Birmingham City vs Stoke City Live Streaming Soccer Online||EPL 22-08-09

Birmingham City live	vs	Stoke City Live

Date:Saturday 22nd August 2009

Competition:Birmingham City vs Stoke City Soccer,English Premier League

Venue:St Andrews Stadium, 78 St. Andrews Road, Birmingham, B9 4RL.

Ticket Availability:


Time: 16:00 (CET) (18:00 GMT)

Report:Live

TV channel Link:Live Streaming

preview :Birmingham City (9th) v Stoke City (14th)

Review:Fixtures

Directions to St Andrews Stadium:

By Car:
From M6 – Exit the M6 at Junction 6 on to the A38(M) Aston Expressway. At the second roundabout turn left on to the A4540.

Just after the third roundabout turn left into St. Andrew’s Road. St. Andrew’s is directly in front of you.

From M40 – Leave at Junction 3A on to the M42 northbound. Leave at Junction 4 on to the A34. The A34 merges into the A41 and

continues towards the City Centre. Turn right on to the A4540 and then right again at the next roundabout on to Coventry

Road. St. Andrew’s is on your left.

From M5 – Exit on to the M42 at Junction 4A and follow the M42 round to Junction 3A. And follow as above.

By Rail:
Nearest stations are Birmingham New Street or Moor Street which are both about a 20 minute walk.

Watch Birmingham City Football Club Information

Watch Birmingham City Football Club Information

Official Website >
Birmingham City Football Club plc
St. Andrew's Stadium, Birmingham, B9 4NH
Tel: 0844 557 1875

Club Profile >

*Overview

Birmingham City exploded onto the Barclaycard Premiership stage in 2002. Having suffered play-off heartbreak in the previous three seasons, they won the play-offs under former manager Steve Bruce and seemed determined to make up for lost time.

In their first season, they finished a highly creditable 13th and did the double over arch rivals Aston Villa. Another mid-table finish in 2004/05 was followed by relegation a year later and a mass clear-out in an effort to reduce the wage bill.

But Birmingham bounced straight back up in the 2006/07 season, clinching automatic promotion as Championship runners-up. They became the first senior club in English history to postpone a match because their newly-laid pitch wasn't ready. The Blues have the dubious honour of playing on what was originally the spare pitch for the new Wembley.

After suffering the heartbreak of relegation on the last day on the 2007/08 season, Alex McLeish's side bounced back at the first time of asking, winning promotion back to the Barclays Premier League by finishing the 2008/09 season as Championship runners-up.

*Club Heritage

A band of cricketers from Holy Church in Bordesley Green founded the club under the name of Small Heath Alliance in 1875. The club turned professional 10 years later, agreeing to pay their players half the gate receipts. In 1879, the first match between the two sides was recorded as a victory to Small Heath by "one goal and a disputed goal to nil."

The Blues were founding members of the Football League Second Division in 1892 and were champions in their first season. They became Birmingham City FC in 1905 and moved into their permanent home of St Andrews Stadium a year later. To facilitate this move, a group of gypsies had to be evicted and it is rumoured they put a curse on the ground as they left. Fans still blame this curse during every bad run.

The club have spent most of their existence bouncing between the top two flights - their Second Division title in 1955 was notable in that they beat Luton Town on goal average by just 0.297 of a goal. Their only major cup victory - the 1963 League Cup - was made even sweeter in that it was over rivals Aston Villa.

*Premier League History

2001/02 - Manager Trevor Francis replaced by Steve Bruce. Win promotion to Barclaycard Premiership via play-offs
2003/04 - Break club record transfer signing Emile Heskey for £6.25m
2005/06 - Relegated from the Barclays Premiership
2006/07 - Win automatic promotion to Barclays Premier League as Championship runners-up
2007/08 - Steve Bruce leaves to take up the reins at Wigan Athletic
2007/08 - Former Scotland manager Alex McLeish

Sores From - http://www.premierleague.com