One of the highlights of my time here in Birmingham has been following one of the local teams: West Bromwich Albion. Whether this has entailed attending their games (home and away), buying their kit, or even dedicating lots of time to write about them for this paper, I have found myself loving being so close to a team who I have come to care for. So, when I returned this year to discover that the Birmingham City Society had been set up- giving others the amazing experience I have had with West Brom (albeit for a rival team) – I was thrilled.

At university, it can feel like a bubble: we often feel very separated from the rest of the city and do not necessarily embrace the culture of the new place we inhabit, staying in our native Selly Oak and not venturing far outside. To see a society make a concerted effort to engage these new Brummies, inviting them into the club they love and have grown up around, is refreshing. It is also vital in giving us real-world experience; making the university experience more than just reading, tests and essays. We live in one of the biggest, most culturally rich, and diverse cities in the country, and should all be experiencing what it has to offer.

The society’s founders – Anoop Guru and Naryan Singh –  said their aims are “to be the home of football on campus and be a space for fans to express their love for the beautiful game”, and “create an inclusive atmosphere for fans of all clubs”. This inclusivity is a big part of the society’s success, and why it has grown so quickly – lining up with what they see in the club. They “love the Blues because it is a family club that has always been for the supporters”. To put it shortly: “A proper club, with proper fans”.

You can see how these aims have allowed the society to circumvent traditional stereotypes around football, particularly of football dedicated groups. Such organisations are often seen as raucous, boozy and violent. With the Blues, this is not the case. The members are welcoming, the atmosphere warm, and the culture relaxed. There is no pressure to drink or act in a certain way or prove your “ball knowledge”. Blues Society is welcome to all, no matter what experience or ability you have with either playing or watching football.

Their free match tickets are open to all (who are members). For many at the last outing, it was their first experience of live football. The society made the effort to give students the opportunity of going to St. Andrews to witness a game in the flesh. According to the founders, they want to give this experience to as many students as possible. As ever, it was a special moment walking out into the stands, staring at a new ground, at the seas of Blues, hearing the club anthem – ‘Keep Right On’- all for the first time. It helps that the game was a 4-0 thrashing over Preston, but there was a palpable excitement and buzz in the group as it came to a close. There were certainly some whose gazes have now been drawn to the Blues. With free ticket opportunities for the women’s team also on the horizon, you can further see how the society is trying to be inclusive to all, showing all areas of the club and its culture.

It is refreshing to see the enthusiasm the football club has for such a group. Football clubs are notoriously difficult with fans: often listening to or communicating with them begrudgingly, rather than out of choice or desire. This often creates strained relationships that can hamper clubs from developing or progressing to their fullest potential. It can also lead to protests, boycotts, and tension within the fanbases that leads to hollow atmospheres and conflict.

The levels of communication between the two parties in this instance have paved the way for several exciting and incredible opportunities, including these free tickets, stadium tours and more. It shows a great understanding from the club’s owners, who took over in 2023, that if they are to rebuild to the Premier League as they hope to they must grow the status and following of the club. It is clever foresight, as they hope to open a new 62,000 seater stadium by the early 2030s. With the current stadium struggling to fill its capacity of around 29,000, this shows a desire to grow the club, but it will be a tough task of many years’ work. The foresight the owners have shown should be comforting for the fans however, and instil confidence in them going forwards.

This collaboration also shows a desire to connect with the local area. The University of Birmingham isn’t as historic as some other universities in England, but has risen quickly to become a prestigious institution in this country. The Blues Society are carrying on the university’s tradition of innovation by becoming the first officially affiliated university football society. Hopefully, they can prove to be the asset it has the potential to be for both sides moving forwards, and help strengthen the university’s ties to the club and more generally the city. 

To have a society here that is not only giving students a chance to experience the culture, but also is fighting stereotypes of football, is a gift we can only be glad to have.

All featured image credits go to Mackenzie Lambert 

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