Birmingham City v QPR

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MY DREAM FIVE-A-SIDE TEAM: TOM ROSS THROUGHOUT THE 2023/24 SEASON, BLUES NEWS IS GOING TO BE TASKING A FAMILIAR FACE TO COMPILE THEIR DREAM FIVE-A-SIDE TEAM – WITH A TWIST! For each home game, a different team will be published, but these will be subject to stipulations ensuring it is a proper challenge. This week, local media legend Tom Ross was chosen to put together a Birmingham City quintet that flourished both on the pitch and in the dugout, having represented the Club as player and manager. Gil Merrick No better goalkeeper in my opinion. Also managed the team to a League Cup final win versus Villa, winning 3-1 at St. Andrew’s and drawing 0-0 at Villa Park. As a goalkeeper, he had the lot, shot-stopper, athletic, agile, a ‘keeper who organised his defence and he was as brave as any ‘keeper had to be in those days when forwards would try and smash them into the net via what was called a shoulder charge. He could do as much to win any game as any player with his brilliant acrobatics between the sticks. As a manager, he also led Blues to another European Final where they lost to Roma in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. He was ahead of his time in many ways and spent time at Barcelona studying their methods and brought the first Spanish coach to England, Emilio Aldecoa, to work with him at Blues. A 25-year career at St. Andrew’s says it all. Gary Rowett A cultured right-back who was always comfortable on the ball and made defending look easy. He read the game superbly and was always a step ahead of many other players. He managed Blues during the tough times from 2014 to 2016 and was just three points off the play-off places when he was, in my opinion, bizarrely sacked. Who knows how it all would have panned out had he stayed in charge because the club appointed five managers in the following three years. Steve Bruce A brilliant defender who showed that and more when he arrived at Blues from Manchester United. Another great reader of the game and an aggressive first-to-the-ball defender. He was superb at organising the backline beside him. A natural leader of men and a man who others were inspired by. As manager, he steered the team to promotion to the Premiership courtesy of winning the play-offs in 2002. No one will ever forget that semi-final second-leg night at Millwall and of course the breathtaking final win versus Norwich City in Cardiff. Garry Pendrey Garry bleeds blue blood and was a tough tackling, no-nonsense, competitive defender. He was a great leader of men which is why he was our youngest ever captain. He led by example and gave it all and after every one of his 360 First Team games he left the pitch with no more to give, the tank was empty. But, in my opinion, he was also a better footballer than most give him credit for but always kept the game simple. He took over as a manager, saying “it was the only job he ever wanted”, but it was the toughest and darkest of times under owner Ken Weldon. The club was broke, and on the verge of going bust. Any players who could raise money were sold from under his feet. He admits management was not for him, but he forged a great career as a number two under Alan Buckley, Graham Turner, and Gordon Strachan. Trevor Francis RIEP. He had it all, tremendous explosive pace, ability, skill, quick brain, could ghost past defenders as if they were nailed to the floor. He scored great goals, simple goals, world-class goals and headed goals for fun. He was an instinctive player that had defenders all over the place who often resorted to kicking him. He simply had it all - the greatest player to ever wear the royal blue. As a manager, he led the team to the League Cup final against Liverpool in 2001 where they were robbed by an inept referee. Who will ever forget the semi-final second leg v Ipswich Town at St. Andrew’s? The Stadium was bouncing and rocking from start to finish. To be honest, it would not matter who the other players were, with TF in the team, winning was a foregone conclusion in any five-a-side competition. 54 | BLUES NEWS BIRMINGHAM CITY V QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Supporters’ corner THROUGHOUT THE 2023/24 SEASON, BLUES NEWS WILL BE HEARING FROM THE STANDS. WHETHER IT IS INFORMATION ABOUT SUPPORTER GROUPS OR TALES FROM THE TERRACES, BLUENOSES WILL TAKE READERS TO THE HEART OF FOLLOWING THE CLUB UP AND DOWN THE COUNTRY – OR EVEN FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. This week, Supporter Services Officer, David Brown, serves up some tales from the first Men’s international break of the 2023/24 season and Birmingham City’s trip to Watford in the Sky Bet Championship. How great it is to welcome supporters back to St. Andrew’s tonight for the first time in three weeks. Bluenoses have been busy since the draw with Millwall here at the beginning of the month, with not just Championship away days but trips further afield during the international break. It was great to see so many Bluenoses on England’s trips to Poland and Scotland. It has long been said that few clubs are better represented among the Three Lions crowd than Birmingham City, and the Blues flags (pictured) were out in force as usual in both Wroclaw and Glasgow. Even fans of other clubs wanted to talk about the American revolution under Tom Wagner and Tom Brady, curious about the positive noises coming out of B9 in recent weeks. Meanwhile, back on home soil, the journeys to Watford and Preston once again highlighted the Club’s incredible travelling support. With a soldout crowd of 2,104 making the trip to Vicarage Road, it was a carnival atmosphere in the away end. A group travelling from Chelmsley Wood came in American fancy dress. And moments into the game came the debut of a new chant from the back of the stand: Sanderson, Dion! Running from the back, Dion! He’s our centre-back, Dion! To the Premier League we gooo… Ten minutes later, it was reverberating around the away end. A memorable day indeed, despite the result. As one flag stated: “Never let the football spoil a good day out.” A motto to live by indeed. BCFC.COM BLUES NEWS | 55
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