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Regional daily’s Listen To Us campaign wins ‘hero’ status

A regional daily has won a famous victory in helping bring football ‘back home’ to one of the biggest names in the game.

The Coventry Telegraph’s ‘Listen To Us’ campaign has produced almost instant dividends as the city’s Sky Blues are set to return to their ground at the Ricoh Arena next month.

A long-running feud over rent between club and stadium owners had left Coventry City fans disillusioned – with ‘home’ games played 35 miles away in Northampton for the whole of last season.

Now a two-year deal has been signed after terms were agreed following secret talks between lawyers acting for club owners Sisu and Ricoh Arena operators ACL.

The daily’s sports editor, Keith Perry, tweeted: “Probably the best day at Coventry Telegraph – ever.” The paper trumpeted: “Official – Sky Blues are coming home.”

And Sky Blue hero bobby Gould added: “Happiest Day since I got married, Coventry here we.”

The Telegraph waged a summer-long social media campaign with a direct ‘Listen To Us’ plea to the club’s owners and the Football League.

The paper asked fans to send in or tweet pictures of themselves holding a #bringCityhome poster, resulting in the hashtag being shared thousands of times by fans all over the country as well as big names from the football world.

Dozens of the #bringCityhome images have graced the side of a mobile digital ad van which touring the streets of Coventry and the capital.

And the front and back pages of the Telegraph have also featured the readers’ pictures as part of the campaign.

Telegraph editor Alun Thorne earlier said he believed it was vital the paper acted as the voice for the thousands of fans who were desperate to see the club come home.

He added: “We were inundated with readers sending in their pictures backing the Telegraph’s campaign and sharing the message on social media.

“We launched the campaign because the Telegraph believed it is time to bring the club back to the city which shares its name, its history and its traditions.

“Judging by the response we have had it’s clear that football fans not just in Coventry but all over the country share in this belief.”

When there looked no end to the saga in sight, the Telegraph also hand-delivered copies of the paper to the head offices of the Football League in London.

The club, started in 1883 by cycle and later motor manufacturers Singer, were promoted to the old First Division in 1968 and stayed for a record-breaking 34 years in the top flight.

The League One side plays its first game back at the Ricoh on Friday, 5 September.