August – the height of the wedding season and the beginning of another football season. For us fans, it is an opportunity to forgive the foibles of our clubs during the last campaign and renew our vows with the purchase of a new season ticket or replica shirt. We become sporting versions of the “bride-to-be” as the butterflies begin to flutter with the approach of the opening fixtures. We fervently hope that the new additions to the team, like in-laws meeting for the first time, will get along with each other. And we trust that all the money has been well spent.
For my part, I support Birmingham City. Our 27 year bond has had its ups and, more frequently, downs. The relationship has often been strained by numerous relegations and following the humiliation of defeat by Altrincham in the 3rd round of the FA Cup in 1986, I seriously contemplated divorce proceedings. However, the romance has endured the test of time with some notable highlights culminating in the most significant of all – victory over Arsenal in the Carling Cup Final in February (our first major trophy in 48 years) and subsequent qualification for the Europa League.
These ought to be the halcyon days of our marriage yet I and thousands more Blues fans find ourselves trudging off to see the Relate counselor once again. Our owner, Carson Yeung, faces money laundering charges inHong Kong, the team suffered relegation in May, the “crown jewels” have been sold off amid rumours of financial strife and, most galling of all, manager Alex McLeish resigned and joined bitter rivals Aston Villa (the equivalent of your beloved running off with the neighbour from hell).
Despite all this, BCFC and I remain together – till death do us part. The simple truth is that I couldn’t be with anyone else so here’s to another season with my “bride’s guide” to the Blues:
Something old – Stephen Carr turns 35 this month. He is club captain and leads by example. He signed for Birmingham in February 2009 having been coaxed out of retirement by McLeish following a persistent knee injury and has rarely missed a game since his arrival. Carr plays with his heart on his sleeve. His committed approach to the game has endeared him to the Blues faithful and also landed him in trouble with opposition fans. Blues will need his steel, drive and inspiration in their quest to make an immediate return to the top flight.
Something new – Chris Hughton is the new man at the helm and many of the 2011/12 squad are new to St Andrews as his re-building task gets underway. Given the recent upheaval at the club, it is somehow poetically apt that he once wrote a column for the Workers Revolutionary Party publication, News Line. He is a likeable figure who gained a great deal of respect within the game following his surprising dismissal by Newcastle United having guided them to a mid-table Premiership position. Hughton has had to use a great deal of guile in the transfer market, given the lack of funds at his disposal, to regenerate the team. Boaz Myhill, Stephen Caldwell, Morgaro Gomis, Chris Burke, Adam Rooney and Chris Wood are all new arrivals. However, it is youth products Jordan Mutch and Nathan Redmond who are possibly generating the greatest excitement among Bluenoses. Mutch brings an exciting blend of power and grace to the midfield whilstRedmond is a sparky, “will-o-the-wisp” winger who is already drawing comparisons with (whisper it) Trevor Francis.
Something borrowed – I feel very sorry for Boaz Myhill. Blues new on-loan keeper has a very tough act to follow. Birmingham’s custodians over the last two seasons have beenEngland internationals Joe Hart and Ben Foster. Myhill has arrived at the club as part of the loan deal which has seen Foster controversially shipped out toWest Brom for the season in an attempt to ease pressure on the wage bill. Despite drawing criticism from some Blues fans for his part in our opening day defeat atDerbyCounty, Myhill has pedigree of his own. He amassed 257 appearances for a successfulHullCity side between 2003-10, including a memorable performance earning the Tigers a point at Tottenham in January 2010. Good luck, Boaz!
Something blue – Blues fans are often acknowledged for their stoicism but recent events have tested this attribute to its limit. These are troubling times. There is some despondency and a feeling that a potentially golden era for the club has been squandered. However, we have known darker days in our history and the gallows humour on the terraces atSt Andrews remains intact. In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer we will follow the Blues, as the club’s anthem goes, to the end of the road…
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A good read except for . . .
” . . . and, most galling of all, manager Alex McLeish resigned and joined bitter rivals Aston Villa.”
That’s not galling at all, as most of us are GLAD that McLeish has gone!
We don’t mind at all if his new club do the suffering. LOL
And we need to do a bit more borrowing very soon – at the moment we simply don’t have enough players for what is going to be a long, hard season.
Meanwhile, there’s Europe to look forward to – a trip to Madeira on Thursday followed next week by a full house at St Andrews hoping to see us progress to the next round. Who could consider divorce?