Birmingham City Football Club is a professional football club also known as ‘The Blues’. Based in Birmingham, the club is steeped in history, having been formed in 1875 as ‘Small Heath Alliance’. This was in acknowledgement of the local area in which the club was born. It took its present name, Birmingham City, in 1943. Soon afterwards they relocated to the current St Andrew’s football ground. The ground has long been a symbol of the local community, but Birmingham City FC also enjoys recognition on a global scale, bringing the club’s values to people throughout Europe and the world.
The local team with a global club image
The Birmingham City FC ‘globe and ball’ logo is one of the most recognisable crests in English football. It was officially adopted by the club back in 1972. The design was the winning entry in a competition, run by the Sports Argus newspaper to find a new logo for the club. The winner, Michael Wood, was an engineer with the West Midlands Gas Board. His design incorporated the line-drawn globe and ball, with a ribbon carrying the club name and foundation date, in royal blue and white. The design was described in the Club’s official magazine: “Players will wear it on their jerseys next season and it will also be worn on club blazers and ties. It’s forward-looking and introduces the globe and the idea of European football, which is what everyone at the Blues wants to see at St. Andrew’s.”
We’ve been delighted to work in the past with Birmingham City FC, creating custom ties for commercial staff working at St Andrew’s on match days. The club wanted to give a professional look to those working there each week. Having ties to represent the unity of the club was an important way in which to promote the club’s iconic image. We helped them to design a polyester woven tie, which incorporated the team colours and crest into a striped design. The club logo was woven onto the custom ties to give them a smart and polished finish.
Inspiring support at home and away
St. Andrew’s has long been renowned as the beating heart of its community, at home, for many years. There is little surprise that the Blues assisted in wartime efforts between 1915–1920, with the stadium becoming a rifle range for training soldiers, as well as the Club giving injured servicemen complementary tickets on match days. World War Two saw the ground sustaining bombing damage, whilst the Main Stand burned down whilst operating as a fire station.
But Europe has also beckoned at various times in the Club’s history. Not long after a new Main Stand was constructed in the 1950s, Birmingham City FC became the first English club side to compete in a European competition, as well as the first side from England to reach a European final in 1960. Europe called again in 2011, with a qualification in the Europa League and an astounding victory over Club Brugge to reward the travelling fans.
Blues Commercial annual golf trip
Birmingham City FC is visiting Europe again this March, but in a slightly different capacity – it’s the Blues Commercial annual Golf Trip to Marbella. Running from Friday 24 March to Monday 27 March, this follows the hugely successful trip to Spain last October. Guests will enjoy a magnificent stay at the award-winning, five-star Westin La Quinta Golf Resort & Spa for three nights. The resort is only a short drive from the very popular resort of Puerto Banus, with the first night seeing the Blues host a three-course meal at La Sala in Marbella.
Those in attendance will also enjoy two 18-hole rounds of golf whilst staying at an award-winning complex and networking with like-minded business folk. On the final evening, all guests will enjoy another superb three-course dinner, as they share memories of their time on the course and the all-important prizes are delivered.
Find out more about the full package details and sponsorship opportunities on the Birmingham City FC website.
