Birmingham City stadium work ramps up, Donovan rewarded as Anderson prepares for summer fixture

St Andrew’s are undergoing a makeover for the second summer running ahead of the start of the Birmingham City League One campaign.

Owners Knighthead have pledged £15m to improve the club’s existing infrastructure this summer and work on the stadium is already underway. The Blues closed their club shop over the weekend until further notice to allow builders to start work.

As well as the permanent fan area being built in the Main Stand car park, the Blues are also opening a pop-up entertainment center in the Kop car park. To create a more unified experience for supporters, changes are being made to the store.

Head of Infrastructure Nick Smith explained: “We’re refurbishing the retail shop and the reason I’m telling you that is because we’re going to reorient the retail shop so that the front door faces the front entrance of the Kop and the fan park”.

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Work is also underway inside the stadium. The Blues hired Events Crew to install a track around the perimeter of the pitch at St Andrew’s.

Tracks are common at major sports and entertainment venues and will help protect the pitch while stadium work is carried out throughout the summer. You can check out the work the Events Crew has done via the image below.

Pete Shuttleworth is busy

Pete Shuttleworth, who returned to the Blues as part of Wayne Rooney’s coaching staff in October, is one of the managers whose future is uncertain this summer. The 45-year-old was retained by Tony Mowbray before being redeployed by Gary Rowett for the final six weeks of the campaign.

Shuttleworth has moved from analyst to coach in recent years and is currently working to complete his UEFA A License. He recently spent time training with the Northern Irish FA to complete the second part of his qualification.

Posting on his Instagram account, Shuttleworth said: “Back home after a great week in Belfast completing Block Two of my A license with the Northern Ireland FA. I met an amazing group of coaches who supported each other all week and really wanted each other to succeed and an excellent set of NI FA tutors who work hard to make this an engaging and packed course of satisfactions. After years of neglecting my own qualifications, I am more determined than ever to progress and see where this journey can take me.”

Anderson to play a charity match

Blues midfielder Keshi Anderson – whose contract has been extended by a further 12 months – is set to take part in a charity match in aid of children affected by the conflict in Gaza.

Anderson and a host of other professional players compete in the Children of Gaza match at The Hive, home of Barnet FC, in London on Saturday 1 June. Anderson, 29, is part of a team competing for Nujum Sports against a team put together by former Aston Villa player Anwar El Ghazi.

Donovan receives England Under-18 call-up

Blues teenager Romelle Donovan has earned a call-up to the England under-18 squad. Donovan made 10 first-team appearances last season and was a star of the Blues’ under-21 journey to the Professional Development League national final.

He scored nine goals for the Blues’ second-string in 2023/24 and will represent his country later this month. The forward was selected in the Young Lions squad for the Tri-Nations Trophy held in St. George’s Park, with games against Northern Ireland on May 22 and Morocco on May 26.