A brand-new statue honoring Coventry City’s iconic duo act, John Sillett and George Curtis, will be erected at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
The striking center piece, which will be situated next to the club’s new superstore and where manager Mark Robins and his Sky Blues players arrive on matchdays, will feature the managerial double act honoring the club’s finest hour winning the FA Cup in 1987. Plans for the piece have been revealed, and it will be situated near the South Entrance on the opposite side of the field from the Jimmy Hill statue.
More than £135k has been raised by contributors thus far in the fundraising campaign to pay for the iconic new stadium. Sustainers and the general public are urged to contribute in order to surpass the £87,000 appeal objective and complete the fundraising campaign.
The football team, along with Frasers Group, the owners of the CBS Arena, are supporting the initiative to create a statue. The highly regarded British sculptor Douglas Jennings will create it. He has previously created statues of Queen Elizabeth II and immortalized other well-known football players like Johnny Haynes, George Cohen, and Jack Charlton.Members of the Curtis and Sillett families are on the committee that was established to oversee fundraising efforts and the monument project. John Sillett died in November 2021 at the age of 85, and George Curtis passed away in July 2021 at the age of 82.
In addition to the scheduled fundraising events for the Statue campaign in the upcoming months, fans are invited to make online donations.
The fundraising committee is being chaired by former club chairman Joe Elliott, who stated: “We are about to start a fundraising period to collect money to build a statue for John Sillett and George Curtis thanks to the drive of the Sky Blues supporters and the families of John and George.”
“It is great to be discussing a remarkable historical event that brought joy to a city for a very long time. The celebration of Coventry’s 1987 FA Cup victory, which continues to this day, drew fans from all over the world. One triumph after another, round by round, till that bright day at Wembley. There was excitement that evening in the homes and streets, and even more the next day when an estimated 250,000 people flocked to see their heroes.
“This magnificent monument, which will commemorate 1987 and honor two men who gave their all to make Coventry City prosperous over many years, will bring those memories back to life.”
George’s wife, Inger Curtis, stated: “The Curtis family is honored and proud to have this statue honoring George, John, and the entire Wembley Team for their outstanding accomplishment in 1987.”
“It is a joy to be a member of the committee collaborating to help realize the vision for this magnificent memorial statue honoring two extremely special individuals.”
John Sillett’s son Neil stated: “We’ve come this far thanks to a lot of people working together, but it has taken a bit of a haul from a lot of people even to get here.
“I want to highlight the term TEAM since that’s what George and Dad stood for. We were all very much together in those glorious days, not only them but also the little backroom crew we had, the workers at the stadium and training facility, the players, and most importantly, the fans.
“It is fitting that this bronze memorial honoring two of the Club’s greatest employees be commissioned as the organization grows, serving as a lasting tribute and giving them a tangible inheritance.”
The monument should strengthen the bond between the Sky Blues and Frasers Group, the stadium’s owners, and portend a long-term lease.
Chief Executive Dave Boddy of Coventry City stated: “We are excited to reveal the plans for the statue of John Sillett and George Curtis.” Their individual contributions to the Sky Blues over a long period of time, as well as their accomplishments at the Club, were noteworthy.
As we begin the fundraising campaign, the Committee—including the families—has been working really hard to get here. The FA Cup victory is still remembered as Coventry City’s greatest day, and George and John are deserving of the honor of having a statue at the Arena.
“This statue commemorating two of the most significant figures in Coventry City’s history and honoring the club’s finest hour will be a fantastic addition to the stadium, and certainly enhance the match-day experience for fans,” stated Paul Michael, Managing Director of Coventry Building Society Arena.
“To make sure the statue is in a prominent spot for everyone to view and enjoy, we will be collaborating with the club.”
Pete Griffiths, a committee member who has supported the Sky Blues his entire life, stated: “After nearly 45 years as a fan, the 1987 cup final experience was a life-changing one – not just for individual Coventry City supporters, but for the City itself.” The cup run is something that no supporter will ever forget, from the bitterly cold home match against Bolton to the away matches against Manchester United, Stoke, and Sheffield Wednesday.
“I had lifelong memories from my 16-year-old luck of winning tickets to both the final and the semi-final matchup with Leeds, which I attended with my late father. How can we express our gratitude to those who helped make this all possible? The ideal method to commemorate George and John’s legacy to our football team and city is with this monument. Kindly contribute generously, and together, let’s bring this to pass.
Curtis Georges
As a physically strong center half and an innate leader, George was a renowned player for the Club known for his unmatched consistency and leadership. Curtis’s 543 game appearance total from 1956 to 1969 is still the second-highest in the Club’s history. As Captain, he was a vital component of the Sky Blue Revolution that saw the Club ascend through the leagues.
“Iron Man.” After serving in various commercial capacities and as Managing Director at the Sky Blues from 1972 to 1994, George went on to have a significant impact on the club’s operations behind the scenes. He was also a member of the management group that assumed leadership and led City to FA Cup victory at Wembley in 1987 and top-tier safety at the conclusion of the 1985–86 season. In 2012, George was named the Club’s Life President.