Coventry City will return to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years after securing promotion from the Championship with a 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers on Friday.
One of the founding clubs of the Premier League in the 1992-93 season, Coventry spent nine seasons in the top flight of English football, but had not returned since relegation in the 2000-01 season.
They are now back among the best after an outstanding season in the second division under manager Frank Lampard.
Lampard’s side needed just one point from Friday’s match at Ewood Park to secure promotion, but for a moment it looked like that would slip away from their grasp as Ryoya Morishita put Blackburn ahead.
However, Bobby Thomas rose above everyone and scored with a header from a free kick in the 84th minute.
The goal and the final whistle a few minutes later brought wild celebrations for more than 7,000 Coventry fans who had travelled to Lancashire to support their team.
The Sky Blues’ most difficult moment came in 2017, when they were relegated to the fourth tier, but they have fought their way back since then.
After losing the play-off final to Luton Town in 2023, they dominated the Championship this season under Lampard and secured a return to the Premier League with three games to go.
However, the title is not yet secured, as second place Ipswich Town are 11 points behind with five games to go.
