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St Obafemi’s Day
Three years ago today a mixup between Laurent Kosicelny and Wojciech Szczęsny saw Birmingham City striker Obafemi Martins presented with the ball and an open goal to aim at from ten yards to give Birmingham City their first major trophy in a Wembley final. It was a day for us all to celebrate and judging by the amount of tears I saw streaming down grown men’s faces was the realisation of a dream for many.
In the three years that have followed it’s been a bit of a downward slide – relegation, players being sold, Carson’s arrest, more players being sold and then after the failure to get past Blackpool in the playoffs even more players being sold. There have been a few high points – such as the Europa League games which gave so many fans the chance to follow Blues in European competition but in the main it has been one long slog since.
As much as I fondly remember looking back to February 27, 2011 I’m reminded that reliving history is something the claret and baby blue mob from across the expressway do. Rather than remember the “glory days” and live in a nostalgia-tinted world, it’s better for us to look to the future and the hope that things will improve, that we will rise again from our current malaise and that we may once again be challenging the big boys for a place at the top table.
It’s also Carson’s 54th birthday today and no doubt he’ll be looking to the future as well. His future is potentially much darker, with the very real possibility he will be spending tomorrow night in Lai Chi Kok prison on remand waiting to hear how much of his life will be spent behind bars. Whatever happens to Carson, I think it’s a fallacy to believe that much will change in the short term – either way the verdict goes the losing side will appeal and with that Carson’s assets will remain frozen and his movement will be restricted.
Should Carson be sent down, the Department of Justice here can apply to change his restraint order into a confiscation order but that would be held in abeyance until all possible appeals are exhausted. He wouldn’t know his sentence for a week or two and although there is every chance he would be allowed to be on bail once again pending appeal, the hunch here is that application would have to go to the high court meaning if Carson is convicted he would spend the next six to eight weeks minimum behind bars waiting for that to be heard.
As Carson isn’t a director of the football club or BIH any more the “owners and directors test” no longer applies to him; he doesn’t own enough of the club to be considered an owner by the Football League and I suspect it would take pressure on them to get them to consider if he still exerts control as if he were a director or a majority shareholder – and it would take some major bottle from them to push Birmingham City on that issue.
Whatever happens, I’m going to remember the good times today and everything that was right about Carson’s tenure. We’ll have enough time to consider everything else tomorrow – especially if Carson is found guilty. I’ll be at the courthouse tomorrow to hear the verdict and as soon as I can I will post news on twitter followed by an article here.
Tags: Carson Yeung, The Trial
62 Responses to “St Obafemi’s Day”
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“As much as I fondly remember looking back to February 27, 2011 I’m reminded that reliving history is something the claret and baby blue mob from across the expressway do.”
Well, it’s been three years since we won a major trophy, and the Vile . . . . erm, when?! Let’s enjoy the comparison!
Looking past the Carson debacle, I see a team full of future Premiership stars right now, but are there enough games left for a run at a playoff spot?
The potential is there, but so is the inconsistency Clark’s Blues teams.
Signed,
Content in the Blue fog in the wild west
I am sorry, but I am happy with the position we are in now considering… I do not see play offs being on the cards this season. Look at the points gap.
I dunno pete. I am happy with position on grounds of the fact the club should really have been relegated last year. As much as I think we may have a possibility of it this season I think we’ll be going a few places higher.
Al, any chance of a made in Brum feature/series on the youth players over the years? I think a look to the future players we’ll be seeing and the ones from the past decade that have gone on to other things would be good.
Playoffs??!!! Have you been watching the rubbish we’ve been playing this season? Two wins at home and were into March. If we stay up it’ll be a miracle. This has been the worst season in 20 years.. No positives in that.
What can I say? . . . I have heavily tinted BLUE specs!
You must look like Roy Orbison with those specs on!! Try contacts :-)
“Pretty woman, walking to-wards me” . . . . I think. ;-)
.. And a team full of future premiership stars? Yeah, that might be right but it’s a shame we don’t own any of them!! There all on loan.
the only good thing that happened under carson – a famous day etched in my memory forever !
DELAY NO MORE
Happy birthday to carson best wishes
Title for 2mor Daniel judgement day lol
The Cup Final was undoubtedly my greatest day as a Blues fan in over 50 years, however, we should not forget that we also had our highest league finish for years, a long unbeaten run and a one year unbeaten run at home. I just prey that if CY is convicted that he will finally decide to give up his hold over Blues and sell up.
One of the best days in my life time Daniel to see the pain etch on the arsenal players faces will long remain with me……. Our special fans who made the day unbelieveable………
I looked for the pain etched on the faces of the Arsenal fans , but the buggers had all gone before the echo of the whistle died down . :-)
Bit like most of them leaving 15-20 minutes early at their home games. It baffles me to see THOUSANDS of empty seats with so long left. Why pay up to £100 for a ticket and miss so much of the game.
The debate about leaving early is as old as the hills but often the game is still exciting / winnable etc and still they leave in their droves. Bizarre.
You call it St Obafemi’s day and it is true he was in the right place at the right time to tap the ball home. The unsung hero in my mind of the match was Lee Bowyer, his performance that day will stay with me forever. I say unsung hero, as other players including man of the match Ben Foster were widely praised, but Bowyer was magnificent.
I thought Jean Beasejour was excellent when he came off the bench. Made a difference.
From my point of view there were 11/14 men of the matches on Feb 27th
ktf
kro
100% agree with you; Bowyer was outstanding that day, and was without a doubt my man-of-the-match.
Agreed – Bowyer man of the match by a country mile. I like Foster and he had a good game, but Bowyer (who knew it was his last chance to pick up a medal in professional football) was like a thing possesed that day.
If the football league don’t consider him an owner of BCFC anymore, then why do we?
I fear your stubbornly going on a tangent here because your writing a book about him.
He’s stepped down from the club, lets move on and ask the new directors.
I do realise they are related to Carson but what I’m saying is they aren’t Carson, Move On
Take your head out the sand Eddie…
We’re all following posts and reading articles about a bloke who is not connected to the club!
Whilst your at it, I hear the Kumars have a new shop on the High Street
Keep dreaming fella,sometimes I wish I thought like you but I live in the real world Eddie I’m afraid…
Eddie – your view is laughable. Carson is very much still connected
My point is that this is a great example of “media saturation”
Years ago, we would have read the Sports Argos about FOOTBALL maybe potential players and how BCFC performed on the pitch,
now we are all following a blog about someone (according to the football league) unconnected to our club.
I know you’ve put a lot of energy into this, but move on, He’s unconnected, who cares.
Even you say the result wont change anything, your acting like a dumped teenager
Great attitude Eddie and you must really love the blues…….but what do they say about love??love is blind kid!!i will take your comments as a bit of a wind up though so which shows you have a sense of humour,nice try though.
Greatest day in my 42 years of supporting The Blues. And Eddy why don’t you just bugger off?
Chudit mate, is there really any reason to be so rude to Eddie just because his view differs from yours? Eddie makes a valid point as like me he is as bored with this whole saga as I am and the original article by Dan was about Obafemi Martin’s memorable goal that caused tears to flow down the faces of grown men, myself included given that it meant so much to them. As far as Carson Yeung is concerned I have consistently refused to condemn the man until the rule of law has finally played out and judgement day is tomorrow. There are far too many of the Bluenose nation that have already decided that Mr Yeung is guilty; just remember he may be acquitted tomorrow and one way or the other Dan will let us know first hand since he will be present in the courtroom. Let’s just stick to the facts and wait patiently. We’ve waited three years so we can wait one more day before adding to the huge mound of speculation which is all there has been for the most part. Daniel will write his book but I won’t be buying a copy and not because I don’t admire the excellent and informative journalism that he has produced but quite frankly I’ve read it all already and once this is over I for one want to move on and look forward to that funny old thing called football. KRO SOTV
You don’t know my views. Maybe I should have just said it more politely. If you don’t like the views of the blogger then don’t read the blog.
Eddie, there’s a simple answer to your comments. Don’t follow the blog!
And may I add, this blog hasn’t attracted millions of readers for no reason.
I opened a blog celebrating a great day and yet again have been dragged down to a Carson conversation, move on.
cant we just celebrate a great anniversary without being so typically bluenose negative.
Quite right Eddie, Ii don’t care what happens to Carson Yeung. I don’t know the man personally, so what happens to him, is of no consequence. I am only interested in the eleven players, who pull on the royal blue shirts every Saturday. The day I hear no more of Yeung and his cohorts, ,can’t come soon enough.
Great to remember that famous victory, I waited 55 years for that, never forget that ball rolling towards me into the goal.
I wish I could share some of the optimism for the future though. Irrespective of the trial outcome I can’t see things changing. The stubborn adherence to the modus operandi of the Board shows no sign of changing, namely developing and then selling youthful assets, relying on loans that come and go through a never stopping revolving door, existing on a hand to mouth basis and struggling to maintain Championship mediocrity.
This is not a criticism of the UK operation – the club”s staff, management and players – who do a good job in very trying circumstances, even if there are question to be asked on tactics and player selection.
So what to do?
We have to keep right on behind the team, if we don’t then no one else will. The protest campaign needs our support too. And keep those fingers crossed and those prayers coming for a new knight in shining armour
Nothing wrong with looking back to that day. Those memories will keep us going for years and we need them right now with all that has been happening to the club. The best thing about that day was that if finally confirmed we’re not a hopeless case. We have a definite high point. This club can win trophies, give it a few years to get back on it’s feet and try again. If Wigan can win the FA Cup, then why not us?
As good as it gets in my supporting life. 9th placed finish, a Cup final triumph and seeing the Blue Boys play in Europe. It doesn’t get any better. Brilliant memories that I shared with the people I’m closest to in this life. You couldn’t buy a feeling like that. Decades of shite and those great moments that you’ve grown inro in a way. Even though it felt like a knife being stuck into my gut at Spurs on the last day of the season I wouldn’t swap it.
Getting a warm glow thinking about it now.
A timely post to remind us all that in fifty years time all that will be remembered of Carson Yeung is that he took the club to Wembley to win our first major trophy. Maybe then ‘son of OP’ will be proposing that we rename St. Obafemi day to St Carson day!? Because when all said and done I would not trade that day for anything and am quite happy to accept mid-table championship football because I DID go to Wembley and I DID see my team win a major trophy. Carson Yeung – whatever dark deeds you may have done and however many days you spend in the clink, I salute you for that day and I forgive you all the rest. KRO.
Tu shay my friend dare i say it even softened towards Alex now
great times .never to be forgotten..and now
their is a imaginary feeling of an ex -lover turned stalker
that wont let go .and that wont except the fact that all thats
now happening is their fault .but wont let go and would rather
destroy us than let go
I seem to remember we had more Blues fans at Wembley on St Obafemi’s Day than we ever get at Stans. That made me realise what the potential is in the Prem for a successful Blues side.This is a big city, after all. It’s another milestone in this saga tomorrow and as always we KRO. I would wish for a consortium involving people like TF and Jasper to take over, together with others who really care about the club.
“In the three years that have followed it’s been a bit of a downward slide.”
Almajir… Master of the Understatement. ;)
Will always love Carson for the good times.
Best owner we’ve ever had by a country mile.
Only 3 years ago, in footballing terms it seems like a lifetime.
According to SSN, Darcy Blake is training at Wast Hills and the coaching staff are having a look. Another promising career that took a bit of a dip. He can play centre back or right back, so might add another option to the squad as a free agent.
3 years ago today was the happiest, proudest day of my life as a bluenose, beating arsenal
the way we did will never be forgotten and propably never be beaten in my lifetime, to think
that happened then to whats happening now is unbelieveable…..so raise a glass to that
memorable day… not st obafemis its ST. MARTINS DAY…that sounds much better dont you
think..hopefully in the next 24 hours it will be ST. CARSONS DAY…but then again ime not
to sure about that one!!!! KRO.
the similarities between us and Portsmouth are too much to contemplate. Pompey won the Cup with money they did not have. Ours was based on monies from who knows where. The fact that we are not in Portsmouth’s position is worth celebrating
to right Alan. KRO.
A day I will never forget
So glad I was there under where the cup was lifted
Looking forward to some more of that in the future
KRO
Hi all just clicked on this link or copy paste http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/20140226-throwback-thursday-carling-cup-special-1384236.aspx
scroll to the bottom and press play all
what a great day was had by All
Ray: neither TF, Carrot or for that matter Jeff Lynne will entertain buying Blues. Carrot has made a career out of deprecating Blues is worth a fortune due to his share of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, yet doesn’t care enough to put his hand in his pocket. A Brummie investor stepping in with a golden deal isn’t going to happen.
your right Ted , trevor, jasper and jeff were linked 21 years ago but nothing came of that then
and nothing will come of it now….it would be great to have a brummie owner with £32 million
to buy the club and then spend another £30 million building it back up again but it hasent
happened over the last 3 years and would be staggered and exited if it ever did…..but at
the momment… no chance. KRO.
So it looks like 15000 of us have to find £2000 each and we can run it as a fans club. Might be a bit
Less than that if someone else is rich!
Alex Mcleish was resonsible for that fantastc time, give him credit.
Totally agree. He was responsible for one of the best periods in the clubs history and gets ignored.
I think a lot of fans will never forgive Big Eck for his defection to Villa but I bet hand on heart, he regrets that move because I don’t think he realised the upheaval it would cause between both sets of supporters across the expressway. But in a way, it ruined his managerial career somewhat, and he knew staying at Birmingham would also be a downward spiral, he was facing the sack had he not bought Blues straight back up. Big Eck did give us that fantastic day along with his players and as a result became the most successful manager in Birmingham’s history.
Sorry, but I can only give McDuff credit for the great job he did at the Vile.
;-)
If i had a quid for everytime somone said that TF ,Carrot and or Jeff Lynne was gonna buy the club we would be half way to a fans buy out.
I am sure most people with a bit of money like the Birmingham boys mentioned would see buying a football club, money being thrown down the drain. Not just Blues, but any club.
I was one of those grown men bawling tears that Sunday afternoon.
How much has changed since that glorious day. As you say we will always remember CY for that and nothing can take it away.
As has been said, the verdict will not be the end but at least we will have an idea of what is likely to be the start of the end.
KRO+DNM
I still have the nightmare: Laurent Kosicelny and Wojciech Szczęsny have a mix up in the final minutes of the Carling Cup final, the ball runs free the Cameron Jerome, and he blasts over from 3 yards out!!!!!
Poppa999 – I share your nightmare !! I actually like Jerome and feel he did a good job for Blues ……….. but I’m so glad that chance fell to Martins and not him ! KRO
Yep I was one of them grown men in tears too
But there was 40,000+ ‘bluenoses’ there that day – now we see just over a third of them
Not just Arsenal glory hunters we saw disappear that day
Come on – I know we’re watching lots of dross at home at present – but I reckon if 60 percent of those who paid £50+ that day turned up at Stans for half the price and made the same noise we could create a fortress again with the encouragement that would give to the youngsters – and hugely impress any potential investors
I expect all the usual answers of why should you pay for rubbish etc. etc. but think about it
We get what we deserve