Birmingham City: Why Blues' Youth Cup run means so much to Jacob Rowe

Mar 21 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

And alongside Dan Preston, Rowe has fashioned himself as a central defensive cornerstone for the under-18 side.

His dominant display in the quarter-final win over Watford on Monday was particularly impressive.

“I still haven’t forgiven Terry,” jokes Rowe, who lives in Solihull and went to Arden School in Knowle.

“I held out hope and I think one of the reasons why Terry took a chance on me in the 16s was because, although he had said ‘no’ to me, he felt I still hadn’t given up and I had that desire to come back despite being released.

“Some players go ‘I’ll just forget it now’ and give up. I stuck at it and I think that’s why he brought me to Blues and hopefully that decision has paid off.”

Blues youngsters now tackle Liverpool over two legs for a place in the FA Youth Cup final.

That could mean divided loyalties as Rowe’s family are originally from nearby Runcorn.

“It will be a great experience, especially playing at Anfield, and hopefully we can turn them over as well,” says Rowe, 18, who is in his final Academy scholarship year.

“They will be favourites but Bristol Rovers, early on in the competition, took them to penalties and maybe should have won. So that gives us inspiration.

“If we can get in their faces, we can have a good go at them, like we did Watford.”

Blues last reached the final in 1967, and the semi-finals 24 years ago.

“That just shows we’ve got a good set of players at the moment and good set of coaches,” says Rowe. “There’s a great spirit. Everyone gets on really well. It doesn’t really matter if you are a first or second year, we all want to do well and we give our all.”

And for Rowe, another storming performance or two could help land a professional contract.

He reveals: “None of the second years have been told anything yet.

“Certainly, with a little bit of luck, what we’ve done in the competition could help us.”