BIRMINGHAM CITY’ S PROMOTION JOY
THE day after Birmingham City’s relegation to League One and Blues’ minority owner Tom Brady was already in the firing line.
“I see your soccer team, Birmingham City, got knocked down another tier in the English Football League,” said legendary NFL head coach Bill Belichick, who quarter-back great Brady won six of his seven Super Bowls at the New England Patriots under. “For those not familiar with English football and the intricacies of their obscure relegation system, I’ll put it in English for you: they suck. Not easy running a team, is it Tom?”
The laughter wasn’t just flowing at The Roast of Tom Brady broadcast live on Netflix.
A little over 24 hours earlier the Blues had tumbled out of the Championship despite beating Norwich on the final day – and plenty of rival fans were pointing and giggling.
A season that had started with promise rapidly unravelled. Chairman and owner Tom Wagner had said they were acting in the best long-term interests of the club when John Eustace was sacked in early October despite sitting sixth in the league.
The Americans went for a star name in Wayne Rooney but 15 games later, with the club now 20th, the former Manchester United and England striker was also shown the door. From there it was a losing battle.
How long ago that felt on Tuesday night when nearly 4,000 travelling fans partied in the away end at Peterborough.
The potential gamble to appoint rookie boss Chris Davies has paid off handsomely, as has the significant £25m shopping spree over the summer to bring in 17 new players, including a reported £12m on striker Jay Stansfield.
Goals from Alfie May and Taylor Gardner-Hickman in their 2-1win at Posh – who they also play today at Wembley in the Vertu Trophy final – banked the points to seal an instant return to English football’s second tier.
“It’s a special night,” said Davies. “It means the world and to see the fans celebrating is really something special.
“I’ve said previhas suf-ously this club fered a lot, especially in the last few years, and it’s about creating memories, bringing some joy and making them proud of their club. I think we’ve done that t this season.”
Davies has only just turned 40 but has delivered success under severe pressure in his first season as number one.
A disciple of Brendan Rodgers at Swansea, Liverpool, Celtic and Leicester, he joined from Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham coaching staff and immediately set about changing the mindset of the whole club.
■ THE Blues’ promotion to the Championship will be the subject of a behind-the-scenes documentary to launch on Prime Video worldwide this summer. Embedded camera crews have followed the players, coaching staff and key ownership figures from pre-season to the title, including chairman Tom Wagner and American football legend Tom Brady.
It will also explore the unique cultural heritage of Birmingham City. The series will be executive produced by Steven Knight, the creator of Peaky Blinders and a lifelong Blues fan.
Huddle
In the post-match huddle, with Birmingham fans’ deafening singing in their ears, he reminded his playersnd staff they have all played their part in turning this proud club around.
“They’ve been amazing,” said Davies. “We put a team together from scratch really. Six or seven stayed but there were 17 new players.
“They came together so well, they get on well, they’ve got a great spirit – we signed good characters. For too long this club had players that weren’t the right characters, that let the club down, basically.
“Whether we win, lose or draw, you will always see a team that’s fighting. That’s what the fans ultimately want for their club. We’ve got that with the group of players. They’ve been exceptional because, don’t forget, every single game this season – home and away – they’ve been expected to win. There’s no team in the land that has had to deal with that every single week. We have.”
Defender Krystian Bielik was part of the relegated side and felt an extra responsibility to return the club to the Championship quickly.
“You could see the scenes after the game,” said skipper Bielik, clutching a celebratory bottle of beer. “I am so glad for this football club, for the fans, for the players and staff – we all deserve it.
“I am happy we’ve done it. It tastes so good. I remember the last game of last season against Norwich. That was the worst day in my life. Today is a totally different story and I am glad I am part of it.”
Bielik’s comments in September about Blues being too good for the league caused a stir at the time but they have been proven accurate.
Promotion has been sealed with six games to go. They travel to Wembley today determined to add more silverware before getting back to league action to try to clinch the title, while Wolves’ 201314 League One points record of 103 is in their sights.
The weight of expectation has looked light almost throughout.
“I felt like the pressure was from the beginning especially, because you want to have a good start,” explained the 27-year-old Pole. “Obviously there’s nothing to hide, we have great players, the club spent some money, we all knew it and there were expectations.
Pressure
“I think we’ve handled it well. There was not much talking around the dressing room or inside the football club about the pressure.
“When the manager speaks to us about the pressure, he always tries to explain that it’s a positive pressure. When you think about doctors, firefighters, police officers, they go every day to their work and they have pressure bec they might lose thei or they’re fighting someone’s life.
“We play football sport we love. This positive pressure. just try to enjoy e time we step on the and you can see tha team really enjoys i Calm-headed vies has guided t through the pitfalls vourites’ tag whe spent big.
“Every day it’s h training, how we’r ing, how we’re p for the games,” sai “You don’t get fixate must win this game get promoted this We every pitch at the it.”
All this stuff takes care of itself if you focus on the processes each day.
“That’s what I have told them all season. All this fanfare isn’t for us, it’s for others. That can come one day, maybe, but it’s about day-to-day and process.”
As the players celebrated in the dressing room, he joked at least he can double up his Peterborough debrief with pre-match analysis ahead of Wembley.
And there is a sense this is only just the beginning. The owners have huge plans for the club, including a new stadium, and promotion out of
League One is nowhere near the ultimate goal.
The first step is often the most important, however. And they’ve long shrugged off the jibes of last summer.
“I said to the players before this game at the hotel that there’s up and downs in life, there’s up and downs in football,” added Davies. “When it’s good times you’ve got to cherish them. It’s really about making memories.
“We got an opportunity to make a memory and have a momentous occasion tonight. Any player, staff member or fan who has experienced that will probably never forget it.
“That’s what football is all about for me. I came here and I wanted to make them proud of their club.
“To see the joy on their faces, to see them singing the name of their club out loud and proud is special.”
● ADAM VIRGO – SEE PAGE 39
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