Birmingham City annual awards held at ICC
THE pressures of a nerve-jangling tussle for promotion took a back seat when Blues stars let their hair down for the club’s annual awards bash.
Players, coaches and board members rubbed shoulders with sponsors and fans at the glittering gala dinner last night.
It was an evening of celebration and a chance to recognise the players who have helped Alex McLeish’s men to the brink of a top flight return.
But nervous talk of the battle for the second automatic promotion spot dominated the night.
Blues are just behind leaders Wolves, with Cardiff and Sheffield United also chasing automatic promotion.
Welcoming guests, chairman David Gold said he was confident that Birmingham would have two clubs dining at football’s top table again next year.
“Here we are on the bring of returning to the Premier League where this great club of ours deserves to be,” he said.
“There’s three games to go and although we’ve not had the best of luck this season, I think you should prepare for Premiership football next year.”
The night was hosted by BRMB stalwart Tom Ross and, after a three-course meal, classical pop quartet Escala played their own brand of music.
Eight awards were up for grabs including the Birmingham Mail Readers’ Player of the Year, chosen by fans. Lee Carsley picked up the first gong of the night, the Junior Blues Player of the Year.
A special award was presented to Helen Wills who was named Fan of the Year.
