Birmingham City v Bristol City

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2 | BLUES NEWS BIRMINGHAM CITY V BRISTOL CITY

CLUB DIRECTORY 

Chairman of the Board: Thomas Wagner 

Board: Thomas Wagner, Garry Cook, 

Matthew Alvarez, Andrew Shannahan, Kyle 

Kneisly, Laura Torrado, Wenqing Zhao and 

Gannan Zheng 

Chief Executive Officer: Garry Cook 

Managing Director: Ian Dutton 

Chief Financial Officer: Mark Smith 

Honorary Vice-President: Mike Wiseman 

Advisory Board Chairman: Tom Brady 

FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT: 

Men’s Technical Director: Craig Gardner 

Women’s Technical Director: 

Hope Powell CBE 

Men’s Manager: Wayne Rooney 

First Team Coaching Staff: 

Ashley Cole, John O’Shea, Carl Robinson, 

Pete Shuttleworth 

Goalkeeper Coach: Maik Taylor 

Women’s Head Coach: Darren Carter 

Women’s Assistant Head Coach: 

Emily Simpkins 

Women’s General Manager: 

Sarah Westwood 

Lead Goalkeeping Coach: Tony Elliott 

Head of Physical Performance: Sean Rush 

Chief Medical Officer: Dr Roddy Macdonald 

Head Physiotherapist: Pete Shaw 

First Team Physiotherapist: Dave Hunt 

Academy Manager (Football): Liam Daish 

Academy Manager (Operations): 

Louisa Collis 

Under-21s Head Coach: Steve Spooner 

Under-18s Head Coach: Martyn Olorenshaw 

Professional Game Academy Manager: 

Paul Cowie 

Club Secretary: Zoe Jones 

CONTRIBUTORS 

Editor: Thomas Smith 

Words: Sharron Atkins, David Brown, John 

Clarke, Chris Dunn, Aaron Flower, Tom 

Keens, Jake Malbasa, Dale Moon, Andy 

Tudor, Thomas Smith, Samuel Ward, Zach 

Woods, Ignition Sport 

Photography: Roy Smiljanic, Flynn Duggan, 

Richard Hammersley, Jae-Hoon Jung, 

Pete Lopeman, Robin Poulson, 

Jonathan Sarabadu, Alex Styles, 

Joe Williams, Getty Images, 

Fotosport (Roger Parker), Rex Features 

Printed by Stephens & George 

Produced by 

Ignition Sports Media 

www.ignitionsportsmedia.com 

lee.berry@ignitionsportsmedia.com 

CONTENTS 

8 GARRY COOK 

10 WAYNE ROONEY 

12 DION SANDERSON 

16 2023 REVIEW 

19 THE OPPOSITION 

24 A DAY TO REMEMBER 

28 EMANUEL AIWU INTERVIEW 

36 JUNIOR BLUENOSES 

42 MASCOTS 

Thank you for your support this year, 

See you in 

blues news 

43 SUPPORTERS’ MESSAGES 

44 BIRMINGHAM CITY FOUNDATION 

48 BIRMINGHAM CHILDREN’S 

HOSPITAL VISIT 

52 BLUES WOMEN: HALF-SEASON 

REVIEW 

56 ATTIRED AND WEARY 

58 MARTIN O’CONNOR INTERVIEW 

62 UNDER-21S MATCH REPORT 

63 LIAM DAISH INTERVIEW 

COVER STORY 

Today’s cover, on the Men’s First Team’s 

final outing of 2023, pays thanks to the 

Club’s supporters and their 

efforts across the past 12 months. 

Design by Dan Thompson 

(@ddtdesignstudio). 

Blues News wishes to apologise for the 

incorrect squad list published in Issue 13. 

CONTACT 

Address: St. Andrew’s Stadium, Cattell Road, Birmingham B9 4RL 

Telephone: 0121 772 0101 (Ticket Office, option 2 / Commercial, option 3 / Blues Store, option 4) 

Website: BCFC.com 

X: @BCFC / @BCFCWomen / @BCFCAcademy / @BCFCTickets / @BCFCEnquiries @BCFCCommunity 

Facebook: Birmingham City FC / Birmingham City Women 

Instagram: @BCFC / @BCFCWomen TikTok: @BCFC / @BCFCWomen 

BCFC.COM BLUES NEWS | 3

Fireworks and a light show ramp up the 

atmosphere and add to the sense of 

occasion at St. Andrew’s ahead of Blues’ 

last home Sky Bet Championship game 

before Christmas against Leicester City. 


THE BIG PICTURE 


HERE’S 

A ST AT 

I BET 

YOU 

DIDN’T 

KN 

W 


NEARLY ONE MILLION 

SKY BET CUSTOMERS USE DEPOSIT LIMITS 

TO MANAGE THEIR BETTING BUDGET. 

THAT’S ENOUGH TO FILL: 

11 WEMBLEYS. 

ALL GOOD BOOKMAKERS 

HAVE DEPOSIT LIMITS. 

SO WHOEVER YOU BET WITH, 

SET AN APPROPRIATE ONE FOR YOU 

AND THEN ENJOY THE SPORT. 

DEPOSIT LIMITS 

THAT’S BETTING BETTER. 


A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD 

GARRY COOK 

Welcome Blues fans to our final home 

game of the festive period. I trust that 

you are having an enjoyable time with 

family and friends this holiday season. Thank you 

in advance for your vociferous support for our 

team tonight. I would also like to extend a warm 

welcome to the officials, team, and supporters 

of Bristol City. 

As we move closer to the end of 2023, I want 

to share some personal thoughts on what has 

happened since Knighthead completed its 

investment in July. 

Let’s start with our stadium and training 

facilities. Sadly, they were not fit for purpose. That 

is why, since July, more than £20 million has been 

spent on St. Andrew’s, Wast Hills Training Ground 

and the Birmingham City Elite Performance and 

Innovation Centre. Improvements will continue to 

be made so all our players have the best possible 

environments to plan, prepare and compete. 

And our supporters will have an ever-improving 

experience when coming to the Stadium. 

We are already seeing positive signs on the 

pitch with our Under-18s, Under-21s and Women’s 

team leading their respective competitions. 

While our Men’s team, under the leadership of 

Wayne Rooney and his coaching team, are making 

progress every day. I have no doubt that we will 

continue to see the benefits of their collective 

hard work this evening and in the coming weeks 

and months. 

There are three further initiatives launched 

since July that I want to highlight. 

The first is the commitment we have made to 

regain Category 1 status for the boys Academy and 

to ensure it becomes recognised as ‘best in class’. 

At the same time, we have committed to continue 

to invest in the Category 1 status that our girls 

already enjoy. This is a cornerstone of the Club. 

The second is the Blues Open House, with the 

first one held on Monday 27 November. Our goal 

is to involve our supporters, so you are better 

informed about what is happening at your club. 

100 of you went behind the scenes, met the 

people making great things happen, and took part 

in conversations on a range of subjects, including 

the Club’s playing identity and the importance of 

revenue growth. Open Houses will take place each 

quarter. 

And third, was this month’s launch of the 

Birmingham City Foundation. It embodies 

everything that we believe our club should be— 

helping those who need it most in and around 

Birmingham. We are more than football. An 

alliance is being built between the Club, our 

supporters and former players, our Commercial 

Partners, and a host of local charities. More than 

£200,000 has been raised, with your support, 

in a matter of weeks. Blue Nose Day will be 

remembered for some time. This is just the start. 

And my biggest disappointment since July? 

Without doubt, the sad passing of one of our 

greats, Trevor Francis. He represented everything 

that is great about our club. I wanted Trevor to 

be part of the journey we are now embarking 

upon. Unfortunately, that was not to be possible. 

Instead, in 2024, we will honour Trevor’s memory 

so that we can all celebrate his life when we visit 

St. Andrew’s. More to come on this. 

Birmingham City is now a global story. The 

spotlight is on us. And it is not going away. 

Everyone at the Club, with the full support of our 

owner Tom Wagner and the Board, is working hard 

to create something truly special for all Bluenoses. 

Enjoy the ride. 

Wishing you a Happy New Year! Keep Right On! 

Garry Cook 



TOUCHLINE TALK 

WAYNE ROONEY 

Good evening and welcome back to 

St Andrew’s for tonight’s Sky Bet 

Championship fixture with Bristol 

City. 

Our defeat to Stoke City was, obviously, a big 

disappointment. There is no getting away from 

the fact that the performance and result were 

a huge frustration for all of us. We have been 

making small steps of improvement in recent 

weeks, so I did not expect that on Boxing Day. 

For me, that is not a reflection of what we 

are as a group or as individual players. We 

fell short of the expectations we place on 

ourselves and as Manager, I take responsibility 

for that. 

We know we have conceded too many goals 

and the disappointment is that we have put 

in a lot of work on the defensive side of our 

game. It is not about any one player. The goals 

we are conceding are a result of basic errors 

and it is vital we cut those out as soon as 

possible. 

I spoke about Romelle Donovan’s 

performance after the game and at 17-yearsold, 

he showed the courage and personality 

to get on the ball and make things happen. It 

should not be down to our youngest player to 

spark us into life. Credit to him because he 

was the one positive to emerge from Tuesday 

evening. 

That said, I also do not want to lose sight of 

the performances across the previous three 

games. We saw positive signs against Cardiff 

City, Leicester City and Plymouth Argyle. 

Although we did not manage to win them all, 

we showed we can be a very good team when 

we get it right. 

So, the challenge is to find that consistency 

heading into the New Year. The top sides and 

the top players are not happy with bit-part 

performances or spells in games. It is about 

doing it every single day in training and every 

time you step out onto the pitch. 

The players are good enough. I have worked 

with them for some weeks now and I know 

they can do what we are asking of them. 

We are seeing it in training, so it is our job to 

make sure it comes out when it matters on a 

matchday. 

One thing I do want to be clear on is that 

I completely understand the frustration 

amongst our supporters. I am a football fan. I 

get it. When it has not been good enough, I am 

the first one to say so. 

My only ask is that you get behind the players 

as you have done all season. I know how much 

this club means to you all and we are working 

hard to give you a team which you can be 

proud of. Stick with us. We will get there. 

I am confident in the ability of the players, 

the coaches and most importantly, myself, 

that we will start to pick up results on a more 

consistent basis. 

Tonight, we face a Bristol City side who are 

enjoying a good run of form. Liam Manning is 

another good young manager in the league, 

and we have to respect their capabilities. 

However, we need to show what we are all 

about tonight. The intensity and aggression 

have to be there, and I fully expect there to be 

an improvement in our performance. 

Finally, I want to wish you all a very Happy 

New Year and thank you for your continued 

support. 

Here’s to a successful 2024. 

Wayne Rooney 



CAPTAIN’S COLUMN 

DION SANDERSON 

Good evening, Bluenoses, and welcome 

back to St. Andrew’s for the second 

time this week as we face Bristol City. 

At the forefront of our minds is correcting 

what we got wrong against Stoke City on 

Boxing Day. It was a performance that we 

were not proud of and it is down to us to go 

out there and put in a huge shift tonight. 

We have been looking to be more expressive 

and attacking over recent weeks, but that 

cannot mean we allow ourselves to concede 

goals as cheaply as we have been. We have 

done so much work defensively in training 

and must do a better job of executing that on 

matchday. 

What was even more frustrating was that 

we had played so well in the previous three 

games. We beat Cardiff City, should have had 

three points at Plymouth Argyle and went 

toe to toe with the best team in the Sky Bet 

Championship. The positive signs are there, 

we just need to turn those into consistent 

results. 

I would like to give a shoutout to Romelle 

Donovan, who came on against Stoke and 

played his heart out. He is always so keen to 

get on and make a difference, and he certainly 

did that when he took it past two defenders 

and set up Jay Stansfield’s goal. He can be a 

big, big player for the Club. 

Another positive was having Keshi Anderson 

and Tyler Roberts back from injury. They have 

both been working so hard behind the scenes 

to get back on the grass and have looked 

sharp in training. They are hugely important 

players here. 

Looking ahead to tonight’s game, we are 

under no illusions that we have to be much 

better than we were on Tuesday. As the Gaffer 

said, every position in this squad is up for 

grabs so we must all prove that we deserve to 

be on that pitch. 

Bristol City have hit a good patch of form, 

but we will go into this one fully believing we 

can take all the points. Like us, they have a 

young manager who plays progressive football 

so it should be a really interesting battle. 

I cannot stress how important it is to end 

the year on a high note. There have been so 

many positives over the past few months, 

but we need to translate that into wins on the 

pitch and start 2024 in the right way. 

This has been a crazy year for everyone at 

this club we love. There have been ups and 

downs, but we truly believe that the future 

is bright here. We have owners with huge 

ambitions who are taking Birmingham City 

forward. 

We ask that you continue to stay behind us 

like you have done all season. As Bluenoses, 

you have been through so much in your time 

supporting this team, yet you always back us 

in incredible numbers. We are desperate to 

reward you with the results you deserve. 

Keep Right On, 

Dion Sanderson 





A YEAR OF CHANGE, A YEAR OF PROGRESS. 

BIRMINGHAM. ON THE RISE AGAIN. 

A ghost of Birmingham City past, Riley McGree, signed 

off the festive fixtures and made the start of 2023 a 

losing one when he and Middlesbrough took the spoils 

at St. Andrew’s. Bristol City would then claim a rare win 

over Blues on their own patch before the second Annual 

Arthur Matchday, against Preston North End, was a 

success everywhere but on the field as vital funds were 

raised for the NSPCC. These outings bookended a week 

where Forest Green Rovers, thanks to new signing Kevin 

Long, were seen off in a previously postponed Emirates 

FA Cup Third Round tie and despite Jordan James’ late 

equaliser at Blackburn Rovers forcing a replay at the next 

stage, the month would end in an extra-time departure 

from the competition. 

February’s opener at Swansea City produced one of the 

Club’s most astonishing wins in modern history as goals 

from Lukas Jutkiewicz and Auston Trusty in minutes 90 

and 97 snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. That 3-4 

classic was followed by a simpler but no less cherished 

three points that not only secured bragging rights over 

West Bromwich Albion but a first league double since the 

1998/99 season. Unfortunately, the momentum of backto-back 

maximums was halted by a home dumping by 

Cardiff City on Valentine’s Day and subsequent setbacks 

versus Huddersfield Town, Norwich City and Luton Town. 

Somehow only a point was collected at Wigan 

Athletic whose woodwork was struck thrice during the 

second-half, although March’s only defeat to Watford was 

sandwiched between big wins over sides jostling with 

Blues for a place in the Sky Bet Championship. Winter 

recruits Reda Khadra and Long beat Rotherham United 

to nil and Tahith Chong and Juninho Bacuna produced 

a Curacao connection for the former to clinch all three 

points away to Queens Park Rangers. 

Blackburn were shown to be fools at St. Andrew’s 

on Saturday 1 April and successive draws with 

Reading and Stoke City edged Birmingham closer 

to the finish line. Their crossing was briefly 

held up by a late defeat in Sunderland before a 

midweek success at Millwall, courtesy of vintage 

Jutkiewicz along with the quirk of clean sheets 

for both a withdrawn John Ruddy and his 

replacement Neil Etheridge, eradicated any 

threat of relegation with three games to spare. 

Popular Arsenal loanee Trusty was honoured 

at Awards 23, although he was not the only 

American greeted with fanfare at the start of May 

as future Chairman of the Board, Tom Wagner, attended 


the last game of the league season against promoted 

Sheffield United just hours after penning an open letter 

to supporters. The next chapter awaited. 

June’s fixture release was surrounded by more exciting 

news as Championship promotion winner Tyler Roberts 

and Japan international Koji Miyoshi, alongside returning 

faces Long and Krystian Bielik, joined the Men’s First 

Team at their new base in Henley-In-Arden, and the EFL 

granted its approval for an extraordinary general meeting 

to be held in the coming weeks relating to the Club’s 

ownership. 

This would take place in mid-July and was swiftly 

followed by the announcement that Knighthead Capital 

Management through its affiliate, Shelby Companies 

Limited, had completed its transaction with the majority 

owners of Birmingham City. Newly appointed Chief 

Executive Officer, Garry Cook, got to work in B9 and led 

the organisation in honouring the late Trevor Francis’ life 

whilst football matters, including five more permanent 

signings and a successful pre-season training camp, 

added real energy to a Football Club that had taken the 

handbrake off. 

The season curtain raiser only ever simmered after 

Siriki Dembele’s well-taken goal gave Blues the platform 

to take a point, but anyone bemused as to what all 

the fresh excitement was about would find out when 

the home campaign went off with a bang. Flames 

and fireworks greeted the hosts and visitors Leeds 

United into a new-look St. Andrew’s and with the newly 

appointed Chairman of the Advisory Board, Tom Brady, 

cheering on those in royal blue, Jutkiewicz’ late goal and 

touchdown celebration was the signal for lift-off. Another 

goal from the no.10 sealed victory at Ashton Gate to 

continue the unbeaten start before the Tilton had a new 

hero when Jay Stansfield’s 95th-minute stunner on debut 

sunk Plymouth Argyle. 

The lad on loan from Fulham notched again to earn a 

draw against Millwall, barely hours after the deadline day 

arrivals of Cody Drameh and Oliver Burke, but only one 

further point in September paved the way for change and 

a significant one at that. Home wins over Huddersfield 

Town and West Bromwich Albion would be the last 

matches of John Eustace’s proud 15-month tenure as 

the Club acted decisively to appoint Wayne Rooney to 

the position of Manager, supported by Ashley Cole, John 

O’Shea, Carl Robinson and Pete Shuttleworth. Although 

dealt a tough hand of fixtures and armed with a remit to 

transform the style of play, supporters waited patiently 

for the promise to be fulfilled. 

Promotion-pushing Ipswich Town were lucky to escape 

the West Midlands with a point on Bonfire weekend and 

whilst the Armistice Day trip to Sunderland could have 

fallen either way, Birmingham made sure matters did 

go in their favour when Sheffield Wednesday journeyed 

southbound after the year’s final Men’s international 

break. Bacuna’s goal-of-the-season contender and 

Jordan James’ close-range finish turned the game on its 

head. Rooney was up and running. 

December began with the next point on the board when 

Blues and Rotherham played out a stalemate, only for 

the forward direction of travel to be stalled again owing 

to a difficult night along the M6 in Coventry. Critically, 

an impressive response was forthcoming to claim the 

Club’s first-ever win at the Cardiff City Stadium and 

this was followed up by a character and quality-filled 

display that, unfortunately, anybody but league leaders 

Leicester City would have probably succumbed to on the 

inaugural Blue Nose Day matchday. Ten men bravely held 

off late advances of Plymouth in a 3-3 back and forth on 

Christmas Eve Eve where more than 1,600 Bluenoses 

showed up in style ahead of the year shutting down with 

back-to-back home tests – each accompanied by light 

shows and the statement razzmatazz that says this is just 

the beginning. 



BRISTOL CITY 

Nickname: The Robins 

Formed: 1894 

Stadium: Ashton Gate 

Stadium Capacity: 27,000 

Head Coach: Liam Manning 

Last season finish: 14th in the Championship 

Last time won at St. Andrew’s: 0-3 in March 2021 

Record v Blues: Won 19, Drawn 17, Lost 37

The Robins have displayed their true colours 

this December to leave themselves perched 

just outside the Sky Bet Championship’s playoff 

places halfway through the campaign. 

A run of three successive victories over fellow 

promotion contenders Sunderland, Hull City and 

Watford - scoring eight times in the process - 

underlined their statement of intent heading into the 

New Year. 

The 1-4 victory on Boxing Day at Vicarage Road was 

a first for Bristol City in the league in 12 years, with 

their current run the club’s most productive since 

November 2020. Yet Head Coach, Liam Manning, 

who replaced Nigel Pearson in November, is refusing 

to get carried away despite the club’s lofty position. 

City are currently eighth and just a point behind 

Sunderland in the final play-off berth but have not 

finished higher in the second tier since returning to 

the division in 2015/16. 

Manning is excited about the progress being made 

at Ashton Gate but believes there is more to come, 

telling BBC Radio Bristol: “The performance was 

excellent [against Watford]. I thought we carried a 

real threat throughout the game, defended extremely 

well but we think we can play a lot better than that. 

BRISTOL CITY 

ROBINS ON SONG THIS WINTER 

“In terms of their chances and the shifts in 

momentum came from us being either loose with the 

ball or making poor decisions, so that is the bit that 

excites me. But I don’t want to take anything away; 

the attitude, the togetherness, the behaviours were 

on the money, so I’m delighted for the players and the 

staff. 

“A couple of weeks ago at Blackburn we hadn’t won 

in three and there was a slightly lower feeling, but 

we’ve shown the players it’s not high or low, it is about 

turning up and concentrating on doing the best you 

can every day and do it collectively and what we’ve 

seen recently is a group that are fully on board.” 

After a slow-burning first six weeks at the 

helm his inherited side have begun to showcase 

their capabilities and are growing in self-belief. A 

consistency of selection, with Manning having named 

the same starting XI for the last three games, has 

bred familiarity and nurtured an understanding of 

roles and responsibilities. 

Goalkeeper Max O’Leary has been ever present 

between the posts this season, keeping six clean 

sheets, but did concede twice to Blues when the 

two sides met back in August. The Irishman, who 

had a loan at Solihull Moors in 2017/18, has limited 


Lewis Thomas and France Under-21s Stefan Bajic to 

understudy duties. 

A familiar backline have conceded just 27 times, the 

joint fifth best in the division. With Rob Atkinson and 

Kal Naismith sidelined, the long-serving Zak Vyner and 

authoritative Rob Dickie – a former Player of the Year at 

Oxford United and Queens Park Rangers – have struck 

up an understanding. They are often bookended by 

Cameron Pring at left-back, who made two assists and 

scored in his last two outings, with former Manchester 

United trainee George Tanner at right-back. 

Other options include Brighton & Hove Albion 

summer signing Haydon Roberts, teenage Canadian 

Jamie Knight-Lebel and 17-year-old Joseph James. 

Liverpudlian Joe Williams is a central midfield 

scurrier with previous second-tier experience at 

Barnsley, Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic, 

and has been partnered alongside Taylor Gardner- 

Hickman of late across the middle. The versatile West 

Bromwich Albion loanee celebrates his 22nd birthday 

tomorrow. Matty James, once a Championship winner 

with Leicester City, is also a regular with 22 starts this 

season, although his veteran former Foxes teammate 

Andy King has not appeared since October and is 

now in a player-coach capacity. At the other end of 

the career spectrum, Sam Bell continues to flourish 

after showing glimpses of his potential last season 

with six goals. The Bristolian, son of former City player 

Micky Bell, scored three times in September and has 

explosive pace from off the bench. 

Winger Mark Sykes has five goals this campaign, just 

one behind his total for 2022/23, and the Republic of 

Ireland international joined from Oxford United in May 

2022. On the other flank is Albania cap Anis Mehmeti 

who commanded a club-record fee from Wycombe 

Wanderers almost 12 months ago. Sykes has often 

started ahead of Austrian international Andreas 

Weimann this season, the former City Player of the 

Year having 200 league starts for the club. 

Manning does have a plethora of attacking options to 

experiment with but has preferred fearless youngsters 

Jason Knight and Tommy Conway throughout 

December. Knight may only be 22 but has 150 

appearances for first employers Derby County and 26 

international caps for the Republic of Ireland under his 

belt and is topping the club’s assists charts. His strike 

partner Conway is also still learning on the job, but the 

21-year-old sharpshooter has six goals after a ninegoal 

haul the campaign previous. 

The young duo are keeping more battle-hardened 

campaigners such as last season’s leading scorer 

Nahki Wells - recently back after an ankle injury - and 

Luton Town promotion winner Harry Cornick on 

the bench, alongside novices Ephraim Yeboah and 

Raekwon Nelson. 

IN THE DUGOUT 

Liam 

Manning 

DOB: 30 April 1984 

Appointed: November 2023 

Oxford United were left sore after the departure 

of the 38-year-old to Ashton Gate in November 

after his transformative spell with the club. 

Manning lifted the U’s from a struggling relegationthreatened 

team to one of serious promotion 

contenders within nine months. After saving them 

from the drop last campaign with two wins in their 

final three matches, having taken over in March, this 

season he had the side jostling for top spot in Sky 

Bet League One. 

The Norfolk-born tactician worked as an academy 

coach at Ipswich Town and as West Ham United’s 

Under-23s boss before a spell with New York City FC 

in the MLS. He then broadened his horizons further 

in helping Belgian First Division B side Lommel to 

third in the division during 2020/21. 

Catching the eye after two League One Manager 

of the Month awards with Milton Keynes Dons, he 

maintained his 48% win ratio in Oxfordshire and 

is now continuing his upward trajectory with City 

thanks to his meticulous attention to detail. 

After signing a three-and-a-half-year deal in BS3 

he said: “This is a terrific opportunity and one that 

I’m really looking forward to. If you look at the vision 

of the club and where they want to get to and how 

they want to get there, I think there is a really good 

fit and alignment with my journey and where I want 

to get to.” 


BRISTOL CITY 

KEY THREE 

3. CAMERON PRING 

Left-back | DOB: 22 January 1998 

Everyone at Ashton Gate is convinced they have one of the most underrated 

left-backs in the Sky Bet Championship in the unflappable Cameron Pring. 

Capable of performing at full-back or as a dynamic wing-back, the 

25-year-old arrived in BS3 from hometown Cheltenham Town in 2016. After 

eight separate loans between 2017 and 2021, most notably with Walsall 

and Portsmouth, he finally solidified himself in the City starting XI and has 

amassed 30-plus starts in his previous two campaigns. 

The industrious full-back provided two assists in victory over Hull City 

recently, and opened the scoring on Boxing Day against Watford, to live up 

to the high standards he sets himself. He stated back in pre-season to the 

club’s official website: “I’ve still got a lot more to give but that’s what I expect 

of myself, I want to be flying up the wing and creating goals. The goal over the 

next three years must be Premier League football with this club.” 

17. MARK SYKES 

It has been quite a winter for the winger at both club and country, having become 

the first Belfast-born player to represent the Republic of Ireland in 76 years. 

The 26-year-old, who played for Northern Ireland’s Under-21s before switching 

allegiances in 2020, finally made his first start at international level in November’s 

1-1 draw with New Zealand and impressed with an assist. 

The former Glenavon and Oxford United wideman scored six times last season 

for City and is just one behind that haul after December strikes on the road at 

Blackburn Rovers and Watford. Mark Sykes is hoping his productive form can keep 

him amongst the international reckoning, saying: “I’ve been in England five years 

- a lot has happened, it hasn’t just been plain sailing, there’s been many ups and 

downs. For me it’s more about continuous games at this level and it would be nice 

to play in a qualifier.” 

15. TOMMY CONWAY 

The Taunton-born frontman has put an early-season hamstring injury behind 

him to head Bristol City’s scoring charts. 

Renowned for his pace and penalty box prowess, the fearless 21-year-old marked 

his return to fitness with both goals in October’s win at Rotherham United. The 

Striker | DOB: 6 August 2002 

Scotland Under-21 international also helped his side secure valuable victories more 

recently against Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Hull City by converting penalties 

and is on course to match last campaign’s 12-goal haul in all competitions. 

With explosive power and the ability to run in behind opposition backlines, 

boss Liam Manning believes he can get the best out of the homegrown talent, 

saying: “Tommy will score goals, it’s now about becoming more clinical and that 

is something that will come with age. He will go through that sticky period, but it 

is about sticking by him and going, ‘come on, come out the other side and go and 

convert’.” 

Winger | DOB: 4 August 1997 

I 

T 

TC 

I 

T 

I 

B 


T’S THE 

HOUGHT 

HAT 

OUNTS... 

SCAN TO 

SHOP 

F THAT 

HOUGHT 

S JAMESON 

LACK BARREL 

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY. 


A DAY TO REMEMBER 

BRISTOL CITY 

The first meeting between Bristol City and 

Manchester United in 37 years was always 

going to be an occasion. The Robins beating 

the Red Devils at Ashton Gate for the first time 

since 1974 and securing a place in the Carabao Cup 

Semi-Finals, that makes Wednesday 20 December 

2017 a day to remember. 

Lee Johnson’s side were going along very nicely 

as autumn turned to winter. Heading into the plum 

tie on Severnside they had won seven of their last 10 

games in all competitions, including a 4-1 thumping 

of Crystal Palace to reach the quarter-finals for 

the first time since 1989. This elimination of the 

Eagles made it three successive Premier League 

opponents they had knocked out of the tournament 

after they had seen off Watford and Stoke City in 

Rounds Two and Three respectively. 

However, United, second in the Premier 

League, were a totally different proposition and 

arrived as the League Cup holders having beaten 

Southampton 3-2 at Wembley Stadium in February’s 

final. They were also led by a manager, Jose 

Mourinho, who had lifted the trophy four times, 

whilst Bristol City would have to become only the 

second team from a lower division to see off four 

top-flight teams in one League Cup campaign after 

Sheffield Wednesday managed the feat in 1990/91. 

There was, though, something brewing in the 


South West and the redevelopment of Ashton Gate 

funded by owner Steve Lansdown was undertaken 

with nights like this in mind – even if the hosts did 

have to ride their luck initially. 

Strikers Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcus Rashford 

both rattled the woodwork before Paul Pogba went 

close, although the attacks from Johnson’s men 

that required last-ditch interventions from Sergio 

Romero and Daley Blind were a warning not heeded 

by the visitors. 

These got the crowd more involved in the match, 

a vital ingredient to any cup upset, and slowly but 

surely the tide started to turn. Level at the break 

morphed into a lead just six minutes after the 

restart. 

Marlon Pack’s reverse pass set Joe Bryan down 

the left and given his eagerness to get after the ball 

he could have fluffed his lines. Instead, the left-back 

cleverly shuffled his final footsteps before striking, 

being in perfect balance as he rocketed the ball in 

with such venom that it took slow-motion replays to 

show that it had kissed the post on its way in. 

But as quickly as they had taken the advantage, 

they would squander it. Ibrahimovic’s low free 

kick – the means by which he scored in the 

aforementioned final – was allowed to roll through 

a wobbly wall. His first goal in 255 days had rocked 

the Robins. 

As time wore on, they became more tired, yet at 

odds with any sort of science became even more 

tremendous. Luke Steele’s save down to his left to 

deny substitute Romelu Lukaku was a blinding one. 

Instead of bodies being strewn, they flooded them 

forward, throwing caution to the wind. Perhaps they 

anticipated 30 minutes of extra-time would be a 

bridge too far. They were not waiting to find out. 

Second-half substitute Matty Taylor, equipped 

with the fuel to create, conjured some invention 

during injury time. His clipped ball left grey-shirted 

Manchester United defenders cemented to their 

spots and the scampering Korey Smith had time to 

let the ball settle off his chest ahead of bouncing it 

under Romero. 

The Gate erupted, Johnson celebrated by 

spinning around a ballboy as players and supporters 

converged into the corner where Smith was wildly 

celebrating. These two units would again be as 

one when Mike Dean called it a day with the final 

peep of his whistle and a largely pleasant pitch 

invasion toasted the victory – and the prospect of 

Manchester City in the last-four. 


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INTERVIEW 

EMANUEL 

AIWU 

STYLISH ON AND OFF THE FIELD. 

Emanuel Aiwu might look a million dollars, but he is always 

willing to do the ugly stuff when it comes to taking Blues 

up the Sky Bet Championship table. The defender has all 

the physical attributes to succeed on these shores, along with 

the extra touches of quality required to add value to any 21stcentury 

backline. 

Schooled in the nation of his birth at Admira Wacker and 

Rapid Vienna, he flew the nest in the summer of 2022 and found 

a spiritual home at Italian side US Cremonese where, 100km 

south-west of Milan, the arts of defending and fashion are so 

intrinsically linked. 

A campaign in Serie A has served the man who celebrated his 

23rd birthday on Christmas Day well and his defensive efforts, 

including playing every minute of Wayne Rooney’s wins as 

Manager, have been well appreciated by the Birmingham City 

faithful. 

Now they get to hear from the man himself ahead of Blues 

welcoming Bristol City for the final game of 2023. Speaking 

to Blues News, Aiwu gave his first impressions of the festive 

football calendar, discussed playing in England, talked about 

learning from the national team’s former captain and much more. 


Emanuel, thanks for chatting during the busy 

fixture schedule. This is the first time you have 

spoken to Blues News, so how have you found 

your time in Birmingham so far? 

I think I have settled well in the group and both 

of the coaching staffs have worked with me very 

well. The players make it quite easy to settle 

because they are all good lads. I enjoy working 

here every day. 

You have had to be patient for your opportunities 

here, therefore, does it make you more 

determined to take them when they come your 

way? 

Sometimes it is like this in football. I knew I had 

to keep training and then when I got the chance, 

I needed to show what I could do and help the 

team as much as possible. I am very happy for the 

faith shown in me and now I need to put in good 

performances. 

This season is your first taste of English football, 

how are you finding this new challenge? 

England is the biggest country when it comes 

to football. I am very proud to make my first steps 

in England and I am hungry for more. I try to keep 

working hard and improve every day. 

Part of this test has been playing in a number 

of different positions. Could you explain what it 

takes to do this? 

I think I have a good strength of mind that I can 

play in different roles if the coach needs me – as it 

is now with two injured right backs. I try to do my 

best in every position, wherever he needs me I will 

try to do my best. 

When deployed at centre-back you have played 

alongside Captain, Dion Sanderson, talk to us 

about that relationship. 

I really enjoy it; I get along with Dion on and off 

the pitch. I enjoy playing beside him and we try to 

help each other. We try to push ourselves every 

day. 

It is fair to say, though, that he has some strong 

opinions on your fashion. What would you say to 

that? 

Every person has different styles and Dion has 

very bad taste when it comes to this! I think I need 



to teach him something. I also come relaxed, but 

he could put it together a bit better. 

Being stylish is a big interest of yours outside 

of football and you have been involved in the 

launching of Blues’ 2023/24 Third Kit and the 

Nike Lifestyle Range. What is your verdict on the 

gear? 

I think Birmingham and Nike are doing a very 

good job. All three kits are very, very nice kits 

and they are popular in the shop where they look 

good. They are also quite comfortable, and I would 

recommend them to everybody. 

The game against Bristol City is the third of four 

in just 10 days over the festive period. How are 

you enjoying adapting to this run of matches and 

what have you made of the support you have 

received? 

In Italy, there were games over Christmas but 

not a lot of games like here. It is also the first 

time not going home for Christmas. It is a new 

experience, but I like it to be fair. Every footballer 

likes to play a lot of games, so it is important to 

stay fit and win as many games as possible. 

Being part of the Birmingham family is very 

nice and they support us in every game. Whether 

it is home or away. I just want to say thank you for 

this. We want to reward this amazing support. The 

support is similar to Rapid Vienna where I played – 

they are very strong and follow you in every game 

and I am very proud to have played for both teams. 

Finally, since you arrived in August, there has 

been a change at the top with Rooney coming in. 

What is it like working for him? 

I grew up watching the Gaffer and now it is 

very nice and very special to work under him. He 

has seen everything in football, and he can give 

us important lessons. The way he approaches 

football and how he wants to coach, I like it a lot. 

It is just for us to bring this on the pitch and win as 

many games as possible. 



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Welcome to Blues News 

We hope you enjoy this dedicated trivia section to help 

put your noggin to the test with some tricky brain-busters 

about this evening’s opponents, Bristol City, and our own 

Blues heroes past and present. 

WORDSEARCH 

M W A P O P Q N Z T S K Y S 

C U E O E Y T A U N N S A W 

O O I D B M G M M I S C R E 

S I K W Z R A K G L Y M R I 

E H C S F S S H J F K U U M 

H D I D R D T B A I E C M A 

W E D O E A J V S R S Z R N 

B I H T I Y E R A C B Y Y N 

V D L C D Z Q Q F W J A U W 

CAN YOU FIND THE 11 SURNAMES OF BRISTOL CITY PLAYERS, PAST AND 

PRESENT, WE’VE HIDDEN IN THE WORDSEARCH BELOW? 

ABRAHAM ATYEO CAREY 

DICKIE DIEDHIOU FLINT 

KNIGHT MURRAY REID 

SYKES WEIMANN 


GROUND TRACKER 

B 

GETTING TO 

KNOW…. 

How much do you know about our stars wearing 

Royal Blue? This week we recall the career of 

versatile left-sider Emmanuel Longelo… 

1. The 23-year-old started his career with which 

Premier League side? 

2. After gaining UEFA Europa League action with 

his previous employer, the versatile defender 

joined Blues on loan for 2022/23 and scored 

his first-ever senior goal against which side in 

October 2022? 

3. Blues’ No.23 celebrated his birthday on 

Wednesday. True or false? 

ROLL CALL RECALL 

Can you help identify these Blues players from 

the last decade from a snapshot and brief clue? 

Academy 

graduate with 

six international 

appearances for 

Montserrat. 

Right-back 

who played for 

Middlesbrough 

and Melbourne 

Victory after 

leaving Blues. 

Borrowed from 

Liverpool in 

2014, he had 

a big-money 

move to AFC 

Bournemouth. 

Put your geography to the test by 

matching these club crests to location 

A, B and C in the UK. Bonus points if 

you can name the county the club is in. 

KNOW YOUR 

OPPONENTS 

Put your knowledge of this evening’s 

opponents to the test! 

1. What is Bristol City’s nickname? 

2. Where do tonight’s visitors play their 

home games? 

3. What position did City finish in the 

Championship last season? 

4. Can you name Bristol City’s recentlyappointed 

Head Coach? 

5. What county is Bristol situated in? 

A 

C 


WHO PLAYS HERE? 

Can you identify which Championship side play 

their home games here? 

WHO 

AM 

I? 

1. I started my career with Bristol City and 

was the club’s Young Player of the Year in 

2005/06. 

2. Serving Wigan Athletic in the Premier 

League, I then had stints with Sheffield 

United, Swansea City, Portsmouth and 

Barnsley. 

3. A Welsh winger, I earned 24 

international caps for my country and was 

part of the squad that reached the semifinals 

of UEFA Euro 2016. 

4. Promoted to the Championship with 

Doncaster Rovers, I joined Blues in 2014 

and made 109 appearances for the club. 

5. After a loan spell back at Bristol City 

in 2016, I had a spell in the Indian Super 

League before calling time on my career 

back in Wales. 

YOU KNOW ME! 

Can you identify these footballing bosses 

from across the world? 

INTERNATIONALLY SPEAKING 

Can you match these past and present England internationals 

with how many clean-sheets they have kept for the Three Lions? 

21 

43 

28 

24 

66 

40 

ANSWERS: GETTING TO KNOW. 1. West Ham United, 2. Queens Park Rangers, 3. True. GROUND TRACKER: A. Blackpool (Lancashire), B. Hartlepool United 

(County Durham), C. Luton Town (Bedfordshire). ROLL CALL RECALL: 1. Nico Gordon, 2. Ryan Shotton, 3. Jordan Ibe. KNOW YOUR OPPONENTS: 1. The Robins, 

2. Ashton Gate, 3. 14th in the Championship, 4. Liam Manning, 5. Gloucestershire. WHO PLAYS HERE?: Preston North End (Deepdale). WHO AM I: David Cotterill. 

INTERNATIONALLY SPEAKING: David James 21 clean-sheets, Paul Robinson 24 clean-sheets, Jordan Pickford 28 clean-sheets, David Seaman 40 clean-sheets, 

Joe Hart 43 clean-sheets, Peter Shilton 66 clean-sheets. YOU KNOW ME: Sean Dyche (Everton), Marti Cifuentes (QPR), Nuno Espirito Santo (Nottingham Forest). 


SOMETHING 

FOR THE 

BIG KIDS! 

Get your neurons firing over some half-time refreshments 

to test if the knowledge of your beloved Blues and on this 

evening’s opponents, Bristol City, is up to scratch. 

KNOW YOUR OPPONENTS! 

How well do you think you know this evening’s opponents, 

Bristol City, and Blues’ recent meetings against them? 

1. Bristol City played at St John’s Lane until 1904 but at which 

ground have they called home since? 

2. Which former Blues striker was Bristol City’s Player of the 

Year for 2008/09? 

3. City’s Head Coach Liam Manning was appointed in November 

2023 after impressing at which League One club? 

4. What nation has Bristol City captain Andreas Weimann 

represented internationally? 

5. Which Bristol City icon of the 1950s and 1960s holds the 

club’s record for most league appearances and league 

goals? 

6. Can you name the former loanee who scored his first goals 

for Blues in this fixture last season – a 3-0 win? 

7. Who do tonight’s visitors contest the Severnside derby with? 

8. Can you name the only overseas manager of this evening’s 

opponents? 

9. The Robins last won at St. Andrew’s in March 2021, but which 

current AFC Bournemouth player was on target that day for 

the visitors? 

10. On how many occasions have Bristol City won the Football 

League Trophy? 


SLIDE TACKLE THIS 

SPORTING TRIVIA... 

1. Who made a 771st league appearance on Boxing Day to 

set a new EFL record? 

2. Can you name the last male to win BBC Sports 

Personality of the Year? 

3. Manchester City collected a fifth trophy of 2023 with 

victory in the FIFA Club World Cup in December, but who 

did they beat 4-0 in the final? 

4. Which horse dramatically came from last to win the King 

George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day? 

5. Which Australian Rugby League side were NRL Grand 

Final winners in 2023? 

6. Which Dallas Mavericks player became the seventhfastest 

in NBA history to reach 10,000 career points? 

7. Who did heavyweight Anthony Joshua beat in a boxing 

extravaganza in Riyadh before Christmas? 

8. Can you name the Premier League’s first female referee? 

9. Who topped the Gallagher English Premiership table at 

Christmas? 

10. Which former West Indies captain has taken a coaching 

role with England’s T20 team? 

ANSWERS: KNOW YOUR OPPONENTS: 1. Ashton Gate, 2. Dele Adebola, 3. Oxford United, 4. Austria, 5. John Atyeo, 6. Auston Trusty, 

7. Cardiff City, 8. Benny Lennartsson, 9. Antoine Semenyo, 10. Three. SLIDE TACKLE THIS TRIVIA: 1. Dean Lewington, 2. Lewis Hamilton 

(2020), 3. Fluminense, 4. Hewick, 5. Penrith Panthers, 6. Luka Doncic, 7. Otto Wallin, 8. Rebecca Welch, 9. Bath, 10. Kieron Pollard. 


today’s mascots 

JAKE WILLIS 

Age: 10 

Favourite player: 

Lukas Jutkiewicz 

Favourite goal celebration: 

Shaking a finger 

Score prediction: 2-1 

HENRI TAYLOR 

Age: 9 


Jay Stansfield 


Ronaldo’s “Sui” 


HARRY HUGHES 

Age: 10 




Bellingham arms aloft 


JACK HUGHES 

Age: 11 


Siriki Dembele 


Bellingham arms aloft 


JAY WILLIAMS 

Age: 10 


Dion Sanderson 


Mbappe arms folded 


KAYDEN YATES 

Age: 10 


Koji Miyoshi 




KIAN YATES 

Age: 10 


Siriki Dembele 




JAY MEREDITH 

Age: 6 






AWAY mascot 

ROMAN O’SULLIVAN 

Age: 10 


Koji Miyoshi 




TAYLOR DICKSON 

Age: 8 


Juninho Bacuna 




FRANKIE McCORMICK 

Age: 11 


Juninho Bacuna 


Kneeslide 


GEORGE GALLOP 

Age: 9 


Jason Knight 



Score prediction: 2-1 Bristol 


supporters’ messages 

Bill Farmer passed away on 7th 

October 2023, aged 57. 

Sadly missed by all the family. 

Give them the runaround up 

there big brother like you did 

when you played on the pitch. 

KRO bro. 

You never cease to amaze us 

Jack, you’re one amazing young 

man and we hope you have 

enjoyed your 21st celebrations. 

Love Mom and Dad xx 

Happy 40th birthday, Dad. 

Have a great day. 

We love you lots. 

Lola & Louise xxx 

Matthew “Matty” Beresford 

March 1968 - December 2013 

Our wonderful Dad, Brother, Uncle and 

devoted Bluenose. Here with us in spirit and 

missed by us all every single day. 

As he would say “Crack on boys, KRO.” 

Big Happy Birthday to John and Carol. 

Special Happy 60th Birthday to Jayne 

Lots of Love. 


Happy New Year 


Tiny tyres and big thrills as students take to the track! 

Birmingham City Foundation’s Football and Education 

Programme group have been rewarded with a go-karting 

experience. 

The education programme, which delivers BTEC Level 

2 and 3 to over 80 students, aged 16-19, ran a competition 

amongst tutor groups to compete for the best attendance 

record in term one. Overall winners 1RS recorded an 

attendance of 93% from September to December. 

This year’s reward was go-karting at Teamworks Karting 

in Digbeth. Competition was key as the students took to 

compete for the fastest lap time and showed off their driving 

skills. Tutor Richard Steeples was a target for his students 

but held his nerve and finished second as student Ethan 

came out on top, whilst his peer Kellan secured third place. 

For more details on the Football and Education 

Programme, please visit www.bcfcfoundation.com or email 

footballeducation@bcfc.com. 

Foundation host Strike a Change Tournament 

Saturday 16 December saw Birmingham City Foundation 

host their annual Strike a Change event at Birmingham 

Newman University. 

The Programme which is delivered at King Edwards VI 

Balaam Wood Academy was created as a legacy to the 

late Cyrille Regis 

This pre-Christmas event, which hosted 75 young 

people, commenced with an interactive workshop hosted 

by Casey Bailey, a Poet Laureate and author, who spoke 

to the young people about ‘self’ which works towards 

seven standards: character, yourself, resilience, integrity, 

learning, leadership and endurance. The workshop was 

designed to influence and reinforce that young people 

making good choices in life can impact their journey. 

The key was to instil confidence in the young people and 

to help them realise that ‘sometimes it’s not about making 

the right decision, it’s about making the decision right.’ 

Following the workshop, the young people took to the 

pitches and throughout the afternoon there was plenty of 

brilliant teamwork, positive attitudes and encouragement 

between all the Midlands clubs who took part. 

The final was contested between Sky Blues in the 

Community and the Wolves Foundation, with the latter 

winning the trophy for the second event running. 

Where every day feels like a holiday! 

Birmingham City Foundation is continuing their Holiday 

Activity and Food Programme (HAF), inviting more than 90 

young people to St. Andrew’s from Tuesday 2 January 2024. 

In collaboration with Bring it on Brum, the four-day activity 

camp will continue the HAF theme of providing a meal for 

local children who ordinarily receive free school meals along 

with workshops and activities to encourage healthy eating, 

keeping active and, of course, having fun with new friends! 

In the two years of the programme, they have been offering 

a huge range of activities including laser tag, circus skills, 

steel pan drumming, canoeing, multi-sports, arts and crafts 

plus some workshops with educational content around 

nutrition and wellbeing. 

The Foundation’s Winter camp, Game Changer, will provide 

a virtual reality experience for all children thanks to high-tech 

headsets, whilst participants will also go to Bounce Mania to 

burn off energy in an inflatable indoor play zone. 


3 

Plymouth Argyle 

3 

vs 

birmingham city 

EDWARDS (43), WAINE (68), WHITTAKER (86) SCORERS STANSFIELD (15), JAMES (39), BACUNA (62) 

SATURDAY 23 DECEMBER 2023 | SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP | HOME PARK | ATTENDANCE 16,589 (AWAY 1,648) 

13/11 

8/7 67/33 

545/263 

SHOTS 

SHOTS ON TARGET 

55+45+N 51+49+N 65+35+N 

POSSESSION 

67+33+N 

PASSES 

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE: Hazard, Edwards (Kesler-Hayden 53), Pleguezuelo, Gibson, Galloway (Miller 68), Cundle (Randell 68), 

Houghton, Azaz, Whittaker, Waine (Issaka 89), Mumba (Wright 89). Subs not used: Gillesphey, Butcher, Burton. 

BLUES: Ruddy, Aiwu, Roberts, Sanderson, Buchanan (Longelo 10), Sunjic, Bielik, Dembélé (Jutkiewicz 75), James, 

Bacuna (Miyoshi 84), Stansfield (Burke 66). Subs not used: Etheridge, Roberts, Hogan, Gardner, Oakley. 


1 

birmingham city 

3 

stoke 

vs 

city 

STANSFIELD (69) SCORERS THOMPSON (12), GOOCH (31), VIDIGAL (53) 

TUESDAY 26 DECEMBER 2023 | SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP | ST. ANDREW’S | ATTENDANCE 21,640 

10/9 

5/5 51/49 

390/399 

SHOTS 

SHOTS ON TARGET 

50+50+N 51+49+N 51+49+N 47+53+N 

POSSESSION 

PASSES 

BLUES: Ruddy, Aiwu, Roberts (Roberts 57), Sanderson, Longelo, Bacuna, Sunjic Gardner 78), Miyoshi (Donovan 67), 

James, Dembélé (Anderson 77), Stansfield (Burke 77). Subs not used: Etheridge, Jutkiewicz, Oakley, Home. 

STOKE CITY: Bonham, Tchamadeu, McNally, Rose, Hoever, Thompson, Burger (Pearson 70), Vidigal (Johnson 86), Bae, 

Gooch (Haksabanovic 57), Mmaee (Gayle 70). Subs not used: Baker, Wesley, Clark, Lowe, Simkin. 


BLUES MAKE FESTIVE VISIT TO 

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL 

BLUES SPREAD SOME FESTIVE CHEER AS THEY VISITED BIRMINGHAM CHILDREN’S 

HOSPITAL EARLIER IN DECEMBER. 

Led by Manager, Wayne Rooney, members 

of the Men’s First Team, including Captain, 

Dion Sanderson, and Club Captain, Lukas 

Jutkiewicz, toured the United Kingdom’s leading 

specialist paediatric centre. 

In the centre of Birmingham, just a couple of miles 

from St. Andrew’s, staff and players spent time in a 

number of wards - including Neo Natal, Neurosurgery 

and Medical Day Care - that offer expert care to more 

than 90,000 children and young people from across 

the country every year. 

They met hospital staff who work around the clock 

at one of the year’s most emotionally testing times 

to provide outstanding care to some of the nation’s 

most poorly children who are in hospital during the 

Christmas period. 

The annual trip would not have been complete 

without the players turning their hand at being Father 

Christmas and distributing presents to patients who 

are in hospital during the Christmas period. 

Gifts included headphones, Hot Wheels, books, 

games, soft toys and colouring sets to help support 

the experience of patients having to spend time over 

Christmas in hospital and often away from their loved 

ones at a young age. 

These were provided courtesy of fundraising 

efforts by the newly-launched Birmingham City 

Foundation. 


THE GIFT OF GIVING AT BLUES 

FOLLOWING A HUGELY SUCCESSFUL BLUE NOSE DAY, PLAYERS AND STAFF FROM 

BIRMINGHAM CITY DISTRIBUTED CHRISTMAS GIFTS ACROSS THE CITY. 

Men’s First Team Captain, Dion Sanderson, John 

Ruddy and Brandon Khela joined Jeremy Dale 

from the Club’s Leadership Team and Natalie 

Loon from the Birmingham Children’s Trust to hand 

out teddies, water bottles, hats and blankets to 

young people and support workers, ensuring more 

than 11,500 children have a gift this festive season. 

As well as collecting their presents, all in 

attendance had the chance to chat to the players 

about their lives and the impact the gifts will have on 

the local community, with Sanderson learning some 

festive sign language from one of the youngsters. 

The players also met with some of the most 

generous Commercial partners to thank them for 

their contributions, with more than £15,000 pledged 

to the cause at a recent networking event. 

The wider Birmingham City staff also volunteered 

their time in support of the Birmingham City 

Foundation to get the presents into the hands of 

those who need them most, with more than 40 

people visiting Children’s Trust sites across the city. 

Teams from all departments headed out to the Blesst 

Centre in Hockley, the Lighthouse in Aston and the 

Birmingham Children’s Trust headquarters in the 

city centre, as well as residential homes, and gifted 

support staff with chocolates alongside the boxes of 

presents. 

All of Birmingham City’s gifting campaign was made 

possible by the generosity of Bluenoses, supporter 

clubs and partners who collectively raised more than 

£75,000 across the Blue Nose Day campaign. 

The Club wishes to thank all Bluenoses who have 

contributed to the biggest gift campaign ever 

delivered to the Birmingham Children’s Trust. 


BIRMINGHAM CITY SMASHES BLUE 

NOSE DAY FUNDRAISING TARGET 

THE BLUE NOSE DAY CAMPAIGN HAS EXCEEDED THE ORIGINAL TARGET BY MORE 

THAN 50%, WITH THE PRE-CHRISTMAS TOTAL SITTING AT AN INCREDIBLE £76,222. 

Following a renewed partnership with the 

Birmingham Children’s Trust, the Club decided 

to intervene when it found out more than 

11,500 young people are currently in the care or 

support of the Trust, with the vast majority going 

without a gift this Christmas. 

After consultation, Birmingham City calculated that 

£50,000 would be needed to provide all the gifts, a 

figure that has been eclipsed thanks to the enormous 

generosity of Blues’ supporters. 

Volunteers from the Birmingham City Foundation 

sold thousands of blue noses at the dedicated 

matchday against Leicester City, a Blues Business 

Club event at Warwick Racecourse highlighted 

the kindness of the Club’s commercial partners, 

whilst further donations came in at the Brains of 

Birmingham City Christmas Quiz, and supporter 

groups from across the city exceeded all targets with 

their fundraising. 

Alongside every supporter who purchased a blue 

nose, the Club would like to extend a special thanks to 

the following: AM2PM, BE Recruitment, Birmingham 

Supporters Club, Blues4All, Central Blues Travel, 

Certified Pro Installs, Emma Robinson, Equilibrium 

Security, F.P. (Tools), Facilitate Search, Green Ape 

Media, MJ Boyce Limited, Northside Blues, Panjabi 

Blues, Practical Payments, Pure Cloud Solutions, 

Redditch Blues, Smart Office Solutions, Superfast IT, 

the BCFC Former Players Association and Veolia. 

The Club’s fundraising page 

will be open until New Year’s Day 

and is available by scanning the 

QR code. Blue noses remain on 

sale from the Kop Reception 

until the end of 2023, priced at 

£3 each. 

The Club and the Birmingham Children’s Trust 

wishes to thank everyone who has helped to make 

this campaign a huge success. 


Support Blues Women 

ADULTS 

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£6.50 (per game) 

SENIOR 

£20 

£4 (per game) 

16-22 

£17.50 

£3.50 (per game) 

U16 

£5 

£1 (per game) 

Scan to buy your 

half-season tickets 


BLUES WOMEN: HALF-SEASON REVIEW 

WITH BLUES WOMEN JUST PAST THE HALFWAY MARK OF THEIR 2023/24 BARCLAYS 

WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP CAMPAIGN, BLUES NEWS REVIEWS THE SEASON SO FAR. 

AUGUST 

Having beaten Barclays Women’s Super League side 

Liverpool in their final pre-season friendly, Darren 

Carter’s side started the new term with plenty of 

confidence. Ewood Park hosted the league opener as 

Birmingham City took on Blackburn Rovers. Despite 

the anticipation of a bright start to the campaign, 

it was the hosts that took all three points against a 

new-look Blues, who recruited 12 players during the 

summer transfer window. 

SEPTEMBER 

Confidence took a hit after the opening-day defeat, 

and it was dented further in the first home match 

against Crystal Palace. Two goals for the Eagles 

in the final 10 minutes secured them an away-day 

maximum as Louise Quinn netted a consolation in 

added time. Blues tallied their first point on the road 

with a goalless draw at bottom-side Lewes. Clubrecord 

signing Ivana Fuso made her debut a week 

later versus Charlton Athletic in B9, but her quality 

could not help deliver a win with the Addicks taking 

the spoils. 

OCTOBER 

The first international break of the season came 

at the perfect time for Blues, offering them the 

opportunity to reflect and reset on the first four, 

and it paid dividends. A trip to then-unbeaten league 

leaders Southampton started the month off and saw 

them secure their first victory. A Libby Smith brace 

and an own goal helped them on their way. Christie 

Harrison-Murray’s strike a week later secured a 

point against Sunderland. Then, a four-goal showing 

at Sheffield United erased the memory of a 0-3 

defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Women’s 

Continental League Cup. Two goals in each half from 

Gemma Lawley, Martha Harris, Lucy Quinn, who went 

on to be voted Player of the Month, and Remi Allen 

made it three league games unbeaten. Birmingham 


City recorded back-to-back wins, and their first 

home victory, with five goals against Watford, who 

netted twice themselves. Fuso, Lily Agg, Charlie 

Devlin, Smith and Ellie Mason made it ten different 

goalscorers across three games. 

NOVEMBER 

Devlin’s double against Reading secured the latest 

victory at St. Andrew’s and the following weekend a 

dogged display at London City Lionesses amassed 

another three points thanks to Gemma Lawley’s 

header after just four minutes. Blues recorded five 

wins in a row upon their return to B9, with Jade 

Pennock, Fuso and Allen finding the net in a win 

against Durham, who got on the scoresheet through 

former Blues forward Eleanor Ryan-Doyle. November 

came to its conclusion with a defeat against Charlton 

in the Conti Cup. 

DECEMBER 

After the year’s final international window, Blues 

began their Adobe Women’s FA Cup journey with a 

trip to MK Dons. The Women’s National League South 

side were resilient, but late strikes from Choe Yu-ri 

and Fuso set up a Fourth Round tie with Burnley in the 

New Year. To conclude 2023, Carter’s side travelled 

to Sunderland aiming to pick up a sixth straight win 

and go eight unbeaten in the Championship – they did 

just that. Efforts from Agg and Jade Moore either side 

of an own goal saw Blues record another success, 

sending them top of the table heading into the 

Christmas break. 


MY DREAM FIVE-A-SIDE TEAM 

THROUGHOUT THE 2023/24 SEASON, BLUES NEWS IS CALLING ON THE 

FAMILIAR TO COMPILE A 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. 

Although if 2023’s rise of AI has taught us anything, why put the work in when a computer can do it for you?! 

Therefore, today’s effort has been compiled by the 

stat-mad number crunchers at Who Scored - the 

folk responsible for the Sky Bet Championship’s 

team of the week. This left the Blues News staff with the 

easier task of taking the top-performing players across 

an even positional spread and writing some nice words 

about them. 

MADS HERMANSEN (6.76) 

After the first season without 

Kasper Schmeichel ended in 

relegation from the Premier 

League, Leicester City returned to 

the well of Danish goalkeepers and 

seem to have struck gold again. 

The 23-year-old signed on a fiveyear 

deal from Brondby in July and 

has played all but one of the Foxes’ 24 league outings to 

date, being integral to their possession-heavy style thanks 

to his high starting position. He has also kept eight clean 

sheets, a record only bettered by West Bromwich Albion’s 

Alex Palmer. 

JANNIK VESTERGAARD (7.19) 

Another Great Dane doing it 

for Enzo Maresca is the former 

Southampton centre-back who 

has been reborn under the Italian, 

only failing to complete 90 minutes 

twice in the Championship after 

not making a single top-flight 

appearance last term. Along with 

midfield colleague Harry Winks, he regularly sets the 

tempo for Leicester’s stalking tactics that tend to deliver 

winning moments when the opposition are at their most 

comfortable and has chipped in with vital goals during 

victories over Swansea City and Millwall. 

JACK CLARKE (7.60) 

His second full season as a Black Cat may only be 50% 

complete but it is already the stringy winger’s most 

productive when it comes to finding 

the net – form that included halfa-dozen 

counters in September to 

earn him the Player of the Month 

Award. His ball-carrying prowess 

and ability to lead defenders in a 

merry dance have been combined 

with some lethal finishing, as showcased by 

his Boxing Day strike at Hull City where none of the Tigers’ 

backline knew who was to blame for the goal that gave 

Michael Beale his first three points as Sunderland boss. 

CRYSENCIO SUMMERVILLE (7.84) 

The man who took the Player of the 

Month prize off Clarke has shaken 

off an early-season injury - that 

saw him miss August’s defeat 

at St. Andrew’s – to ignite Leeds 

United’s promotion charge as they 

and Southampton look to make 

up ground on Leicester City and 

Ipswich Town. The flamboyant Dutch winger has recorded 

a goal involvement in more than half of his 22 second-tier 

appearances and when the Whites beat Huddersfield 

Town 4-1 in October, he scored two and assisted two, 

just a week on from hitting a brace that completed a 2-3 

comeback win at Norwich City. 

GEORGINIO RUTTER (7.41) 

After close-season speculation 

about his future, the £36 million 

goal-getter has knuckled down and 

looks very much to be the player 

that the Elland Road bean counters 

broke the club transfer record for in 

January. His four-goal return may 

not be eye-catching but supported 

by nine assists as well as the way he leads the line cannot 

be downplayed and Manager Daniel Farke certainly agrees 

– only four Leeds players have earned more pitch time than 

the former Hoffenheim and Rennes forward. 


Supporters’ corner 

WITH BIRMINGHAM CITY HAVING FACED ALL OF THEIR SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP COUNTERPARTS 

AND THE 2023/24 SEASON’S MIDWAY POINT BEING CROSSED OVER CHRISTMAS, SUPPORTERS’ 

CORNER HAS PICKED OUT SOME OF ITS FAVOURITE PICTURES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TO DATE. 

UNSURPRISINGLY, THEY ALL CELEBRATE BLUENOSES! 

A proper fan: One Bluenose keeps cool on the Costa 

Blanca ahead of the 2-1 pre-season friendly victory over 

FC Cartagena at the Pinatar Arena in July. 

The perfect love affair: Two Bluenoses look on with 

a sense of excitement before the season opener at 

Swansea City in August. 

‘Pic’ that out: Proudly wearing the 2023/24 away 

kit, this Bluenose makes sure – like Koji Miyoshi and 

Lukas Jutkiewicz – he is on target at Ashton Gate as 

Birmingham City beat Bristol City 0-2 in August. 

Bluenose, blue face: This smiling supporter, sporting 

matchday face paint, would still be full of cheer come 

full-time as Wayne Rooney claimed his first win as Manager 

when Sheffield Wednesday were turned over at St. Andrew’s. 

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt: The narrow loss 

to Leicester City could not spoil Blue Nose Day, with one 

lucky supporter getting a special warm-up top as an 

early Christmas present. 

Santa is a Bluenose: The hardcore support that followed 

Blues to Plymouth Argyle just 48 hours before Christmas 

still had some room for festive cheer despite moments 

going against their team at Home Park. 


ATTIRED & 

WEARY 

AIDED BY THEIR PERSONAL COLLECTIONS, CHRIS DUNN AND ANDY TUDOR TALK 

ABOUT THE MANY QUIRKS AND NUANCES OF BLUES’ KITS OVER THE YEARS. 

OUT WITH THE OLD, 

IN WITH THE NEW 

For kit-geeks such as ourselves, Bristol City at 

home is a fixture which is synonymous with an 

unlikely coincidence. 

This initially goes back to the 1992/93 season 

and the infamous ‘paint splash’ strip which many 

will recall was jettisoned before the campaign had 

finished. This rare occurrence was triggered by the 

downfall of the Kumar Brothers’ business empire 

which included that year’s kit supplier, Influence. 

SHIRT WORN IN 1993/94 … 

WELL, MOST OF IT! 

David Sullivan and the Gold brothers subsequently 

bought the Club and just eight days into their tenure, 

Blues not only debuted four new players in their 

Saturday 13 March 1993 fixture against tonight’s 

visitors but also gave a first airing to their new, and 

much more reserved, temporary strip which would 

be worn until the end of the season. 

This sort of thing only ever happens once though 

does it not? Well, not quite! 

The following season’s kit (which has been re-made 

with incredible accuracy in recent months) was 

ostensibly manufactured by Admiral but was in fact 

supplied by Henley-in-Arden-based CV Sports who, 

in turn, had a franchise agreement with Admiral. 

With its distinctive isometric patterned sleeves 

and polo-shirt collar, it proved to be very popular but 

like the ‘paint splash’ the year before, it did not quite 

see the season out. 

With the new owners by now having their feet 

firmly under the table, they chose to acquire CV 

Sports’ interest and formed a new venture named 

Blues Leisurewear, although a condition of the 

transaction was that the licence would remain with 

Admiral for another two years. 

As if to celebrate, they decided to launch the 

1994/95 shirt before the previous season had even 

finished. 

And our opponents for its first outing? You have 

guessed it … Bristol City! 

This game is best remembered by Blues 


BLUES V BRISTOL CIY 1994. 

LAST DAY FOR THE KOP; FIRST DAY FOR A NEW KIT. 

1994/95 HOME SHIRT. 

A SHIRT MADE FOR CHAMPIONS. 

supporters as being the last to be played in front of 

the much-loved Spion Kop and Tilton Road terraces 

which dated back to when St. Andrew’s was built 88 

years beforehand. 

The second largest crowd of the season gathered 

for what was dubbed ‘The Kop’s Last Stand’ but 

Robins’ striker Scott Partridge had not read the 

script and soon put the visitors 0-2 up before 

second-half goals from Steve Claridge and Louie 

Donowa ensured the last game in front of the Kop 

ended just as the first had in 1906, in a draw. 

As well as this emotional occasion, the simple 

but stylish new strip was also worn in another 

stalemate, at Bolton Wanderers, a fortnight later, 

but for the eagle-eyed, there was a subtle difference 

which distinguishes it from the following season’s 

outfit. 

For these two unexpected appearances at the 

back end of 1993/94, the shirt numbers were printed 

in a 3D-style font with the Admiral logo at the base 

(as seen on the photo of Roger Willis, Scott Hiley 

and Andy Saville celebrating at Burnden Park) but by 

the following August, these had been changed for a 

more traditional sewn-on design. 

It is little quirks such as this that can ultimately 

create collectors’ items. 

So, can we expect Blues to trot out in newly 

designed shirts for tonight’s game? We certainly 

do not think so but when it is Bristol City who are 

coming to St. Andrew’s, you can never be too sure! 

Chris and Andy would love to hear from any supporters 

in possession of any shirts that they think might be of 

interest to this feature or any future projects. Please 

contact them by emailing chrisdunn1982@hotmail.com 

or on Twitter @Dunny_1982 & @alfalonso. 

PLAYERS CELEBRATE AT BOLTON – NOTE 3D-STYLE FONT. 

THE MORE TRADITIONAL NUMBER STYLE. 


Former Player Interview 

Martin O’Connor 

Scoring on your debut makes memories, still 

being called ‘Skip’ around a Football Club you last 

played for more than two decades ago shows 

you created a legacy. 

It is no slight on any other captain of Birmingham City 

since, simply a nod to one of St. Andrew’s most feared, 

respected, and admired leaders, Martin O’Connor. 

The midfielder was born in Walsall but would not move 

onto the radar along the M6 until his mid-20s when 

having represented Bromsgrove Rangers and Crystal 

Palace, he was back on home soil and turning out for the 

Saddlers. 

However, getting him to switch red for royal blue in 

the West Midlands was not a smooth process, albeit, 

eventually a successful one in November 1996. 

“I spoke to Barry Fry who was then Blues manager 

when I was at Walsall. Birmingham had agreed a fee with 

Walsall, but we couldn’t agree personal terms. Karen 

Brady blocked it for whatever reason. 

“Barry then left and went to Peterborough United and 

signed me there for a record fee at the time. I was made 

captain and then after two months, he said he had to sell 

me as they were in debt that he didn’t know about. 

“I spoke to a number of clubs, Graeme Souness 

at Southampton, Burnley, Preston. Barry had close 

connections at Birmingham, and I was put in touch 

with Trevor Francis. He apparently liked me, and I 

spoke to him. I had a medical and went from playing 

for Peterborough at Cheltenham Town midweek and 

getting knocked out of the cup to having a medical and 

meeting the players at Blues on the Thursday and being 

in the team at Norwich on Saturday.” 

O’Connor entered a dressing room rich in quality and 

experience led by Manager, Trevor Francis. However, 

any potential nerves were quickly eradicated when, on 

the occasion of his debut and Birmingham’s 1,000th 

league clean sheet, he scored the winning goal of a 0-1 

success at Norwich City. 

“You look at the names who were at the Club, Steve 

Bruce, Mick Mills, Gary Ablett, Ian Bowyer, to be with 

all these people you had seen on TV and read about, 

it was amazing. I had come into the pro game a little 

later, so to be on the same pitch as them and being 

managed by Trevor Francis it was crazy. Gary Ablett was 

J.S. Spooner 

Contracts Ltd 

Mechanical Installations 


unbelievable, he was the best professional I ever worked 

with, he guided me.” 

“To score the winner on my debut sort of eased me in. 

Then your first home game you hear the crowd, you see 

the Stadium and you think this ain’t bad! I was confident 

and in quite good form so that helped.” 

Skip would make more than 200 appearances in all 

competitions for Blues, memorably captaining the side 

at the 2001 Worthington Cup Final against Liverpool. 

Despite the heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat, the 

56-year-old speaks with great fondness about the team’s 

cup endeavours, but not before discussing his nickname 

and how his rich association with the Club developed. 

“You get engrained in the tradition at Birmingham City. 

You understand that if you give everything to the Club 

and show that you care then you will be loved. I wasn’t the 

most technically gifted or anything like that, but I worked 

hard and had a big mouth probably. 

“Luckily, or unluckily, I have been made captain at all 

my clubs. That isn’t because I was a good leader, but 

because I wanted to win. I would do everything to win. If I 

was doing my job, then I could always have a pop at other 

players. I don’t know if it was leadership qualities, but I 

had a will to win. 

“The ‘Skip’ thing was when we were away at Barnsley. 

Gary Ablett was injured, and Trevor called me into his 

hotel room and said he was going to make me captain. 

To be made captain at Birmingham City at that time, and 

I knew all the history, looking back it is probably one of 

the highlights of my career. 

“We had individuals who could win a game or save you 

a game. We had a dressing room which was probably 

the best I have been involved in. We were competitive, 

humble, and we could play. You go to Tottenham Hotspur 

and beat them and play really well, we beat Sheffield 

Wednesday at home and Ipswich Town – who were 

Premier League at the time – home and away. To take 

Liverpool with all their stars and history to penalties, we 

must have been decent. 

“I hate talking about the final and arguably with a 

stronger referee, we could have won the cup. We 

underestimated ourselves which was probably a 

strength. We drove ourselves on to be competitive in 

every game.” 

Next month, O’Connor will celebrate his two-year 

anniversary of being Blues’ Loan Manager, having 

returned 20 years on from his departure as a player back 

to Walsall in 2002. 

His role, a vital one when it comes to player 

development, makes him a conduit between both the 

Men’s First Team and Under-21s players and fills him with 

immense pride. 

“Being asked back to the Club is fantastic, but the role 

itself is important in my opinion. We have players who 

need to go out on loan to experience the real world of 

football and I go to see them in matches and in training. 

I keep in contact with them and remind them that it is 

sometimes not about getting players out to forget about 

them but for them to get experience and reporting back 

to the Club as to where they are and where I see them. 

“We have tended to let players go out on loan and 

not care about them until they come back. I look after 

seniors and younger pros. I see it as an integral part of a 

footballer’s development and career pathway. 

“I have taken advice from the loan managers at 

Chelsea, Eddie Newton, and Wolves, Matt Jackson – a 

former Blues teammate of mine. Craig Gardner has 

helped me massively with the picture of what the Club is 

looking for when players go out on loan.” 


eporting 

reporting 

reporting 

procedures 

procedures 

procedures 

discrimination reporting procedures 

& abuse 

reporting procedures 

discrimination abuse 

discrimination & abuse 

report by text (Men’s & Women’s First Team games only) 

report Include by your text message (Men’s & location & Women’s (Block, Row First and Team Seat number). games only) 

Text BCFC report Include All texts your by are message charged text at & your location (Men’s standard &(Block, Women’s network Row rate. First The and Team Club Seat may games number). contact only) you directly 

Text BCFC to 88440report Include share your by your message details text with & location (Men’s West Midlands &(Block, Women’s Police Row if further First and Team information Seat games number). is required. only) In use 

All texts from are two charged hours prior at your to kick standard off until one network hour after rate. the The final whistle. Club may contact you directly 

Text BCFC Include message & location (Block, Row and Seat number). 

Text 

to 88440 All report share texts are your charged by details text with at your West (Men’s standard Midlands & Women’s network Police rate. if First further The Team Club information games may contact is only) required. you directly In use 

to 88440 BCFC 

All from Include share two 

texts are your hours 

charged details message prior with to kick & 

at your West location off until 

standard Midlands one (Block, hour 

network Police after Row 

rate. if further and final Seat 

The Club information whistle. number). 

may contact is required. you directly In use 

to Text 88440 BCFC report by text (Men’s & Women’s First Team games only) 

or from share two hours details prior with to kick West off until Midlands one hour Police after if further final information whistle. 

All Include texts are your charged message at your & location standard (Block, network Row rate. and The Seat Club may number). contact is required. you directly In use 

Text BCFC 

from or share two your hours details prior with to kick West off until Midlands one hour Police after if further final information whistle. is required. In use 

to 88440 

to 88440 

report by qr code 

All 

from All 

texts 

texts 

are 

two are 

charged 

hours charged 

at 

prior to at 

your 

kick your 

standard 

off standard 

network 

until one network 

rate. 

hour after rate. 

The The 

Club 

final Club 

may 

whistle. may 

contact 

contact 

you 

you 

directly 

directly 

or 

or 

share 

share 

your details with West Midlands Police if further information is required. In use 

Scan your the details QR code with using West the Midlands camera Police on your if further mobile information device to open is required. the link. In use 

from 

from 

two 

two 

hours 

hours 

prior 

prior 

to 

to 

kick 

kick 

off 

off 

until 

until 

one 

one 

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after 

after 

the 

the 

final 

final 

whistle. 

whistle. 




Scan the QR code using the camera on your mobile device to open the link. 


Scan report the QR by code qr using code the camera on your mobile device to open the link. 

Scan report report the QR by code iN qr PERSON using code the camera on your mobile device to open the link. 

Report directly to a steward or member of staff 


report iN PERSON 





Report report report directly iN PERSON by to a email steward or member of staff 

Report Use report@bcfc.com to report any incidents of discrimination 

report 

directly iN PERSON 

to a steward member of staff 

abuse including those on social media. 


report by email 



THIRD PARTY REPORTING 

Use report@bcfc.com to report any incidents of discrimination 

Use abuse report@bcfc.com including those to report on social any media. incidents of discrimination 

In addition to the Club reporting lines, the following can also be utilised: 

Use report abuse report@bcfc.com including by email those to report on social any media. incidents of discrimination 

KICKITOUT.ORG 

Use abuse including those on social media. 

> report 

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REPORTING 

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THIRD In addition PARTY to the Club REPORTING 

reporting lines, the following can also be utilised: 

THIRD In addition PARTY to the Club REPORTING 

reporting lines, the following can also be utilised: 

KICKITOUT.ORG 

In addition to the Club reporting lines, the following can also be utilised: 

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> WEBSITE THIRD REPORTING PARTY REPORTING 


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MATCHDAY SAFEGUARDING 

CODE OF CONDUCT 

Anyone aged 13 years and under must be accompanied by a responsible 

person aged 16 years or over. 

Parents or other responsible person(s) have primary responsibility 

for the safetyof their child/young person who accompanies 

them and should always keep them close. 

Please be aware of where your child/young person is always during 

your visit and have a plan to meet somewhere if you get separated. 

Ensure your child/young person knows who to contact should they feel 

lost or worried. 

Stewards are situated around the stands in high visibility jackets for 

your safety and confidence. 

Our Stewards are trained in how to deal with lost children, please 

ensure your child knows not to go off with a spectator they do not know. 

Should you get separated from your child please contact a Steward 

immediately and listen to announcements over the stadium speakers. 

In an emergency, please ensure your child is aware what to do including 

how toevacuate the stadium and where to meet up with you. 

On a matchday a dedicated safeguarding steward will be available to help. 

Should you see anything that causes you a concern or doesn’t look right 

please report this to a safety steward. 

Remember if something doesn’t look or feel right, it probably isn’t – REPORT IT. 


2 

Sheffield Wednesday 

2 

under-21s 

vs 

blues under-21s 

TUESDAY 19 DECEMBER | MIDDLEWOOD 

Blues Under-21s drew against Sheffield 

Wednesday Under-21s in the Professional 

Development League on the Tuesday 

before Christmas. 

Steve Spooner’s side extended their unbeaten 

run to eight league matches thanks to their efforts 

in South Yorkshire, with the team’s last defeat 

remaining the 0-3 reverse against the Owls at Wast 

Hills Training Ground in the first week of October. 

Both sides led at stages of an entertaining fourgoal 

game at Middledwood, the outcome of which 

leaves Birmingham City four points clear from 

second-placed Sheffield United at the top of the 

PDL North table. 

Luke Cook opened the scoring when he headed 

in the rebound to a thumping Favour Onukwuli shot 

that came back off the woodwork. However, goals 

either side of the interval turned the contest in 

Blues’ favour. 

Junior Dixon’s 14th counter of the season 

restored parity on the half-hour mark before 

Tommy Fogarty put the visitors ahead in the 55th 

minute. This would, though, not be enough for the 

win as Gui Siqueira pounced from close range for a 

share of the points. 

The Under-21s are back in action when they 

host Peterborough United at the Armco Arena on 

Monday 8 January, kick-off 2pm. 


LIAM DAISH: PROUD OF THE PROGRESS 

LIAM DAISH HAS LOOKED BACK ON 2023, REFLECTING ON ANOTHER 

SUCCESSFUL 12 MONTHS FOR BLUES’ ACADEMY. 

he year has ended with both the Under-21s and 

Under-18s at the summit of their respective 

TProfessional Development League North tables. 

Meanwhile, it took a penalty shootout for Martyn 

Olorenshaw’s side to be eliminated from the FA Youth 

Cup at the hands of Burnley earlier this month. 

Speaking to Blues News during the winter break in the 

development football fixture schedule, the Academy 

Manager (Football) started by giving his reasoning for 

the impressive series of results, crediting the players’ 

attitude since pre-season. 

“They are working very hard for each other and 

working hard in both games and sessions. They are 

living and breathing our Academy values in terms of 

hard work, commitment, and honesty. There is a lot of 

honesty in the teams. 

“They keep going and play the game in the right way, 

working hard for each other. They are still learning but 

that hard work, commitment, and honesty is reflected 

in their form this year.” 

A consistent cohort of players across both age 

groups has aided the teams’ success in the first-half of 

the 2023/24 season, with the stability this has provided 

leading to just three defeats between the two sides. 

However, Daish, appointed to his current role 

in November 2022, also wanted to pay credit to 

the existing squad members who have provided a 

welcoming environment for new arrivals and the players 

who have stepped up through the ranks. 

“It is testament to the lads that have been here as 

well, the likes of Josh Home and Brad Mayo who have 

stepped up from the Academy last year, they have 

made the other lads feel welcome. They are a tight 

bunch, they stick together. 

“The Under-18s, who moved up to scholarships, have 

really added some enthusiasm and options in different 

positions. 

“When I first came here last year, there were not 

enough goalscorers and creators. There is now real 

competition in positions. We have also bulked the 

Under-21s squad up with the likes of Femi Olofinjana, 

Junior Dixon and Sahid Kamara. The squad have looked 

a bit stronger and allowed Under-16s and Under-18s to 

play in their respective age groups rather than forcing 

them to play up before they are ready. I think that has 

made a difference this year. 

“We have had real competition for places, with players 

pushing each other along. I have been really proud 

with the progress on and off the field. Fair play to the 

players, their attitude has been excellent. 

During the Christmas period, a collection of Steve 

Spooner’s Under-21s have been introduced to the Men’s 

First Team training programme as they undertake four 

Sky Bet Championship matches in the space of 10 days. 

Rico Browne, Dixon, Tommy Fogarty, Harley Hamilton, 

Kamara, Mayo, Home, Rico Patterson and Pharrell 

Williams are amongst those bolstering their experience 

and Daish is delighted at the opportunity and how it will 

benefit each of them. 

“When Under-21s have been asked to go to the First 

Team they have brought enthusiasm and the right 

attitude. 

“I think it is so valuable. To go over and be able to 

play with the First Team, there is a lot to be said about 

coaching, but you learn so much from playing with and 

against experienced players if you are a young lad.” 

One individual who has already made the transition 

into the senior group is Romelle Donovan. The 17-yearold 

has been rewarded for his five-goal streak at the 

start of the PDL campaign by Manager, Wayne Rooney, 

who handed him his professional debut against Hull 

City before further appearances against Sheffield 

Wednesday, Coventry City, Cardiff City, Leicester City 

and Stoke City. 

Daish, who himself represented Birmingham City 

between 1994 and 1996, talked about the youngster’s 

qualities and what makes him such a threat. 

“He has caught the management’s eye and grabbed 

his opportunity and that is what you want. Romelle is a 

bright spark. 

“He plays the game in front of him and plays with 

freedom. That is what you get with kids, no fear.” 


FIXTURES & RESULTS 2023/24 

DATE KO OPPONENT RES COMP POS ATT STARTING XI 

AUGUST 

sat 05 3pm SWANSEA CITY A 1-1 LEAGUE 12 18,051 RUDDY LAIRD SANDERSON LONG BUCHANAN SUNJIC ❚ BIELIK ❚ 

TUE 08 7.45PM CHELTENHAM TOWN A 2-0 EFL CUP - 4,026 ETHERIDGE OAKLEY SANDERSON LONG LONGELO BACUNA 2 ❚ CHANG 

sat 12 3PM LEEDS UNITED H 1-0 LEAGUE 9 20,451 RUDDY ❚ LAIRD SANDERSON LONG BUCHANAN SUNJIC BIELIK 

sat 19 3pm BRISTOL CITY A 2-0 LEAGUE 4 22,397 RUDDY LAIRD SANDERSON LONG BUCHANAN ❚ SUNJIC ❚ BIELIK 

sat 26 3pm PLYMOUTH ARGYLE H 2-1 LEAGUE 3 20,685 RUDDY JAMES SANDERSON ❚ LONG BUCHANAN ❚ SUNJIC BIELIK 

tue 29 7.45pm CARDIFF CITY H 1-3 EFL CUP - 11,405 ETHERIDGE OAKLEY ❚ SANDERSON LONG LONGELO JAMES BACUNA 

SEPTEMBER 

sat 02 12.30pm MILLWALL H 1-1 LEAGUE 4 18,710 RUDDY DRAMEH SANDERSON LONG BUCHANAN SUNJIC BIELIK 

sat 16 3pm WATFORD A 0-2 LEAGUE 6 18,932 RUDDY DRAMEH ❚ SANDERSON LONG BUCHANAN ❚ SUNJIC ❚ BIELIK ❚ 

tue 19 7.45pm PRESTON NORTH END A 1-2 LEAGUE 7 15,838 RUDDY DRAMEH SANDERSON LONG LONGELO SUNJIC BIELIK 

fri 22 8pm QUEENS PARK RANGERS H 1-1 LEAGUE 8 19,803 RUDDY DRAMEH SANDERSON ❚ LONG BUCHANAN BACUNA ❚ BIELIK 

sat 30 3pm NORWICH CITY A 0-2 LEAGUE 12 26,231 RUDDY DRAMEH SANDERSON LONG ❚ LONGELO SUNJIC BIELIK 

OCTOBER 

tue 03 7.45pm HUDDERSFIELD TOWN H 4-1 LEAGUE 10 15,944 RUDDY DRAMEH SANDERSON LONG ❚ LONGELO SUNJIC BIELIK 

fri 06 8pm WEST BROMWICH ALBION H 3-1 LEAGUE 5 21,495 RUDDY DRAMEH SANDERSON 1 LONG LONGELO SUNJIC BIELIK 

sat 21 3pm MIDDLESBROUGH A 0-1 LEAGUE 7 28,449 RUDDY ❚ DRAMEH SANDERSON LONG LONGELO ❚ SUNJIC BIELIK ❚ 

wed 25 7.45pm HULL CITY H 0-2 LEAGUE 12 19,530 RUDDY DRAMEH SANDERSON LONG ❚ LONGELO BACUNA ❚ BIELIK 

sat 28 12.30pm SOUTHAMPTON A 1-3 LEAGUE 14 28,924 RUDDY DRAMEH SANDERSON JAMES ❚ LONGELO SUNJIC BIELIK 

NOVEMBER 

sat 04 3pm IPSWICH TOWN H 2-2 LEAGUE 14 20,940 RUDDY LAIRD SANDERSON JAMES SUNJIC BACUNA DRAMEH ❚ 

sat 11 3pm SUNDERLAND A 1-3 LEAGUE 18 40,922 RUDDY LAIRD ❚ SANDERSON JAMES ❚ SUNJIC BACUNA DRAMEH 

sat 25 3pm SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY H 2-1 LEAGUE 14 20,941 RUDDY LAIRD SANDERSON BUCHANAN BIELIK BACUNA 1 DEMBÉLÉ ❚ 

wed 29 7.45pm BLACKBURN ROVERS A 2-4 LEAGUE 16 12,693 RUDDY DRAMEH SANDERSON BUCHANAN BIELIK ❚ BACUNA DEMBÉLÉ 2 

DECEMBER 

sat 02 3pm ROTHERHAM UNITED H 0-0 LEAGUE 15 18,160 RUDDY LAIRD SANDERSON BUCHANAN BIELIK BACUNA DEMBÉLÉ 

fri 08 8pm COVENTRY CITY A 0-2 LEAGUE 16 26,729 RUDDY ROBERTS JUTKIEWICZ ❚ BUCHANAN BIELIK BACUNA ❚ DEMBÉLÉ ❚ 

wed 13 7.45pm CARDIFF CITY A 1-0 LEAGUE 16 17,669 RUDDY ROBERTS SANDERSON BUCHANAN BIELIK BACUNA 1 DEMBÉLÉ ❚ 

mon 18 8pm LEICESTER CITY H 2-3 LEAGUE 17 20,334 RUDDY ROBERTS SANDERSON BUCHANAN BIELIK BACUNA DEMBÉLÉ 

sat 23 3pm PLYMOUTH ARGYLE A 3-3 LEAGUE 18 16,589 RUDDY ROBERTS SANDERSON BUCHANAN BIELIK ❚ BACUNA 1 ❚ DEMBÉLÉ 

tue 26 5.15pm STOKE CITY H 1-3 LEAGUE 19 21,640 RUDDY ROBERTS SANDERSON MIYOSHI ❚ LONGELO BACUNA ❚ DEMBÉLÉ 

fri 29 7.45pm BRISTOL CITY H LEAGUE 

JANUARY 

mon 01 3pm LEEDS UNITED A LEAGUE 

sat 06 3pm HULL CITY A FA CUP 

sat 13 3pm SWANSEA CITY H LEAGUE 

sat 20 3pm stoke city A LEAGUE 

sat 27 3pm MIDDLESBROUGH H LEAGUE 

FEBRUARY 

sat 03 3pm WEST BROMWICH ALBION A LEAGUE 

sat 10 3pm SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY A LEAGUE 

tue 13 7.45pm BLACKBURN ROVERS H LEAGUE 

sat 17 3pm SUNDERLAND H LEAGUE 

sat 24 3pm IPSWICH TOWN A LEAGUE 

MARCH 

sat 02 3pm SOUTHAMPTON H LEAGUE 

tue 05 7.45pm HULL CITY A LEAGUE 

sat 09 3pm MILLWALL A LEAGUE 

sat 16 3pm WATFORD H LEAGUE 

fri 29 3pm QUEENS PARK RANGERS A LEAGUE 

APRIL 

mon 01 3pm PRESTON NORTH END H LEAGUE 

sat 06 3pm LEICESTER CITY A LEAGUE 

wed 10 7.45pm CARDIFF CITY H LEAGUE 

sat 13 3pm COVENTRY CITY H LEAGUE 

sat 20 3pm ROTHERHAM UNITED A LEAGUE 

sat 27 3pm HUDDERSFIELD TOWN A LEAGUE 

MAY 

sat 04 3pm NORWICH CITY H LEAGUE 


SUB 1 SUB 2 SUB 3 SUB 4 SUB 5 UNUSED SUBS 

ROBERTS ❚ ANDERSON DEMBÉLÉ 1 HOGAN JAMES (61) OAKLEY (70) BACUNA (84) MIYOSHI (85) ❚ JUTKIEWICZ (85) ETHERIDGE, CHANG, COSGROVE,LONGELO 

JAMES ❚ ANDERSON MIYOSHI JUTKIEWICZ SUNJIC (45) DEMBÉLÉ (64) KHELA (81) COSGROVE (81) GARDNER (87) JEACOCK, BIELIK, HOGAN, DONOVAN 

BACUNA ANDERSON DEMBÉLÉ HOGAN MIYOSHI (65) JAMES (88) JUTKIEWICZ 1 (88) LONGELO (90+4) ETHERIDGE, CHANG, COSGROVE, WILLIAMS, KHELA 

BACUNA ANDERSON DEMBÉLÉ HOGAN MIYOSHI 1 (40) JAMES (45) JUTKIEWICZ 1 (74) LONGELO (85) ETHERIDGE, CHANG, COSGROVE, GARDNER, KHELA 

BACUNA ANDERSON MIYOSHI HOGAN 1 STANSFIELD 1 (62) HALL (78) LONGELO (81) JUTKIEWICZ (81) ETHERIDGE, ROBERTS, COSGROVE, GARDNER, KHELA 

SUNJIC HALL STANSFIELD JUTKIEWICZ ❚ MIYOSHI (45) COSGROVE (66) ❚ ROBERTS (67) HOGAN 1 (67) GARDNER (77) BUCHANAN, KHELA, MAYO, DONOVAN 

BACUNA ❚ ANDERSON STANSFIELD 1 HOGAN MIYOSHI (72) JAMES (82) LONGELO (90) ETHERIDGE, ROBERTS, GARDNER, OAKLEY, KHELA, AIWU 

BURKE ANDERSON STANSFIELD ❚ HOGAN MIYOSHI (68) BACUNA (71) LONGELO (87) ❚ JAMES (87) ETHERIDGE, ROBERTS, GARDNER, KHELA, AIWU 

BURKE ANDERSON STANSFIELD 1 MIYOSHI BACUNA (71) ❚ HOGAN (82) GARDNER (88) JAMES (88) ETHERIDGE, ROBERTS, KHELA, DIXON, AIWU 

MIYOSHI STANSFIELD ❚ ANDERSON HOGAN BURKE (43) DEMBÉLÉ (71) JUTKIEWICZ (71) ETHERIDGE, JAMES, GARDNER, LONGELO, SUNJIC, AIWU 

BURKE STANSFIELD MIYOSHI HOGAN BACUNA (59) DEMBÉLÉ (59) JUTKIEWICZ (76) JAMES (79) GARDNER (79) ETHERIDGE, ROBERTS, KHELA, AIWU 

MIYOSHI 1 STANSFIELD ❚ BACUNA ❚ DEMBÉLÉ 2 JAMES 1 (76) BURKE (76) HOGAN (76) KHELA (88) AIWU (88) ETHERIDGE, ROBERTS, JUTKIEWICZ, GARDNER 

MIYOSHI STANSFIELD BACUNA 1 DEMBÉLÉ BURKE (69) JUTKIEWICZ (72) GARDNER 1 (82) HOGAN (82) ETHERIDGE, ROBERTS, JAMES, KHELA, AIWU 

GARDNER STANSFIELD HOGAN DEMBÉLÉ BACUNA (61) BURKE (62) MIYOSHI (70) JAMES (83) JUTKIEWICZ (83) ETHERIDGE, ROBERTS, AIWU, DONOVAN 

BURKE STANSFIELD MIYOSHI DEMBÉLÉ JUTKIEWICZ (59) JAMES (70) GARDNER (70) DONOVAN (83) ETHERIDGE, ROBERTS, HOGAN, SUNJIC, AIWU 

BURKE JUTKIEWICZ AIWU ❚ DEMBÉLÉ STANSFIELD 1 (57) ❚ HOGAN (69) GARDNER (69) ❚ ROBERTS (76) MIYOSHI (77) ETHERIDGE, LAIRD, KHELA 

BURKE STANSFIELD 1 AIWU ❚ MIYOSHI BIELIK (73) ❚ DEMBÉLÉ (73) LONGELO (78) JUTKIEWICZ (85) ROBERTS (85) ETHERIDGE, HOGAN, GARDNER, LONG 

BURKE STANSFIELD AIWU MIYOSHI 1 DEMBÉLÉ (71) HOGAN (78) JUTKIEWICZ (78) OAKLEY (83) GARDNER (83) ETHERIDGE, ROBERTS, LONGELO, KHELA 

BURKE STANSFIELD AIWU MIYOSHI JUTKIEWICZ (68) DRAMEH (78) JAMES 1 (78) ROBERTS (88) DONOVAN (88) ETHERIDGE, HOGAN, GARDNER, SUNJIC 

JAMES JUTKIEWICZ AIWU ❚ STANSFIELD LAIRD (62) MIYOSHI (76) BURKE (76) HOGAN (76) GARDNER (85) ETHERIDGE, ROBERTS, LONGELO, SUNJIC 

BURKE STANSFIELD AIWU MIYOSHI DRAMEH (26) JAMES (59) ❚ JUTKIEWICZ (60) ETHERIDGE, ROBERTS, HOGAN, GARDNER, SUNJIC, DONOVAN 

JAMES ❚ STANSFIELD AIWU ❚ MIYOSHI HOGAN (70) BURKE (70) DONOVAN (83) SUNJIC (83) ETHERIDGE, GARDNER, LONGELO, OAKLEY, KHELA 

JAMES STANSFIELD AIWU SUNJIC ❚ JUTKIEWICZ (86) MIYOSHI (90) DONOVAN (90+5) ETHERIDGE, HOGAN, GARDNER, LONGELO, OAKLEY, KHELA 

JAMES 2 STANSFIELD AIWU SUNJIC BURKE (71) MIYOSHI (71) DONOVAN (71) HOGAN (81) JUTKIEWICZ (86) ETHERIDGE, GARDNER, LONGELO, OAKLEY 

JAMES 1 ❚ STANSFIELD 1 ❚ AIWU SUNJIC LONGELO (10) ❚ BURKE (66) JUTKIEWICZ (75) MIYOSHI (84) ❚ ETHERIDGE, ROBERTS, HOGAN, GARDNER, OAKLEY 

JAMES STANSFIELD 1 AIWU SUNJIC ROBERTS (57) DONOVAN (67) ANDERSON (77) GARDNER (77) BURKE (78) ETHERIDGE, JUTKIEWICZ, OAKLEY, HOME 

STOP PRESS: 

TONIGHT’S FOURTH 

OFFICIAL WILL BE 

PETER WRIGHT. 


ROLL CALL & LEAGUE TABLE 

PLAYER LEAGUE FA CUP LEAGUE CUP 

APPS / GLS APPS / GLS APPS / GLS 

Emanuel Aiwu 11 (1) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 

Keshi Anderson 8 (1) 0 0 (0) 0 1 (0) 0 

Juninho Bacuna 18 (5) 4 0 (0) 0 2 (0) 2 

Krystian Bielik 21 (1) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 

Lee Buchanan 14 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 

Oliver Burke 9 (9) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 

Alfie Chang 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 1 (0) 0 

Sam Cosgrove 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (2) 0 

Siriki Dembele 16 (4) 5 0 (0) 0 0 (1) 0 

Junior Dixon 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 

Romelle Donovan 0 (6) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 

Cody Drameh 13 (2) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 

Neil Etheridge 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 2 (0) 0 

Gary Gardner 1 (8) 1 0 (0) 0 0 (2) 0 

George Hall 0 (1) 0 0 (0) 0 1 (0) 0 

Scott Hogan 9 (8) 1 0 (0) 0 0 (1) 1 

Jordan James 10 (12) 5 0 (0) 0 2 (0) 0 

Lukas Jutkiewicz 3 (16) 2 0 (0) 0 2 (0) 0 

Brandon Khela 0 (1) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (1) 0 

Ethan Laird 7 (1) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 

Kevin Long 13 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 2 (0) 0 

Emmanuel Longelo 8 (7) 0 0 (0) 0 2 (0) 0 

Koji Miyoshi 13 (11) 3 0 (0) 0 1 (1) 0 

Marcel Oakley 0 (2) 0 0 (0) 0 2 (0) 0 

Marc Roberts 5 (3) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (1) 0 

Tyler Roberts 1 (1) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 

John Ruddy 24 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 

Dion Sanderson 23 (0) 1 0 (0) 0 2 (0) 0 

Jay Stansfield 19 (2) 7 0 (0) 0 1 (0) 0 

Ivan Sunjic 18 (1) 0 0 (0) 0 1 (1) 0 

Team Pl W D L F A GD Pts 

1 Leicester City 24 19 2 3 48 17 31 59 

2 Ipswich Town 24 16 5 3 48 33 15 53 

3 Southampton 24 14 6 4 43 29 14 48 

4 Leeds United 24 13 6 5 42 24 18 45 

5 West Bromwich Albion 24 11 6 7 35 23 12 39 

6 Sunderland 24 11 3 10 33 27 6 36 

7 Hull City 24 10 6 8 36 31 5 36 

8 Bristol City 24 10 5 9 30 27 3 35 

9 Preston North End 24 10 5 9 31 41 -10 35 

10 Watford 24 9 7 8 38 32 6 34 

11 Cardiff City 24 10 4 10 32 30 2 34 

12 Norwich City 24 10 4 10 41 40 1 34 

13 Coventry City 24 8 9 7 33 25 8 33 

14 Middlesbrough 24 10 3 11 35 35 0 33 

15 Blackburn Rovers 24 10 1 13 35 43 -8 31 

16 Plymouth Argyle 24 7 7 10 39 40 -1 28 

17 Swansea City 24 7 7 10 32 37 -5 28 

18 Stoke City 24 7 6 11 24 31 -7 27 

19 BIRMINGHAM CITY 24 7 6 11 30 38 -8 27 

20 Millwall 24 6 8 10 26 31 -5 26 

21 Huddersfield Town 24 5 10 9 24 38 -14 25 

22 Queens Park Rangers 24 5 5 14 20 35 -15 20 

23 Sheffield Wednesday 24 4 4 16 17 39 -22 16 

24 Rotherham United 24 3 7 14 21 47 -26 16 



BIRMINGHAM 

CITY 

MANAGER: WAYNE ROONEY 

GK 

NEIL ETHERIDGE 1 ■ ■ 

ETHAN LAIRD 2 ■ ■ 

LEE BUCHANAN 3 ■ ■ 

MARC ROBERTS 4 ■ ■ 

DION SANDERSON 5 ■ ■ 

KRYSTIAN BIELIK 6 ■ ■ 

JUNINHO BACUNA 7 ■ ■ 

TYLER ROBERTS 8 ■ ■ 

SCOTT HOGAN 9 ■ ■ 

LUKAS JUTKIEWICZ 10 ■ ■ 

KOJI MIYOSHI 11 ■ ■ 

CODY DRAMEH 12 ■ ■ 

KESHI ANDERSON 14 ■ ■ 

ALFIE CHANG 15 ■ ■ 

SIRIKI DEMBELE 17 ■ ■ 

JORDAN JAMES 19 ■ ■ 

GARY GARDNER 20 ■ ■ 

GK 

JOHN RUDDY 21 ■ ■ 

EMMANUEL LONGELO 23 ■ ■ 

MARCEL OAKLEY 24 ■ ■ 

KEVIN LONG 26 ■ ■ 

BRANDON KHELA 27 ■ ■ 

JAY STANSFIELD 28 ■ ■ 

IVAN SUNJIC 34 ■ ■ 

GEORGE HALL 35 ■ ■ 

EMANUEL AIWU 44 ■ ■ 

OLIVER BURKE 45 ■ ■ 

GK 

BRAD MAYO 48 ■ ■ 

ROMELLE DONOVAN 49 ■ ■ 

VS 

THE NEXT CHAPTER 

BRISTOL 

CITY 

HEAD COACH: LIAM MANNING 

■ ■ 1 MAX O’LEARY GK 

■ ■ 2 ROSS McCRORIE 

■ ■ 3 CAMERON PRING 

■ ■ 4 KAL NAISMITH 

■ ■ 5 ROB ATKINSON 

■ ■ 6 MATTY JAMES 

■ ■ 8 JOE WILLIAMS 

■ ■ 9 HARRY CORNICK 

■ ■ 10 ANDY KING 

■ ■ 11 ANIS MEHMETI 

■ ■ 12 JASON KNIGHT 

■ ■ 13 HARVEY WILES-RICHARDS GK 

■ ■ 14 ANDREAS WEIMANN 

■ ■ 15 TOMMY CONWAY 

■ ■ 16 ROB DICKIE 

■ ■ 17 MARK SYKES 

■ ■ 18 AYMAN BENAROUS 

■ ■ 19 GEORGE TANNER 

■ ■ 20 SAM BELL 

■ ■ 21 NAHKI WELLS 

■ ■ 22 TAYLOR GARDNER-HICKMAN 

■ ■ 23 STEFAN BAJIC GK 

■ ■ 24 HAYDON ROBERTS 

■ ■ 26 ZAK VYNER 

■ ■ 27 JAMIE KNIGHT-LEBEL 

■ ■ 28 RAPHAEL ARAOYE 

■ ■ 29 EPHRAIM YEBOAH 

■ ■ 30 RAEKWAN NELSON 

■ ■ 32 LEWIS THOMAS GK 

■ ■ 34 JOSEPH JAMES 

SATURDAY 

13 JANUARY 

KICK OFF 3PM 

MATCH OFFICIALS | REFEREE GEOFF ELTRINGHAM | ASSISTANT REFEREES SHAUN HUDSON | JAMES WILSON | FOURTH OFFICIAL PHILIP DERMOTT 

OFFICIAL MATCH 

SPONSOR 

OFFICIAL HEAD COACH 

SPONSOR 

OFFICIAL MAN OF THE MATCH 

SPONSOR

Birmingham City v Bristol City

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