Birmingham City v Coventry City

lues news

2 | BLUES NEWS BIRMINGHAM CITY V COVENTRY 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 

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: Tony Mowbray 

Assistant Manager: Mark Venus 

Interim Manager: Gary Rowett 

First Team Technical Coaches: 

Paul Robinson and Dave Carolan 

First Team Coaching Staff: 

Ashley Cole, 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 Physiotherapists: 

Dave Hunt, Keiren Stimpson 

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, Dave Bowler, 

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 GARY ROWETT 

10 DION SANDERSON 

14 BLUES BUY WHEELS SITE 

16 TOM WAGNER AND 

GARRY COOK 

19 THE OPPOSITION 

24 A DAY TO REMEMBER 

28 GARY GARDNER INTERVIEW 

36 JUNIOR BLUENOSES 

blues news 

43 SUPPORTERS’ MESSAGES 

44 BIRMINGHAM CITY 

FOUNDATION 

48 BLUES WOMEN’S 

INTERNATIONALS 

50 BLUES OPEN HOUSE 

56 ATTIRED AND WEARY 

58 DAVID DAVIS INTERVIEW 

62 UNDER-21S REPORT 

63 UNDER-18S REPORT 

COVER STORY 

This afternoon’s cover celebrates 

National Scrabble Day, with the 

tiles displayed spelling out an 

ambitious future for Birmingham 

City Football Club, with further 

details available from page 14 to 17. 

Design by Dan Thompson 

(@ddtdesignstudio). 

CONTACT 

Address: St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park, 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

THE BIG PICTURE 

Designs shared at the second Blues Open House 

(see more on page 50) showcase the ambition of 

Knighthead for Birmingham City Football Club, 

including a transformation of the hospitality areas 

at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park. 



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TOUCHLINE TALK 

GARY ROWETT 

Good afternoon and welcome 

to St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead 

Park for this afternoon’s Sky Bet 

Championship fixture against Coventry 

City. 

Today is our penultimate home game 

of the season and it is one we must make 

count. Every point is critical at this stage, 

and we must find a response to what was 

a frustrating evening on Wednesday. I can 

accept losing games of football, but it is the 

way you lose. You have to go out kicking and 

screaming and we cannot honestly say that 

was the case against Cardiff City. Once we 

conceded, we failed to muster a response 

and that simply cannot happen. 

We played our way into some promising 

positions on the night and put some neat 

passages of play together, but we struggled 

to find a cutting edge in the final third. 

We were waiting for each other to make a 

difference. Cardiff, on the other hand, made 

life difficult, put bodies behind the ball, were 

well organised and frustrated us. When it 

is like that, you need that bit of invention 

or a player to take the game by the scruff 

of the neck, stand up and make something 

happen. 

That being said, we simply have no time 

to dwell. We cannot sulk or feel sorry for 

ourselves. We debriefed on Thursday 

morning and quickly moved on to preparing 

for Coventry City. We know we have the 

quality of player in the squad, but we 

have to show the other side. The energy, 

intensity and commitment required to win 

games at this level. The Championship is 

an unforgiving beast and if you are not at 

your maximum, you get found out. Picking 

up three points has to mean absolutely 

everything to every single one of us and I 

expect the players to empty the tank today 

to try and win the game. 

Ultimately, it is important to remember 

that nothing has been decided at this 

point and the table is still remarkably tight. 

We have two home games and two away 

games remaining. We will not gloss over or 

shy away from our situation, but we must 

come together as a group and rise to the 

challenge. The supporters have done their 

bit. Not just this season, but in years gone 

by. We cannot rely on them to make the 

difference. It has to come from within the 

dressing room. 

Coventry are a very competitive 

Championship side and are very much in 

the hunt for the play-off spots. They are 

there on merit and we know we will have to 

be at our best to get a result today. We have 

to be the ones who take the initiative, set 

the tone and play on the front foot. We saw 

against Preston North End that when we 

are bang at it, and this place is rocking, we 

can be a very difficult team to play against. 

We know what is at stake. We know what 

we have to do. It is ok talking about it but 

now we have to go and do it. 

Keep Right On, 

Gary Rowett 



CAPTAIN’S COLUMN 

DION SANDERSON 

Good afternoon, Bluenoses, and welcome back to St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park 

for today’s clash against Coventry City. 

This is a huge game, just like each of these last four fixtures. We have four chances 

to put maximum points on the board and finish the season as strongly as possible, and these 

are chances that we simply must take. 

We have put ourselves into this position, and we all have to take responsibility to dig 

ourselves out of it. The results recently just have not been anywhere near good enough, it is 

as simple as that, but now is not the time when we can afford to keep our heads down and 

sulk. 

There must be a big reaction today, where we leave absolutely everything out there on the 

pitch. It is important that we remain the architects of our fate; we cannot allow anyone else 

to decide our outcome other than ourselves. 

Wednesday night’s defeat to Cardiff City was really tough to take, personally, and as a 

team. We were anxious at times and failed to grab the game by the scruff of the neck, 

despite being on top for large portions. 

What was disappointing is that we had two positive performances in a row going into that 

one. The win against Preston North End was massive and we were unlucky not to get a result 

against Leicester, so to follow that up with a defeat at home was massively frustrating. 

The theme of not taking our chances or creating that clear-cut opening is becoming all too 

common at the moment. We know we have that talent going forward, it is about executing 

that in the final third. That little bit of confidence is missing, and we need to find it quickly. 

Words were said in the changing room after the game, by both players and staff, which was 

vitally important. We must hold ourselves and each other accountable for these results, and 

demand better as individuals and as a squad. 

All that being said, we have the chance to get ourselves back on track this afternoon. What 

is good about it being so close to the last game is that it is a chance to go back out there at 

St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park and provide a reaction. 

The supporters deserve that reaction. When it is a packed-out home crowd and we can 

feed off the energy of all you Bluenoses, there is no better place to be. 

Coventry are a tough side, and they could still make play-offs, but we must ensure that we 

outwork them and forge those opportunities for ourselves to go on and win the game. For 

us, it is more important than ever that we stick together and get the job done on the pitch. 

Keep Right On, 

Dion Sanderson 





CLUB STATEMENT: KNIGHTHEAD TAKES 

KEY STEP TO CREATE SPORTS QUARTER 

KNIGHTHEAD ACQUIRES 48-ACRE FORMER WHEELS SITE IN BORDESLEY 

PARK, EAST BIRMINGHAM: A KEY STEP TOWARD CREATING A VIBRANT 

SPORTS QUARTER AND NEW WORLD-CLASS STADIUM 

• Knighthead’s ambition for Birmingham 

City Football Club is to become a beacon 

of excellence for Birmingham on the global 

stage, boosted by the new Sports Quarter 

infrastructure plans 

• Sports Quarter to be home to world-class 

stadium and training facilities for all 

Birmingham City teams, and extensive 

commercial and community facilities 

• The development of the Sports Quarter is 

expected to generate over 3,000 local jobs 

• Knighthead’s investment into the Sports 

Quarter follows the company’s takeover of 

the Football Club and further showcases 

the company’s continued commitment and 

ambitions for the city of Birmingham 

• The plans have been led by Knighthead Co-CEO 

and Birmingham City Chairman, Tom Wagner, 

and Chief Executive Officer, Garry Cook 

Certain entities managed by Knighthead Capital 

Management LLC (“Knighthead”) have completed 

the purchase of the 48-acre former Wheels site 

on Bordesley Park, bringing their total land holding 


to more than 60 acres, excluding St. Andrew’s @ 

Knighthead Park. 

Knighthead and BCFC are developing plans for 

a vibrant Sports Quarter, with the intention to 

build a new multi-use stadium, high-performance 

training facilities and other mixed-use real estate 

development including a range of entertainment 

options. This is to be the new home of Birmingham 

City Football Club, and a world-class venue to 

bring international sporting events to the region. 

The news represents a significant step on the 

Club’s growth journey following the takeover by 

Knighthead in July 2023. 

Birmingham City sits at the heart of the 

community in Birmingham through its activity on 

the pitch and the important work of the Birmingham 

City Foundation. The regeneration of Bordesley 

Green and the planned facilities for local people are 

central to the owners’ ambition to make a positive 

contribution to people from all backgrounds across 

the city. 

The ambition for the Sports Quarter is for it to 

become a globally recognisable sporting and 

entertainment location. The goal is for Blues to 

have a world-class stadium, training facilities for 

both men and women, a new academy, community 

pitches and commercial space to support innovative 

local businesses, all within walking distance to the 

city centre. 

The plans will not only help realise the vision 

for the Football Club, but also deliver for East 

Birmingham as part of Knighthead’s plan to play 

a significant role in the ongoing transformation 

of Birmingham’s infrastructure and skyline. Once 

operational, the Sports Quarter should generate 

over 3,000 full-time jobs and significantly contribute 

to Birmingham’s GDP. 

Knighthead Co-CEO and Chairman, Tom Wagner, 

said: “When we invested in Birmingham City, we 

made it very clear that we had an ambitious vision 

to transform the experience for our fans and make a 

positive contribution to the growth and vitality of the 

city of Birmingham. The acquisition of the former 

Wheels site is an important next step in making 

this a reality. The plans for the Sports Quarter will 

bring global interest to our Club and to Birmingham 

as a whole. It is going to transform the future of 

our Men’s, Women’s and Academy teams, and the 

fortunes of the community that we call home. We 

are excited to collaborate with the fans, the local 

community, and key partners in Birmingham to 

deliver on our plans for the Sports Quarter.” 

Birmingham City Football Club Chief Executive 

Officer, Garry Cook, said: “The Birmingham City 

story dates back to 1875 when the Small Heath 

Alliance team was formed. A blue thread based 

on teamwork, entertainment and unbreakable 

community spirit was created. This is the strength 

of our brand. Our owners have an ambition that 

is greater than anything this Club has ever seen, 

and when we deliver it the impact on the global 

reputation of Birmingham will be seismic. 

“Tom Wagner, in his May 8th 2023 Letter to Fans, 

asked supporters to hold Knighthead accountable 

to six commitments. One of those was for 

Birmingham City Football Club to build on the pivotal 

role it plays in the economic, social, and cultural 

landscape in the city, making sure it is always a 

cornerstone and positive force for good in the local 

community. Without doubt, today’s announcement 

delivers on this commitment.” 

Birmingham City Council leader, Cllr John 

Cotton, said: “This is a huge moment for everyone 

associated with Birmingham City FC, and I’m sure 

Knighthead’s ambitious vision will excite Blues fans 

everywhere. I want to thank our council officers 

who have worked so closely with the club and these 

exciting plans will regenerate the area, creating 

thousands of much-needed jobs. Hopefully, this is 

the first step on a journey to Birmingham once again 

being home to two Premier League football clubs.” 


AN INTERVIEW WITH 

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, TOM WAGNER, 

AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, GARRY COOK 

Tom if I could start with you, seismic news 

overnight for both Knighthead and for the Football 

Club, put into context how big this moment is in the 

Club’s 149-year history. 

TW: This was an important part of our plan for the 

Club before we even made the purchase. We had 

looked at the infrastructure we had available for the 

Club and the product that was being offered to the 

fans and, most important, the revenue that we could 

generate from the existing infrastructure, we knew 

something had to be done. 

The biggest part of implementing that plan was 

to acquire the core piece of the land that was the 

Wheels site. As of about 36 hours ago, we were able 

to complete that purchase which now allows us to 

begin the process of what will become the Sports 

Quarter in Birmingham. That will include a new 

stadium, a training ground for the Men’s, Women’s 

and Academy in a single location, adjacent to the 

Stadium and allowing for additional entertainment 

options to be developed. All of which will improve 

the revenue for the Club and allow us to put a better 

product on the pitch. 

Garry, you have been unapologetic in your pursuit 

of world class since you came to the Football Club. 

Does this embody what that means? 

GC: Yes, absolutely. We should all be very proud. 

Firstly, proud to have the owners that we have, and I 

think Tom’s ambition is the driving force behind many 

things that we do. Whether it is the announcement 

today, whether it is in the transition or change that 

we have to go through. But to aspire to be world 

class, you have got to really have big ideas, big 

ambition and you have really got to embody all of 

those, and I think this is a true sign and a signal in 

terms of what is to come. 


In terms of the local economy, this is going to be 

quite the regeneration of the area of Birmingham? 

GC: I think that’s what today’s announcement is. 

It is not just about Birmingham City, it is about 

Birmingham and I think the economy and every 

resident in this city should be proud of what 

we are doing. But I think we are also seeing the 

power of sport is the economic generator in local 

communities and we are a part of that, we are a 

catalyst of the change in the community. This takes 

it to a whole new level because this is what happens 

when you start to bring in inward investment that 

engages the community and you are creating jobs, 

you are creating opportunity and the landscape of 

Birmingham changes, not just Birmingham City. 

Tom, let’s talk costs, how much of a commitment is 

this from Knighthead? 

TW: This will be, when all is said and done, £2-3 billion 

of development. That is not just the stadium, that is 

everything. The seismic change for the Club, it is an 

extraordinary level of commitment, and it will allow 

us to develop something that is really a one of one 

in European football. And what I mean by that is the 

ability of the stadium, other entertainment options, 

Men’s, Women’s and Academy in one location, a hotel, 

office developments so this is really a substantial 

project for the regeneration of that area. What is 

important is, that as we develop that and those 

revenues float back into the club, it allows us to invest 

further into the Club and develop that product further. 

How much consideration has been put into the flow 

of people to and from the Sports Quarter? 

GC: You have to rely on local agencies to understand 

the traffic flow and traffic network both today and 

in five years’ time. It is not the easiest, I think most 

urban-based football grounds have this challenge. 

Our ambition is to improve the experience for fans, 

ingress and egress, whether by local transport, public 

transport, vehicle, whatever that is we have to make 

a difference there. 

TW: In the immediate term, hopefully, for next 

season, we hope to utilise the site in whatever way 

is possible to make the experience at St. Andrew’s 

@ Knighthead Park better for our fans. That will ebb 

and flow as we improve the process, but we will 

spend a tonne of time thinking about how to make 

it easy to attend, not only matches but the other 

entertainment options that are available there. 

Garry, there has been a huge emphasis of the work 

of the Foundation for the last nine-10 months, how 

much will they benefit from this news? 

GC: The Foundation is the beacon of change, not only 

in this local neighbourhood but we plan to be broader 

Can you share any details of what supporters can 

expect from their new home? 

TW: We want to borrow ideas from the very best 

stadiums that we have seen around the world and 

from lessons from projects of a similar scope and 

scale. So, what we have is a venue where people 

want to spend time. They want to go well ahead 

of the match, they want to stay after the match, 

somewhere that they can spend a full day attending, 

so our supporters come away saying ‘That is a great 

use of my time, I got great value for money’. For us 

it is not about driving ticket prices up, that is not 

the way that you generate revenue. You look at the 

biggest clubs in the world, ticket prices are not a 

massive component of their revenue. What you 

do is create a product that draws in commercial 

partners and draws in other sources of revenue so 

you become less dependent on ticket pricing, so 

you can have a more open and inclusive experience 

where fans of all walks of life can enjoy their time at 

the stadium. 


and wider in our impact. The foundation is the 

epitome of what football can mean in the community, 

it gets people’s attention, it creates a lot of media 

space, lots of storytelling and that community can be 

impacted by that. 

We live in a very diverse neighbourhood and the 

Foundation is important. We can make change and 

this football club can make change in this area of 

Birmingham. 

The expectations are that we will improve, get better 

and make a difference. That is where everyone has 

become a little bit surprised, none more so than 

today’s news which says big ambition. 

Tom, does this announcement say beyond all doubt 

for the cynics about Knighthead’s commitment for 

the Football Club? 

TW: If this doesn’t make people convinced that we 

are here for the long term, I don’t know what we 

are going to do next. This announcement should 

demonstrate that we are here for the long haul. 

Nothing that occurs over the next five weeks is going 

to change our commitment to this club. 

As optimistic as I am, I am sorry, I am not going to 

apologise for being optimistic, I am not going to 

apologise for being bold in our ambitions, I am simply 

not going to. Nor will I change the direction we are 

taking this club. We are looking five-10 years down 

the road. We know where we are going to end up – 

the question is how quickly are we going to get there. 

We are going to end up in the right place. We have got 

some great people on this project; we have got some 

really talented folks that are playing significant roles. 

I have got Tom Brady working with us very closely on 

this. I wouldn’t bet against it, that hasn’t worked out 

too well in the past. 

Finally, how excited should supporters be now 

following this announcement? 

GC: They should be excited because the future is 

extremely bright. Tom has said it time and time again, 

we are on the rise. They should be excited about the 

opportunities that are going to come. It is not always 

to look in the rear-view mirror, it is perhaps better to 

look in front of you and see what the possibilities are. 

Everyone has to come together to go on the same 

journey. 

TW: What supporters need to recognise is that 

a lot of people will throw stones at us. That is a 

comfortable place for us as Blues fans, we are ok 

with that, we are ok with people doubting us, we are 

ok with people rooting against us because it is us 

against everybody else. And I know how it is going 

to turn out. For those willing to come on the journey 

with us, they will be richly rewarded. 


COVENTRY CITY 

Nickname: The Sky Blues 

Formed: 1883 

Stadium: Coventry Building Society Arena 

Stadium Capacity: 32,609 

Manager: Mark Robins 

Last season finish: 5th in the Championship 

Last time won at St. Andrew’s: 2-4 in April 2022 

Record v Blues: Won 20, Drawn 21, Lost 23

COVENTRY CITY 

ROBINS’ SKY BLUES 

THINKING 

The long-term forecast for the Sky Blues 

seems cloud free as they attempt to secure a 

Sky Bet Championship play-off place for the 

second season running after already reaching an 

Emirates FA Cup Semi-Final at Wembley. 

Coventry City lost out to Luton Town in last year’s 

Play-Off Final, having ended the campaign in fifth, 

but are on the cusp of edging back into the division’s 

top six once again. With Norwich City directly above 

them dropping points recently, the club remain 

optimistic that they can finish another campaign 

strongly. A game in hand on the Canaries, who they 

trail by five points, could prove influential in the 

run-in. Following this afternoon’s trip across the 

West Midlands, Coventry have three of their final four 

league games on home soil against Hull City, Ipswich 

Town and Queens Park Rangers. 

Long-serving manager Mark Robins believes last 

season’s 70-point haul will not be good enough to 

secure a play-off spot this time around. Coventry 

amassed 13 points from their last seven games of 

2022/23, but Robins believes that despite having three 

more points on the board than this time last year, only 

perfection will suffice between now and May. 

A second defeat in three games in midweek to 

fellow promotion chasers Southampton was a setback 

Robins acknowledged his side could ill afford. 

He told BBC CWR post-match: “The first-half killed 

us really, we didn’t start well at all. Hitting the bar with 

the penalty just told the story of the first-half, we got 

dragged around and looked leggy. 

“If we’re aspiring to be a team operating at the top 

end of the division, we have to be better than that. 

You have to grind performances out, even against 

good opponents. 

“We spoke at half-time and the players decided it 

was going to be better. We were much, much better 


then, we created one or two openings, and were far 

more positive, which meant we were in the game.” 

Coventry have been involved in 2-1 scorelines in 

five of their last seven league fixtures, including 

beating Leeds United last Saturday, and have one of 

the division’s most formidable frontlines in a 4-2-3-1 

system. 

In fact, only Preston North End in February have 

managed to keep the Warwickshire side at bay in their 

last 30 games across all competitions. Highlights 

have included scoring three goals or more on a dozen 

occasions, including against Leicester City, twice 

against Middlesbrough and hitting Rotherham United 

for five. 

Former Everton youth Ellis Simms has expertly 

spearheaded a four-pronged attack, with Haji 

Wright another regular source of goals. The USA 

international, who joined from Antalyaspor last 

summer, has 17 goals in his first season in English 

football. Former Player of the Year Callum O’Hare, 

who scored twice in December’s reverse fixture, is in 

the most productive form of his career, while natural 

sharpshooter Matt Godden and the injured Tatsuhiro 

Sakamoto share 18 goals between them. 

Providing the ammunition for such an insatiable 

strikeforce has seen Jamaica international Kasey 

Palmer joint-top the assists charts with six, alongside 

hometown midfield dynamo Josh Eccles. 

With vastly-experienced captain Liam Kelly only back 

in contention in March following a four-month absence, 

former Arsenal youth Ben Sheaf has stepped up and 

has already proven himself to be a Rolls Royce central 

midfielder. The industrious Jamie Allen is sidelined 

with a fractured cheekbone, meaning 17-year-old Kai 

Andrews has been involved in the matchday squad, 

while Portuguese Fabio Tavares Desiderio and setpiece 

specialist Victor Torp are alternatives. 

For all their attacking verve it is a resolute backline 

that has helped Coventry have another impressive 

campaign, with only four teams in the division 

conceding fewer than City’s 49 goals. 

The defence has an ex-Barnsley flavour to it. Regular 

gloveman Bradley Collins was the Tykes’ 2021/22 

Player of the Year, while City ever-present Bobby 

Thomas has been paired alongside Liam Kitching 

throughout April in a centre-back partnership that was 

forged at Oakwell last season. Former Brentford and 

QPR long-server Jake Bidwell is a trusted performer 

who made 50 appearances at left-back last term, 

while Jamaican Joel Latibeaudiere has shown his 

tenacity at right-back and Milan van Ewijk can perform 

a similar role or in a more advanced position. 

Further defensive options include ex-Bristol City 

regular Jay Dasilva, Bologna loanee Luis Binks and 

Championship Golden Glove winner for 2022/23 Ben 

Wilson. 

IN THE DUGOUT 

mark robins 

DOB: 22 December 1969 

Appointed: March 2017 

Mark Robins has succeeded in a meteoric 

bounce back since returning to Coventry 

City in 2017 for a second spell, having left for 

Huddersfield Town four years earlier. 

The former Manchester United striker now 

boasts a cabinet that includes Sky Bet League 

Two Play-off silverware, a Sky Bet League 

One title and an EFL Trophy. Last season he 

masterminded the Sky Blues to the Championship 

Play-off Final at Wembley and has his side back 

at the national stadium 11 months on for a first FA 

Cup Semi-Final since 1987. 

The ambitious 54-year-old, who has also 

managed Rotherham United, Barnsley and 

Scunthorpe United, also has the Warwickshire 

side chasing down a play-off place in the season’s 

final weeks and his standing at Coventry Building 

Society Arena could not be higher. 

Yet the EFL’s second longest-serving manager, 

with seven years with the Sky Blues, has a shared 

vision with club owner Doug King of wanting 

more. 

He said: “I am massively proud of the whole 

club, which has come from a really dark place 

over a 10-year period. The last Wembley trip was 

a heartache. Now we are there again. The owner 

asked for a good cup run and three play-off 

campaigns in five seasons – and we need to get 

lucky in one.” 


COVENTRY CITY 

KEY THREE 

4. BOBBY THOMAS 

The formidable centre-back has hardly put a foot wrong since signing a fouryear 

deal with Coventry City last summer from first employers Burnley. 

Centre-back | DOB: 30 January 2001 

The 23-year-old gained notable experience on loan at Bristol Rovers and Barnsley 

during 2022/23, playing alongside current teammates Bradley Collins and Liam 

Kitching at Oakwell that quickly helped foster a familiarity and understanding in the 

Cov backline. 

No one has gained more minutes than the Chester-born ball-winner this season 

and he has relished developing in a first campaign with the club, explaining: “It’s 

been my first season in the Championship and you always want to be better, but I 

feel like I’ve progressed and learnt along the way. My passing and understanding of 

progression through the thirds are something I’ve improved on this season.” 

28. JOSH ECCLES 

Centre-midfielder | DOB: 6 April 2000 

The homegrown gem is fulfilling his dream of rising through the club’s Academy 

ranks into the first team and made 100 appearances for the club in February. 

The 24-year-old debuted for the Sky Blues in 2018/19 but is now a key component 

in Mark Robins’ midfield engine, either in a holding midfield role or as a box-to-box 

fulcrum through the centre. 

Although the former Gillingham loanee registered his first senior goal against 

Blues in April 2023, he is more focused on repelling opposition attacks. 

He explained: “We’ve always credited ourselves as a good defensive team, and we 

showed that last season when we kept the most clean-sheets in the Championship. 

We haven’t got enough this year and as a team we need to start improving that 

aspect more to help the strikers win us the games.” 

9. ELLIS SIMMS 

Despite losing last season’s top scorer in Viktor Gyokeres and two-time Player 

Striker | DOB: 5 January 2001 

of the Year Gustavo Hamer, Coventry City need not have worried about replacing 

their attacking verve. 

Former Everton youth Ellis Simms has excelled in a first campaign in the West 

Midlands since an £8 million summer switch. The specimen 23-year-old, who had 

loans with Blackpool, Hearts and Sunderland, has a phenomenal 18 goals to top the 

club’s scoring charts. 

The bearded sharpshooter had a slow start but his physicality, scoring instincts 

and speed off the mark have seen him terrorise defences in 2024 with six goals in 

his last seven games, including an FA Cup Quarter-Final double against Wolves. 

Team-mate Josh Eccles told the Coventry Telegraph: “It took him a while to 

get started, but now he has settled you cannot stop him! He is finding those right 

spaces and has got that little bit of aggression. That is the new Ellis, he is top class.” 


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BLUES NEWS | 23

A DAY TO REMEMBER 

COVENTRY CITY 

There have been promotions, play-off and 

EFL Trophy wins to enjoy since, but can 

there be any real doubt that the greatest 

day to remember in Coventry City’s history came 

on Saturday 16 May 1987 when for the first, and 

still only, time in their history, they reached the FA 

Cup final and brought the silver trophy back home 

with them? 

Going into 1986/87, the Sky Blues were a team 

with virtually no cup fighting pedigree to speak of 

at the time. As far as the FA Cup was concerned, 

their best performance to that point was reaching 

the Quarter-Finals in 1963, as a Third Division side, 

1973 and 1982. The closest they had ever come to 

a senior final was in reaching the last four of the 

League Cup in 1981. But 1986/87 was going to be 

different. Not only had they assembled probably 

the best team in their history, they were also going 

to be the most successful - and the two are not 

necessarily the same thing. 

Their management team of John Sillett and 

George Curtis were an ideal partnership for the side 

that was still playing out of Highfield Road back 

then. Curtis had been an archetypal hard man as a 

player, and he concentrated on the side’s discipline 

and its defensive backbone. While Sillett was every 

bit as keen on his team doing those crucial basics 

right, he was also the showman of the partnership, 

willing to take the handbrake off to allow talents like 

Dave Bennett and Cyrille Regis to flourish. 

The cup run illustrated that, unlike some of their 

predecessors, while this Coventry side could still 

entertain, they did not have the soft underbelly with 

which they were often associated. A 3-0 win over 

Third Division Bolton Wanderers earned a Fourth 

Round trip to Old Trafford. Another clean sheet and 

a Keith Houchen goal dumped Manchester United 

out of the competition on a frozen pitch, United’s 

new manager, one Alex Ferguson, complaining that 

“Coventry’s players were willing to risk life and limb. 

Ours weren’t.” Away wins at Stoke City and Sheffield 

Wednesday led to a Hillsborough Semi-Final against 

Leeds United, City prevailing 3-2 in extra-time. 

The final was against Tottenham Hotspur, a side 


of perhaps even greater attacking intent, David 

Pleat’s team having finished third in the First 

Division as well as reaching the League Cup semifinal. 

They had Glenn Hoddle, Ossie Ardiles and 

Chris Waddle, while Clive Allen had scored 48 goals 

in an incredible campaign. 

After just a couple of minutes at Wembley, 

Allen headed in number 49, but crucially, the 

Sky Blues were only behind for seven minutes. 

Houchen headed on a Greg Downs cross and Dave 

Bennett, a beaten finalist with Manchester City six 

years earlier, danced around Ray Clemence and 

equalised. 

Not unlike the 4-3 league game the two sides had 

fought out at Highfield Road earlier in the season, 

this game had a lovely ebb and flow to it, and the 

first-half ended with Spurs snatching the lead late 

on, Gary Mabbutt on hand to jab the ball home from 

a Hoddle free kick. That was as good as Mabbutt’s 

day was going to get. 

Coventry fought back and, just after the hour, they 

were back on terms, with one of Wembley’s most 

memorable cup final goals. Regis won a header, 

flicking the ball on to Houchen, and he played it out 

to Bennett on the right before sprinting into the 

box. Bennett curled in the cross, Houchen hurled 

himself at it, looking for all the world like a Spitfire 

in flight, and connected with a perfectly directed 

diving header that flashed past Clemence. 

The game required extra-time to find a winner, 

and the first period proved decisive. With 96 

minutes gone, the tireless Lloyd McGrath brought 

the ball forward, drifted into the Tottenham box and 

crossed. Looking to cut out the danger, Mabbutt 

could only deflect the ball with his knee, sending 

the ball looping over Clemence, winning the game 

for the Sky Blues and giving the FA Cup yet another 

storybook final to add to the collection. 





INTERVIEW 

GARY 

GARDNER 

PLAYING THE PERCENTAGES 

‘Incremental gains’ has been a buzz phrase in 

professional sport for a few years now, the science 

of finding that little extra edge in every element of 

your work so that when you put all those tiny plus 

points together, you get a big step forward. 

They can be found in all kinds of ways, both 

on matchdays but, more often, in preparation, 

in training, in the dressing room. It is there, in 

the inner sanctum, that the value of experience 

becomes absolutely priceless. Players who have 

been there, done it and got the proverbial t-shirt 

can play a huge role in regulating the dressing 

room, keeping it focused, driving standards 

every day and demanding more and more from 

themselves and those around them. Even in the 

modern world with all its innovations, leading 

by example remains one of the most important 

teaching tools of the lot. 

In that regard, Birmingham City is fortunate 

indeed to have players like Gary Gardner at the 

heart of the squad. With well over 300 senior games 

to his credit, nearly 200 of them with Blues, he has 

been through the highs and the lows that this game 

has to throw at a footballer, and he is better for 

those experiences, experiences he is passing on to 

those around him. 

Blues News caught up with Gardner earlier in the 

week, just after the Club had announced plans for 

the new Sports Quarter in the city. He spoke about 

recent games, the run-in to the end of the season 

and the prospect of exciting days to come in the 

near future. 

Thanks for talking to Blues News at the start of 

such a busy week Gary. Going into it, you must 

take some confidence from the way you have 

played recently. Even against Leicester City, you 

took them all the way to the final whistle. 

I thought we were good, but, of course, it was 

disappointing that we couldn’t see the game out. 

They still have a lot of players from the Premier 

League in their team, they’re fighting at the top of 

the table, so they are a real test. For the most part, 

we should be proud of the performance, and I think it 

should give us more belief and more encouragement 

that we are going about things the right way. 

The win over Preston North End was a huge 

one, especially off the back of the late defeat at 

Queens Park Rangers. It would have been easy 

for heads to drop after that but that win and the 

performance in the Leicester game shows there 

is a lot of belief and character in the squad. 

For sure. Preston was the [Interim] Manager’s 

first home game since he came back, so that made 

it even more important. We had a lot of fans in the 

Stadium, it was packed out again. The support was 

brilliant, the atmosphere was amazing, and that really 


helps. Against Preston, I thought it was a really good 

performance all through the team, and we got our 

rewards in the end with the three points. I thought we 

fully deserved that win. Now we need to do the same 

again in these last four games of the season. 

You are one of the more experienced players in the 

squad these days. You must have a big part to play 

in keeping people calm and focused at this time of 

the season because you have been in high-pressure 

situations and come through them before? 

I think that’s true. I’ve not played as many minutes 

as I would want to this season, but in that dressing 

room every day and around the training ground, I’m 

really full of energy and positivity. That’s the kind of 

lad I am, and I think having that is crucial for a team, 

especially at this stage of the season. I think if I can 

help give us an extra 5% just by my presence, by 

being there and by keeping things positive, that’s 

enough for me. I just want to help the lads and the 

team and the Club and the fans in any way that I can, 

and that’s what I’m here to do. That’s all that matters. 

That positive energy, keeping the mood good and 

keeping standards high, is such a big part of things 

at this time of the season when there is so much 

going on around you. It really is important to have 

somebody like you there helping to set the tone. 

Yes, of course. That kind of experience from all 

those games I’ve played and all the years I’ve been 

in the game, you can’t buy that. When I’ve been at 

previous clubs when I was younger, I always had 

someone to look up to. Someone else was always 

setting the standards and being that ultimate 

professional, if you want to call it that. 

Now I’m one of the more experienced players, 

so I feel like I need to be that person here. In my 

work here, I try to do everything right, I try to keep 

my attitude right and I’m hoping that in doing that, 

I can help squeeze that few extra per cent out of 

players just by raising their standards in training or 

in games. I’ve been there before, I know how hard it 

can be, especially in the final games of the season 

when every game is so important. It’s been a long 

season and I’m just trying to help keep the energy 

levels up, just to get us over the line. 

Everybody says at this time of the season, ‘Oh, we 

take it one game at a time.’ But in reality, it must 

be really difficult to shut out all the outside noise 

out and keep that level of focus? 

It definitely is. Social media is a big part of football 

now, isn’t it? I’m not on that because I feel like that 

way, I can concentrate more on what’s actually 

happening, rather than the noise around it. But 

you can’t totally hide away from it. There’s always 

negative noise. There’s always positive noise. But for 

me, there’s one job to be done, and by just having that 

tunnel vision, if you like, that is the best way for me. 

We all know what the job is, so we have to keep 

our eye on that. The big thing is that it is in our 

hands. We have to win our games, and that’s all 

we’ve got to concentrate on doing. In trying to do 

that, you have to leave no stone unturned and just 

know that you’ve done everything you can to give 

yourself the best chance. 

There seems a greater sense of unity and purpose 

about Birmingham City as a football club than 

there has been for quite a while. We have seen big 



crowds, things are moving forward very quickly 

off the pitch. As someone who has been at the 

Club for quite a while now, do you sense that 

purpose from inside the dressing room? 

Definitely. Everyone can see what the owners 

have done, our new facilities at the training ground, 

improvements at the Stadium as well, the talk 

this week about the new stadium. They’ve been 

absolutely brilliant, it’s very exciting. On the pitch, 

we have Gary Rowett back here at the moment, and 

he knows the Club inside out. I remember watching 

him as a player, and he’s done brilliantly as a coach. 

He’s come in with Paul Robinson and Dave Carolan, 

and they’ve been great. They’ve set out exactly what 

they want, and the lads are following that. I think it’s 

all a perfect match for us to get over the line. 

If things do end the right way this season, it feels 

like there could then be a really big turnaround 

in the league position next season, because 

everything seems to be in place. Do you think next 

season could be a real launch pad for better times? 

I think there is a real feeling of that here. There’s 

still a lot of work to be done this season, then in 

the summer there’s a lot of players out of contract, 

and there could be a big turnaround in the squad. 

But I’m sure the Club will be in good hands with the 

ownership and the powers that be. 

If we can get up the league and stay in the division 

in these next few weeks, which I think we have 

enough to do, then definitely the Club’s future is 

bright. For me, that would be brilliant, because 

as a player and as a fan, that’s all I want to see. It 

would be great to have that happen. As players, we 

just have to concentrate on these remaining four 

games, and once we get that job done, then I think 

the fans can start to feel excited. 

Today is not just a big game for Blues. For Coventry 

City this is a huge game as they chase the play-offs, 

and they will have a lot of pressure to handle too. 

Everyone’s playing for something, whether it’s to 

stay in the league, whether it’s to go up. That’s the 

exciting thing about the Championship, there’s never 

a time where you can take your foot off the gas. This 

is a massive game, it’s a derby as well, so both sides 

have a lot riding on it. We all need to realise that, and 

we have to give the fans absolutely everything. If we 

do that, hopefully, we can get the three points. 

The atmosphere at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead 

Park this season, and especially over the last few 

weeks, has been incredible. 

Absolutely. Having all the stands full again has 

been brilliant. It really does help us players. The noise 

against Preston and that feeling after the game, 

where there’s just that excitement and that feel-good 

factor after a win, we want to have that again today. 

The fans really do help. All I can say is, them being 

there and with the atmosphere being that good, it 

really does help the lads. If we could have more of 

that, it would make a massive difference. 



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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 afternoon’s opponents, Coventry City, and our 

own Blues heroes past and present. 

WORDSEARCH 

E J B O R R O W S R D M K P 

X T H O M A S Y S L W W N H 

D U B L I N G O D D E N N A 

J Z S X H U C K E R B Y W M 

J B S W R I G H T R W N Y E 

C I R E T S I L L A C M Z R 

O V N E H Y A F O V M P R T 

C V E C C L E S X Q J H A J 

S M M I S A K A M O T O Q P 

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

PRESENT, WE’VE HIDDEN IN THE WORDSEARCH BELOW? 

BORROWS DUBLIN ECCLES 

GODDEN HAMER HUCKERBY 

McALLISTER SAKAMOTO SIMMS 

THOMAS WRIGHT 


GROUND TRACKER 

GETTING TO 

KNOW…. 

How much do you know about our stars 

wearing royal blue? This week we recall the 

career of striker SCOTT HOGAN… 

1. The 31-year-old earned promotion out of 

League Two with Rochdale before being 

prolific at which London based club? 

2. The Salford-born sharpshooter has 

top scored for Blues in the previous two 

campaigns with how many goals each season? 

3. Blues’ No.9 signed at St. Andrew’s 

permanently in June 2020, but with which 

nation has he gained 12 international caps? 

ROLL CALL RECALL 

Can you help identify these Blues players from 

the last decade from a snapshot and brief clue? 

Birminghamborn 

forward 

who scored once 

for Blues, now 

with Stockport 

County. 

Had a five-game 

loan at his 

hometown club 

in 2017 from 

Watford. 

Most recently with 

Exeter City, the 

defender made 

170 appearances 

for Blues from 

2014 to 2020. 

B 

C 

A 

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 afternoon’s 

opponents to the test! 

1. What is Coventry City’s nickname? 

2. Where do today’s visitors play their home 

games? 

3. What position did the West Midlands club 

finish in the Championship last season? 

4. Who is Coventry’s manager? 

5. What animal is carrying a castle on 

Coventry’s club crest? 


WHO PLAYS HERE? 

Can you identify the home of these 

south coast Saints? 

YOU 

KNOW 

ME! 

Can you identify these 

footballing bosses from 

across the world? 

FLAG IT UP… 

Can you match these past and present Blues players to the 

flag from the international team they have represented… 

ANSWERS: GETTING TO KNOW. 1. Brentford, 2. 10 goals, 3. Republic of Ireland. GROUND TRACKER: A. Sutton United (Surrey), B. Leyton Orient 

(Walthamstow, Greater London), C. Rochdale (Lancashire). ROLL CALL RECALL: 1. Odin Bailey, 2. Jerome Sinclair, 3. Jonathan Grounds. KNOW YOUR 

OPPONENTS: 1. The Sky Blues, 2. CBS Stadium, 3. 5th in Championship, 4. Mark Robins, 5. An elephant. WHO PLAYS HERE?: Southampton (St. Mary’s 

Stadium). FLAG IT UP: Peter Ndlovu (Zimbabwe), Oliver Burke (Scotland), Nico Gordon (Montserrat), Kenny Cunningham (Republic of Ireland), Jordan 

James (Wales), Michael Johnson (Jamaica). YOU KNOW ME: Diego Simone (Atletico Madrid), Paul Warne (Derby County), Russell Martin (Southampton). 


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 

afternoon’s opponents, Coventry City, is up to scratch. 

KNOW YOUR OPPONENTS! 

How well do you think you know this afternoon’s 

opponents Coventry City and Blues’ recent meetings 

against them? 

1. Where did Coventry City call home from 1899 to 

2005? 

2. Who scored both goals for the Warwickshire side in 

December’s reverse fixture? 

3. Who was the last Blues player to score against 

Coventry in April 2022? 

4. Which rock band are all big Sky Blues supporters? 

5. Blues and Coventry have played out goalless draws 

in the last four seasons. True or false? 

6. Coventry won the FA Cup in 1987 after beating 

which team in the final? 

7. Blues’ last victory at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead 

Park over today’s visitors came in August 2011 when 

which former League Cup winner scored? 

8. Can you name the two Jamaica internationals in 

Coventry’s ranks? 

9. Name three other clubs Coventry boss Mark Robins 

has managed. 

10. Which goalkeeper remains City’s record 

appearance maker? 


SLIDE TACKLE THIS 

SPORTING TRIVIA... 

1. Which Italian won a first ATP title in almost two years this 

month with victory at the Grand Prix Hassan II? 

2. Name the three English rugby union sides in the quarterfinals 

of the Champions Cup? 

3. Who won the German Darts Grand Prix, beating Michael van 

Gerwen 8-1 in the final? 

4. Which rugby league side have lost all seven of their opening 

Super League games so far this season? 

5. Which endurance runner ran the length of Africa, crossing 16 

countries from South Africa to Tunisia, in 352 days? 

6. Which team lifted the EFL Trophy after a last-minute winner 

at Wembley? 

7. What nationality is Red Bull Formula One driver Sergio 

Perez? 

8. Which side are 14 points clear at the top of Serie A this 

season? 

9. Who were the only side to win their opening four games in 

this year’s Indian Premier League? 

10. In which city is this season’s Europa League Final being 

held? 

ANSWERS: KNOW YOUR OPPONENTS: 1. Highfield Road, 2. Callum O’Hare, 3. Gary Gardner, 4. The Enemy; 5. True, 6. Tottenham Hotspur, 

7. Keith Fahey, 8. Joel Latibeaudiere and Kasey Palmer, 9. Rotherham United, Barnsley, Huddersfield Town or Scunthorpe United, 10. Steve 

Ogrizovic. SLIDE TACKLE THIS TRIVIA: 1. Matteo Berrettini, 2. Exeter Chiefs, Harlequins and Northampton Saints, 3. Luke Humphries, 4. 

London Broncos, 5. Russ Cook (aka ‘Hardest Geezer’), 6. Peterborough United, 7. Mexican, 8. Inter Milan, 9. Rajasthan Royals, 10. Dublin. 


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today’s mascots 

TAYSON PIERCE 

Age: 8 

Favourite player: 

Dion Sanderson 

Favourite goal celebration: 

Jude Bellingham open arms 

LEO PAYNE 

Age: 10 


Juninho Bacuna 


The kneeslide 

OWEN GREEN 

Age: 12 




Sanderson & Bacuna vs 

West Brom 

COREY PRENTICE 

Age: 8 


John Ruddy 


Ronaldo’s “Sui” 

ROHAN KWAME NICHOLLS 

Age: 4 


Krystian Bielik 



Score prediction: 3-2 





EVAN MASTERS 

Age: 14 

ALFIE RICHARDS 

Age: 9 

COHEN HERON 

Age: 9 

DANIEL CANZINI 

Age: 7 

ZAC STORER 

Age: 10 


Lukas Jutkiewicz 


Lukas Jutkiewicz 


Siriki Dembele 


Jordan James 


Jay Stansfield 






The Robot 


The Archer 


Sanderson vs West Brom 






celebration package 

birthday package 

KAYDEN COATES 

Age: 8 


Jay Stansfield 




LOUIE DOLPHIN 

Age: 13 


Ethan Laird 




OLIVER REID 

Age: 13 



Happy 13th Birthday 

Oliver, I hope you have a 

great day! Love mum xxx 

KAREN SHEASBY 

Age: 60 

Favourite player: Keith Birchin 


Happy 60th birthday lots of 

love from David and all the 

family and friends xx KRO! 

DANIEL NEWMAN 

Age: 11 

We hope you had a great 

mascot experience on 

Wednesday! 


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44 | BLUES NEWS BIRMINGHAM CITY V COVENTRY CITY 

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BCFC.COM BLUES NEWS | 45 

MORE THAN 

Football

2 

leicester city 

1 

vs 

birmingham city 

DEWSBURY-HALL (28), MAVIDIDI (87) SCORERS STANSFIELD (45) 

13/7 

55+45+N 65+35+N 

32+68+N 

7/6 68/32 

28+72+N 

SATURDAY 6 APRIL 2024 | SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP | KING POWER STADIUM | ATTENDANCE 31,285 (AWAY 3,254) 

696/333 

SHOTS 

SHOTS ON TARGET 

POSSESSION 

PASSES 

LEICESTER CITY: Hermansen, Pereira, Faes, Vestergaard, Doyle, Ndidi (Praet 82), Winks, Dewsbury-Hall, 

Fatawu (Akgun 82), Daka, Mavididi. Subs not used: Stolarczyk, Justin, Coady, Choudhury, Marcal, Iheanacho, Vardy. 

BLUES: Ruddy, Laird, Aiwu, Sanderson, Buchanan, Bielik (Anderson 58), Miyoshi (Sunjic 58), James (Dembele 80), 

Seung-ho, Bacuna (Pritchard 58), Stansfield (Hogan, 80). Subs not used: Etheridge, Roberts, Drameh, Gardner. 



INTERNATIONAL ROUND-UP: 

BLUES WOMEN 

WITH THE FINAL WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL BREAK OF THE 2023/24 SEASON NOW COMPLETE 

BLUES NEWS LOOKS HOW BLUES WOMEN’S PLAYERS FARED FOR THEIR COUNTRIES. 

Cho So-hyun started the first of a friendly 

double header against the Philippines, with 

South Korea winning 3-0. Choe Yu-ri was 

introduced from the bench in the second-half 

and scored their first goal in the victory. In the 

second fixture they won 2-1, with Yuri starting 

and picking up another goal and an assist. Cho Sohyun 

was a used substitute in the second-half. 


Louise Quinn played the full 90 for the Republic of 

Ireland in their opening UEFA Women’s European 

Championship qualifier against France. Lucy Quinn 

came on in the 77th minute of the 1-0 loss. Lily Agg 

was an unused substitute. 

Both Quinns then started Ireland’s second match 

against England at the Aviva Stadium. The Girls in 

Green were beaten 0-2 in front of a crowd of over 

32,000 in the Irish capital. 

Christie Harrison-Murray came on in the 77th 

minute of Scotland’s 0-0 draw away to Serbia in a 

Euros qualifier on Friday night, having received a 

late call-up to the squad. She was then an unused 

substitute as they beat Slovakia 1-0 at Hampden 

Park on Tuesday night. 

Lucy Thomas played the full match for England 

Under-23s as they ended their season with a 

3-1 win against Sweden to go unbeaten in their 

European League. Neve Herron was an unused 

substitute. 

Rebecca Holloway was an unused substitute for 

both of Northern Ireland’s Euro qualifiers as she 

nursed a minor injury. They drew 0-0 with Malta 

on Friday and beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-3 on 

Tuesday afternoon. 

Well done, all! 


BLUES HOST SECOND 

OPEN HOUSE 

BIRMINGHAM CITY HELD THE SECOND BLUES OPEN HOUSE, 

AMBITION, ON TUESDAY EVENING. 

In the Jasper Carrott Suite at St. Andrew’s @ 

Knighthead Park, 200 supporters, made up of 

Blues Matters applicants, Official Supporters’ 

Club branch leaders, a selection of Blues social 

media and podcast fan hosts and admins, and 40 

Season Ticket holders chosen through a random 

ballot, were given an update on the Football 

Club’s upward trajectory. Many others tuned into 

a live stream on BluesTV. 

Hosted by Tom Ross, there were opening 

remarks from Chief Executive Officer, Garry Cook, 

with him outlining the 2030 ambition, the value 

of the Birrmingham City Foundation, discussing 

commerical growth and detailing the creation of a 

Trevor Francis Memorial Committee, noting plans 

for a statue of Trevor in B9. 

This was followed by an eyecatching insight 


into the various developments at St. Andrew’s 

@ Knighthead Park the Birmingham City Elite 

Performance and Innovation Centre and The 

Knighthead Training and Academy Grounds from 

Head of Infrastructure, Nick Smith, which included 

details on two new free-to-access fan parks to be 

operational for the 2024/25 season. 

It was then time, on a momenutus day for 

Blues, for Chairman of the Board, Tom Wagner, 

to address the room on a range of topics, mainly 

the aim for a new world-class stadium, one 

that will incorporate the heritage and emotion 

of St. Andrew’s, and reiterarted his own and 

Knighthead’s passion for the Football Club. 

Also in attendance were representatives of the 

Board, Matthew Alvarez, Andrew Shannahan, Kyle 

Kneisly, members of the Club’s Leadership Team 

and Interim Manager, Gary Rowett, along with his 

First Team staff. 

The evening concluded with an open forum Q&A, 

with both Wagner and Cook speaking directly to 

supporters in attendance. 


ST. ANDREW’S @ KNIGHTHEAD PARK 

HOSTS KELLOGG’S 

THIS SUMMER, THE EFL, EFL TRUST AND THEIR NETWORK CLUB COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS 

HAVE PARTNERED WITH KELLOGG’S TO LAUNCH THE KELLOGG’S FOOTBALL CAMPS. 

While Club Community Organisations have 

supported their local communities with 

holiday camps for many years, this year 

– teaming up with one of the UK’s most popular 

cereal brands, Kellogg’s – will make the summer 

holiday camps bigger and more exciting than ever. 

Alongside football powerhouses Manchester City, 

Rangers and Celtic, the football camps for girls 

and boys aged 5-15 years will reach from Grimsby 

to Glasgow, and Plymouth to Peterborough, 

supporting parents in keeping their kids active and 

entertained across the nation during the school 

summer holidays. 

Kellogg’s is giving away 30,000 free places for the 

camps before they kick off. 

Legends of the game came together to launch 

Kellogg’s Football Camps at Birmingham City’s 

stadium, St. Andrews @ Knighthead Park, with 

Jermaine Beckford and Michael Dawson, as well as 

children from local schools taking to the pitch to 

celebrate the launch. 

Former Hull City and England defender, Michael 

Dawson, said: “For me, football camps during 

school breaks were where I had the most fun, 

kicking the football around with your mates. The 

EFL has such an advantage being part of so many 

different communities up and down the country, 

and to have Kellogg’s on board this summer to give 

so many kids the same opportunity I had when I 

was younger is really exciting.” 

EFL Director of Community, Debbie Coo,k said: 

“One of the many strengths of the EFL is that we 

can provide football camps for children at the 

heart of communities up and down the country. 

The EFL and our Clubs are excited to join Kellogg’s 

to continue not only creating stronger, healthier 

and more active communities, but also provide 

environments where children can forge longlasting 

friendships through football.” 

Managing Director of Kellanova (the company 

that owns Kellogg’s), Chris Silcock, said: “Most 

families will be within 15 miles of a Kellogg’s 

Football Camp, giving children up and down Britain 

an opportunity to get active this summer. Run by 

FA qualified coaches, the camps aim to be fun 

and to give girls and boys the opportunity to get 

onto the pitch and follow in the footsteps of their 

footballing heroes.” 

Kellogg’s Football Camps sessions will take place 

throughout June and September. To claim a day 

parents can buy a promotional pack in-store, and 

sign their kids up at kelloggsfc.com. 

**18+. GB only. 2,500 camp places released weekly 

during 01/04/24 – 24/06/24. Purchase promo pack 

by 24/06/24 and claim by 16/08/24. Kellogg’s Football 

Camps session times and dates vary club to club. Visit 

kelloggsfc.com to claim camp space. Max 2 claims 

per household. Retain receipt. For further T&Cs, see 

promo packs and visit www.kelloggsfc.com. 


WATCH BLUES UNDER-21S IN B9! 

TICKET DETAILS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED FOR BLUES UNDER-21S HOME 

FIXTURE AGAINST CARDIFF CITY UNDER-21S IN THE PROFESSIONAL 

DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE. 

Birmingham City host the young Bluebirds at 

St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park on Monday 

15 April, kick-off 7pm, with supporters now 

able to secure their seat for the game in B9. 

Ticket prices: 

• Adult - £4 

• Senior/16-22 - £2 

• Under-16s - £2 

• 2023/24 Season Ticket holders - Free 

Additional Information: 

• Tickets can be purchased in advance from Friday 

12 April, 10am 

• Season Ticket holders will be required to show 

their Season Ticket upon entry to the Stadium to 

gain free access to the fixture 

• Tickets can be purchased on the day of the game. 

Both card and cash payments are permitted 

• The lead booker who has purchased match 

tickets under their client reference is responsible 

for the actions of their guests 

• Fans will be located in the Kop Lower 

Tickets can be purchased online, by phoning 

0121 772 0101 (Option 2) or by visiting the 

Birmingham City Ticket Office, St. Andrew’s 

@ Knighthead Park. Disabled supporters can 

purchase tickets by calling the ticket office on 

0121 772 0101 (option 2), 

*A £1 postage fee will be applied per transaction for 

the first-class postage of tickets 


supporters’ messages 

Happy 60th Birthday, Phil Cannells! 

Happy 70th Birthday, Ken Moore! 

Derek Vinning 

Sadly lost but will always be remembered. 

Lifelong fan and a True Bluenose. 

RIP Dad. 1942 - 2024 

Happy birthday Jasmine hope you have a 

amazing day love you lots love Justin KRO ♥ 

Happy 8th Birthday to our daughter Connie 

Edwards!! Hope you have a great day! 

Lots of Love from Mummy, Daddy, Maddison, 

Ella, Georgina and Joshua. xxxxx. 

Ralph was a lifelong Blues supporter who held a 

season ticket most seasons for over 50 years. 

Ralph will be hugely missed by his partner Helen, 

daughters Lucy and Amy and son Daniel as well as 

his many Bluenose friends he made over the years. 


Happy Birthday Roman, 

lots of love Mum, Dad and the lads in 22. 

Happy 73rd Birthday to Rod Hadley. 

Lots of love from all the Family. 

Happy 16th Birthday Ethan, KRO! 

Happy 11th Birthday Tommy Graham, KRO! 

Happy 8th Birthday Callum 

Hope you have an amazing day 

Lots of love from Mom, Dad and Leah 

Keep Right On! 

Wishing Thomas Logue a happy 77th birthday. 

Love and best wishes, 

Alice, Peter and Martin. 


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. 

“NOT A BAD-LOOKING CROSS… HARFORD! 

HE’S GOT IT! YES! MICK HARFORD! AND 

MICK HARFORD GOES HURTLING AWAY 

TO THOSE BIRMINGHAM CITY FANS…” 

Commentator Hugh Johns, Highfield Road, Saturday 15 May 1982. 

Blues have had more than their fair share 

of last day dramas in their time, but for 

fans of a certain age, the final day of 

the 1981/82 campaign is one of most 

memorable. That season, the Club were into the 

fifth and final year of their kit deal with adidas 

and the yellow away shirt is the focus of today’s 

Attired & Weary, worn by the team during that 

nail-biting finale. 

From midway through the 1979/80 season and 

throughout the 1980/81 and 1981/82 campaigns, 

Blues had switched to a V-neck collar (following 

the round-neck years of 1977-79) and used two 

subtly different shirt designs across that twoand-a-half-year 

period. Shirt history publications 

generally state that the team wore yellow with a 

blue trim in 1980/81, before switching to a black 

trim for 1981/82. However, it is not quite that clear 

cut. 

Blues began 1981/82 at Goodison Park, losing 3-1 

to Everton, with debutant Tony van Mierlo netting 

for Birmingham City that day. The team wore the 

previous season’s away kit; yellow with the blue 

trim, complete with yellow shorts and socks. 

MICK HARFORD CELEBRARTING 

AT HIGHFIELD ROAD 

THE BLACK-TRIMMED YELLOW AT 

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION… 

…AND AT IPSWICH TOWN. 


Thereafter, in four of the 

five games Blues were 

forced into a change 

of strip on the road 

(always against 

home teams with 

some form of blue 

in their shirts) they 

wore a different 

version; a black 

trim on the 

yellow shirts, 

complete with 

black shorts 

and socks. 

This is why the 

black trim design is considered 

the ‘official’ away kit for that 

season. However, inexplicably, 

midway through the campaign, 

the blue trimmed yellow made 

a comeback appearance at the 

Hawthorns in a 1-1 draw with 

West Bromwich Albion in March 

1982. It was to be the final time 

we saw it in action. 

The final time the black 

trim was worn was at today’s 

opponents Coventry City 

on Saturday 15 May 1982, 

the final day of the season. 

Quite simply, Blues had 

to win at Highfield Road 

to ensure that top-flight 

survival was in their own 

hands. With time running 

out, substitute Ian 

Handysides twisted and 

turned on the left-wing 

before floating an inviting 

cross into the box, where Mick Harford 

stole a march on his defender to 

head past goalkeeper Les Sealey, 

sending the travelling Bluenoses 

into raptures. The win in the black 

trim was the first and last time Blues 

tasted victory in that kit. Talk about 

saving the best till last! 

Although children’s replicas were 

produced at the time, there are very 

few of them still around, and even 

less player versions of either the blue 

or black trimmed away 

jerseys. We are 

fortunate to be 

able to showcase 

a black-trimmed 

no.16 today, which 

of course, would 

not have been 

worn in a league 

game, with there 

being only one 

substitute 

allowed who 

would have 

worn the 

no.12. Feasibly, it 

could have been worn 

in some of the 16 friendlies 

Blues played during that 

season. However, we know 

that Blues again reverted 

to the yellow with blue 

trim design during the 

midseason ‘Sports Argus 

Arctic Cup’, a tournament 

held in Guernsey in January, 

when ‘The Big Snow of 

1982’ ground the domestic 

football calendar to a 

halt. 

Of course, for Harford, 

history repeated itself 

again almost exactly 

12 months later, 

another 0-1 away 

win, this time at 

Southampton, 

ensured Blues 

retained their 

status in old First 

Division for another season. Oh, 

for those heady days to return… 

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. 


Former Player Interview 

David Davis 

Four games to go, six hours of football before 

Birmingham City’s fate is decided. Pressure? 

What pressure? 

That was the attitude of former Blues midfielder 

David Davis, part of the 2016/17 squad that had to win 

their final two games to retain a place in the Sky Bet 

Championship. If supporters remember his approach, 

it will come as no surprise to hear that he relished the 

challenge. 

“The pressure is tough, but I always played better 

when the pressure was on. We probably had five or 

six players that you could look at in the dressing room 

and think, ‘He’s going to have my back today’ and vice 

versa. I never felt worried in those crunch games. I 

knew when our backs were against the wall, we would 

be ok. I know we’d had a poor result against Burton, 

I know we tried our best to mess it up, but I knew 

that on our day, we could handle anything. It was the 

same set of players that were performing well under 

previous managers, so we could pull it out again.” 

Davis was always one to accept the reality of a 

situation, something he picked up when he went on 

trial to Wolverhampton Wanderers at 15. 

“You get picked to go there for a reason because 

you’re the best player in a small team, but when you 

get there, everyone has been the best player in their 

team. You don’t stand out any longer! It was a good 

learning curve and a bit of a shock. 

J.S. Spooner 

Contracts Ltd 

Mechanical Installations 


“I came through it, got a contract and had some 

loans. Inverness Caley Thistle was probably my most 

important. Away from home, I grew up, became 

independent and grasped football in a top league as 

well. Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Hibs, Aberdeen, the 

SPL was perfect for me for learning standards and 

experiencing big stadiums. You play at Ibrox, Celtic 

Park, Tynecastle and you’re used to anything you’ll get 

in England.” 

Davis made his way into Wolves’ first team before 

an ankle injury derailed his progress. A move to 

Birmingham City in August 2014 ignited his career again. 

“I loved my time here and as soon as Gary Rowett 

came in, I probably played my best football under him. 

He was one of those managers where there were no 

grey areas. You knew what he wanted from you. On 

paper, that was probably the weakest Birmingham 

side that I played in, but we performed the best, 

especially in the league. Nobody enjoyed playing Blues 

at that time. I think the thing that cost us was we’d 

beat the big teams because they didn’t fancy playing 

against us, but because we’d beaten those big teams, 

we’d go into the smaller games thinking that we were 

the favourites and we’d trip up. 

“The way Blues fans wanted us to play suited me. I’d 

always thrived on being the underdog. I was probably 

never the best player in the academy, so I was always 

a fighter and that suited the way things were at Blues. 

I was a hard worker and a grafter. I tried to leave 

everything on the pitch. Even to this day, I still see a lot 

of Blues fans and the amount of love I’ve been shown, I 

realise now how much of an impact I had and how they 

took to me as a player. 

“All Blues fans want you to do is give 110% win, lose 

or draw. It’s a working man’s football club. People work 

hard for their money, and they spend it coming to 

watch a game and they expect you to give everything, 

whether you perform well or not. I’m from Smethwick, 

just up the road, I realise what it means to play for this 

club and the passion of the supporters, especially 

when you came to those derby games. I’ve got Blues 

family, Villa family, I understood that rivalry. Playing 

week in, week out and fighting for the shirt probably 

was the easiest thing to me, not just because of the 

way I played, but also because of where I’m from.” 

When it comes to derby games, Davis had one 

particularly memorable afternoon against Aston Villa 

in October 2016. 

“It was the first derby in the league for a few years. 

We were flying under the Gaffer, we went behind 

and then I got the equaliser. To score against Villa, I 

still can’t describe the feeling. It still feels surreal. I 

look back at it now and when I see clips of it, I still get 

goosebumps. I haven’t really seen the stadium erupt 

like that since. Maybe in the next couple of weeks, it 

will!” 

Over his career at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park, 

Davis went through a string of managers, and he 

understands the difficulties that can cause players. 

“It’s really tough as a footballer. As players, we see 

things from a football point of view, not a business. 

When changes happen, it’s hard. Gary Rowett leaving, 

Garry Monk leaving, for us, we felt like it had clicked. 

We were playing good football. We understood the 

manager. He understood us. We were all going in the 

same direction. But you just have to roll your sleeves 

up and get on with it.” 

Davis is still a keen follower of all things Birmingham 

City and was delighted to hear of the Sports Quarter 

plans earlier this week. 

“When I saw the news, I had a big smile on my face. 

I’ve got that affinity with the club. I want the club to go 

where I know it can, so to see news like that proves 

the commitment of the Owners. Let’s get over the line 

this season, and see where the club can go. I really 

hope that they can pull it off. The big is having Gary 

Rowett there. If anyone can get them out of it, it’s 

the Gaffer. Let’s get the Blues side of the city smiling 

again!” 


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 

hour 

hour 

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 

report@bcfc.com WEBSITE REPORTING by email 

to report any incidents of discrimination 

HERGAMETOO.CO.UK 

or 

> Use 

abuse 

VIA APP 

report@bcfc.com 

including those to report 

on social 

> WEBSITE any 

media. 

REPORTING 

incidents of discrimination 

> THIRD or EMAIL abuse report@kickitout.org PARTY including REPORTING 

those on social media. 

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: 

KICKITOUT.ORG 

> WEBSITE THIRD REPORTING PARTY REPORTING 


bcfc.com 

KICKITOUT.ORG 

> WEBSITE VIA APP In THIRD REPORTING addition PARTY 

to the Club REPORTING 

reporting 


> WEBSITE REPORTING lines, the following can also be utilised: 

> 

KICKITOUT.ORG 

EMAIL WEBSITE VIA APP report@kickitout.org 

In REPORTING 

addition to the Club reporting HERGAMETOO.CO.UK 

> WEBSITE REPORTING 

lines, the following can also be utilised: 

> EMAIL VIA WEBSITE APP report@kickitout.org 

REPORTING 

> HERGAMETOO.CO.UK 

WEBSITE REPORTING 

KICKITOUT.ORG 

EMAIL VIA APP report@kickitout.org 

qr 


code 



EMAIL report@kickitout.org 

> VIA APP 


> EMAIL report@kickitout.org bcfc.com 

bcfc.com 

bcfc.com 

bcfc.com 

bcfc.com 


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. 


1 

Colchester United under-21s 

1 

vs 

blues under-21s 

MONDAY 8 APRIL | PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE NORTH | WALLACE BINDER, MALDON 

B 

lues Under-21s drew against Colchester United 

in the Professional Development League on 

Monday afternoon. 

Birmingham City were forced to settle for a point in 

Essex, missing out on the opportunity to extend their 

lead at the summit of the PDL North table. 

An early own goal from the hosts was quickly 

cancelled out as both sides were on the scoresheet 

inside the opening 10 minutes. Each then had huge 

chances to go level, including a missed penalty for the 

visitors and two strikes against the post from the U’s, 

but neither could find a winner. 

COLCHESTER UNITED: Ted Collins, Ryan Lowe, 

Bailey Lamb, Archie Oliver, Byan Aman, Riley Jolliffe, 

Trialist 1, Kai Martin (Jet Dyer 70), Kalil Green (Oliver 

Godziemski 70), Trialist 2, Oscar Thorn (captain). 

Substitutes not used: Harrison Chamberlain, Al-Amin 

Kosoko, Makhaya James. 

Bookings: Lamb 14, Jolliffe 86 

BLUES: Brad Mayo, Byron Pendleton, Zach Willis, 

Laiith Fairnie (Will Burrell 74), Marcel Oakley (Cameron 

Eubank 74), Josh Home (Captain), Menzi Mazwi, Harley 

Hamilton (O’Shea Ellis 70), Romelle Donovan, Kieran 

Wakefield (Frank Tattum 70), Junior Dixon. 

Substitutes not used: Tyrese Warmington. 

Booking: Pendleton 76. 

The game was barely a minute old when Blues 

found the breakthrough. Under pressure from Kieran 

Wakefield, Colchester defender Oscar Thorn played a 

back pass that rolled past his goalkeeper and straight 

into the net. 

Not to be deterred, though, the U’s forced a brilliant 

stop from Brad Mayo to keep Archie Oliver out from 

point-blank range, before Trialist 1 fired them level from 

a similar position soon after. 

Wakefield then had a big opportunity to put Blues 

back ahead when he was sent in on goal by Byron 

Pendleton’s defence-splitting pass, but the forward 

could only skim the outside of the post with his shot. 

Multiple breakthroughs followed as Harley Hamilton, 

Junior Dixon and Marcel Oakley all had efforts saved, 

but Colchester held on for the half-time whistle to go 

in level. 

Despite Birmingham’s dominance to end the half, it 

was the home team who threatened straight after the 

break. Thorn almost amended for his early mistake 

when he caught a volley perfectly from just inside the 

18-yard box, but the ball cannoned off the inside of the 

post and out. Marcel Oakley then denied the U’s captain 

with a diving, goalline block minutes later. 

Menzi Mazwi was next to be played through on goal 

but a last-ditch tackle from Byan Aman cleared the 

danger before Romelle Donovan’s powerful drive was 

saved. 

The golden chance would come from the penalty spot 

with five minutes to go. Donovan was felled following 

some silky footwork in the 18-yard box, but goalkeeper 

Ted Collins got down well to keep out Dixon’s spot-kick. 

Speaking to BCFC.com post-match, Under-21s Head 

Coach, Spooner, admitted his frustration at the way 

his side were unable to control the game, but was 

somewhat relieved they came away with a point. 

“I was pleased with the first-half and how we created 

opportunities, but in the second-half they changed 

things up and we really struggled. In the end, I thought 

they were much the better side after half-time and I am 

glad we managed to get the point. 

“We were not able to get the ball down and play our 

passing game, which the pitch really did not help us 

with. All in all, we have to pick ourselves up and focus on 

the game next week, which is a really big one for us.” 

The Under-21s return to home action when they 

host Cardiff City at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park on 

Monday 15 April, kick-off 7pm. 


0 

blues under-18s 

2 

vs 

coventry city under-18s 

THURSDAY 4 APRIL | PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE NORTH | THE KNIGHTHEAD TRAINING & ACADEMY GROUNDS 

Blues Under-18s were beaten by Coventry City 

in the Professional Development League on 

Thursday afternoon. 

Birmingham City’s remarkable eight-game winning 

streak came to an end with goals from Joshua Gordon 

and Constantine Panayiotou proving decisive at The 

Knighthead Training and Academy Grounds. 

Despite this setback, Martyn Olorenshaw’s side are 

still in a commanding position, with a 19-point lead at 

the top of the table. 

The hosts started the game strongly as O’Shea Ellis 

and Caleb Sanders both saw their efforts saved by 

Luis Lines. However, in what was a quiet first-half, the 

best chance fell to the visitors when Jayden Smith 

broke free for a one-on-one encounter, only to be 

denied by Szymon Terenowicz who made a good save 

with his feet. 

Towards the end of the period, Frank Tattum had a 

couple of half-chances as he saw his left-footed strike 

from just outside the box go wide and had a toe-poke 

just inside the six-yard box saved by the Sky Blues’ 

goalkeeper. 

After the restart, in the 53rd minute, Coventry took 

the lead as Gordon’s towering header from a corner 

burst the net. 

In a bid to turn the tide, Olorenshaw made an 

attacking double change, introducing Zaid Betteka 

and Jack Quirk. Despite this endeavour Blues 

struggled to find their rhythm in front of goal. A 

moment of hope did emerge as Alvaro Ruiz-Rente’s 

delivery found Betteka in the box but the winger mishit 

the ball and when it deflected into the path of Tattum, 

his attempt was cleared off the line by Gordon. 

Mark Delaney’s side then went down the other end 

just two minutes later and doubled their advantage 

through Panayiotou following a miscommunication 

from Blues at the back. 

Speaking to BCFC.com post-match, Under-18s Lead 

BLUES: Terenowicz, Briscoe (Quirk 60), 

Boakye, Wynne, Eubank (Captain), Tattum, Ellis 

(Bateman 85), Ruiz-Rente (Isichei 85), Burrell, 

Sanders, Wodskou (Betteka 60). 

Substitutes not used: Warmington. 

Bookings: Tattum 16, Boakye 46, Eubank 84. 

Coach, Olorenshaw, said he does not want the players 

to overract at the outcome. 

“It has been a big slog for us as winning eight games 

in a row is not easy. Everyone is very quick to forget 

that. I don’t want the players to catastrophise. It is a 

blip and we will deal with it and move on.” 

Despite the defeat, Olorenshaw believed there were 

still positives to take away from the game. 

“I thought at times we defended the goal really well 

in the first-half. The response in the second-half was 

quite good, we tweaked our shape and we started to 

get a foothold in the game. 

“We just did not work the goalkeeper enough today 

and did not create clear-cut chances so that is the 

disappointing part.” 

The Under-18s are back in action when they visit 

Queens Park Rangers Under-18s at the TSG Training 

Centre on Saturday 13 April, kick-off 12pm. 

Report by Eryk Cybulski 


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 0-0 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 0-0 LEAGUE 20 21,231 RUDDY DRAMEH SANDERSON DONOVAN LONGELO BACUNA DEMBÉLÉ 

JANUARY 

mon 01 3pm LEEDS UNITED A 0-3 LEAGUE 20 36,086 RUDDY BURKE SANDERSON BUCHANAN LONGELO BACUNA DEMBÉLÉ 

sat 06 3pm HULL CITY A 1-1 FA CUP - 12,200 ETHERIDGE ❚ DRAMEH SANDERSON ❚ BUCHANAN LONG BIELIK ❚ DEMBÉLÉ ❚ 

sat 13 3pm SWANSEA CITY H 2-2 LEAGUE 20 21,116 RUDDY DRAMEH SANDERSON LONG BUCHANAN ❚ BIELIK SUNJIC ❚ 

TUE 16 7.45PM HULL CITY H 2-1 FA CUP - 7,133 RUDDY DRAMEH BIELIK BUCHANAN LONGELO ANDERSON JAMES 

sat 20 3pm stoke city A 2-1 LEAGUE 20 25,058 RUDDY DRAMEH BIELIK SANDERSON BUCHANAN JAMES SUNJIC 

sat 27 3pm LEICESTER CITY H 0-3 FA CUP - 28,396 RUDDY LAIRD AIWU BIELIK BUCHANAN JAMES SUNJIC 

FEBRUARY 

sat 03 3pm WEST BROMWICH ALBION A 0-1 LEAGUE 19 25,235 ETHERIDGE LAIRD BIELIK ❚ LONG BUCHANAN ❚ DOZZELL ❚ SUNJIC 

fri 09 8pm SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY A 0-2 LEAGUE 19 25,431 ETHERIDGE LAIRD BIELIK LONG BUCHANAN DOZZELL SUNJIC 

tue 13 7.45pm BLACKBURN ROVERS H 1-0 LEAGUE 18 18,117 RUDDY DRAMEH BIELIK ROBERTS LAIRD DOZZELL 1 SEUNG-HO 

sat 17 3pm SUNDERLAND H 2-1 LEAGUE 15 27,449 RUDDY DRAMEH BIELIK ROBERTS LAIRD DOZZELL SEUNG-HO 

sat 24 3pm IPSWICH TOWN A 1-3 LEAGUE 18 29,363 RUDDY DRAMEH SANDERSON ROBERTS LAIRD DOZZELL SEUNG-HO 

MARCH 

sat 02 3pm SOUTHAMPTON H 3-4 LEAGUE 20 21,611 RUDDY LAIRD ❚ SANDERSON ❚ AIWU BUCHANAN DOZZELL SEUNG-HO 

tue 05 7.45pm HULL CITY A 1-1 LEAGUE 19 20,398 RUDDY DRAMEH AIWU BUCHANAN LAIRD SUNJIC ❚ DOZZELL 

sat 09 3pm MILLWALL A 0-1 LEAGUE 21 17,008 RUDDY DRAMEH AIWU ROBERTS BUCHANAN SUNJIC SEUNG-HO 

tue 12 7.45PM MIDDLESBROUGH H 0-1 LEAGUE 21 17,829 RUDDY LAIRD AIWU ROBERTS BUCHANAN DOZZELL SEUNG-HO 

sat 16 3pm WATFORD H 0-1 LEAGUE 21 21,266 RUDDY LAIRD AIWU BUCHANAN DRAMEH SEUNG-HO SUNJIC 

fri 29 3pm QUEENS PARK RANGERS A 1-2 LEAGUE 21 17,170 RUDDY LAIRD ❚ AIWU BUCHANAN SANDERSON SEUNG-HO BIELIK 

APRIL 

mon 01 3pm PRESTON NORTH END H 1-0 LEAGUE 20 24,511 RUDDY LAIRD ❚ AIWU BUCHANAN SANDERSON SEUNG-HO BIELIK 

sat 06 3pm LEICESTER CITY A 1-2 LEAGUE 22 31,825 RUDDY LAIRD AIWU BUCHANAN SANDERSON SEUNG-HO BIELIK ❚ 

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 12.30pm 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 

JAMES STANSFIELD AIWU SUNJIC ANDERSON (63) ROBERTS (64) BURKE (64) ETHERIDGE, JUTKIEWICZ, MIYOSHI, GARDNER, OAKLEY, LONG 

JAMES STANSFIELD ❚ AIWU SUNJIC ❚ ROBERTS (62) GARDNER (62) ETHERIDGE, JUTKIEWICZ, MIYOSHI, ANDERSON, OAKLEY, LONG, DONOVAN 

JUTKIEWICZ 1 ❚ STANSFIELD GARDNER MIYOSHI JAMES ❚ (58) DONOVAN (77) ANDERSON (83) HOGAN (83) BACUNA, SUNJIC, AIWU, BURKE, MAYO 

STANSFIELD ❚ MIYOSHI DEMBÉLÉ 1 HOGAN ❚ BACUNA (65) JAMES (65) 1 ❚ ROBERTS (65) AIWU (84) JUTKIEWICZ (84) ETHERIDGE, ANDERSON, GARDNER, BURKE 

GARDNER BACUNA DONOVAN BURKE ROBERTS (62) MIYOSHI 1 (63) DEMBÉLÉ (63) STANSFIELD 1 (63) SUNJIC (64) MAYO, HOGAN, LONG, SANDERSON 

MIYOSHI BACUNA 1 DEMBÉLÉ STANSFIELD 1 ROBERTS (67) DOZZELL (71) LONG (75) ETHERIDGE, HOGAN, ANDERSON, GARDNER, AIWU, BURKE 

MIYOSHI ANDERSON DEMBÉLÉ STANSFIELD ROBERTS (45) ❚ ROBERT (62) ❚ BURKE (62) HOGAN (63) DONOVAN (74) ETHERIDGE, GARDNER, LONGELO, LONG 

MIYOSHI PRITCHARD DEMBÉLÉ STANSFIELD JAMES (45) BACUNA (57) SEUNG-HO (67) ANDERSON (75) MAYO, ROBERTS, ROBERTS, HOGAN, AIWU 

BACUNA JAMES DEMBÉLÉ HOGAN SEUNG-HO (54) STANSFIELD (55) MIYOSHI (65) ROBERTS (65) ANDERSON (76) MAYO, DRAMEH, GARDNER, ROBERTS 

ROBERTS MIYOSHI JAMES STANSFIELD BACUNA (66) DEMBÉLÉ (66) ANDERSON (82) ETHERIDGE, BUCHANAN, JUTKIEWICZ, GARDNER, LONG, SUNJIC 

ROBERTS MIYOSHI 1 JAMES 1 STANSFIELD BACUNA (66) DEMBÉLÉ (66) JUTKIEWICZ(90+1) ETHERIDGE, BUCHANAN, ANDERSON, GARDNER, SUNJIC, AIWU 

ROBERTS MIYOSHI JAMES 1 STANSFIELD BACUNA (63) DEMBÉLÉ (63) SUNJIC (64) GARDNER (85) JUTKIEWICZ (90) ETHERIDGE, BUCHANAN, HOGAN, AIWU 

BACUNA 1 MIYOSHI 1 ❚ JAMES STANSFIELD 1 DRAMEH (68) PRITCHARD (68) SUNJIC ❚ (80) HALL (90+6) ROBERTS (90+6) ETHERIDGE, HOGAN, JUTKIEWICZ, DEMBÉLÉ 

BACUNA DEMBÉLÉ JAMES ❚ ROBERTS SEUNG-HO (59) STANSFIELD (58) ❚ HALL (59) PRITCHARD (59) JUTKIEWICZ (80) ETHERIDGE, MYOSHI, GARDNER, LONGELO 

MIYOSHI PRITCHARD BACUNA STANSFIELD HALL (73) JAMES (83) JUTKIEWICZ (83) ETHERIDGE, LAIRD, ROBERTS, DOZZELL, DEMBELE, GARDNER 

MIYOSHI PRITCHARD JAMES STANSFIELD DRAMEH (19) BACUNA (45) HALL (45) JUTKIEWICZ (70) ROBERTS (78) ETHERIDGE, GARDNER, LONGELO, SUNJIC 

BACUNA MIYOSHI JAMES STANSFIELD ROBERTS (72) JUTKIEWICZ (72) HALL (83) GARDNER (83) HOGAN (90+7) ETHERIDGE, SANDERSON, DOZZELL, LONGELO 

DRAMEH BACUNA 1 ROBERTS ❚ STANSFIELD MIYOSHI (73) HOGAN (84) JAMES (85) GARDNER (90+1) ETHERIDGE, ANDERSON, DEMBELE, SUNJIC, HALL 

MIYOSHI JAMES BACUNA STANSFIELD 1 DOZZELL (54) ANDERSON (81) HOGAN (81) SUNJIC (90+2) GARDNER (90+2) ETHERIDGE ROBERTS, DRAMEH, DEMBELE 

MIYOSHI JAMES ❚ BACUNA STANSFIELD 1 SUNJIC (58) ANDERSON (58) PRITCHARD (58) DEMBELE (80) HOGAN (80) ETHERIDGE, ROBERTS, DRAMEH, GARDNER 


ROLL CALL & LEAGUE TABLE 

PLAYER LEAGUE FA CUP LEAGUE CUP 

APPS / GLS APPS / GLS APPS / GLS 

Emanuel Aiwu 21 (2) 0 1 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 

Keshi Anderson 8 (7) 0 2 (1) 0 1 (0) 0 

Juninho Bacuna 29 (11) 7 1 (0) 0 2 (0) 2 

Krystian Bielik 30 (1) 0 3 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 

Lee Buchanan 27 (0) 0 3 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 

Oliver Burke 10 (10) 0 1 (1) 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 23 (8) 6 2 (1) 0 0 (1) 0 

Romelle Donovan 1 (6) 0 1 (2) 0 0 (0) 0 

Andre Dozzell 8 (2) 1 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 

Cody Drameh 23 (4) 0 2 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 

Neil Etheridge 2 (0) 0 1 (0) 0 2 (0) 0 

Gary Gardner 1 (13) 1 2 (0) 0 0 (2) 0 

George Hall 0 (6) 0 0 (0) 0 1 (0) 0 

Scott Hogan 11 (12) 1 0 (2) 0 0 (1) 1 

Jordan James 23 (16) 8 2 (1) 0 2 (0) 0 

Zach Jeacock 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 

Lukas Jutkiewicz 3 (23) 3 1 (0) 1 2 (0) 0 

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

Ethan Laird 19 (1) 0 1 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 

Kevin Long 16 (1) 0 1 (0) 0 2 (0) 0 

Emmanuel Longelo 10 (7) 0 1 (0) 0 2 (0) 0 

Koji Miyoshi 25 (13) 5 2 (1) 1 1 (1) 0 

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

Paik Seung-Ho 10 (3) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 

Alex Pritchard 3 (3) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 

Marc Roberts 10 (3) 0 0 (1) 0 0 (1) 0 

Tyler Roberts 6 (9) 0 0 (2) 0 0 (0) 0 

John Ruddy 39 (0) 0 2 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 

Dion Sanderson 32 (0) 1 1 (0) 0 2 (0) 0 

Jay Stansfield 34 (4) 11 2 (1) 1 1 (0) 0 

Ivan Sunjic 27 (5) 0 1 (1) 0 1 (1) 0 

Team Pl W D L F A GD Pts 

1 Leicester City 41 28 4 9 79 37 42 88 

2 Leeds United 42 26 9 7 76 33 43 87 

3 Ipswich Town 41 26 9 6 84 52 32 87 

4 Southampton 40 23 9 8 78 52 26 78 

5 West Bromwich Albion 41 19 12 10 64 41 23 69 

6 Norwich City 42 20 8 14 75 60 15 68 

7 Coventry City 41 17 12 12 66 49 17 63 

8 Preston North End 41 18 9 14 56 56 0 63 

9 Middlesbrough 41 18 7 16 58 53 5 61 

10 Hull City 40 17 10 13 57 52 5 61 

11 Cardiff City 41 17 5 19 46 57 -11 56 

12 Bristol City 41 15 9 17 44 45 -1 54 

13 Sunderland 42 15 8 19 51 50 1 53 

14 Watford 41 12 15 14 57 55 2 51 

15 Swansea City 41 12 11 18 49 62 -13 47 

16 Queens Park Rangers 42 12 11 19 40 54 -14 47 

17 Millwall 42 12 11 19 39 54 -15 47 

18 Blackburn Rovers 41 12 10 19 56 66 -10 46 

19 Stoke City 41 12 10 19 40 56 -16 46 

20 Plymouth Argyle 42 11 12 19 57 66 -9 45 

21 Huddersfield Town 42 9 16 17 46 69 -23 43 

22 Sheffield Wednesday 42 12 7 23 35 66 -31 43 

23 BIRMINGHAM CITY 41 11 9 21 45 63 -18 42 

24 Rotherham United 41 4 11 26 32 82 -50 23 



BIRMINGHAM 

CITY 

INTERIM MANAGER: GARY ROWETT 

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 ■ ■ 

PAIK SEUNG-HO 13 ■ ■ 

KESHI ANDERSON 14 ■ ■ 

ALFIE CHANG 15 ■ ■ 

ANDRE DOZZELL 16 ■ ■ 

SIRIKI DEMBELE 17 ■ ■ 

JOSH WILLIAMS 18 ■ ■ 

JORDAN JAMES 19 ■ ■ 

GARY GARDNER 20 ■ ■ 

GK 

JOHN RUDDY 21 ■ ■ 

EMMANUEL LONGELO 23 ■ ■ 

MARCEL OAKLEY 24 ■ ■ 

JAY STANSFIELD 28 ■ ■ 

ALEX PRITCHARD 29 ■ ■ 

IVAN SUNJIC 34 ■ ■ 

GEORGE HALL 35 ■ ■ 

JUNIOR DIXON 43 ■ ■ 

EMANUEL AIWU 44 ■ ■ 

OLIVER BURKE 45 ■ ■ 

JOSH HOME 47 ■ ■ 

GK 

BRAD MAYO 48 ■ ■ 

ROMELLE DONOVAN 49 ■ ■ 

VS 

THE NEXT CHAPTER 

COVENTRY 

CITY 

MANAGER: MARK ROBINS 

■ ■ 1 SIMON MOORE GK 

■ ■ 2 LUIS BINKS 

■ ■ 3 JAY DASILVA 

■ ■ 4 BOBBY THOMAS 

■ ■ 6 LIAM KELLY 

■ ■ 7 TATSUHIRO SAKAMOTO 

■ ■ 8 JAMIE ALLEN 

■ ■ 9 ELLIS SIMMS 

■ ■ 10 CALLUM O’HARE 

■ ■ 11 HAJI WRIGHT 

■ ■ 13 BEN WILSON GK 

■ ■ 14 BEN SHEAF 

■ ■ 15 LIAM KITCHING 

■ ■ 21 JAKE BIDWELL 

■ ■ 22 JOEL LATIBEAUDIERE 

■ ■ 24 MATT GODDEN 

■ ■ 27 MILAN VAN EWIJK 

■ ■ 28 JOSH ECCLES 

■ ■ 29 VICTOR TORP 

■ ■ 30 FÁBIO TAVARES 

■ ■ 40 BRADLEY COLLINS GK 

■ ■ 45 KASEY PALMER 

SATURDAY 

4 MAY 

KICK OFF 12.30PM 

MATCH OFFICIALS | REFEREE THOMAS BRAMALL | ASSISTANT REFEREES NICK HOPTON | WADE SMITH | FOURTH OFFICIAL DECLAN BOURNE 

OFFICIAL MATCH 

SPONSOR 

OFFICIAL ASSOCIATE 

SPONSOR 

OFFICIAL MANAGER 

SPONSOR 

OFFICIAL MATCHBALL 

SPONSOR 

OFFICIAL PROGRAMME 

SPONSOR 

OFFICIAL PLAYER OF 

THE MATCH SPONSOR

Birmingham City v Coventry City

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