Club History

CLUB HISTORY 1983 - Present

GNP Sports was formed in 1983 by three local Coventry friends Satnam Ark, Steve Sidhu and Balraj Sanghera. The club was originally known as Longford F.C. as all three founders lived within the area of Longford.

In 1985 it was decided to change the clubs name as a local Sikh Gurdwara (place of worship) Guru Nanak Prakash became the team's major sponsor.

From 1983 to 1986 the team played in the u18s local league and reached three finals in its inaugural season, winning two and finishing second in the league.

In 1984 Steve Sidhu was voted player of the season, and player’s player of the season.

Satnam Ark and Steve Sidhu joined their family business and Balraj Sanghera went to University the club management changed.

The Club continued to play Saturday and Sunday local leagues and enjoyed a number of league and cup wins.

In the late 90's GNP Sports then took a major step in the clubs development by joining the Midland Combination League. The first season proved difficult but the club managed to survive. 

The following season the club gained promotion, the season after that club withdrew from the league due to the lack of players.

In 1999/2000 season, the club was without a senior team as a greater emphasis was placed upon developing a junior side. At this point the founder members of the club Satnam Ark, Steve Sidhu and Balaraj Sanghera (along with close friends Bally & Nin Mandara , Raghbir Kang and Charanjit Sangha)  set about redeveloping the GNP club.

From 2000-02 the team played in local Sunday leagues where they enjoyed mixed success. In the 2002-03 season the team gained promotion from the Senior Division Two to One after finishing second in the league.

The following season the management enjoyed its first success by winning the Kettering Summer Asian Tournament and winning the Lynnwood Trophy beating Coventry Sphinx.

In the season 2004/05 the team gained promotion, to Premier 2 and the following season were promoted to Premier 1, as runners up.This promotion heralded the return of the club to top flight football within the City local football leagues.

In the season 2005/06 the team finished mid table and reached the final of the Presidents Cup, beating Unipart 1-0. During the summer of 2006 the team played in the five Khalsa Football Federation (KFF) tournaments.

GNP Sports had a successful summer by reaching four finals and winning the tournament at Birmingham. As a result of this success the team gained promotion from the First Division to the prestigious Premier Division making GNP Sports the only Coventry team playing at this level. In, fact the win at Birmingham was the first win for any Coventry team in the KFF Tournament for over Fifteen years.

This team was managed by Satnam Ark and Steve Sidhu - Founder members.

Today Satnam, Nin, Steve, Balraj, Bally, Ajay and Roy are all involved with the club from playing, coaching, advice and organisation when required.

Currently this Club has over 100 members and is growing year by year. The club is a proud servant to the community that closely guards its integrity and reputation with the City.

Youth Section

In 2004 GNP SPORTS football club started its youngest team ever, this was an U9s team managed by Jag Dhami and Mark Dhillon. The following 2005/2006 season this team was split into two where Gurpal Bassi managed the U10 and Jag and Mark managed the U9's.

Today, 5 years later both teams are doing well and still managed by the same personal.

It is the policy of GNP Sports to actively encourage children of all ages regardless of caste, creed or religion to play football.   

We are now becoming one of the biggest F.A Charter Standard Football youth clubs in the City.

Even though GNP Sports are predominately Asian, GNP Sports welcomes players/members from all backgrounds and communities in Coventry, if fact one of our u13s players Obe Mukuwama was spotted by Birmingham City FC whilst playing for GNP Sports and has now has joined their academy and is doing extremely well.