By Paul Smith 
Coventry Rugby chair Jon Sharp has voiced the pride felt by his club following the unveiling of a blue plaque at the Butts Park Arena to commemorate the achievements of cycling pioneer Eileen Sheridan.
The plaque, which was organised by the Coventry Society in conjunction with Coventry Cycling Club, aims to highlight the strong heritage of cycling in the city while recognising the phenomenal career of local product Sheridan who due to her tiny frame was known as “The Mighty Atom.”
“Coventry was where the modern bicycle was invented and for many years was a world centre for the manufacture of bicycles,” Mr Sharp said.
“Eileen Sheridan was perhaps the most celebrated cyclist that Coventry ever produced and is recognized as an outstanding female role model who was an inspiration to many.
“The Butts Park Arena was Coventry Rugby’s first home from the late 1800’s but during the next half-century and beyond it was also strongly identified with track cycling.
“We are a club with deep community roots and many proud Coventrians including myself are heavily involved.
“Eileen won her first race here in 1947, so we have huge pride that our ground has become the home for a plaque connecting us to a Coventry sporting icon of an earlier generation.”
Sheridan became a household name in the late 1940s and early 50s through a series of spectacular long-distance record attempts.
According to bike-racing historian Peter Whitfield as a professional cyclist in the 1950s: “She defined cycling as Roger Bannister defined athletics or Denis Compton cricket.”
Typical of this was her Land’s End to John O’Groats record attempt in July 1954 when she went through a crisis after almost 48 hours in the saddle suffering from sleep deprivation, debilitating cold and sore hands.
Despite this, wearing every item of clothing available Sheridan smashed the previous best by almost 12 hours with a time of 2 days, 11 hours and 45 minutes to establish a record that stood until 1990.
In all she broke 21 records, some of which still stand to this day and was a national champion in multiple categories.
At the Butts Park Arena ceremony that unveiled the blue plaque which is located on the end of the stand near the turnstiles, her daughter Louise Sheridan described the recognition as: “A great honour for me and the family.”
“Mum’s heart was always Coventry and to have a permanent memorial in the city is a lovely achievement,” she added.
Eileen passed away in February 2023 at the age of 99.
