Christ the King Parish in Coventry has begun six months of celebrations to mark the 80th Anniversary of Christ the King Football Club.

A Mass was celebrated by Canon Tom Farrell on Friday 20 March at Christ the King Church.

Read Canon Tom’s Homily in full

It was in 1946 that Fr Peter Tuite, the Curate at Christ the King, had the idea of forming a parish football club to give the youth of the parish an organised game of football each week, and so with the help of some parishioners, Christ the King Football Club was born.

One team in the Youth League developed into three teams in the 1950s. Two senior teams and one youth team. This was the shape of the club for many years to follow.

It was during the 1980s that the club really started to grow with the formation of Sunday Junior Football in Coventry.

Today, the club has 33 teams: 25 junior teams, aged  between 7 - 18. Two girls teams and three senior teams. There are community teams for those aged 4 - 6 and there is a team supporting those with mental health issues.

Between the Saturday and Sunday competitions, there are 455 players representing the club each week. All still wearing the red and white stripes. (The red and white stripes make a link with Sunderland football kit as a number of the parishioners in the 1940s had moved from the North East to work in the mining industry in Coventry).

There are 62 managers and assistants. There are 20 qualified FA coaches. 22 administrators and a senior committee, a junior committee, a gala committee, a club tote organising group and 50 sponsors along with the club trustees.

There have been a number of professional footballers who have come through the club. The most recent is Callum Wilson, who now plays at West Ham.

Over the years many Clergy have been involved with the club. From Fr Tuite who founded the club and a number of priests who played for the teams including Fr Anthony Sims, Fr Frank Gwinnett, Fr Andy Kenny and Fr Brendan McBride.

The Mass was attended by people associated with the club over many years, along with the next generation of players. The Mass began six months of celebrations, which will include a golf day, gala day, race day and concluding with a celebration dinner in October.

The club looks forward to continuing its community outreach in the future and to celebrating its centenary in 20 years time.

About the club - Talk by Jim Brown - 80th Anniversary CTK FC

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