A day, (Or Two), in the life of a Blues reporter
I’ve spoken to Andy Walker of the Birmingham Mail, Sunday Mercury and Birmingham Post a few times, and I asked him what it was like to be a sports journo following the Blues. Well being good at what he does, he sent me this!
Nice one Andy, I hope you all enjoy it.
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ABOUT ME
Having cut my teeth with just over three years as sports editor on the Solihull News and Times, I moved to the Birmingham Post and Mail group in April 2007.
Initially I worked solely on the Sunday Mercury where I covered all sports and all clubs on the Midlands patch until a restructure of editorial set-up in November 2008. That saw all sports reporters become responsible for all three newspapers – the Mail, Post and Mercury – and me become number two Blues reporter behind chief sports writer Colin Tattum.
As well as helping with the various print requirements, me and Colin now have a weekly video show on called ‘Blues View’ as well as popular liveblogs from Blues games home and way.
From a personal point of view, one of my favourite moments covering Blues has to be last season’s final day victory at Reading to secure promotion back to the Premier League. It was the perfect ending to what had been a long, laborious season during which Blues had faced their fair share of critics. That sunny afternoon in Berkshire made those miserable midweek trips to the likes of Plymouth and Barnsley feel like a distant memory and I was pleased for Alex McLeish, who is a top bloke to deal with.
WIGAN ATHLETIC AWAY – Saturday December 5.
9am – It’s time to hit the road to Wigan and my first visit to this ground since Latics chairman Dave Whelan decided to name the stadium after himself. Although the game doesn’t kick-off until 3pm, I always like to set off early for away games. That way I can compensate for any unexpected traffic problems and get settled in at the ground to do a bit of pre-match homework before the crowds arrive.
11am – Arrive in Wigan in good time. As most stadiums don’t open their doors to the press for a 3pm kick-off until 12pm, I decide to pop in to a local Asda for a coffee and to check the latest sports news on my mobile. I notice that my Lee Bowyer story on his feelings towards Match of the Day 2 presenter Adrian Chiles’ snide comments has attracted a good amount of comments on birminghammail.net, as I expected.
12.30pm – I’m one of the first to arrive at the DW Stadium’s press room, which resembles a primary school classroom presumably they must use it as an education centre during the week. After signing in, I have a bit of a catch up with colleague Colin Tattum, BRMB’s Tom Ross and Blues’ friendly media team before firing up the laptop to check my e-mails and Twitter account.
1.30pm – Few more faces filter into the press room now including a couple of famous ones associated with Villa more than Blues. Big Ron Atkinson is here doing the game for BBC WM while Alan McInally is on Sky Sports duty. Initially I’m baffled as there appears to be no sign of food, until I discover that the attached interview room has a selection of pies with mushy peas on offer. A big perk of being a sports journalist is that you are often treated very well at football stadums, certainly in the Premier League, and that usually includes a decent spread of food – ask any hack and they’ll confirm that Arsenal’s facilities at the Emirates Stadium are by far the best.
2pm – Head up to my seats in the stand, while the press bench is not flush with space, it’s certainly not the most cramped I’ve ever been in (Fratton Park and Old Trafford are two that spring to mind) but can’t complain as long as you’ve got a decent view (something that Vicarage Road’s press bench doesn’t really offer).
2.30pm – Log-on to our liveblog and it appears to be as popular as ever. While I try to paint a picture of the pre-match atmosphere, Colin fends off the usual questions on transfer targets. Blues team announced and, unsurprisingly, it confirms that McLeish has stuck with the line-up that beat Wolves a week earlier.
3pm – The game gets underway and there are plenty of empty seats as we have come to expect from this stadium. While the travelling Blues fans are in good voice, their team don’t start as brightly as their hosts.
3.45pm – Half-time and it looks as though Blues’ unbeaten run will be coming to an end as they trail to a brilliant Charles N’Zogbia goal. With the press room a good five minutes walk away, I decide to sit tight in my seat and crack on with my match report for the Sunday Mercury.
4.50pm – What a second-half and what a comeback from Blues. Two free-kicks from Seb Larsson and a Christian Benitez goal set up a 3-2 victory after Jordi Gomez made it a nervy finale with a set piece strike of his own. After ten minutes tapping away in the stands, I decide to head down to the post-match interview room and continue from there.
5.30pm – Wigan boss Roberto Martinez is first out and I noticed how he utters the word ‘character’ a record amount of times. While he is obviously disappointed, at least it didn’t turn out to be 9-1. A journalist on the front row asks Martinez his opinion on the World Cup draw, not really relevant but the chap is obviously responding to orders from his sportsdesk.
6pm – Alex McLeish is next to emerge. Lavishes praise on his troops, mentions how Benitez is starting to settle more following Ecuador’s World Cup exit and also how he hopes Larsson will go on to contribute the same amount of goals he did when Blues were last in the Premier League. Same journalist asks same World Cup question. A few of us then move in closer for a Monday newspapers only press conference, where I get a bit more on Carson Yeung’s continued commitment to attend games. Colin arrives from mix zone (the place where you go to get player quotes) duty and remarks on how the Blues squad had all emerged from the dressing room together as they’re shooting off on their Christmas do, which later turns out to be in Glasgow.
6.40pm – Sunday Mercury match report and follow up piece all filed. Bump in to McLeish and his wife in reception, exchange pleasantries before heading off.
8.30pm – Arrive home, end of a long but overall enjoyable day.
Andy Walker
WEST HAM HOME – Saturday December 12
1.15pm – Park up close to St Andrew’s before heading to the press room. Big crowd expected today, should be close to a sell out.
1.45pm – Sign into the press room, pour myself a coffee and have a chat with a few of the assembled hacks about Carson Yeung’s restructuring of his board. Lamb shank, chips and gravy is on the menu today, gets the thumbs up from me. Stoke V Wigan is on the box, not really expecting a classic but a stunning goal from Maynor Figueroa makes it worthwhile the Sky cameras being there.
2.15pm – Head up to the press box to log on to our liveblog. While me and Colin field the usual pre-match questions, a man fires blue Santa hats into the crowd via a small cannon before Saint Nick himself abseils into the stadium. Ground starts to fill up and there’s a big turnout from West Ham (around 3,500), ends up being just short of a sell out. A freelance journalist that I know arrives and tells me that there has been a spot of bother with West Ham fans in Digbeth – shame, surely it’s about time that undesirable element was stamped out of the game for good.
3pm – Games kicks-off and Blues start brightly. Same Blues line-up named for the fourth consecutive game, can’t change a winning team.
3.45pm – Goalless at half-time. While West Ham have started to edge their way back into things, Blues are narrowly the better team. I get started on my Sunday Mercury match report and keep an eye on the liveblog, while Colin kindly brings me a coffee.
4.50pm – After a nervy finale, Blues hold out for yet another victory – it’s now four on the bounce. With Hammers fan and in-form Blues midfielder Lee Bowyer scoring the winner (yet again), it gives me an easy intro for my match report. After ten minutes tapping away in the press box, I head down to the press room to await the arrival of Alex McLeish.
5.30pm – McLeish arrives at his post-match press conference nice and early and once again enthuses at the impact Bowyer has had since arriving at the club. I’m getting slightly bored of writing the ‘Bowyer match-winner’ line but that’s just testament to the tremendous season he’s having – a shock England recall maybe? Gianfranco Zola arrives during McLeish’s press conference and is shepherded into the radio interview room.
5.45pm – McLeish holds his Monday only post-match briefing in the usual tunnel area and it lasts about ten minutes. In which time, Bowyer, Stephen Carr, Roger Johnson and Gregory Vignal all pass suited and booted. Blues vice-chairman Peter Pannu is hanging around and he congratulates Bowyer for his contribution. A miserable looking Zola also wonders by.
6pm – Head out into the players tunnel to see if there’s anybody left to talk to. Several journalists are interviewing Barry Ferguson. After waiting around for a few minutes, I decide to head back into the press room to crack on with my Sunday Mercury requirements.
6.15pm – As this is the last home game before Christmas, Blues sponsors F&C Investments have decided to lay on beer, cider and mince pies for the media as a thank you. So that means that I’m able to finish my match report and follow up on Bowyer while sipping a beer – not bad at all.
7pm – All done and dusted. I head home and discover that it’s been a good day all round for local clubs with Wolves and Villa picking up hugely impressive wins at Tottenham and Manchester United respectively. Let’s hope the Baggies come up next season and give the Premier League a West Midlands look.
McLeish’s Sounding Out The Right Message
Here is Dale’s latest thoughts inspired by our victory yesterday.
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The Cogs keep turning and the machine churns on! A packed out St. Andrews witnessed the Premier League’s latest phenomenon. Birmingham City.
Like a well oiled machine, Alex McLeish’s regimented side seemed to wear down a disgruntled West Ham team that really never looked like taking anything back to the capital. It seems now that blues fans expect a goal from Lee Bowyer. Clocking up his sixth of the season which proved to be the only goal of the game. It’s also to be becoming almost annoyingly predictable for the pundits who sit on the flamboyant sofas at Match of The Day. Another clean sheet, another 1-0 win and another Lee Bowyer run from deep accompanied with a tidy finish. Would be nice to hear something more from the likes of Lawrenson and Hansson about the so called “relegation candidates” though wouldn’t it. But we’ll save that argument for another day.
Today we should rejoice in the fact that we are competing in the same ball park as the Liverpool’s and Manchester City’s of the world. Daring to look higher up the table, I came across six teams who perhaps you would expect to be above the Blues. The other one we’ll not mention. But over our shoulder are teams like Sunderland, Everton and West Ham, so called established Premier League sides. And there at the peak of the form table, Birmingham City! Beautiful!
But – and there always is a “But” with Blues, we should not adhere to all this talk of European ambitions and superstar signings. The media love to heighten a teams fortunes and laugh from there offices in Central London as the form starts to drop and the league position plummets. Blackburn and Everton will know that we are the inform team and expect a tough test from us but January brings a new threat. Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham make up three of the four fixtures. Three games where at the start of the season we would consider a point as a blessing. Yes we are a different side to that who produces a woeful display against Bolton in September but let’s just get over that 40 points mark and then and only then can we start concentrate on the getting the like of Messi and Ronaldo leaping into the Tilton to celebrate . . . if only!
Without being a typical pessimistic Bluenose, I like the cautious and grounded approach from McLeish. He speaks wisely and tries to prevent all the tabloid bravado filtering through to his players. Securing Premiership status is our primary objective, something which none of us must forget. As the fog settled over St. Andrews on Saturday evening, McLeish reiterated the clubs position as premier league new boys but also stressed that striving up the table can only give us the best chance come the end of the season.
“The most important thing is for us to be in the premier league but there’s no reason why we can’t be aiming higher than 17th. But the top 17 will be a successful season.” If 17th is known as “successful”, then I’d love to know what adjectives McLeish has in his locker come a top 8 finish in May!
Dale Moon
Match of the Day Goal of the Month for November
The BBC Match of the Day Goal of the Month, was won by Cameron Jerome for his cracker against Liverpool.
We just need Alex to win Manager of the Month now!
Penny For Your Thoughts?
Here is akvbcfc’s latest article.
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The Merry-Go-Round Begins…
Kaka to Madrid. Done.
Ronaldo to Madrid. Done.
Those two monumental transfers seem to be only the tip of the iceberg as the influx of money into English and Italian football has set pulses racing. United have cash to spend. AC Milan, a team who never spend big, have money to spend. Then, of course, there are also teams such as Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City, Inter and Barcelona who have excess cash burning holes in the owners’ very large pockets. Oh, and there is the small matter of Real Madrid.
It seems that this summer will be the summer when we see transfer fees explode from top to bottom. The steady rise in fees paid for players has been absolutely obliterated during the close season after a couple of big, big money moves.
This has set the wheels in motion and an extraordinary process is set to unfold where Europe’s top clubs battle for the signatures of the very best that this world has to offer. Karim Benzema. David Villa. David Silva. Samuel Eto’o. Xabi Alonso. Didier Drogba.
Let the games begin.
It seemed that United had made the first move, when it was reported that they had agreed a £35 million transfer fee for the Frenchman. However, Real Madrid have trumped their English rivals (again), as they have agreed a £30 million fee for the striker.
With Benzema off the table, the scramble for players will intensify yet further, with fewer and fewer clubs looking to sell their top players. The likes of Manchester United and Barcelona will be desperately searching for new talent due to the transfers that have already taken place; United have lost (a lot) of ground on their rivals by selling Ronaldo to Madrid, and the return of The Galacticos Era to Madrid has put Barca at a disadvantage in the transfer market and on the field of play.
Exactly which players will be on the move is debatable, but what can be said for sure is that things are going to get interesting. Watch this space.
Beaten, but not Humiliated
Yes, the England Under-21 lost out to Germany in the Euro Under-21 Championship final on Monday. However, the side and their manager, should not be written off. Pearce has worked wonders with the side, turning them into a well-drilled, efficient and determined side. It is my honest opinion that losing this final will be the making of this side. If they had won, then the pressure of a nation would have shifted onto the new Golden Generation, thus making prospects of success at forthcoming tournaments seem as bleak as ever.
Team spirit will raise yet further by this latest setback, and the team will bounce back. Again. A new generation will come and fly the flag that has so elegantly soared in recent times. These were Pearce’s boys. These are our boys.
A Return to The Way It Was
The BBC will show 10 live Championship games during the 2009/2010 season, as football reverts back to the old ways of showing live football on free-to-air television. Personally, I think that it is an absolutely fantastic idea. Many football fans nowadays are blinkered by Premier League football and the coverage that it receives from media outlets across the world. For many fans, the Championship and the lower leagues are unimportant, and that view is one that should be changed as soon as possible.
Highlights of the lower leagues can be found on ITV at times that are inconvenient to the masses, so that doesn’t help. However, with the deal in place that the BBC shall show 10 live games during the season; this should enable a larger number of fans to gain access to one of the most exciting leagues in the world.
Summer Time Fun
Can you feel it? This is it. This is the time when fans implore their club to sign new talent, but at the end of the day, they don’t really care about us. This is the time of year when managers have tough decisions to make. They will wanna’ be starting somethin’, holding on to some players for dear life, and telling others to beat it. Don’t bet against Spurs coming back to Berbatov, desperately pleading I want you back.
The game has moved on, and signing a player is not as easy as ABC. With foreign players and agents approaching clubs all the time, you don’t know your Ben from your Billy Jean.
For years, United fans have praised Ronaldo for the way that he makes them feel, but his promises that he’d be there did not prove true has he has gone off to Madrid. Perez snuck up on English football and stole its brightest star like a smooth criminal. Ronaldo’s stay at United was a thriller…He rocked our world…But United fans will hope that the old adage that there ain’t no sunshine when he’s gone is false.
As he looks at the man in the mirror, Sir Alex will know that he has a job on his hands. He needs new blood. Be they black or white, young or old.
R.I.P. Michael Jackson – the King of Pop.
By akvbcfc Please visit my website for more of my views on the beautiful game.
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