At the recent supporters clubs forum, it was announced that the club would be looking at the tannoy system during the Everton game.
Here are the instructions if you wish to give your feedback, (taken with permission from the official site):
PA SYSTEM – WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Over the last few months we have been receiving feedback from supporters that the PA System is not performing to its best ability.
Therefore at this Saturday’s game against Everton (kick-off 3pm) we have engineers on site to monitor the sound levels to ensure the best possible audio is received in all areas of the stadium. Sound levels vary from an empty stadium to a full stadium so we need your help at the game to rectify this issue.
If you have any feedback about the PA system in your area please approach your nearest steward who will complete a questionnaire on your behalf. You will be asked your block, row and seat number, so please have this to hand.
We continue our interviews with ex-Blues players, and this time I spoke to Paul Devlin. This interview is sponsored by Zulumag! 
Obviously a you’re a Brummie Lad, where were you bought up Paul?
I was born in Brookvale Village and I was bought up in Erdington not far from Villa Park. My Dad is from Glasgow and we were all big Celtic fans, but my Uncle was a big Bluenose and started taking me down to St Andrews.
What was your first game?
I can’t remember for definite, but I’m pretty sure it was Ipswich. That great side of Wark, Brazil and Mariner etc. I remember Frank Worthington was playing for us.
What took you into professional football?
Well at school I never really wanted to be a footballer, I actually wanted to be a chef. When I left I trained at a hotel, went day release to college and got my catering qualifications. I got into football through Sunday football and non-league, and I got spotted that way.
Notts County was your first club wasn’t it? How did it go there?
Yeah I signed for Notts County from Stafford Rangers. It went really well. I’d had trials at a few clubs including Liverpool. I was up there for 6 weeks on and off.
Then Leeds came in for me. I went to Leeds for a week and played in a reserve game. When I got back I decided that would sign for Notts County and Neil Warnock. On the Monday, Howard Wilkinson phoned me up and gave me a rollocking for not signing for Leeds. Leeds ended up winning the league and County got relegated!
Having said that, I had four great years at Notts County.
What was it like working for Mr Warnock?
I’ve known Neil a long time, and I’ll always be grateful to him for giving me my big break. I played for him at Sheffield United too.
So when did the Blues start featuring?
I’d renewed my contract at County, although I know things were difficult financially there. One of my best friends in football was Michael Johnson and we’d kept in contact and as Blues were my club, I said to him if he could get me there that would be great.
One day they rang up to say that Baz was keen on me and would I come. I said I I’d jump at the chance. They signed Andy Legg in the same deal so Stafford Rangers got a smaller percentage apparently. However, it was great to get an opportunity to play there.
So you were one of Bazza’s last 432 signings?
Yeeaah, that’s right. (Laughs!). Baz was great.
I have to say I thought Baz was brilliant, got nothing but praise for thebloke – and I’d say most Blues fans would think of him fondly.
Yeah he was fantastic, he helped to bring the Blues back to life again to be honest along with the Gold and Sullivan who had saved the club.
Paul Devlin
I seemed to remember that there was a real team spirit.
Definitely. He was a larger than life character, but people liked him. I had 15 years as a pro and no one had a bad word for the man.
Do you have a Bazza story?
I remember when we were playing Grimsby away. During the night we were woken up by someone running down the corridor screaming and banging on the doors. We used to get that happen occasionally by opposing fans trying to keep us awake. When gone down to breakfast and the lads were a bit bleary eyed. Anyway, Baz comes in looking like he’d been to a nightclub the night before!
We all said, we shouldn’t stay here again gaffer, some nut case has been banging on the doors trying to keep us awake. Barry replied, “yeah that was me.” He’d been to a wedding or something and had got drunk.
Anyway it worked, because we beat Grimsby easily that day!
Eventually Barry was sacked and Trevor took over, what was that like for you being as Trevor was a totally different personality and character?
You said it, he was a totally different personality and character, in fact I wouldn’t say Trevor had either! He wasn’t my cup of tea. Out of my15 years as a pro, he was the one I didn’t get on with. I know that might upset some Blues fans.
I scored goals under Barry and then the following season was top scorer and player of the season, but that still wasn’t good enough for Trevor.
He bought in some big signings like paul Furlong, Mike Newell, Steve Bruce – and I don’t know if it was the fact that I was one of Barry’s signings – but we just clashed basically.
I didn’t think much of him as a manager and he didn’t think much of me as a player. He was always going to win that one. He sold me an to be fair I had four great years at Sheffield United, but I didn’t want to leave the Blues – I’d have happily stayed all my career.
It was just a shame that I was doing well when I left, and there was a lot of ill feeling too with the crowd getting on my back with Trevor being able to say his part and me not being able to give my side.
Still it was all water under the bridge in the end. It was nice to get back. To be truthful, the way I left the Blues was probably my lowest point in football.
Trevor didn’t want to offer me a new contract, I’d asked for parity with Furze and I’ll sign it immediately, (I got on well with Furze by the way), but Trevor didn’t want to give me that. He said that we’d paid several million for Paul and he’d come from Chelsea and that was that.
At the end of the day, he didn’t like me and I didn’t like him it was as simple as that. I thought he was a poor manager to be honest, which was a shame because to 99% of Bluenoses – he was a god. I wish it had never happened, but you can’t turn the clock back.
Have you seen him since?
I wouldn’t go out of my way to speak to him to be honest. I did see him at Selhurst Park once, but it was strained with just brief “hellos” from both of us.
You when to Sheffield United for a few years, and Steve came in for you on loan. What was happening there? Did you need a new challenge?
No far from it, I was player of the year and and runner up the following year and I’d just signed a four year contract, I was having a good time.
I got a call from Steve when he was at Palace and asked if I wanted to go there. Obviously I’d played with Steve at Blues and he was manager at Sheffield United for a spell while I was there, we were quite close friends.
Then the gardening leave thing happened, but he said when things got sorted he wanted me there. I was probably the main man at Sheffield United, and then Steve got the Blues job. Nothing happened for a few months so I got Johnno to ask him what was happening. Anyway apparently by the time Steve had looked at the present squad, he’d realised that there quite a few lads who were around 30 / 30+ it might not be the right time to bring me in as I’d just turned 30 at the time.
That left me in a bit of an awkward situation at Sheffield United but fair play to Neil Warnock, when it looked like the deal was dead – he put me back into the team. We played Norwich away. This was despite me being out of the team for a while. Anyway by the following Monday I was back at Blues!
You played 13 times that season and scored 1 goal and that was against Wolves when we drew 2-2. I felt that was a real turning point for the side as we put together a great run to get into the play-offs. What do you remember about it?
It was my last game on loan and it was on the television too, also being a local derby. I scored the 2nd goal Martin Grainger crossed it. It definitely gave us a new impetus to kick on. The following week the deal was done to bring me back permanently.
The following season you pulled on the shirt in the Premier League for 30 games, tell us about that.
Yeah, Steve was true to his word about giving us the opportunity in the Premier League. It was fantastic to play in the top flight with the club for the first time for a long time and also to get international recognition was also brilliant.
I also got my first Premier League goal in the First Home Premier League game at St Andrews, which was also the Blues first ever home Premier League goal, against Leeds United which was fantastic. Especially as at the time that was a really good Leeds side.
Paul Devlin After Another Goal!
What was your highlight of being at the club?
I think it has to be the play-off final in Cardiff. It was a great day and a great atmosphere and to score one of the penalties and see the club promoted to the top flight was fantastic, especially for the fans.
Whenever I see the shoot out, it still causes the hairs on the back of my neck to stand up.
Yeah, I have to say though, that I was always confident going into penalties. We’d practiced them religiously in the weeks before the game.
We had some good penalty takers. I wasn’t sure it would go to penalties at one point – but when it did I was pretty confident we were going to go through.
Were they pre organised?
Yeah everyone knew what they were doing, it was all organised before the game.
You got picked for Scotland, tell us a bit about that.
I’d been told several times, when I was at the Blues the first time and then at Sheffield United, that I’d get a call up – but it never materialised. The big deciding factor was me getting to play in the Premier League, and playing pretty well in the Premier League.
My Dad was at the Newcastle game at St Andrews and was sat just next to Archie Knox. He’d heard Archie say nice things about me, anyway on the Monday I got the call from Berti Vogts to say I’d been called up. At 30 / 31 it was a fantastic opportunity, however I don’t think I was playing any better than previous seasons, it was simply that I was playing in the top flight.
How many caps and goals did you get?
I got ten caps, but unfortunately I never scored.
What about your disciplinary record?
(Paul laughs!). Yeah well, I think the first half of my career was appalling to be honest. I think I did get better as I got older. Neil Warnock gives me a mention in his book, that he didn’t realise when he signed me from non-league that I had 49 disciplinary points I was sent off 7 ot 8 times! I was a bit firey when I was younger and the red mist used to descend.
What are you doing now and what are your ambitions?
I’ve been involved in a building company for four or five years that I’m a partner in but I’ve just finished my personal training qualification and I’m looking to do something with Steve Froggatt. We’ve set up a company called XPROTRAINING to become a course provider for people to become a personal trainer or a gym instructor.
The fitness side of things always interested me more than coaching. I’ve been asked before about why didn’t I stay in the game to coach or a manager, but the fitness and nutrition side of things has always interested me more.
So what do you think about what’s happening at the Blues now?
Yeah I was at St Andrews in the Frank Worthington hospitality suite for the Chelsea game. The atmosphere was fantastic. A real change to things from a few weeks before.
Joe Hart made a few good saves, but Blues gave as good as they got that day. There’s a good vibe about the place which is good to see.
Do you agree that Alex has turned the doubters into believers!?
Yeah I think so. last year when we got promoted, there were people who were critical of the style of the football we were playing and that we were boring. But he has changed the formation and with the Chinese taking over, it is like a totally different club down there now.
The time under the old board had run it’ course and it was time for change. I know a lot of people are critical of them, however they did save the club and they did breathe new life into the club then. But with Carson coming in now, it is another new era and it couldn’t be much better at the moment.
If we get there would you go to Wembley?
I’d love to. One or two of the old players would be on the scrounge for tickets! It would be terrific.
If you have a spare ticket Paul, you know where I am!
I bet that won’t be the only phone call or request I might get Kev!
Well thank you very much for your time Paul, it’s great to speak to a player who as a Brummie knows what it means to us. Keep us informed with your new venture and we’ll do an update here.
It’s a pleasure Kev.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Mr Paul Devlin!
Images used with kind permission from Birmingham City FC.
Tags: Barry Fry, Birmingham City, Championship, Neil Warnock, Notts County, Paul Devlin, Players, Premier League, Scotland, Sheffield United, St Andrews, Steve Bruce, Trevor Francis
Here is Dale’s take on yesterday.
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As the heat is turned up at the business end of the championship, many of the premier league hopefuls should take note of the fine margins between victory and defeat that make the country’s top division such an unforgiving place. A trip to Craven Cottage was always going to be a tough ask for a blues side that haven’t recorded a point away at any of the London teams this year. Fulham were in form and off the back of an impressive win against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa League. The game was a real battle and to many pundits surprise, somewhat more entertaining than predicted.
And when after 3 minutes Chris Baird planted a textbook header past the helpless Mark Schwartzer and into his own net, Blues had something to hold onto and as we have seen throughout the season, they certainly have the capacity to have done so. Fulham huffed and puffed and pulled off a point blank save from Joe Hart after Simon Davies crept in behind the blues backline. Bobby Zamora looked threatening throughout and had transformed into what looked like a player full of confidence and ability overnight. It was not so long ago that the banks of the river Thames were mocking the striker who seems to have proved his critics wrong. That said, Danns and Johnson dealt with most things fairly well and confined Fulham to a few half chances from Davies and Zamora. Having got to half time with a slender lead, McLeish would have been encouraged by his team’s performances, resolute rather than remarkable.
Then on the hour mark Damien Duff rolled back the years to produce a goal out of nothing. He received the ball just inside the blues half in a wide right position and after going on a mazy run he cut inside onto his favoured left foot and unleashed a precise strike off the inside of the post and into the back of the net. Being critical you could have questioned whether any of the line of players Duff seemed to evade should have took responsibility and make a challenge rather than pass him on to the next man but take nothing away from the finish from the ex-Chelsea winger. Blues to their credit rallied and if it was not for the slightest of touches off Mark Scwartzer, McFadden’s 25 yard rocket would have put blues ahead for a second time in the game. Instead, the underside of the bar diverted the ball onto the line and spun out. The game opened up and as you would expect from the home team Fulham pushed for the winner.
90 Minutes were on the clock and the ball had bounced on the edge of the box when the usually Mr. Reliable Stephen Carr came rushing across and body checked Zoltan Gera. It was one of those moments you see coming but couldn’t stop as the right back committed to the challenge and gave away a dangerous free kick on the edge of the box. To me, it was obvious that the free kick was too close to the goal for the Beckham-esque curler over the wall and so Joe Hart should have occupied his side knowing there was a real possibility that the free kick taker would strike the ball that side of the goal. Bobby Zamora stepped up and crashed a shot that Hart could only get fingertips to as it nestled in the top corner of the blues goal. And with that the game was over. Questions over Joe Hart’s positioning but again a great strike after a silly free kick from a Blues perspective.
On Reflection, a point would have been a fairer result and Blues played their part in a highly contested game. But yet again we come away from the capital with no points and add Fulham to the list of West Ham, Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea for away losses. Lessons to be learnt? Well nobody can deny Duff’s strike but Stephen Carr’s rush of blood to the head cost us dearly, the wise Irishman will know himself that on another day would have used his experience to see out the game. Blues now welcome Wigan to St.Andrews and will look to take all 3 points from the strugglers but Blues being the Blues I know, never make it that simple.
Dale Moon
Tags: Alex McLeish, Arsenal, Birmingham City, Fulham, Joe Hart, Match, Premier League, Roger Johnson, Scott Dann, St Andrews, Stephen Carr, West Ham Utd
Yesterday, it was announced that Gil Merrick died on the 3rd of February 2010 aged 88. Sometimes the word legend is over or misused, but not here. Gil was DEFINITELY a legend.
He played for the club as a goalkeeper and went on to manage the side achieving the success of winning the league cup against some other local club. More of that in a while, back to the beginning.
Gil was a Brummy lad, born January 26th 1922 in Sparkhill. He signed for Blues in 1939 and played for the club over 500 times in all competitions. He set an amazing statistic of playing 126 league games in a row for the club, (between 1949-1952). During this time he also played in all the FA cup games and that included an FA cup semi-final, (his second). At the end of this amazing run, Gil was injured and lost his place to Johnny Schofield.
Gil was regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the country during the early fifties, so it wasn’t surprising that in 1951, Gil won his 1st of 23 caps when he was picked to played for England. He played in the 1954 World Cup when England made it to the quarter finals.
In 1955/56 he had re-established himself as first choice. This was an amazing season for Blues, not only did they finish 6th in the top division – still our best finish – but Gil achieved 1 step further in the FA cup as runners up to Manchester City. The following season, Gil and the side achieved ANOTHER semi-final appearance.
Gil Merrick
Towards the end of his career, Gil also played his part in the Blues European games in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. During the 1956-1958 competition, Blues got through to the Semi-finals only to be beaten by Barcelona. He also played during the 1958-1960 competition. This time Blues made it to the final, but Gil lost his place after the final and only played 1 game the following season. He retired from club football in 1960, however his association with the Blues hadn’t finished.
He became the manager of Blues in 1960. The Blues entered the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup again, and Gil lead the team to another final. Once again, however, we were beaten again this time by Roma. He did lead the side to victory in the San-Siro and Blues were the only English club to win there for 40 years.
He main achievement was winning the recently formed League Cup, (then a two legged final), when we beat Villa over 2 legs 3-1 on aggregate.
After a couple of bad seasons in the league, Gil left his post as manager in 1964. He went on the manage a couple of local non-league sides but never another professional club. The only club he was ever associated with, was the Blues.
The club recently re-named the Railway end after him and he also unvieled the new Jeff Hall Memorial clock. Gil was also named in the Legends XI for the Blues Hall of Fame.
Just a little something that Aff posted on the forum:
Always remember a story told to me by a work colleague. She was best friends with one of Gil’s daughters. One day, she was invited around to Gil’s for dinner. During dinner, she asked Gil what he did for a living. He calmly replied that he was manager of Birmingham City FC – and left it at that.
And it’s a story that you hear over and over about the man. He seemed to have no ego and was a gentleman in every sense of the word.
So what can we say about a man who appeared in 3 FA Cup semi-finals and 1 final, who played / managed the club in a semi final and 2 finals of the Inter Cities Fairs Cup, won a domestic trophy and played for England for 23 times including a World Cup, and played and managed only one club and clearly was a gentleman - obviously one word. LEGEND.
RIP Gil.
Please feel free to add your comments / memories about Gil.
Image used by permission John Baker ©
Here is Dale’s latest article, not a surprise that it is about the transfer window! Enjoy.
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Considering we’re constantly being told to spend our way out of a global recession, the January transfer window does anything but contribute to a financial solution. To tell the London stock exchange that trading can only take place during the summer and for a month in January would have unprecedented effects. Yet here we are, witnessing its ability to inflate, restrict and limit business and for what? The Lisbon treaty was met with such vile protest at 10 Downing Street and the euro sceptics arrived in their masses. I need not draw similarities to this ridiculous FIFA regulation drawn up by a governing body who seems intent on damaging the domestic game from there control obsessed offices in Zurich.
Managers constantly bemoan of the restrictions that the January transfer window brings. Since 2002 we have seen teams buy players at astronomical prices well above their value. Is it any wonder why now, attention seems to be turning to the debt ridden clubs that have been subject to Sepp Blatter’s ingenious invention? Some argue that the transfer window creates a spark of brief excitement, anticipation of what superstar will arrive at the club. The adrenaline of a deadline to meet and its supposed exhilaration tuning into sky sports news or flicking through the back pages of an ill informed tabloid that seems to link your club with every footballer with an extravagant name. In reality, seldom does such a period of time produce such little results. This year has seen the most boring, frustrating and inadequate transfer period its pathetic 7 year lifetime.
Blues didn’t help themselves. Announcing a war chest of twenty to forty million pounds at our disposal made securing a player for a reasonable price, if there is such a thing, simply unfathomable. All this triggered was clubs bumping up asking prices at any slightest hint of Blues interest. For Spurs to ask for more than £10m for a player who has hardly featured this season and hope to recoup nearly £14m they paid for him speaks volumes. We revealed our hand and in the case of Pavlyuchenko it may well have meant Tottenham could hold on in the hope we would cough up the money they knew we had! As frustrating as this January transfer window has been it also goes to show that McLeish really is a man based on morals. His responsible approach may not have seen a big money striker arrive down St. Andrews but it has maintained fundamental business principles. We have money but we will not be forced into spending it if the price is not right. For the remainder of the season we have placed our faith on the unpredictable Benitez, Cameron Jerome and the veteran Kevin Phillips. What’s the betting on a few more goalless draws and 1-0 wins before the end of the season? However, I for one will not be complaining should it see us secure a top half finish.
Dale Moon
Tags: Alex McLeish, Birmingham City, Cameron Jerome, Christian Benitez, FIFA, Kevin Phillips, Players, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Sepp Blatter, St Andrews, Tottenham Hotspur, Transfers
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