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Queue builds for Jimmy Hill celebration service tickets Fans queued for Jimmy Hill celebration service tickets
(about 7 hours later)
A queue is building for tickets for a service honouring football pioneer Jimmy Hill. Football fans queued for tickets for a service honouring pioneer of the game Jimmy Hill.
The ex-Coventry City manager and chairman, who led the club through two promotions in the 60s, died in December.The ex-Coventry City manager and chairman, who led the club through two promotions in the 60s, died in December.
The service, at Coventry Cathedral on 12 February, will celebrate his life and contribution across football and broadcasting, Coventry City FC said.The service, at Coventry Cathedral on 12 February, will celebrate his life and contribution across football and broadcasting, Coventry City FC said.
First in the queue was Rob Hammond who said Hill had transformed the club. A total of 700 free tickets were set aside for Sky Blues fans.
"I've lived through the dark days, then Jimmy Hill came along and revolutionised Coventry," he said. Around 2,000 people are expected inside the cathedral.
More on this and other stories Coventry and WarwickshireMore on this and other stories Coventry and Warwickshire
Season ticket holder Laina Tebbutt, 50, from Whitley, said Hill had been "massive" for the club and football in general. Dave Jones, from Earlsdon, has been following Coventry City since 1959.
"Everyone is so passionate about him, he was such an innovator," she said. "He had a big influence on my life, because as a teenager growing up in the city he changed everything," he said.
"He made it a pleasure to go and watch them, and his influence in football with a lot of different individuals was very important. He was a wonderful man."
Mike McCarthy, aged 67, from Earlsdon said: "I met him at St Filburn's Club when he was taking the team around to meet the fans.
"Though I was only a young lad he was very open and really listened.
"He was so impressed once by our singing at Crystal Palace he got someone to come down to us and ask if we could do it again at Highfield Road.
"It was such a tragedy when he left us [in 1967, as opposed to last month], but everyone knows the impact he had."
Hill is credited with introducing a number of changes in the national game but is probably most famous for campaigning to scrap the maximum wage for footballers.Hill is credited with introducing a number of changes in the national game but is probably most famous for campaigning to scrap the maximum wage for footballers.
He also presented Match of the Day for 16 years from 1973.He also presented Match of the Day for 16 years from 1973.
Former Coventry City chairman Joe Elliott said the response from those wanting to attend the memorial was so big they were looking at bringing in an audio feed to allow as many people as possible to hear the service.Former Coventry City chairman Joe Elliott said the response from those wanting to attend the memorial was so big they were looking at bringing in an audio feed to allow as many people as possible to hear the service.
"There will be some sadness, but we want it to be a real celebration for our city and to say thank you to Jimmy for everything that he did," he said."There will be some sadness, but we want it to be a real celebration for our city and to say thank you to Jimmy for everything that he did," he said.
Tickets are available from the Coventry City offices at the Butts Park Arena.Tickets are available from the Coventry City offices at the Butts Park Arena.
BBC Midlands Today will be coming live from the memorial service on 12 February.
Jimmy HillJimmy Hill