How old were you when you started supporting Blues? Who got you into it?

I was aged 8 when I first discovered Blues and got totally hooked for life! This was mainly due to the football wizardry of the club’s most favourite son, the one and only Trevor Francis. He was my first idol.

It wasn’t until I was aged 9 that I was allowed to watch my first game at St Andrews. It was Monday 27th December 1971 and the traditional “Boxing Day” fixture against opponents Cardiff City.

My Uncle Phil (and also godfather), gave me probably my best-ever Christmas present by kindly offering to take me down and introducing me to the church of St Andrews, and helping to nurture what was to become my life-long obsession with my beloved Blues!

I was a very shy and quiet young lad in those days as my parent’s marriage had recently broken down and I was very much struggling to come to terms with this. I shall be forever grateful to Uncle Phil for becoming a father-figure in my life, by taking me under his wing and then taking me regularly to see Blues.

When was your first game? Can you remember much about it – opposition, score, the day itself?

That first game was totally awe-inspiring. I’d managed to push my way through to the front of the Railway end at pitch-level to watch the game, clinging onto the perimeter fencing to get the best possible view of my heroes.   

Great result, 3-0 to Blues. Best of all, Trev scored and we all went crazy! Funniest thing I remember was Uncle Phil saying as we came out of the game, “Bloody hell, even “Peg-leg” Pendrey scored!!” Suffice it to say, I was now well and truly hooked and never looking back.

What are your best memories since then supporting Blues?

In the seasons that followed these are some of my fondest memories of going to St Andrews on matchdays:

The massive crowds all huddled together outside and filtering through the old turnstiles for the Kop Corner and paying the grand sum of 50p to get in!!

Getting to the top of the Kop corner terracing and looking at that magnificent view of the pitch.

The crowd surges that lifted and moved you yards down the terracing and quickly learning that it was better to not stand directly in the front of the crush barriers!! Literally just “go with the flow”!!

The smells and sounds on matchdays. Some good, some not-so-good! The burgers, hot dogs and onions. The smell of grown men regularly trumping right next to you. Watching the odd trickle of urine making its way down the concrete terracing steps.

What is your favourite ever Blues match?

My most favourite match was probably the quarter-final FA Cup game in the 74-75 season at home to Middlesborough. It was a huge crowd at that game and the buzz and expectation was tremendous. It was the best atmosphere I experienced at St Andrews. A Bob Hatton goal saw us through to the semi-final. Uncle Phil managed to secure us tickets at Hillsborough and we had seats. What a luxury!

What are your worst memories supporting Blues?

My worst possible memory, like a lot of Bluenoses, was losing the replay at Maine Road in the cruellest of manners. Couldn’t get to the game as it was on a school night and Mum wouldn’t allow it! Cried myself to sleep and have still never recovered from that result.

Did you go to the 2001 or 2011 finals or any other big finals?

Went to the 1995 Auto Windscreens final with my son and had a great day out, with another 50,000 plus Blues fans! Good old Taity with that Golden Goal!! Took a little while to sink in that that was actually the end of the game! But what a celebration!!

Not so great a result when attending the 2001 Worthington Cup Final with my father-in-law (another big Bluenose), but proud of all the players and their brave efforts. Remember all the Liverpool fans clapping us all as we left the ground, defiantly singing “Keep Right On”.

Will you be at Wembley on Sunday? If so, who are you going with, how much are you looking forward to it etc?

I shall be at Wembley on Sunday. I currently run the Shropshire Blues OSC and a lot of our members, including my wife (yet another Bluenose!), shall take the coach down to Wembley together. 

How much are you looking forward to Sunday? What would it mean to win the trophy?

Looking forward to having the best day out and sealing the double! It would be fantastic to repeat the achievements from that season 30 years ago.  

What does Birmingham City mean to you?

From being a quiet and shy little boy, becoming a Blues fans gave me a whole new family. It meant I could be myself on those Saturday afternoons. I could come out of my shell for a couple of hours and share all those ups and downs. The joys and the sorrows. Although there have been a hell of a lot of sorrows, it makes the joys that more special when we do get them.

We are Blues, we are family and we are “ON THE RISE”. Exciting times both now and in the future.

Keep Right On!!