Saturday 15th August 2026
Kick off: 3pm at Kingys
After getting sweet FA from their opening two league games the Saltmen opened up the ‘W’ column on Friday when they beat Dudley Town in the world’s best domestic cup competition, the FA Cup.
In their next fixture, Spa will begin their campaign in the world’s second best domestic cup competition named for an open container used for the use of displaying cut flowers, the FA Vase.
The tie is officially an away fixture but due to the conflicting interests of Copsewood’s football and cricket teams, the game will be played at our own Kingys home. This is an issue which disrupts the Copses fixture scheduling every season and results in them being unable to stage home games until the cricket season finishes and clearly places them at a disadvantage in the early rounds of cup competitions.
Copsewood were formed in 1922 as the works team of Peel Connor. As the company was bought and sold, the club’s name changed accordingly and includes the names Magnito, GEC and Marconi finally taking the name Copsewood when Marconi sold up in 2006. Since that time the Copses have played at Step six, first in the Midland Combination and subsequently the Midland Football League. Last season they finished 13th in the table, collecting 42 points from 40 games. This season, they have taken 1 point from their first 3 games – all away from home (see above).
Sadly, the relocation of this fixture means that we won’t have the opportunity to visit Coventry itself. So, I’ve cobbled all I know about is the city which is the most central city in England and it has a long and storied history. It’s not all naked female equestrians though – albeit that may be the most interesting bit.
The twentieth century saw Coventry develop into an industrial giant, playing a key role in the development of the UK automotive and associated manufacturing sectors. This economic base meant Coventry was of critical importance as an armaments manufacturer during the Second World War. While this was rightly a matter of local pride, tragically it also made the city one of the prime targets for Hitler’s Luftwaffe. Night after night Coventry was the subject of devastating bombing raids which brought terrible human loss and damaging industrial disruption. This is probably best symbolised by the destruction wrought on the city’s 14th century cathedral.
The now iconic new Cathedral, designed by Basil Spence, was consecrated in 1962 and stands testament to the resilience and drive of Coventrians.
Another symbol of Coventry’s significance can be found in the music and message of Two Tone records, its founding band The Specials, along with The Selector, The Bodysnatchers and others. Their fusion of Ska and Punk went a long way to documenting a troubled period in Coventry and inner city communities throughout late seventies Britain. The Specials’ Ghost Town was written in response to the upheaval in the area’s social, demographic and economic circumstances at the time. It was also the first record I ever bought.
The cryptic message contained in their single “Free Nelson Mandela” resulted in future South African leader, Nelson Mandela being freed from Robin Island prison and the subsequent fall of apartheid.
Oh, and the present Mrs FTS was born at Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry but this had no influence in the writing of this preview.
Should be an interesting tie.
See you there.
Cheers
FTS
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