Force CID team wins Coventry Guthrie Cup

COVENTRY police officers and staff have taken part in an annual football tournament to mark the fortieth anniversary of the death of PC Peter Guthrie.

The winning Eastern Force CID SAC Team with the cup

PC Guthrie died in July 1972 when he was shot while responding to a call reporting a break-in at a gun shop in Far Gosford Street.

The 21 year-old was the first officer to be killed after the Second World War. His killer, Anthony Jeffs, was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years imprisonment.

Since his death, colleagues and friends across the city have joined together for an annual football tournament known as the ‘’Guthrie Cup’ to celebrate his life.

The tradition behind the cup stems back to 1973 when five young girls from Coventry wanted to do something in PC Guthrie’s memory. They donated their pocket money and ran some fundraising events to pay for the trophy which is still used four decades later.

This year’s event was held on a cold and rainy Sunday (4 November) but the weather didn’t dampen the spirits of a large crowd that turned out to cheer on nine teams competing for the cup.

The eventual winners were the Eastern Force CID SAC team, managed by DI Ben West. Despite an average age of 39, they maintained an unbeaten record throughout and lifted the cup after beating a younger team of ex Coventry police officers 3-2 in the final.

Back row from left to right: DC Ian Russell, DC Barry Heal, DC Joel Mildinhall, DC Steve Philips.

Front row from left to right: DS Gaz Mitchell, Manager DI Ben West, DC Ian Brown and DC Benny Benson.