Tag: birminghamcityfootballclub

Birmingham City: Trevor Francis

Image © of B.C.F.C.

There is only one team in Birmingham worth supporting with true passion and Birmingham City is it.  I have been supporting them since 1979 when Jim Smith was the manager.  I was 13 at the time.  He is my favourite manager to date.   I am a blue nose ’til I die.

You can read lots more about Blues by clicking here.

The 24th of July 2023 was a day of shock and sadness for those associated with Birmingham City Football Club, Trevor Francis had died. Trevor wore the number 8 shirt and was certainly the most well-known player for B.C.F.C., adored by many.  You can read my tribute page to him here.

I never got to see him play in person.  I was only in my early teens when I started supporting Blues and could only dream of going to St. Andrews but I saw him on television work his magic on the pitch.  He was at the end of his Blues career when I first started following Jim Smith and the Lads.  I can’t exactly recall when it was but it was around the time he was sold to Nottingham Forest as the first million player in British history.  I continued to watch him for Forest cementing my love for them and their manager Brian Clough.  Forest automatically became my second team until Clough retired in 1993. 

R.I.P. Trevor. 

Image © of B.C.F.C.

About Trevor Francis 

Trevor Francis was an English footballer who played as a forward for a number of clubs in England, the United States, Italy, Scotland and Australia.  In 1979 he became Britain’s first £1 million player following his transfer from Birmingham City to Nottingham Forest.  He scored the winning goal for Forest in the 1979 European Cup final against Malmö.  He won the European Cup again with the club the following year.  At international level, he played for England 52 times between 1976 and 1986, scoring 12 goals, and played at the 1982 FIFA World Cup.

Between 1988 and 2003, Francis was a football manager with Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City and Crystal Palace.

Image © of Hans van Dijk via Wikipedia

Trevor Francis in Amsterdam on the 22nd Of April 1980.  He was playing for Nottingham Forest at the time.

Early Life And Education

Trevor John Francis was born on the 19th of April 1954, in Plymouth, Devon, and educated at Plymouth’s Public Secondary School for Boys.  He was an agile and skilful forward and joined Birmingham City as a schoolboy.

Club Career

Birmingham City

Francis quickly rose in status, making his debut for Birmingham City’s first team in 1970, aged just 16.  His talent was noted when, before his 17th birthday, he scored four goals in a match against Bolton Wanderers.  He ended his first season with 15 goals from just 22 games.  Birmingham City manager at the time, Freddie Goodwin, compared Francis to both Jimmy Greaves and Denis Law.

On the 30th of October 1976, he scored one of Birmingham’s most famous goals, when he turned away from the touchline and cut inside two Queens Park Rangers defenders, constantly being forced backwards before suddenly unleashing a 25-yard (23 meters) shot. 

Detroit Express

Francis negotiated a loan from Birmingham in 1978 to play for the Detroit Express in the North American Soccer League where he scored 22 goals in 19 league matches and was named to the N.A.S.L. first XI alongside Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio Chinaglia before returning home to the Midlands.

Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest, the reigning First Division champions and League Cup holders managed by Brian Clough, put in a bid for Francis which totalled just over £1 million.  No player had ever been sold between English clubs for a seven-figure fee before and the deal was sealed, with Francis famously being introduced to the media by a manager impatient to play squash.  Clough was in his red gym kit and carrying a racquet as he addressed the press conference.

While recognised as the first British million-pound player, the actual transfer fee for the player was £1,150,000, including a 15% commission to the Football League.  Clough wrote in his autobiography that the fee was £999,999, as he wanted to ensure the million-pound milestone did not go to the player’s head, although Francis says that was a tongue-in-cheek remark by Clough.

Nottingham Forest retained the League Cup shortly afterwards without the cup-tied Francis and made progress in the European Cup to the extent that they reached the semi-finals, although Francis was not eligible to play in the competition until the final.  They won their semi-final, and in May 1979 Forest took on Swedish club Malmö in the final in Munich, and a major instalment of the huge investment money was repaid just before half time.

The ball was spread to Forest’s winger John Robertson wide on the left and he took on two defenders at once to reach the byline and curl an awkward, outswinging cross towards the far post.  Francis had already begun to sprint into position, but even so, he had to increase his pace in order to reach the cross as it dropped and ended up throwing himself low at the ball.  He connected with his head and the ball diverted powerfully into the roof of the net.  Forest won the match 1–0 and footage of the goal was used in the opening titles to Match of the Day for some years afterwards.  A giant picture of Francis stooping to head the ball remains on display in the main entrance and reception area of Forest’s City Ground stadium.

Even though the season ended there, Francis duly headed back to Detroit for another summer playing in the N.A.S.L., where once again he was named to the first XI alongside Johan Cruyff (Los Angeles Aztecs) and Giorgio Chinaglia (New York Cosmos), despite playing only half the season.  In his brief career in America, Francis scored 36 goals in 33 regular season matches and had 18 assists.

At Nottingham Forest Clough frequently played Francis on the right wing, rather than in his preferred position as a central attacker.  Francis was in the side which lost the 1980 League Cup Final to Wolverhampton Wanderers but missed the European Cup Final against Hamburg due to an injury to his Achilles tendon.  Somehow the success of his Forest career never quite reflected his huge fee.  He scored only 14 league goals in the 1979 – 80 season and 6 in the next 18 games that he played for Forest.  Although still a regular for England, his Achilles injury prevented him from being in the squad for the 1980 European Championships.

Manchester City

The injury kept Francis out of the game for over six months.  He was sold to Manchester City in September 1981, this time for £1.2 million.  The deal caused behind-the-scenes friction at Manchester City.  During negotiations City chairman Peter Swales informed manager John Bond that the club could not afford the transfer fee.  Bond then issued an ultimatum which was if Francis did not sign, Bond would resign.  Francis made a promising start at the club, scoring two goals against Stoke City on his debut, but over the course of the season, he was frequently injured.  In total, he scored 12 goals in 26 games and made the England squad for the 1982 World Cup.

Back at his club, financial problems were again an issue.  Francis’ contract gave him a salary of £100,000 plus bonuses, which the club could no longer afford to pay to a player who regularly sustained injuries.

Sampdoria

Later that summer, Francis was approached by Italian club Sampdoria, who paid Manchester City £700,000 for his services.  He helped win the 1984–85 Coppa Italia, in the same team as Scotland midfielder Graeme Souness.  It was the first time that Sampdoria had won the competition.

Atalanta

Francis joined Atalanta in 1986.  He played 21 league games and scored once in his only season, but added two goals in nine games in the Coppa Italia. Atalanta lost the final to Napoli.  He was the second Englishman at the Bergamo-based club after Gerry Hitchens, and by the time of his death, their only other English-born player was Ademola Lookman.

Rangers

Francis returned to Britain in September 1987 to join Rangers under Graeme Souness.  Numerous English players were brought to the Scottish club by Souness as English clubs had been banned from European competition since the Heysel disaster.  Francis cost just £75,000, signed on a pay-as-you-play basis, and won the 1987 – 88 Scottish League Cup, scoring a penalty in the shootout.

Queens Park Rangers

Francis signed for Queens Park Rangers on a free transfer in March 1988 and helped the team finish fifth in the First Division.  He scored 10 goals from 26 appearances in the first half of the 1988 – 89 season and took over as player-manager in December 1988 when Jim Smith moved to Newcastle United, but a knee injury in January 1989 put an end to his playing season.  He marked his return to the field in September 1989 with a hat-trick against Aston Villa, but was replaced as manager by Don Howe in November 1989 and his playing contract was paid up a few days later.

During his time at Queens Park Rangers, Francis completed a brief loan in 1988 with an Australian National Soccer League team, Wollongong City, as part of businessman Harry Michaels’ attempt to market football in Australia.  Michaels had previously funded the loans of Alan Brazil and Paul Mariner, whom Francis was to replace, and had discussions with Norman Whiteside, Nigel Clough and Michel Platini about playing for the New South Wales-based team.

Sheffield Wednesday

Francis left Queens Park Rangers in February 1990 to play for Sheffield Wednesday.  Despite gaining a good reputation amongst supporters, he could not help the club avoid relegation to the second tier under manager Ron Atkinson for the 1990 – 91 season.  However, that season he helped Wednesday win the League Cup, although he was a non-playing substitute in the final, and also gained promotion back to the top flight.

International Career

Francis played for England 52 times between 1977 and 1986 and scored 12 goals.  In 1977, he was given his first England cap by Don Revie, in a 2 – 0 loss against the Netherlands.  After missing out on Euro 1980 due to an Achilles injury, Francis was named in the England squad for the 1982 World Cup in Spain.  In the first round of the tournament, he scored in the group games against Czechoslovakia and Kuwait.  England was eliminated after goalless draws against both the host nation and West Germany.  In the spring of 1986, he made his 52nd and final appearance for England in a victory over Scotland and was subsequently not selected for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

Managerial Career

Sheffield Wednesday

After the departure of Ron Atkinson, Francis took over as manager of Sheffield Wednesday with popular support from the club and supporters.  He guided Wednesday to a third-place finish in 1992.  The following year, Wednesday reached the F.A. Cup and League Cup finals, losing both to Arsenal, the former after a replay.  In 1994, Francis finally retired as a player, shortly before his 40th birthday.  He was dismissed as manager a year later after Wednesday finished 13th in the Premiership.

In February 1992, Francis brought former French international Eric Cantona back from a poor discipline-enforced hiatus in his career by inviting him for a trial at Sheffield Wednesday.  However, as the snowy conditions meant that he could only evaluate Cantona on AstroTurf, Francis requested an extension to the trial to see whether Cantona could play on grass.  An outraged Cantona walked out on The Owls and was signed (without a trial) by Leeds United, inspiring first them and then Manchester United to success.  In a 2012 interview, Francis said that he had agreed to take Cantona on as a favour to Francis’ former agent, Dennis Roach, and Michel Platini, who he knew from his time playing in Italy when they approached him about taking on Cantona, and that it was intended as an opportunity for Cantona to put himself in the shop window.  Wednesday had only recently been promoted back to the top flight, with most of the squad still being on Second Division-level wages, and the club could not afford to sign him.

Birmingham City

Francis was hired as Birmingham City as manager in 1996, with the club in the First Division.  He guided Birmingham to a 10th and 7th place finish in his first two seasons, missing out on the playoffs on goal difference in the latter.  Finishes of 4th, 4th and 5th in the next three seasons resulted in playoff entry, losing each time.

Francis led Blues to the 2001 League Cup Final, where they lost on penalties to Liverpool.  He was dismissed in October of that year.  BBC Sport wrote “Francis the player was legendary. Francis the manager is the nearly man.”

Crystal Palace

Francis was manager of Crystal Palace from November 2001 to April 2003.  He was appointed by Crystal Palace chairman, Simon Jordan to replace Steve Bruce who had resigned as Crystal Palace manager with the intention of taking the manager’s role at Birmingham City.  Litigation followed with Bruce being placed on gardening leave.  Of the appointment, Jordan said, “The last two or three weeks have not been easy.  I’m bored of Steve Bruce and Birmingham and what I’m interested in is Trevor Francis and Crystal Palace.”  At the time Francis said that he had turned down four jobs before accepting the role at Crystal Palace.  Under his managership, Palace defeated a Gerard Houllier-managed Liverpool in an FA Cup fourth-round replay at Anfield in February 2003 and beat Palace’s main rivals, Brighton & Hove Albion, 5 – 0 in October 2002.  However, after the team’s second failure to achieve promotion to the Premier League, Simon Jordan dismissed him, stating: “People know I am very unhappy with the selection of our players under Francis. We have a very strong squad and we should have done a lot better this season – a lot of lessons need to be learned from injury prevention and transfer policy.”

Personal Life

Francis married Helen in 1974.  The couple had two children together.  On the 5th of April 2017, it was reported that Helen Francis had died.

On the 13th of April 2012, Francis was reported to be recovering in hospital from a suspected heart attack.

Francis died of a heart attack at his home near Marbella, Spain, on July 24th, 2023.  He was 69.  

Image © Christophe95 via Wikipedia

Trevor Francis in 2009.

Career And Managerial Statistics

Click here to read about Francis’ club, international and managerial statistics.

Honours

Player

Birmingham City

Football League Second Division runner-up: 1971 – 72.

Detroit Express

American Conference Central Division: 1978.

Nottingham Forest

European Cup: 1978 – 79 and 1979 – 80.

European Super Cup: 1979.

Football League Cup: runner-up 1979 – 80.

Sampdoria

Coppa Italia: 1984 – 85.

Rangers

Scottish League Cup: 1987 – 88.

Sheffield Wednesday

Football League Cup: 1990 – 91.

Individual

P.F.A. First Division Team of the Year: 1976 – 77, 1977 – 78, and 1981 – 82.

Coppa Italia top scorer: 1984 – 85 (9 goals).

Manager

Sheffield Wednesday

F.A. Cup runner-up: 1992–93.

Football League Cup runner-up: 1992 – 93.

Birmingham City

Football League Cup runner-up: 2000 – 01.

Individual

Premier League Manager of the Month: December 1993.

Read more about Trevor Francis’ Wikipedia page here.

Blog Posts

Birmingham City: Blues History.

Birmingham City: First Team Squad For The 2024/25 Season.

Birmingham City: Fixtures, Results And Goal Scorers For The 2024/25 Season.

Birmingham City: Kits For The 2024/25 Season.

Birmingham City: Our 2023/24 Season In Review.

Birmingham City: Staff For The 2024/25 Season. 

Birmingham City: Summer Transfers For The 2024/25 Season. 

Birmingham City: The 2023/24 Season Archive. 

Birmingham City: Welcome To New Manager Chris Davies.

Notes And Links

The image shown at the top of this page is copyright of Birmingham City F.C.  

The image above of Trevor Francis In Amsterdam In 1980 is the copyright of  Hans van Dijk via Wikipedia.  It comes with a Creative Commons licence (CC0 1.0) and is in the Public Domain. 

The image above of Trevor Francis in 2009 is the copyright of Wikipedia user Christophe95.  It comes with a Creative Commons licence (CC BY-SA 3.0).  You can find more great work from him by clicking here.

The above links in the Before Knighthead section will take you to Wikipedia and its content is subject to change.

Birmingham City F.C. – Official website.  

Birmingham City on Facebook  – This is their official Facebook page.

Birmingham City on Twitter – This is their official Twitter page.

Birmingham City on YouTube – This is their official YouTube page.

Blues Store Online – Birmingham City’s official club store online.

Wikipedia – Official website.  Its purpose is to benefit readers by acting as a widely accessible and free encyclopedia that contains information on all branches of knowledge. Funded and hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation, Wikipedia consists of freely editable content whose articles also provide numerous links to guide readers to related pages with more information. 

Birmingham Mail – Official website.  The Birmingham Mail is a newspaper based in Birmingham, England but distributed around Birmingham, the Black Country, Solihull and parts of Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire. 

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Birmingham City: A New Era Begins

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There is only one team in Birmingham worth supporting with true passion and Birmingham City is it.  I have been supporting them since 1978 when Jim Smith was the manager.  He is my favourite manager to date.   I am a blue nose ’til I die. 

You can read lots more about Blues by clicking here.

I haven’t been so excited about a new football season starting as I have been for the 2023/24 one in a VERY long time. 

The Chinese owners were the worse thing to happen to this club and I thought the Kumar brothers were bad.  What followed (despite a  cup win) was eventual relegation from the Premier League and misery for sixteen years.  Blues fans always had hope in their hearts that the good times will return again and now, thanks to Tom Wagner, they will.  It will take time and patience but their is no doubt that the road is long and there will always be joys and sorrows too but there is something POSITIVE for a change to look forward to at the end of the road and I, for one, CAN’T WAIT and you can see the new owners input and progress below.

I look positively to the days, months and years ahead to see where the new owners take us from here.  One thing for sure is it will be onwards and upwards and that is no less than anyone involved with Birmingham City deserve.

Before Knighthead 

Small Heath Football Club became a limited company in 1888.  The board was made up of local businessmen and dignitaries for the next 77 years.

In 1965 the club was sold to Clifford Coombs.  By the mid-1980’s the club was in financial trouble (a recurring pattern in the many years to follow). Control passed to Ken Wheldon and he sold it to the Kumar brothers in April 1989.

In March 1993, David Sullivan brought B.C.F.C. from the Kumars and St. Andrews got modernised (although that turned out to be shoddy work in the end).  As much as I resent Sullivan for selling us on to Carson Yeung and Grandtop International Holdings Limited in July 2007, it can not be denied that he and David Gold and his brother Ralph Gold saved us from administration.

Yeung turned out to be corrupt and the rest of the Chinese owners seemed no better.  They all were without a clue or care about how to run a football club. Yeung was sent to prison and Grandtop International Holdings Limited took full ownership of the club and renamed themselves Birmingham International Holdings Limited.

In June 2022 an attempt to buy the club was made by a group fronted by Laurence Bassini, involving financier Keith Harris using money loaned by David Sullivan and thankfully nothing became from that.

In July 2023 a consortium led by Paul Richardson and Maxi López announced that they were close to completing the purchase of a stake in the club, and later confirmed that they were providing operating funds but pulled out in December citing a failure to agree on revisions to the original terms of agreement.  Following that in April 2023, Richardson, López and their proposed chief executive, Matt Southall, were sanctioned by the English Football League after admitting to breaching take-over regulations without approval.  That turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

This brings us up to  April 2023 and Birmingham Sports Holdings confirmed letters of intent had been signed to sell 24% of their shares in Birmingham City and the 21.64% owned by Oriental Rainbow, as well as the whole of St. Andrews which they 100% owned to a then-unnamed potential purchaser.  In July 2023 the purchaser was named to be Shelby Companies Ltd, a subsidiary of asset management company Knighthead Capital Management fronted by Tom Wagner, Knighthead’s co-founder and co-C.E.O. 

The Next Chapter With Knighthead

From this point onwards you can read all about the new owners, news etc. on and off the pitch and how it affects Birmingham City during the 2023/24 season, the season the next chapter began for Blues.  To keep up with all the news from the club click here.

May 2023

A Letter To Supporters From Tom Wagner – 08/05/2023

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A letter from Tom Wagner.  

On the 8th of May, 2023, Knighthead Co-Founder and Co-C.E.O. Tom Wagner confirmed that, through its affiliate, Shelby Companies Limited, it has exchanged contracts with the majority owners of Birmingham City Football Club including Birmingham Sports Holdings Limited subject to approval from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and customary regulatory authority approvals in the U.K. Approvals are anticipated within the coming weeks.

You can read his full letter here.

This is fantastic to hear but until this is official I hold it with trepidation as we Blues fans have been let down so many times up until now!

June 2023

Announcement Regarding Prospective Ownership Of Blues  

The Birmingham Mail announced on the 27th of June 2023 the prospective ownership of Blues by Tom Wagner. 

 

Image © of Getty Images

Garry Cook and Tom Wagner at St. Andrews in June 2023.

July 2023

Announcement Regarding Official Take Over By Knighthead And Shelby Companies

Tony Mowbray's Medical Leave And Gary Rowett's Return As Interim Manager Announcement
Image © of B.C.F.C.

Take over announcement. 

On the 14th of July 2023, there was a club announcement by the club and it was official, Knighthead and Shelby Companies would acquire full ownership and control of St. Andrew’s and 45.64% ownership of Birmingham City Limited.  It was confirmed that Tom Wagner will be the Chairman Of The Board and Garry Cook will be C.E.O.

EXCELLENT NEWS!

Tom Wagner’s First Interview With Blues T.V. 

Tom Wagner, Knighthead Co-Founder and Co-C.E.O., talks about a new direction for the Club after Knighthead Capital Management L.L.C. acquired Birmingham City Football Club.

This excellent first interview with Blues T.V. is a pleasure to watch.  It is nice to see an owner be so open and sound like he knows what he wants and what he is doing.   This is an astute businessman and I look forward to what he will do for us all at Birmingham City and welcome him to the club. 

August 2023

Garry Cook’s First Interview With Blues T.V. 

Blues C.E.O., Garry Cook, outlines his vision for Birmingham City.

As with Tom Wagner’s above, this excellent interview is a pleasure to watch.  Cook is another businessman who knows what he is doing and I also look forward to what he can do for  Birmingham City and welcome him. 

Tom Brady Joins Birmingham City

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Brady announcement. 

As if the wonderful news of new owners wasn’t enough to take in for Blues fans and the fact we have been dealing well in the transfer market for the new season and actually buying players instead of having loads of loans, the club made another announcement that one of the world’s greatest sportsmen ever, seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady was joining as Chairman of the advisory board.

Click here to watch Brady’s message to the fans

Tom Wagner Visits The Training Ground For The First Time 

On the 11th of August, 2023, Chairman of the Board, Tom Wagner, and the Knighthead team visited the Elite Performance Innovation Centre for the first time to meet the players and management staff during training.

Image © of B.C.F.C.
Image © of B.C.F.C.
Image © of B.C.F.C.

Tom Wagner greets staff and players at Blues training ground.

Tom Wagner, Garry Cook And Tom Brady Attend Blues First Home Game Of The 2023/24 Season Versus Leeds United

On Saturday, August 12th, 2023, Tom Wagner, Garry Cook and Tom Brady attended Blues first home game of the 2023/24 season against Leeds United. This was Blues highest home crowd since 2020.

Apart from showing their TRUE support for the fans and Birmingham City (they did more for morale for Blues in the first four weeks since they took over than the previous Chinese owners ever did in sixteen years) they were also here to join in with the celebration of club legend Trevor Francis and pay tribute to him. 

Tom Wagner mixes with some of Blues younger supporters.

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Tom Wagner signing a young Blues supporters top.

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Tom Wagner with a young Blues supporter.

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Tom Wagner at his first match at St. Andrews versus Leeds United.

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Image © of B.C.F.C.

Tom Brady arrives at St. Andrew’s for the first time. 

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Tom Brady signing young Blues supporters tops.

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Tom Wagner, Garry Cook and Tom Brady showing their passion at their first match at St. Andrews versus Leeds United at full time. Tom is showing passion like a proper owner should.   

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Tom Wagner, Garry Cook and Tom Brady showing their passion at their first match at St. Andrews versus Leeds United at full time.

Image © of B.C.F.C.
Image © of B.C.F.C.

Tom Wagner showing passion at his first match at St. Andrews versus Leeds United at full time. 

Image © of B.C.F.C.

Tom Wagner and Tom Brady after their first match together at St. Andrews versus Leeds United.

Tom Wagner and Tom Brady talk about a special day at St. Andrew’s. 

These two men are enjoyable to watch and know what they are talking about. 

A Letter To Supporters From Garry Cook – 13/08/2023

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A letter from Garry Cook.  

On the 14th of August, 2023, following the first home game of the 2023/24 season against Leeds United, Garry Cook wrote a letter to Birmingham City supporters thanking the fans for their support at our first home game against Leeds United.  He also highlighted the important work that will go on off the pitch.  You can read it here. 

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Safe standing at St. Andrews announcement.  

On the 17th of August, 2023, just a few hours after it was shown elsewhere on social media, Blues made an announcement stating the contractor, the Buckingham Group, who were responsible for working on the lower tiers of the Tilton and Kop stands (with safe standing shown above) have gone into administration.

There was a time, during the dark days of the previous owners that I would be very concerned about this but I have no doubt Tom Wagner is quickly working on this to get a replacement contractor a.s.a.p. and it just shows his commitment to Blues supporters in how much we are being kept in the loop of everything involved with the club at all times.  

A Letter To Supporters From Garry Cook – 24/08/2023

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Garry Cook.

On the 24th of August, 2023, Garry Cook wrote another letter to the fans, this time regarding the lack of stock of our replica kits.  He also informed them that the third kit would be coming soon.   You can read it here. 

I love the way the new owners care about their supporters and are keeping us in the loop.  It certainly makes a refreshing change.

September 2023

Announcement Regarding Mace

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Mace announcment.

On the 11th of September, 2023, Blues made an announcement stating that a new contractor had been found to carry on the work following the Buckingham Group’s administration.  The company’s name is Mace. The work will recommence at 9 a.m. on Monday the 11th of September 2023 is now expected to be completed before the end of November 2023.

This is great news for all Blues fans and we look forward to St. Andrew’s capacity being close to 30,000 when it is completed.  

Tom Wagner Attends Preston North End Versus Birmingham City  

On Tuesday, September 19th, 2023,  Tom Wagner, was in the away end watching Blues play against Preston North End.  He even brought them drinks at half time. This is FANTASTIC and this man as my TOTAL RESPECT.  What a PROPER owner we have here. 

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Image © of B.C.F.C.
Image © @barbs_paul via Twitter

Tom Wagner in the away end with the Blues fans watching Preston North End v Birmingham City.

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Tom Wagner buying the Blues fans food and drinks at half time and having photos with them at the Preston North End v Birmingham City match.

Tom Wagner And Garry Cook Attend Birmingham City Versus Queens Park Rangers  

On Friday, September 22nd, 2023,  Tom Wagner and Garry Cook watched Blues play against Queens Park Rangers.

The club were supporting Help Harry Help Others for this game and helping to raise funds for them.  The founder of the charity is Harry Moseley (who started his campaign back in 2003 by making bracelets), with help from his mom Georgina.  It raises money for cancer victims.  You can read all about the charity here.  There are more links in the Notes And Links section at the bottom of this page. 

The day before the match John Eustace and Dion Sanderson informed Blues fans about Help Harry Help Others and the connection with the game.  You can see the short video here.

Bracelets were made for everyone who attended the match and details on how to donate were supplied with each one. 

If you want to donate £3 you can do so by texting HARRY3 to 70800 or you can contribute here.

Help Harry Help Others

Georgina Mosely explains how Help Harry Help Others started.  

This is a charity close to Birmingham City’s heart and worthy of any support it gets.

Image © of B.C.F.C.

Blues News v Queens Park Rangers match programme 22/09/2023 with Harry Moseley on the cover. 

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Georgina Moseley And Tom Wagner before the Birmingham City v Queens Park Rangers match.

Garry Cook is behind them to the left.

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A specially made Help Harry Help Others bracelet for fans at the Birmingham City v Queens Park Rangers match.

Image © of B.C.F.C.
Image © of B.C.F.C.
Image © of B.C.F.C.

Georgina Moseley and the Help Harry Help Others team making limited-edition bracelets in time for the Birmingham City v Queens Park Rangers match.  

Click here to see Georgina completing the 19,000th bracelet.  These were made in just one week prior to the game.  Well done to all involved.

Announcement Regarding Lower Tilton Re-Opening (1)

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Lower Tilton announcement.

On the 29th of September, 2023, Blues made an announcement stating that the match against West Bromwich Albion on the 6th of  October, 2023 would serve as the test event (in conjunction with the local authority and relevant stakeholders) for the Tilton Road lower stand prior to its official opening later in the month.

The atmosphere created by the Alliance of supporters in the Tilton has been infamous, and the Club are looking forward to once again hearing the noise created by the most iconic set of supporters in the country.

October 2023

Announcement Regarding Juninho Bacuna (1)

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Bacuna announcement.

On the 4th of October, 2023, Tom Wagner made an announcement to Blues fans regarding the racial abuse incident involving Juninho Bacuna during Birmingham City’s match against Huddersfield Town on the 3rd of October, 2023.  He rightly explained this is unacceptable and every action will be taken to find and ban the perpetrator. 

Of course, this should not be allowed, in football, in any sport or in life, but what makes this worse is it came from one of our so-called “fans”. 

We don’t want anyone like this supporting Blues and they deserve to be banned.  As a club, we are on the rise again and we need to do this together, players and all, through the good times and the bad and anyone who can’t buy into that need to go and support someone else because we don’t need the negativity and bad press any more.

Announcement Regarding The Sacking Of John Eustace 

Knighthead Acquiring 48-acre Former Wheels Site Announcment
Image © of B.C.F.C.

Eustace sacked announcement.

On the 9th of October, 2023, Blues made an announcement to inform the fans that John Eustace had been sacked!

It was no surprise for me from what I was reading the night before.  The club said they will announce a new manager in the next few days.  It had been rumoured weeks prior to this that it would be Wayne Rooney and it certainly appears to be that way.  It is no coincidence he quit his job in America recently and has strong connections with Garry Cook.

This is a bad decision that will possibly upset the camp and undo all the good work Eustace and co. have done since their arrival to bring the club and fans together and push on in the right direction, stronger as one solid unit.  Eustace has done wonders for the club steadily since his arrival in July 2022.  

Like watching the team at times he can be frustrating with his tactics but no proper Blues fan can argue with the fact that before today we have had two back-to-back wins, seven goals scored, unbeaten at home, are  sixth in the Championship and that is down to the manager and the belief he has installed in the players and that as clearly shown on the pitch and in the results. 

It would be nice to know the full story here because clearly, a lot has been going on behind the scenes. Had Eustace been approached by Rangers? Did he know for a while his job was on the line? No one would have blamed him for wanting to go if so. 

When a new owner comes into a football club they usually want their own man for the job, and that’s understandable but not when you are eleven games into a new season and sitting in the top six and confidence amongst the players and fans is high.  I just don’t understand the logic of it all.  It leaves me feeling bewildered and angry because this incident is madness and so deja vue and the timing is all wrong.  

Judging by the passion Eustace showed during Gary Gardner’s goal in his last game in charge in the 3 – 1 win over West Bromwich Albion at St. Andrews I find it hard to believe he would have wanted to go. He patted the badge more than once and this isn’t the first time he has shown such passion to the fans so this shock news must feel like a knife in his back. 

Myself and a lot of loyal, true Blues fans wish John nothing but the very best in his next job and for his future. We thank him for everything he has done for the club, the players, the fans and the belief he instilled in us all.  Good luck.

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John Eustace passionately celebrates Blues 3 -1 win over West Bromwich Albion at St. Andrews on 06/10/2023.

I understand Wagner is a businessman first, a Blues supporter second, and he is here to make money and turn things around. That is what his company does, and that is why he purchased Birmingham City.  There is no denying what he has done in such a short time is nothing but commendable, I accept that and I trust, and hope, he will continue to do what is right for the club but consider how the fans feel as well.

Despite whoever the owner and manager is, I support the badge and  I will give the owners the benefit of the doubt.  I will do the same with any manager that comes in, like I do with all new managers regardless of who they are and if I personally like them or not and see what happens after that.  I just hope all this works out.  If it does then great, it was a clever tactical move from Wagner and Cook, if not then they have to quickly get the fans back on board.  We deserve nothing less than their honesty and transparency.  Onwards and upwards we go but most importantly we have to do it TOGETHER.

A Letter To Supporters From Garry Cook -10/10/2023

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Garry Cook.

On the 10th of October, 2023, Garry Cook wrote another letter to the fans, this time regarding the sacking of John Eustace.  He also emphasised the positive progress work that has been achieved so far by Tom Wagner et al and that there is a lot more to come.  You can read it here. 

All this will take time and patience from the fans and as Cook says, “We cannot keep looking back and referring to what happened in the recent past, we must look forward.  The future is bright and we are on the rise again.”

I totally agree.  Despite my personal feelings about all this, the fact remains, Eustace has been sacked, Cook has spoken, it is what it is, time to move forward.

Announcement Regarding Matt Gardiner And Keith Downing 

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Matt Gardiner and Keith Downing announcement.

On the 10th of October, 2023, Blues made an announcement to inform the fans that assistant head coaches, Keith Downing and Matt Gardiner, have left Birmingham City. 

It was only a matter of time.

Announcement Regarding New Manager Wayne Rooney   

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Wayne Rooney announcement. 

On the 11th of October, 2023, Blues made an announcement to the fans that Wayne Rooney is our new manager and will be supported by Ashley Cole,  John O’Shea, Carl Robinson and Pete Shuttleworth.  Maik Taylor stays at the Club as Goalkeeper Coach.  Click here to see what Rooney said to Blues TV in his first interview.

Personally, I have never been a fan of Rooney but the fact is he is our manager now and like I have said before I will always give any new manager the benefit of the doubt.  Anyone who starts a new job will know it can take a few months at least to settle in and we have to expect the same of him and judge his efforts at the end of the season.  As long as we finish in the top half then I will be happy.  Then we will be in a much better position financially, thanks to the shrewd businessmen who run the club, to make a solid push for promotion next season.

I don’t normally comment on what other so-called fans say on social media sites etc. because we are all entitled to our opinions.  However, before Rooney has even set through the doors of St. Andrews they are slagging him off and posting memes about him and his past.  I can expect that from people who don’t support Blues (it is part and parcel of football banter) but from our own “fans” it is embarrassing and pathetic.  They are even saying they will stop supporting the club well go then because quite frankly they need to piss off to B6 and support the vile.  They are starting to sound like them and will fit in well there.

I don’t know the man so I can’t comment on his life or what he has supposed to have done or not done in the past, only going by what I have read or heard in the so-called media.  It simply doesn’t matter and neither does his recent managerial positions.  They are both completely different circumstances due to the situation Blues are in now and with the top backing from owners who actually have a clue what they are doing.  What does matter is what he does from now on and how he represents Birmingham City and its proper fans.  I am concentrating on where we go together from today and onwards. 

Due to all the shit we have had to put up with over the years, it is understandable we feel doubtful when any change comes along but we need to put the bad things that have happened in the past behind us.  All that does is breed toxicity amongst us all and we need to remove that and toxic fans.  No one wants that in their life and we certainly don’t need it in our club. 

As long as we finish in the top half then I will be happy.  Then we will be in a much better position financially, thanks to the shrewd businessmen who run the club, to make a solid push for promotion next season.  

Tom Wagner got the new era ball rolling by purchasing B.C.F.C. and giving us belief, John Eustace nurtured that belief and now Wayne Rooney must be given the chance to carry that belief on and better it if he can.  I urge any decent-minded Blues fan to get behind Rooney,  his staff and our owners moving forward and, dare I say, even feel excited about what great things can possibly happen next. 

Patience is a virtue. 

 

Wayne Rooney’s First Interview With Blues T.V. 

Wayne Rooney speaks of his delight at being named as the new Birmingham City Manager.

On the 11th of October, 2023, the new Blues manager spoke to Blues T.V. for the first time.  

Wayne Rooney’s First Training Session

On the 12th of October, 2023, Wayne Rooney took his first training session with the lads as the new Blues manager prior to his first press conference.

See the photo gallery here.

Wayne Rooney‘s first training session as the new Birmingham City manager.

Wayne Rooney’s First Press Conference 

On the 12th of October, 2023, Garry Cook and new Blues Manager Wayne Rooney spoke to local and national media at St. Andrew’s in Rooney’s first press conference.  

Garry Cook and new Blues Manager Wayne Rooney spoke to local and national media at St. Andrew’s in Rooney’s first press conference. 

Despite not wanting John Eustace to leave the club (certainly not with the shocking way the club dismissed him), I must say that Rooney looks good in our colours, and after watching this, I am excited and intrigued to see what lies ahead for Blues under the new management of him and his backroom staff. 

I have a feeling his appointment will not be as bad as everyone thinks.  I, like many, had my doubts about him being appointed (but not in the pathetic, whiney way a lot of so-called fans have) and I would genuinely love him to do well for us.  The ball is in Rooney and Co.’s court now to make that happen.

Our new era has just stepped up a level.  The ultimate level is to get back into the Premiership and stay there for a very long time with success.  This won’t happen overnight but when it does I think there are going to be spectacular times ahead for this club I love with a passion.  Now that thought truly is exciting.

Image © of B.C.F.C.
Image © of B.C.F.C.

Wayne Rooney inside St. Andrew’s officially unveiled as Blues new manager.

Wayne Rooney’s First Week In Charge

Birmingham City manager, Wayne Rooney, discussed his first week at the club.

On the 19th of October, 2023, Wayne Rooney chatted with Blues T.V. about his first week in charge as the new Blues manager.

Carl Robinson’s First Interview With Blues T.V. 

On the 19th of October, 2023, new men’s First Team coach, Carl Robinson, sat down with Blues T.V. for the first time to discuss his coaching style and how he’s found his first week at the club.

Ashley Cole’s First Interview With Blues T.V. 

On the 19th of October, 2023, new men’s First Team coach, Ashley Cole, sits down with Blues T.V. for the first time to discuss his coaching style and how excited he is to be at Blues.

Announcement Regarding Lower Tilton Re-Opening (2)

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Another Lower Tilton announcement.

On the 24th of October, 2023, Blues announced that more blocks would be open in the Tilton Lower for the match against Hull City.

It’s good to see the repairs are coming on nicely.

Announcement Regarding Juninho Bacuna (2)

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Another Bacuna announcement.

On the 25th of October, 2023, the club made an announcement to Blues fans regarding the racial abuse incident involving Juninho Bacuna during Birmingham City’s match against Huddersfield Town on the 3rd of October, 2023.  Bacuna reported an incident of racism during the second half. 

A man was arrested during Blues’ game against Hull City on the 25th of October, 2023.  Police identified a 52-year-old male who was wanted for questioning.

He was apprehended shortly after kick-off on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence and was kept in custody for questioning.

Let’s hope he is dealt with accordingly and banned for life and this sort of thing doesn’t happen again at St. Andrews.  Sadly in the uncivilised world we live it is doubtful.

November 2023

Announcement Regarding New Fan Initiatives

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Announcement regarding new fan initiatives.

On the 1st of November, 2023, the club made an announcement to Blues fans regarding a series of fan initiatives.

As mentioned above in May,  Tom Wagner sent a Letter to Fans outlining six Commitments that he asked fans to hold the leadership of the Club accountable. 

After consultation with fans and fan groups, Blues revealed three new initiatives which deliver on the intent of Wagner’s commitment. 

Firstly is Blues Open House, a quarterly open evening for up to 100 fans who are committed to Blues and whose work helps shape the views of Blue Noses across the globe.  It will be by invitation only and the invite list could change each quarter. The first one of these will take place at St. Andrew’s on Tuesday the 21st of November, 2023, hosted by Garry Cook, and members of the leadership team.

Secondly, Blues Matters, an official Fan Engagement Programme that will be launched in January 2024.  This will be the official constructive communication channel between the Club and fans.

Thirdly,  Blues Official Supporters Club, will  be launched in January 2024 as well.  This is the recreation of the Official Supporters Club after many years, joining organisations across the country and globe in one new digital and physical home.

It is so refreshing that fans are made to feel an important part of the club and not just a revenue service.

Announcement Regarding Blues Open House 

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Open House announcement.

On the 8th of November, 2023, the club announced the Blues Open House date would be changed.

Blues Pay Their Respects Before Remembrance Day 2023 

Blues Pay Their Respects Before Remembrance Day 2023
Image © of B.C.F.C.

John Ruddy and Sean rush discuss Remembrance Day.

Read more here. 

On the 3rd of November, 2023, John Ruddy, whose father served in the military as well as two of his best friends, and Sean Rush, whose son is currently serving in Iraq, sit down to discuss their loved ones’ experiences and the importance of Remembrance Day.  

Image © of B.C.F.C.
Image © of B.C.F.C.
Image © of B.C.F.C.
Image © of B.C.F.C.
Image © of B.C.F.C.
Image © of B.C.F.C.
Image © of B.C.F.C.

Blues pay their respects before Remembrance Day 2023 at St. Andrews.

The above photos were taken before their match against Ipswich Town on the 4th of November, 2023.  Click here to see a short video regarding the above including the minute silence and the last post..

Announcement Regarding Kop Lower Re-Opening (1)

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Kop Lower Announcement.

On the 15th of November, 2023, Blues made an announcement stating that Blues Women’s match against Durham on Sunday the 19th of November, 2023 will serve as a test event for the planned re-opening of the Kop Lower.

Tom Wagner is on track to keep his promise of having the Lower Tilton And Kop Lower open by the end of November., how refreshing is that, to have owners who are truthful! 

Announcement Regarding Kop Lower Re-Opening (2)

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Another Kop Lower Announcement.

On the 22nd of November, 2023, Blues made an announcement that Blues fans much-anticipated return to the Kop Lower will be against Sheffield Wednesday on the 25th of November, 2023.

Announcement Regarding Blues Open House: Transformation

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Blues Open House live on Blues TV announcement.

On the 27th of November, 2023, Blues announced that supporters will be able to watch live coverage of the first Blues Open House known as Transformation.

The introduction started with an EXCELLENT short video that made me proud to be a Blue Nose.  It is emotional and underlines why I have supported this club since the 70’s and will do so until the day my time is up. 

True fans need to Keep Right On TOGETHER. As it says on a t-shirt I have, “It’s more than just a badge, it’s our family emblem”. 

You can watch the video here and in the video below.

Blues Open House: Transformation –  Introduction and Q & A.

Hosted by Tom Ross.

Announcement Regarding Beau And Belle Brummie’s Makeover

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Beau and Belle Brummie makeover annoucement.

On the 30th of November, 2023, Blues announced that ahead of Blues’ game against Rotherham United on the 2nd of December, 2023, everyone’s favourite bulldogs have had a makeover and they will be taking over on matchday.

I can understand Tom Wagner and Co. wanting to move the club forward and make revenue (for it is that that will help get things done) but I have to disagree on this one. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.  I prefer the old traditional look and not something that looks like it came out of a sex shop!

December 2023

On the 27th of November, 2023, Blues announced that supporters will be able to watch live coverage of the first Blues Open House known as Transformation.

The introduction started with an EXCELLENT short video that made me proud to be a Blue Nose.  It is emotional and underlines why I have supported this club since the 70’s and will do so until the day my time is up. 

True fans need to Keep Right On TOGETHER. As it says on a t-shirt I have, “It’s more than just a badge, it’s our family emblem”. 

You can watch the video here and in the video below.

Tom Wagner, Garry Cook And Tom Brady Attend Birmingham City Versus Rotherham United 

Before the game against Rotherham United on December the 2nd, 2023, attended by Tom Wagner and Garry Cook, Tom Brady visited the Birmingham City Elite Performance and Innovation Centre as Blues prepared for the visitors.  You can see a short video here.

Announcement Regarding Birmingham City Foundation

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Birmingham City Foundation announcement.

On the 6th of December, 2023, Blues announced its first flagship partnership as Balaam Wood Academy became the inaugural Academy School.

The school in Frankley has long-standing links with the Club, with coaches currently operating in the school to deliver four hours of football and mentoring per week.

Tom Wagner talks about it here in a short video.

It is great to see Blues giving back to the local community and the city of Birmingham in this way It produces great bonds with prospective investors and most of all the fans, old and new. 

January 2024

Announcement Regarding The Sacking Of Wayne Rooney 

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Rooney sacked announcement.

On the 2nd of January, 2024, Blues made an announcement to inform the fans that manager Wayne Rooney had been sacked.  Carl Robinson left the club with him. Professional Development Coach Steve Spooner will assume responsibility for Men’s First Team matters as a caretaker manager until the manager’s position is filled again. The remaining coaching staff will be required to continue with their duties to assist Spooner.

As with any new manager, I gave him the benefit of the doubt and a chance to prove himself.  Rooney simply was not good enough. 

In the fifteen games played under Rooney’s management, Blues only secured two wins, four draws and nine defeats.  His 13% win rate is down from his 28.5% managerial career win rate at previous clubs DC United and Derby County.  Birmingham went from averaging 1.24 points per game under Eustace to 0.67 points per game under Rooney.  As much as I have never really liked Rooney, he was a great player but great players do not always make great managers.  He has proven this, more than once. I understand the players have to take responsibility for their part in the recent bad form while playing for Rooney but it’s the manager’s job to motivate his players, Rooney did not do this at all.  He looked like he didn’t want to be there, he wasn’t expressive in his emotions and made it clear he didn’t like his players much.  He couldn’t be bothered to wear the club badge or club colours and he alienated the fans from day one.  

It was the wrong decision in the first place to employ him as was getting rid of our previous manager John Eustace but, like in that situation, you have to move on. The club’s number one priority is to avoid relegation and build in the summer with a new manager who knows what he’s doing and shows passion for the club and its fans, you know like Eustace did!

It’s not all doom and gloom. We have decent owners, albeit they made a mistake employing Rooney but soon realised this and rectified it before things got worse.  You can argue not soon enough but it’s done now.  Things are improving with the ground and off the pitch and things will improve on it eventually. 

I won’t wish Rooney good luck, but rather GOOD RIDDANCE! 

Announcement Regarding New Manager Tony Mowbray 

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Mowbray announcement.

On the 8th of January, 2024, Blues announced to the fans that Tony Mowbray is our new manager. He will be joined by his long-time assistant Mark Venus who joins in the position of Assistant Manager.

I don’t have any doubts as I did with Wayne Rooney because Mowbray has a good track record of being an experienced Championship manager.  He is someone who delivers results, likes to play attractive football, gives young players a chance and players want to play for him.  Our fans couldn’t ask for anything more than that

Welcome to Blues Tony. It’s now time to get back on track and move forward once again and, like any new manager for us, I will wish you well. 

Tony Mowbray’s First Interview With Blues T.V.

New Blues Manager, Tony Mowbray sits down with Blues T.V. to discuss a range of topics.

On the 9th of January, 2024, the new Blues manager spoke to Blues T.V. for the first time.

A good and straightforward to-the-point interview from a man who, unlike Rooney knows what he wants and how to achieve it the right way.

Tony Mowbray’s First Press Conference 

Mowbray’s first press conference ahead of the Birmingham City v Swansea City match.

On the 11th of January, 2024, First Team Manager, Tony Mowbray, spoke to the media for the first time following his appointment on Monday. the 8th of January, 2024 and it is simply brilliant.

This time there was no razzamatazz from Garry Cook showing his friend off like a prize trophy because it wasn’t needed.  What we got instead was an honest man with good morals, passion and knowledge of the game.  He is someone who is liked and respected by everyone in his company as clearly can be seen in this press conference. 

It has given me hope again and I have no doubt, that as long as the board support his wants and needs and doesn’t expect too much-attacking football, too soon this time, we have a manager who will motivate our players, play to their strengths once again and lead the club into successful times ahead next season and onwards.

Announcement Regarding Ian Dutton 

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Dutton announcement.

On the 12th of January, 2024, Blues announced to the fans that after 17 years of loyal and dedicated service, Ian Dutton has decided to leave Birmingham City.

Thank you for your service Ian and good luck on your next venture.

Announcement Regarding Birmingham City Partnering With Oak View Group

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Birmingham City partners with Oak View Group announcement. 

On the 12th of January, 2024, Blues made an announcement to inform the fans that they have entered into a multi-year partnership with leading global sports and entertainment company, Oak View Group (O.V.G.) Europe Ltd. 

Under the terms of the agreement, O.V.G. will work with the Club to develop a long-term strategy to maximise the commercial value of St. Andrew’s and the Club’s training grounds.

Garry Cook, said: “O.V.G. has a track record that is second to none, especially in maximising naming rights and ancillary benefits for existing stadiums and new builds. This will be a significant asset for Blues.  Revenues generated by O.V.G. will be invested directly back into the Club, supporting our drive to become world-class across everything that we do.”

This shows how serious our new owners are in making Birmingham City a global success on and off the pitch.  Things are certainly looking up for Blues and eventually, with patience, everything will click into place and we will be a club to be reckoned with back in the Premiership, where we belong.

Announcement Regarding John O’Shea 

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O’Shea announcement.

On the 13th of January, 2024, Blues announced to the fans that John O’Shea had left by mutual consent.

Bye-bye, don’t let the door hit you on your arse on the way out.

Announcement Regarding Blues Matters 

Image © of B.C.F.C.

Blues Matters announcement.

On the 25th of January, 2024, Blues announced to the fans that the next phase of Birmingham City’s fan engagement strategy, Blues Matters, is set to launch this month, bringing supporters together and giving them a voice on the most important off-the-pitch strategic issues.

Blues Matters will be made up of five strategic work groups that will meet throughout the year, each focusing on a specific area of the Club:

Birmingham City Women’s Football Club.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Heritage and History.

Men’s Matchday Experience.

South Asian Community Engagement.

It is great that the owners are involving the fans more and considering what we feel and think.  Owners, players etc. come and go but true fans will always be here through the good times and bad and we deserve to be respected more because we are the foundation of the club.

Well done Tom Wagner and co. and thank you for recognising that we do indeed matter a lot.  You keep doing your bit and we will keep doing ours and together we will achieve great things together.

Announcement Regarding Birmingham City Naming Rights Partnership With Knighthead

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Birmingham City naming rights with Knighthead announcement.

On the 26th of January, 2024, Blues made an announcement to inform the fans that they have entered into a multi-million pound, multi-year naming rights agreement with Shelby Companies Limited, which is majority-owned by Knighthead and certain other minority investors, including seven-time Super Bowl champion and entrepreneur, Tom Brady.  It is the largest commercial agreement in the Club’s history.

Under the terms of the deal, the Club’s stadium will be re-named St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park.  The Club’s Wast Hills training ground will be renamed The Knighthead Training and Academy Grounds and a new fan entertainment zone @ Knighthead Park, will be built, situated on Club-owned land close to the Tilton and Main Stand at the Stadium. These will be launched before the end of the 2023/24  Season.

The value of the agreement is based on an annual sponsorship fee, a Men’s First Team performance-related bonus and a club-wide social media performance-related bonus.  For the remainder of the 2023/24 season, the value to the Club with incentives could reach £6,241,666.67.  In 2024/25, the first full year of the partnership, the value to Birmingham City, with incentives, could reach £9,450,000.  Further information is available here.

Knighthead Park is the first step in the Club’s plan to build a Sports Quarter in the heart of Birmingham.  The ambition for the Sports Quarter is to create a globally recognisable sporting and entertainment location.  A beacon of excellence, providing the world’s greatest athletes and performers a platform to showcase their talents.  Recreational, mixed-use and other spaces will be developed for the enjoyment and benefit of the local community.

The official launch for this will be at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park on Monday the 1st of April, 2024. 

The vast amount of revenue predicted will go a long way to balancing the books and staying well within F.F.P. and it gives Tony Mowbray the cash to build a much stronger team to battle for the Premiership.  Then, when we eventually get promoted, a new ground will follow and the sky is the limit for Birmingham City.

There are very exciting times ahead for Blues, that’s for sure, and I, for one, can’t wait.

Announcement Regarding Blues New Official Supporter’s Club For Disabled Supporters (1)

Blues New Official Supporter’s Club For Disabled Supporters Announcement
Image © of B.C.F.C.

Blues new Official Supporter’s Club for disabled supporters announcement.

On the 29th of January, 2024, Blues announced to the fans that as part of the Club’s plan to create an Official Supporter’s Club (O.S.C.), it has been engaging with the two existing independent disabled supporter groups, AccessiBlues and the Birmingham City Disabled Supporters Association (B.C.D.S.A.).

The goal of the Club and the O.S.C. is to have a single unified branch that represents the disabled supporters, ensures that they receive the highest levels of support and creates a welcoming atmosphere for its members.

Nice one Blues.

A Message To Supporters From Tom Wagner – 31/01/2024

Wagner’s motivational message to all Blue Noses.

On the 31st of January, 2024, the Chairman of the Board, Tom Wagner, sent a message to Blues supporters regarding five new initiatives to sell out the match against Sunderland.

In this very motivational message, he talked about how much he enjoys spending time with Blues supporters. 

He revealed that he wants the home game at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park to be a sell-out, something that has not been achieved for nearly four years.

The Club have launched five initiatives to make this big game even bigger.  They are:

(1) Category B.

The game is now Category B, instead of Category A. This makes it more affordable and accessible, with tickets now starting at £30.

(2) Celebrate Birmingham Industry Day.

By working with big local employers, essential services, and local universities Blues has created partnership packages that enable them to offer their employees and students Blues tickets for the hosting of Sunderland at a reduced price.

(3) Platinum and Gold.

The Club are giving the Gift of Blues to Platinum and Gold Members who travel 1,000s of miles each season to cheer on the team. These fans can buy up to two tickets for family and friends at £10 for an adult and £3 for a child.

(4) Tickets 4 Teams.

Blues want to bring young football-crazy kids back to St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park

(5) 1,000 free tickets for children’s charities and schools.

Working with charities and schools across Birmingham, the Club is making tickets available for those children who would not normally be able to come to a game.

This is all fantastic news from the club and stuff we could have only ever dreamed of under the previous, useless owners so let’s give him what he asks for and sell all our tickets for the Sunderland game and fill St. Andrew’s with wonderous loud noise.

When Wagner speaks you can’t help but want to listen to his passionate words which are genuinely from the heart.  Has a businessman he wants to make a profit, that is undisputable, that is why he brought Birmingham City for, but he truly wants the very best for the club and the fans and you can hear that in his voice and see that in his eyes.  He truly is a man of integrity and we are very fortunate to have him. 

February 2024

Announcement Regarding Juninho Bacuna (3)

Bacuna Announcement (3)
Image © of B.C.F.C.

Another Bacuna announcement.

On the 3rd of February, 2024, the club made an announcement to Blues fans regarding an incident that happened in the second half of the game versus West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns.  Bacuna reported an incident of racism to the referee, David Webb.  It was included in the official’s match report and the Club said it would deal with it accordingly.

This isn’t the first time Bacuna has been on the end of racial abuse and it is disgraceful.  May the perpetrator be found, charged and banned from football for life a.s.a.p.

Announcement Regarding Blues New Official Supporter’s Club For Disabled Supporters (2)

Blues New Official Supporter’s Club For Disabled Supporters Announcement
Image © of B.C.F.C.

Another announcement regarding Blues new Official Supporter’s Club for disabled supporters.

On the 6th of February, 2024, Blues announced to the fans an update about the launch of the Official Supporters Club, a key part of the new fan engagement strategy.

Following the recent application period, the Club revealed that there were 62 successful applications, including 15 from overseas.

The Official Supporters’ Clubs is aimed at uniting supporters, creating communities of Blue Noses across the globe and rewarding fans for their loyalty.  Branches are predominantly based on geographical locations, meaning supporters across the region and beyond can connect, socialise, travel and watch games together.  Membership for every Branch opened at the end of February and will be free of charge for the remainder of the 2023/24 season.

Announcement Regarding Juninho Bacuna (4)

Bacuna Announcement (4)
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Another Bacuna announcement.

On the 7th of February, 2024, the club made an announcement to Blues fans regarding West Midlands Police who arrested a man on suspicion of racially abusing Bacuna because of an incident that happened in the second half of the game versus West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns.

Witnesses were told to contact the West Midlands Police by clicking here or by calling 101 to help them with their inquiries.

Hopefully, this will be over with quickly and the moron involved gets what he deserves.

Announcement Regarding Tony Mowbray Requiring Medical Treatment

Tony Mowbray Requires Medical Treatment Announcement
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Tony Mowbray requires medical treatment announcement.

On the 19th of February, 2024, the club made an announcement to Blues fans regarding Manager Tony Mowbray requiring medical treatment which meant that he would be temporarily stepping away from the on-site management of the Club for a period of approximately six to eight weeks.

Assistant Manager, Mark Venus will assume temporary responsibility for the team with immediate effect. along with Ashley Cole, Pete Shuttleworth and Maik Taylor.

Get well soon Tony.

Announcement Regarding UB40 Concert At St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park 

UB40 Concert At St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park Announcement
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UB40 Concert at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park announcement.

On the 28th of February, 2024, the club made an announcement to Blues fans regarding the UB40 Concert at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park on Monday the 1st of April, 2024.  Blues have joined forces with UB40 to present the World Premiere of the band’s new album UB45.  It is part of the official launch of the Club’s naming rights partnership, St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park.  The Club will unveil new St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park stadium branding at the event.

It will be UB40’s kick-off concert for their extensive 2024 World Tour. 

The concert is part of an Easter Monday Double Header with the match versus Preston North End, kick-off at 3 pm. The UB40 concert is included in the price of the ticket for the match.

This will start at 5.45 pm and last one hour. Supporters can expect to hear the much-loved classic hits and a sprinkling of new material from the upcoming UB45 album on a pre-built stage behind the goal in the Gil Merrick Lower.

The concert is in partnership with Greatest Hits Radio, the country’s most-listened-to commercial radio station, and will be hosted by presenter Jenny Powell.

Personally, this isn’t UB40 to me.  The sound of UB40 will always be Ali Campbell as the lead singer.  I appreciate bands changing, and members replacing others over time but when Ali left UB40 with Astro it never was the same again.  Sadly, due to silly family arguments, there was never any chance of the original lineup getting back together again, especially as Mickey Virtue passed away in 2008 and Astro and Brian Travers passed away in 2021.  Ali does his own thing, as does his brother Robin and they both use the name UB40.  We are all entitled to opinions of which version we like of the band best and mine is the one when they were all together, the one that I grew up with and enjoyed in the 70’s and 80’s and brought out their best music up until the 90’s.

No one should be moaning about the FREE concert being provided here, especially the ones going to the Preston match. They all can have opinions, of course, but moan, most definitely not. Those attending can choose to stay after the match to watch it or leave but regardless of who likes who, what and why, Tom Wagner has to be commended for finding initiative ways of bringing important revenue to Birmingham City that will help build the club to bigger things and benefit all of its supporters in the long run.  For that, I say well done Tom, keep up the great work.     

March 2024

Announcement Regarding The Second Blues Open House In April

The Second Blues Open House In April Announcement
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The Second Blues Open House in April announcement. 

On the 8th of March, 2024, the club made an announcement to Blues fans regarding the details for the second Blues Open House on Tuesday the 9th of April, 2024, hosted by Garry Cook, who will be joined in-person by Tom Wagner, and other members of the Club’s Leadership Team.  The theme of the evening is Ambition.

The primary focus will be on two areas:  

(1) Infrastructure. 

(2) Fan experience.

Announcement Regarding Tony Mowbray’s Medical Leave And Gary Rowett’s Return As Interim Manager

Tony Mowbray's Medical Leave And Gary Rowett's Return As Interim Manager Announcement
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Tony Mowbray’s medical leave and Gary Rowett’s return as Interim Manager announcement.

On the 19th of March, 2024, the club made an announcement to Blues fans regarding Tony Mowbray’s medical leave and Gary Rowett’s return as Interim Manager.

Mowbray will take a formal medical leave of absence until the start of pre-season 2024/25.

The Club appointed Interim Manager, Gary Rowett, with immediate effect for the remaining eight games of the season.

Assistant Manager, Mark Venus, will also take a leave of absence with immediate effect and rejoin the Club at the same time as Mowbray.  First Team Coaches, Ashley Cole and Peter Shuttleworth, and Goalkeeper Coach, Maik Taylor, will remain at the Club as part of Rowett’s coaching staff.

Once again I say to Tony get well soon and here’s to a speedy recovery for him and thank you to Mark for his efforts in trying his best to get results for Blues to push them further up the table, unfortunately, that wasn’t too be with only one point out of six matches in charge.    

Here is what I wrote regarding our recent form in the Championship.  I said then it was a bad idea to get a manager in to replace Mowbray if he didn’t return for the Q.P.R. game.  We now know that isn’t going to happen and, no disrespect to Venus, he isn’t up to the task of managing the team.  That wasn’t all his fault though and the players need to have a good hard stare at themselves in the mirror and see that most of them are not good enough for this club unless they give 100% every match.  They only need to look at Lukas Jutkiewicz for inspiration.  With all this in mind, hiring Rowett is a wise decision by Tom Wagner.  

As a former Blues player and manager, Rowett knows the club well.  He took over in October 2014 when we were struggling following an embarrassing defeat to Bournemouth at home when we lost 8-0.   In just five games in charge under Rowett Blues looked like a completely different team gaining eleven points from fifteen.  It would be amazing to have a similar outcome in the remaining eight games he is in charge.  Will it happen? Time will tell.

Good luck Gary.  

Gary Rowett’s First Interview With Blues T.V. As Interim Manager

Blues Interim Manager, Gary Rowett joins Blues T.V. to discuss his return to the Club.

On the 20th of March, 2024, Blues interim manager spoke to Blues T.V. for the first time on his return to Birmingham City.

This a good interview from a man who knows the club well and shares the passion of its fans.

Announcement Regarding Gary Rowett’s Backroom Staff 

Announcement
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Gary Rowett’s backroom staff announcement.

On the 20th of March, 2024, the club made an announcement to Blues fans regarding Interim Manager Gary Rowett’s backroom staff.

Birmingham City confirmed two additions to Rowett’s staff which includes First Team Coaches, Ashley Cole and Peter Shuttleworth, and Goalkeeper Coach, Maik Taylor.

Rowett will be joined by Paul Robinson and Dave Carolan for the eight remaining games of the 2023/24 season.  Both assisted Rowett at Millwall and previously worked at Blues.

It is good to have them back, especially former Club Captain Robinson who gave everything in his time at Blues, much like Lukas Jutkiewicz does now.  These are proper players who play with pride for the badge on their football tops, their club and its fans.  

Good luck Paul and Dave.

Paul Robinson And Dave Carolan’s First Interview With Blues T.V. Since Returning To Birmingham City

First Team Technical Coaches, Paul Robinson and Dave Carolan sit down with Blues T.V. to discuss returning to the Club under Interim Manager, Gary Rowett’s stewardship.

April 2024

Announcement Regarding Blues Open House: Ambition

Blues Open House live on Blues TV announcement.

On the 8th of April, 2023, Blues announced that supporters will be able to watch live coverage of the second Blues Open House known as Ambition.

You can watch it all in full in the video below of this exciting look at the future of Birmingham City under Knighthead and I for one can’t wait to see it all come to fruition.

Announcement Regarding Knighthead Acquiring 48-Acre Former Wheels Site  

Knighthead Acquiring 48-acre Former Wheels Site Announcment
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Knighthead acquiring 48-acre former Wheels site announcement.

On the 9th of April, 2024, the club made an announcement to Blues fans regarding Knighthead’s acquisition of the 48-acre former Wheels site in Bordesley Park, East Birmingham, bringing their total land holding to more than 60 acres, excluding St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park. 

This is a key step toward creating a vibrant Sports Quarter and a new world-class stadium as follows:

(1) Knighthead’s ambition for Birmingham City Football Club is to become a beacon of excellence for Birmingham on the global stage, boosted by the new Sports Quarter infrastructure plans

(2) Sports Quarter to be home to world-class stadium and training facilities for all Birmingham City teams, and extensive commercial and community facilities

(3) The development of the Sports Quarter is expected to generate over 3,000 local jobs

(4) Knighthead’s investment into the Sports Quarter follows the company’s takeover of the Football Club and further showcases the company’s continued commitment and ambitions for the city of Birmingham

(5) The plans have been led by Knighthead Co-CEO and Birmingham City Chairman, Tom Wagner, and Chief Executive Officer, Garry Cook.

The Sports Quarter intends to build a new multi-use stadium, high-performance training facilities and other mixed-use real estate development including a range of entertainment options.  This is to be the new home of Birmingham City Football Club, and a world-class venue to bring international sporting events to the region.  The news represents a significant step on the Club’s growth journey following the takeover by Knighthead in July 2023.

Birmingham City sits at the heart of the community in Birmingham through its activity on the pitch and the important work of the Birmingham City Foundation.  The regeneration of Bordesley Green and the planned facilities for local people are central to the owners’ ambition to make a positive contribution to people from all backgrounds across the city.

The ambition for the Sports Quarter is for it to become a globally recognisable sporting and entertainment location.  The goal is for Blues to have a world-class stadium, training facilities for both men and women, a new academy, community pitches and commercial space to support innovative local businesses, all within walking distance to the city centre.

The plans will not only help realise the vision for the Football Club but also deliver for East Birmingham as part of Knighthead’s plan to play a significant role in the ongoing transformation of Birmingham’s infrastructure and skyline.  Once operational, the Sports Quarter should generate over 3,000 full-time jobs and significantly contribute to Birmingham’s G.D.P.

This has been mentioned in the media and on social media recently but I didn’t want to comment on it until it was official and that time is now.

It is such a joy to see ambition from owners who know what they are doing and truly care for the club and its fans.  There are exciting years ahead to come for Blues fans and I, for one, can’t wait to see all this come to fruition.

Blues Remember The Victims Of The Birmingham Pub Bombings  

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Blues remember the victims of the Birmingham Pub Bombings. 

On the 23rd of April, 2024,  Blues installed a lasting memorial to the 21 victims of the Birmingham Pub Bombings who sadly lost their lives on Thursday, the 21st of November, 1974.

They installed a plaque on the facade of the Kop at St. Andrew’s and it continues to show what a brilliant understanding club this is for the people of Birmingham.    

Birmingham Pub Bombings Memorial Plaque At St. Andrews
Image © of B.C.F.C.

Birmingham Pub Bombings memorial plaque at St. Andrews. 

2023/24 Season Academy Awards

Blues Academy Awards 2024
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Blues Academy Awards 2024. 

On the 26th of April, 2024, Blues held their annual academy awards.  The players and their coaches were joined by Members of the Club’s Leadership Team, hearing from Blues’ Chief Executive Officer, Garry Cook, Academy Manager (Football), Liam Daish, and Academy Manager (Operations), Louisa Collis.

As well as the awards ceremony, guests were treated to video highlights from the season and a football freestyle performance.

The winners were:

Under-9s Players’ Player of the Season: Jackson Coombes.

Under-10s Players’ Player of the Season: Willo Vanriel-Williams.

Under-11s Players’ Player of the Season: Thomas Breese.

Under-12s Players’ Player of the Season: Prince Tchappi.

Under-13s Players’ Player of the Season: Finley Taylor.

Under-14s Players’ Player of the Season: Liam Taylor.

Under-15s Players’ Player of the Season: Fraser Hamilton-Wright.

Under-16s Players’ Player of the Season: Tobe Ugorji.

Under-9s Goal of the Season: Jack Johnson-Guy.

Under-10s Goal of the Season: Didaar Bening.

Under-11s Goal of the Season: Carlos English.

Under-12s Goal of the Season: Jude Kyei.

Under-13s Goal of the Season: Thomas Caves.

Under-14s Goal of the Season: Charlie Bayton-Timms.

Under-15s Goal of the Season: Jayden Nunes-Wickham.

Under-16s Goal of the Season: Kian McCusker.

FP Save of the Season: Beniamin Beardmore.

YDP Save of the Season: Alfie Smith.

Congratulations to all of the above.  It is fantastic to see our young players do well and I hope many of them have a successful future with Birmingham City and go on to achieve great success regardless of who they end up playing for.  

May 2024

A Letter To Supporters From Tom Wagner – 04/05/2024

Image © of B.C.F.C.

Tom Wagner.

On the 4th of May , 2024, Tom Wagner wrote another letter to the fans, this time regarding Blues getting relegated to League One.  You can read it here.  

Wagner knows that he, and the board, have made mistakes that have contributed to our final league position and will learn from them.  Not one true, loyal Blues fan will have a bad word to say about this man and what he as achieved for our club since Knighthead took over in May 2023.  Despite going down we can look forward to going back up again with hope in our hearts instead of fear in them if we were still under Chinese ownership.  Under them still we would always be worried that we would slip down the leagues even further.  You only have to watch the last Blues focus to truly realise that the future looks very bright for Birmingham City indeed.

A Letter To Supporters From Garry Cook – 04/05/2024

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Garry Cook.

On the 4th of May, 2024, Garry Cook wrote another letter to the fans, this time regarding Blues getting relegated to League One.  You can read it here. 

There is no point people putting all the blame on Cook for our final league position. He will know very well the part he played in our relegation by pushing for the appointment of Rooney but all the club’s problems before and after that were put into motion when the Chinese took over and that is a fact.  It is silly and pointless to make Cook the scapegoat for our relegation. There have been a lot of reasons leading up to this event.  It is what it is.  The time now is to look forward, not backwards.

2023/24 Season Player Awards

Jay Stansfield Wins Five Awards In The 2023-24 Season
Image © of B.C.F.C.

Jay Stansfield wins five awards in the 2023-24 season.

On the 5th of May, 2024, Blues held their annual player awards, a bitter sweet event following relegation to League One the day before. 

The awards celebrated the best in class from the 2023/24 season, with both of Blues’ First Team squads and staff along with members of the Board, the Leadership Team and supporters in attendance.

All five Men’s awards were collected by England Under-21s international Jay Stansfield, as he was recognised, by both Blue Noses and his team mates, for an outstanding season on loan from Fulham.  His achievements eclipse Che Adams’ four-award haul in 2019.

The 21-year-old’s thirteen goals earned him Supporters’ Player of the Season, Players’ Player of the Season, Young Player of the Season and Top Goalscorer.

And of his netbusters, Stansfield’s strike on his debut, a 96th-minute winner against Plymouth Argyle in August, won him Goal of the Season.

You can see the full list of Blues winners here. 

Well done Jay and well deserved.  You was one of a few that gave everything during your entire time playing here for Birmingham City and will be sadly missed.  Good luck in your future going forward.

BluesFest 2024

Team Fry And Team Dugarry At BluesFest 2024
Image © of B.C.F.C.

Team Fry and Team Dugarry at BluesFest 2024.

On the 11th of May, 2024, Blues hosted the first-ever BluesFest at St. Andrew’s.

Blues legends and a host of celebrities came together to raise funds for the Birmingham City Foundation, with the centre-piece being a match on the B9 pitch that contributed to the fundraising total.

The teams, led by former Manager, Barry Fry, and 2002 FIFA Men’s World Cup winner, Christophe Dugarry, played out a thrilling 6-6 draw before penalties determined the overall winner.

Barry Fry Settles Into The Head Coach's Office
Image © of B.C.F.C.

Barry Fry settles into the Head Coach’s Office.

Christophe Dugarry Recreates His Iconic Celebration
Image © of B.C.F.C.

Christophe Dugarry recreates his iconic celebration.

You can see more photos from the day and read more about BluesFest 2024 here. 

It’s fantastic to see things like this happening at St. Andrews highlighting what a great family club we are.  The more positive exposure we get the better.

The highlights of Bluesfest 2024 that took place on May the 11th at St Andrew’s. 

Announcement Regarding Tony Mowbray Standing Down As Blues Manager

ony Mowbray Standing Down As Blues Manager Announcement
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Tony Mowbray Standing Down As Blues Manager Announcement.

On the 21st of May, 2024, the club made an announcement to Blues fans regarding Tony Mowbray standing down as Blues manager due to his health following an unexpected surgery earlier in the year.

Mowbray has informed the Club of his decision to stand down as Men’s First Team Manager with immediate effect. 

Mowbray, who temporarily stepped away from his on-site management duties in February before taking a formal medical leave of absence in March, has decided to focus on making a full recovery from his surgery and spending time with his family.

The 60-year-old arrived at Blues in January and claimed victory in four of his eight matches at the helm, including back-to-back Championship victories over former teams Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland, and securing progression in the F.A. Cup.

Due to the suddenness of his announcing he was leaving due to ill health, it was always questionable if he was ever going to return at all for the 2024/25 season.  Every Blues fan hoped he would come back to guide us out of League One and quickly back to the Championship.  With his experience in League One in the past, he was the number one man for the job but sadly that isn’t going to be.

I wish him all the best for the future, whatever he decides to do and I fully respect his decision for family and good health, mentally, physically or both, should always come first over any job.  I, and many Blues fans, would like to thank him again for coming to us in the first place albeit for a short stay.    Here’s to a speedy recovery Tony. 

KEEP RIGHT ON. 

Blog Posts

Birmingham City: A Tribute To Trevor Francis.

Birmingham City: Blues Are Sadly Relegated To League One. 

Birmingham City: Blues History.

Birmingham City: First Team Squad For The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: Fixtures, Results And Goal Scorers For The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: Gary Rowett, Paul Robinson And Dave Carolan Return To Steady The Ship For Blues.

Birmingham City: January Transfers For The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: Keep Right On To The End Of The Road.

Birmingham City: Kits For The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: My First Home Game Of The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: Staff For The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: Summer Transfers For The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: Trevor Francis.   

Notes And Links

The image shown at the top of this page is copyright of Birmingham City F.C.  

The above links in the Before Knighthead section will take you to Wikipedia and its content is subject to change.

The links in the Next Chapter section will take you to the Birmingham Mail and Birmingham City’s websites.

Birmingham City F.C. – Official website.  

Birmingham City on Facebook  – This is their official Facebook page.

Birmingham City on Twitter – This is their official Twitter page.

Birmingham City on YouTube – This is their official YouTube page.

Blues Store Online – Birmingham City’s official club store online.

Help Harry Help Others – Official website.

Help Harry Help Others on Twitter.

Help Harry Help Others on Instagram.

Help Harry To Help Others on YouTube.

Back To Birmingham City
Back To Homepage

Birmingham City: Staff For The 2023/24 Season

B.C.F.C. Badge
Image © of B.C.F.C.

There is only one team in Birmingham worth supporting with true passion and Birmingham City is it.  I have been supporting them since 1978 when Jim Smith was the manager.  He is my favourite manager to date.   I am a blue nose ’til I die.

You can read lots more about Blues by clicking here.

Staff: 2023 – 2024 Season 

Click on the staff member’s name to read their profile.  This will take you to Birmingham City’s official website. 

Manager 

Tony Mowbray.

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Mowbray here.

Assistant Manager

Mark Venus.

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Venus here.

Assistants

Pete Shuttleworth.

Image © B.C.F.C.

Ashley Cole.

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Cole here.

Head Of Physical Performance

Sean Rush. 

Image © B.C.F.C.

Goalkeeper Coach

Maik Taylor. 

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Taylor here.

The following are not shown on the Blues website for some reason:

Technical Director: Craig Gardner.  Read more about Gardner here.

Sports Scientist: Elliott Woolmer.

Blog Posts

Birmingham City: A New Era Begins.

Birmingham City: A Tribute To Trevor Francis.

Birmingham City: Blues Are Sadly Relegated To League One.

Birmingham City: Blues History.

Birmingham City: First Team Squad For The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: Fixtures, Results And Goal Scorers For The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: Gary Rowett, Paul Robinson And Dave Carolan Return To Steady The Ship For Blues.

Birmingham City: January Transfers For The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: Keep Right On To The End Of The Road.

Birmingham City: Kits For The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: My First Home Game Of The 2023/24 Season. 

Birmingham City: Summer Transfers For The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: Trevor Francis.   

Notes And Links

The image shown at the top of this page and the images below are copyright of Birmingham City F.C.  The subsequent information is from there too and anything else is from Wikipedia except information on Pete Shuttleworth which is from Wikitia.

Wikipedia and Wikitia content is subject to change.

Birmingham City F.C. – Official website.  

Birmingham City on Facebook  – This is their official Facebook page.

Birmingham City on Twitter – This is their official Twitter page.

Birmingham City on YouTube – This is their official YouTube page.

Blues Store Online – Birmingham City’s official club store online.

Back To Birmingham City
Back To Homepage

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Birmingham City: First Team Squad For The 2023/24 Season

B.C.F.C. Badge
Image © of B.C.F.C.

There is only one team in Birmingham worth supporting with true passion and Birmingham City is it.  I have been supporting them since 1978 when Jim Smith was the manager.  He is my favourite manager to date.   I am a blue nose ’til I die.

You can read lots more about Blues by clicking here. 

Click here to see all the summer transfers for the 2023/24 season. 

First Team Squad: 2023 – 2024 Season 

Click on the player’s name to read their profile.  This will take you to Birmingham City’s official website. 

Goalkeepers

Number 1: Neil Etheridge.

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Etheridge here.

Number 21: John Ruddy.

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Ruddy here.

Defenders 

Number 2: Ethan Laird.

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Laird here.

Number 3: Lee Buchanan. 

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Buchanan here.

Number 4: Marc Roberts. 

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Roberts here.

Number 5: Dion Sanderson.

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Sanderson here.

Number 12: Cody Drameh (On Loan).

Cody Drameh

Read more about Drameh here.

Number 18: Josh Williams.

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Williams here.

Number 23: Emmanuel Longelo. 

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Longelo here.

Number 44: Emmanuel Aiwu (On Loan).

Emanuel Aiwu

Read more about Aiwu here.

Midfielders 

Number 6: Krystian Bielik.

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Bielik here.

Number 7: Juninho Bacuna.

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Bacuna here.

Number 11: Koji Miyoshi.

Koji Miyoshi
Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Miyoshi here.

Number 13: Paik Seung-ho. 

Paik Seung ho
Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Seung-ho here.

Number 14: Keshi Anderson.

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Anderson here.

Number 15: Alfie Chang.

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Chang here.

Number 16: Andre Dozzell (On Loan).

Andre Dozzell
Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Dozzell here.

Number 17: Siriki Dembele.

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Dembele here.

Number 19: Jordan James.

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about James here.

Number 20: Gary Gardner.

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Gardner here.

Number 29: Alex Pritchard.

Alex Pritchard
Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Pritchard here.

Number 34: Ivan Sunjic.

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Sunjic here.

Number 35: George Hall.

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Hall here.

Image © B.C.F.C.

Number ?: Tate Campbell.

Read more about Campbell here.

Forwards

Number 8: Tyler Roberts.

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Roberts here.

Number 9: Scott Hogan.

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Hogan here.

Number 10: Lukas Jutkiewicz.

Image © B.C.F.C.

Read more about Jutkiewicz here.

Number 28: Jay Stansfield (On Loan).

Jay Stansfield

Read more about Stansfield here.

Number 45: Oliver Burke (On Loan).

Oliver Burke

Read more about Burke here.

Retained And Released List: The End Of The 2023 – 24 Season  

The Club confirmed on the 18th of May, 2024 their list of retained and released players following the conclusion of the 2023/24 season.

Five of the Men’s First Team squad have been released.  These are Neil Etheridge, Gary Gardner, Scott Hogan, Marc Roberts and Ivan Sunjic.

New contracts have been offered to Lukas Jutkiewicz and John Ruddy.

A contract extension has been activated for Keshi Anderson.

A further seven young professionals have been released. Oliver Basey, Tate Campbell, Marcel Oakley, Rico Patterson, Callum Sullivan, Finley Thorndike and Kieran Wakefield will all leave Birmingham City following the expiration of their contracts.

Third-year scholars Morgan Dance and Pharrell Williams have also been released.

Five players have returned to their parent clubs.  These are Emanuel Aiwu, Oliver Burke, Andre Dozzell, Cody Drameh and Jay Stansfield.

Options in the Club’s favour have been exercised for Junior Dixon, Laiith Fairnie, Harley Hamilton, Sahid Kamara and Femi Olofinjana.

Rico Browne and Brad Mayo have been offered professional terms for next season.

All second-year scholars have been offered pro contracts, with further details to be confirmed during the close season.

The following players all remain under contract:

Keshi Anderson, Juninho Bacuna, Ben Beresford, Krystian Bielik, Lee Buchanan, Alfie Chang, Junior Dixon, Siriki Dembele, Romelle Donovan, Laiith Fairnie, Tommy Fogarty, George Hall, Harley Hamilton, Josh Home, Jordan James, Sahid Kamara, Brandon Khela, Ethan Laird, Emmanuel Longelo, Koji Miyoshi, Femi Olofinjana, Byron Pendleton, Paik Seung-ho, Alex Pritchard, Tyler Roberts, Dion Sanderson, Josh Williams.

To all those leaving Blues I just want to thank them for their time at the club and wish them good luck and success for the future.

Any further squad news from now on will be dealt with on a separate page for the new season.

Blog Posts

Birmingham City: A New Era Begins.

Birmingham City: A Tribute To Trevor Francis.

Birmingham City: Blues Are Sadly Relegated To League One.

Birmingham City: Blues History.

Birmingham City: Fixtures, Results And Goal Scorers For The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: Gary Rowett, Paul Robinson And Dave Carolan Return To Steady The Ship For Blues.

Birmingham City: January Transfers For The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: Keep Right On To The End Of The Road.

Birmingham City: Kits For The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: My First Home Game Of The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: Staff For The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: Summer Transfers For The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: Trevor Francis.    

Notes And Links

The Birmingham City club logo shown at the top of this page is the copyright of Birmingham City F.C. and came from their social media pages.  The images below are also copyright of them and are from their official website.  The subsequent information is from there too and anything else is from Wikipedia.

Wikipedia content is subject to change.

Birmingham City F.C. – Official website.  

Birmingham City on Facebook  – This is their official Facebook page.

Birmingham City on Twitter – This is their official Twitter page.

Birmingham City on YouTube – This is their official YouTube page.

Blues Store Online – Birmingham City’s official club store online.

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Birmingham City: Kits For The 2023/24 Season

B.C.F.C. Badge
Image © of B.C.F.C.

There is only one team in Birmingham worth supporting with true passion and Birmingham City is it.  I have been supporting them since 1978 when Jim Smith was the manager.  He is my favourite manager to date.   I am a blue nose ’til I die.

You can read lots more about Blues by clicking here.

My initial reaction to seeing the new home shirt was it looks like a normal plain t-shirt but it’s OK and it will be one of those looks that will grow on me. There are different shades of Royal Blue and I would have preferred it to have been a more traditional darker shade.  The bands around the neck and arms would have been better white and the shorts would have been better white but it is not a bad kit.  It is one of them that will look better in person and worn.

I have always liked the Nike swoosh logo so I was pleased when we first had them as our kit supplier. However, like feeling the same when we had Adidas before them, it was disappointing that they make very generic tops, where as in the past we have had varied styles from different suppliers.

I don’t know much about the new kit sponsor Undefeated and as much as the front logo looks like a garden gate, it makes a nice change from gambling sponsors and it is nice that the kit is the same throughout the men and women’s teams and kids can wear the same as the adults are.

Although tradition plays a big part in it for the fans, in the end, it isn’t all necessarily about what colour a football kit is, the sponsors and advertising on it or what players name is on the back, what really matters is the club badge on the front. That represents all of us who follow this fantastic team.  That is where the true passion lies.   

Home Kit: 2023 – 2024 Season 

Image © B.C.F.C.

Birmingham City’s new home kit for the 2023 – 2024 season.

Buy adult and children sizes here.

Image © B.C.F.C.
Image © B.C.F.C.

Birmingham City’s new home kit top for the 2023 – 2024 season.

Image © B.C.F.C.
Image © B.C.F.C.

Birmingham City’s new home kit shorts for the 2023 – 2024 season.

Image © B.C.F.C.
Image © B.C.F.C.

Birmingham City’s new home kit socks for the 2023 – 2024 season.

Away Kit: 2023 – 2024 Season 

Image © B.C.F.C.

Birmingham City’s new away kit for the 2023 – 2024 season.

Buy adult and children sizes here.

Image © B.C.F.C.
Image © B.C.F.C.

Birmingham City’s new away kit top for the 2023 – 2024 season.

Image © B.C.F.C.
Image © B.C.F.C.

Birmingham City’s new away kit shorts for the 2023 – 2024 season.

Image © B.C.F.C.
Image © B.C.F.C.

Birmingham City’s new away kit socks for the 2023 – 2024 season.

Third Kit: 2023 – 2024 Season 

Image © B.C.F.C.

Birmingham City’s new third kit for the 2023 – 2024 season.

Buy adult and children sizes here.

Image © B.C.F.C.
Image © B.C.F.C.

Birmingham City’s new third kit top for the 2023 – 2024 season.

Image © B.C.F.C.
Image © B.C.F.C.

Birmingham City’s new third kit shorts for the 2023 – 2024 season.

Image © B.C.F.C.
Image © B.C.F.C.

Birmingham City’s new third kit socks for the 2023 – 2024 season.

Blog Posts

Birmingham City: A New Era Begins.

Birmingham City: A Tribute To Trevor Francis.

Birmingham City: Blues Are Sadly Relegated To League One.

Birmingham City: Blues History.

Birmingham City: First Team Squad For The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: Fixtures, Results And Goal Scorers For The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: Gary Rowett, Paul Robinson And Dave Carolan Return To Steady The Ship For Blues.

Birmingham City: January Transfers For The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: Keep Right On To The End Of The Road.

Birmingham City: My First Home Game Of The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: Staff For The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: Summer Transfers For The 2023/24 Season.

Birmingham City: Trevor Francis.     

Notes And Links

The Birmingham City club logo shown at the top of this page is the copyright of Birmingham City F.C. and came from their social media pages.  The images below are also copyright of them and are from the Blues Store.  The subsequent information is from there too and anything else is from Wikipedia.

Wikipedia content is subject to change.

Birmingham City F.C. – Official website.  

Birmingham City on Facebook  – This is their official Facebook page.

Birmingham City on Twitter – This is their official Twitter page.

Birmingham City on YouTube – This is their official YouTube page.

Blues Store Online – Birmingham City’s official club store online.

Nike – Official website.

Undefeated – Official website. 

Back To Birmingham City
Back To Homepage