Birmingham City pre-season: West Brom game completes the schedule

Birmingham City have now confirmed six pre-season fixtures in preparation for the League One season after West Bromwich Albion were announced as their final opponents.

The Blues will play Paderborn at the end of their week-long training camp in Austria on July 13 at the Pendlingstadion, Thiersee. Paderborn finished seventh in Bundesliga II under manager Lukas Kwasniok last season.

When the Blues return to England, they will face Solihull Moors on Wednesday 17 July in the Arthur Labinjo-Hughes Memorial Arthur Cup. Chris Davies’ side travel to Shrewsbury Town – who they will also face in League One next season – on Saturday 20 July.

The Blues will host Rangers in a friendly at St Andrew’s on Wednesday July 24 to mark one year since Trevor Francis died. Trevor Francis’ first memorial match will be against one of the late striker’s former clubs.

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The Blues’ fifth confirmed fixture is a trip to Walsall on Saturday 27 July. The Blues have not faced Walsall for a number of years but will visit the Poundland Bescot Stadium two weeks before the start of the season.

The Blues’ final friendly sees West Bromwich Albion host on Saturday 3 August. Albion remained in the Championship after losing in the play-off semi-finals to eventual winners Southampton.

Pre-season plans confirmed

• Pre-season tournament, Austria, Monday 8 July – Sunday 14 July
• SC Paderborn 07 – Blues, Saturday 13 July, kick-off 4pm (local time), Pendlingstadion

• Solihull Moors v Blues, Wednesday July 17, 7pm kick-off, Armco Arena

• Shrewsbury Town v Blues, Saturday 20th July, 3pm kick-off, The Croud Meadow

• Blues v Rangers, Wednesday July 24, 7.45pm kick-off, St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park

• Walsall v Blues, Saturday 27th July, 1pm kick-off, Bescot Poundland Stadium

• Blues v West Bromwich Albion, Saturday 3 August, kick-off 3pm, St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park