BLUES' GLORY DAY

BIRMINGHAM CITY FANATIC KEITH DIXON RECALLS WHEN HIS BELOVED BLUES STUNNED ARSENAL IN THE LEAGUE CUP FINAL...

- KEITH DIXON

IT’S hard to believe that at the end of February it will be the tenth anniversary of Birmingham City winning the League Cup final against Arsenal at Wembley.

It was our first major trophy victory since 1963 - a mere 48 years!

Pre-match, not many gave us a prayer. The bookies, who tend to know a thing or two, had the Gunners as odds-on favourites and a 2-1 win for the Blues was priced at 22-1.

My excitement grew a few days before the game when I finally held in my hands my ticket for the Carling Cup final at Wembley: Entrance K, Section 501, Row 4, Seat 8. On the halfway line, next to the Arsenal fans, and a bargain at £86

The morning of the match arrived and I wore not only my home shirt (with long sleeves) but my scarf from the Millennium Stadium Worthington Cup final in 2001.

As I joined the queue for Platform One at Solihull Station for the 11.22 train, I saw Malcolm Page and Alan Campbell (ex-players) in amongst the excited Bluenoses as the rain came down.

Upon arrival, it was into the Ibis Hotel for shelter and a drink but it struck me that many of the Brummies outside in the rain were unlikely to see the end of the game in anything other than a drunken stupor. Well, the competition was sponsored by a major lager brand!

As I made my way towards the stadium from the hotel, the burning of an Arsenal scarf had brought the unwelcome attention of the police.