This season Prostate Cancer UK is the official charity of The Football League. To celebrate, we've asked bloggers from each of the 72 clubs to count down their top five strikers to have worn the No9 shirt, in recognition of the fact that prostate cancer affects one in nine men.

One of a kind: Dion Dublin led the line for Conventry – and England! Photo courtesy of Action Images

 

Here blogger Neil Allison, from skybluesblog.co.uk, selects Coventry's five best No9s… and one to forget!

5. Cyrille Regis (1984-91)
Big Cyrille. A trailblazer in many senses, and one of a select few to be called up to represent England while wearing the sky blue of Coventry, he was strong, quick, and an integral part of the 1987 FA Cup-winning team. Not as blisteringly prolific as some of his predecessors but with an FA Cup and three top-10 finishes under his belt during his Highfield Road career, his contribution cannot go without recognition.

4. Mick Ferguson (1971-81 & 1984)
Mick Ferguson combined a dominant presence aerially with the oft-quoted ability of "good feet for a big man". He forged a great partnership with another Sky Blue legend Ian Wallace, and got the nod in this top five thanks to a third-place finish in a recent (and extremely unscientific) poll I ran. Most fans will remember his multi-goal salvos; especially the time he bagged the lot in a 4-1 demolition of Ipswich in 1979. It's hard to believe, but he remains the last player to score four goals in a game for Coventry.

3. George Hudson (1963-66)
Recently voted the No1 Coventry player in history, it may be a surprise to many that he has not made it to No1 here. Hudson was a formidable No9 and a hugely influential part of the Sky Blues team of the 60s as they began their ascent up the English football ladder. In 1966, one season before finally reaching the top flight, he was sold by Jimmy Hill in typically ruthless fashion. However this premature exit served only to cement his legacy as one of the finest goalscorers the Sky Blue army has ever seen.

2. Clarrie Bourton (1931-37)
Bourton is the highest scorer in Coventry City's history. OK, it may have all happened while most fans were little more than twinkles in their grandfathers eyes, but his spectacular record is one that is unlikely to be matched. It's tricky to make absolute comparisons between the generations, so it's best to let the figures do to the talking. A total of 181 goals in 241 appearances? You better believe it.

1. Dion Dublin (1994-98)
If you're talking about impact, there hasn't been anyone quite like Dublin. He arrived in 1994 as a record signing from Manchester United, and during his four-and-a-half years at the club went on to become a Premiership top scorer and earn his first England caps. That just doesn't happen at Coventry. Even an exit to local rivals Aston Villa hasn't dampened the regard in which Dublin is held - in the modern (and most challenging) era, he's widely recognised by fans as being our best.

And the worst…
Kevin Drinkell (1989-91)
While a bit unfair to pick on an individual, we've had our fair share of letdowns, lazy so-and-sos and downright stinkers, so options for this prize were plentiful. Of all of them, Kevin Drinkell is the name that pops immediately into most Sky Blue fans' minds. Costing just shy of £1m, much was expected of the former Norwich and Rangers man. But with five league goals in three years (a tally that'd disappoint most defenders), he'll be forever consigned to the Sky Blue dictionary somewhere between 'failure' and 'flop'.

Follow Neil on Twitter @NeilAllison