- off final. the striped kit is one with much history, especially at Wembley, for the Sky Blues.
‘We hope it will be very popular with supporters. this will not be the kit for the 2018-19 season, so we hope it will be a very unique shirt for the club and fans.’ A Coventry spokesman added: ‘the shirts for this season were ordered in February 2017, as is the case at many clubs ordering in bulk. Due to the incredible popularity of the home shirt this season, and use of club stock through playing requirements and charitable donations, it has been necessary to commission this new traditional striped shirt for the play-off final.
‘We were unable to order the current 2017-18 home shirt due to the large minimum order numbers which exist, and the lead times involved.’
the kit (right) was made by nike and designed by Coventry’s retail partner JustSport, and some supporters noticed a close similarity to the style used for the 2015-16 season. But the club pointed out there is a different collar, with the play-off final edition including a black trim on the collar, and blue shoulder panel. the shirt is expected to be in stock in stores tomorrow.
As of last night Coventry had sold 22,500 tickets for the contest against exeter with a sell-out of their 40,000 allocation expected.