The Next Chapter With Knighthead
A Letter To Supporters From Tom Wagner – 08/05/2023
Announcement Regarding Prospective Ownership Of Blues
Announcement Regarding Official Take Over By Knighthead And Shelby Companies
Tom Wagner’s First Interview With Blues T.V.
Garry Cook’s First Interview With Blues T.V.
Tom Brady Joins Birmingham City
Tom Wagner Visits The Training Ground For The First Time
Tom Wagner, Garry Cook And Tom Brady Attend Blues First Home Game Of The 2023/24 Season Versus Leeds United
A Letter To Supporters From Garry Cook – 13/08/2023
A Letter To Supporters From Garry Cook – 24/08/2023
Announcement Regarding Mace
Tom Wagner Attends Preston North End Versus Birmingham City
Tom Wagner And Garry Cook Attend Birmingham City Versus Queens Park Rangers
Announcement Regarding Lower Tilton Re-Opening (1)
Announcement Regarding Juninho Bacuna (1)
Announcement Regarding The Sacking Of John Eustace
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.
A Letter To Supporters From Garry Cook -10/10/2023
Announcement Regarding Matt Gardiner And Keith Downing
Announcement Regarding New Manager Wayne Rooney
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’s First Training Session
Wayne Rooney’s First Press Conference
Wayne Rooney’s First Week In Charge
Carl Robinson’s First Interview With Blues T.V.
Ashley Cole’s First Interview With Blues T.V.
Announcement Regarding Lower Tilton Re-Opening (2)
Announcement Regarding Juninho Bacuna (2)
Announcement Regarding New Fan Initiatives
Announcement Regarding Blues Open House
Blues Pay Their Respects Before Remembrance Day 2023
Announcement Regarding Kop Lower Re-Opening (1)
Announcement Regarding Kop Lower Re-Opening (2)
Announcement Regarding Blues Open House: Transformation
Announcement Regarding Beau And Belle Brummie’s Makeover
Tom Wagner, Garry Cook And Tom Brady Attend Birmingham City Versus Rotherham United
Announcement Regarding Birmingham City Foundation
Announcement Regarding The Sacking Of Wayne Rooney
Announcement Regarding New Manager Tony Mowbray
Tony Mowbray’s First Interview With Blues T.V.
Tony Mowbray’s First Press Conference
Announcement Regarding Ian Dutton
Announcement Regarding Birmingham City Partnering With Oak View Group
Announcement Regarding John O’Shea
Announcement Regarding Blues Matters
Announcement Regarding Birmingham City Naming Rights Partnership With Knighthead
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)
A Message To Supporters From Tom Wagner – 31/01/2024
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.
Announcement Regarding Juninho Bacuna (3)
Announcement Regarding Blues New Official Supporter’s Club For Disabled Supporters (2)
Announcement Regarding Juninho Bacuna (4)
Announcement Regarding Tony Mowbray Requiring Medical Treatment
Announcement Regarding UB40 Concert At St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park
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.
Announcement Regarding The Second Blues Open House In April
Announcement Regarding Tony Mowbray’s Medical Leave And Gary Rowett’s Return As Interim Manager
Gary Rowett’s First Interview With Blues T.V. As Interim Manager
Announcement Regarding Gary Rowett’s Backroom Staff
Announcement Regarding Blues Open House: Ambition
Announcement Regarding Knighthead Acquiring 48-Acre Former Wheels Site
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
2023/24 Season Academy Awards
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.
A Letter To Supporters From Tom Wagner – 04/05/2024
A Letter To Supporters From Garry Cook – 04/05/2024
2023/24 Season Player Awards
Announcement Regarding Tony Mowbray Standing Down As Blues Manager