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Hundreds were expected, but thousands came together to support one clear message – Coventry City belongs in Coventry.

There were scenes the likes of which have not been seen for a generation as Coventry supporters turned the streets Sky Blue and ground the city centre to a halt.

The last time Coventry witnessed scenes like these, the club had lifted the FA Cup in 1987, but fans were now taking to the streets for a very different reason.

Any fears this latest protest against plans for CCFC to play their home matches 35 miles away in Northampton would be a damp squib were soon abated.

Over 2,000 fans arrived in Gosford Green, close to the original Highfield Road home of the club, 30 minutes before the march to Broadgate, in the city centre, was due to begin.

By the time the march had reached its destination, there were about 5,000 people in front of the stage by the Peeping Tom clock, stretching way beyond the Lady Godiva statue in the centre of the square.

In fact, the crowd was so large the marchers stretched almost the entire length of the route, with some still on Sky Blue Way as others entered Broadgate.

Jan Mokrzycki, spokesman for The Sky Blue Trust which had organised the march, said: “I'm absolutely delighted, it just shows you what passion there is for this football club and this city.

“It's a fantastic turnout and it's a pleasure to be associated with it and I'm just proud of all the fans, they've been brilliantly behaved and we are getting our message over.

“Coming up Gosford Street towards the Council House it does remind me of 1987, it's that same mood. It's a mood of defiance, it's a mood of we love our club and we cannot understand why people want to take it away from this city.

“Look at the numbers here, we want this club in Coventry, it needs to be in Coventry and it makes no sense to move it out of Coventry.”

See all the pictures, tweets and news updates from the rally as it happened.

As a city with two cathedrals it seemed only apt that the protesters were led on the march by two Lady Godivas on horseback.

Despite pleas from the organisers to unite behind the message Keep Coventry in Coventry, there were some placards and chants directed at club owners Sisu along the route.

But no side is blameless in this sorry fiasco, and Coventry City Council was roundly booed for their role as protesters reached the Council House and somewhat symbolically chose to march behind the building rather than past its main entrance.

Once in the square, there were passionate speeches from supporters of the club and Coventry MP Bob Ainsworth as well as musical performances with a Sky Blue twist.

The fight to keep Coventry City in Coventry may not be won, but the battle cry will certainly have been heard in the London headquarters of the Football League and Sisu. In Coventry, it was deafening.