Talk Dants - Episode 2

Into the home stretch we come and once again our nerves are shredded as a relegation threatened season reaches its climax as we welcome Norwich to our gaff next up. One thing that has always made me proud to be a Blue is the shared sense of humour that we all have – it usually becomes even stronger and funnier humour in the face of adversity such as we’ve faced many times in the modern era of the club, including right now.

I’m always astonished at how quickly Blues fans respond to an incident in a game almost in unison with a brilliant chant that always gets me smiling and wondering “how do they all know to sing THAT at the same time??”

I unwittingly launched a famous Blues fan tradition back in the late 1990’s when I worked as the club’s stadium announcer – a tradition that still plays out to this day – namely the “Whoooooo???” chant during opposition substitutions.

I had decided – having taken over the role as P.A. man in partnership in 1998 with the late, great Bob Matthews who did on-pitch announcements – that Blues players needed to know they were being individually appreciated during our substitutions at home games.

I made sure to leave a gap having announced the name of the player going off, so that he got a round of applause for his contribution to the team. Then, once that had died down a little, I would announce the replacement player, who would then get his OWN round of applause as he entered the fray.

Simple enough idea, and it seemed to work well as I tried it out when, say, Peter Ndlovu came on for Dele Adebola. Fans were together and straight into the concept of 2 distinct rounds of applause, which made me very happy.

What I hadn’t bargained for was what would start to happen when I did the same thing for opposing players when changes were made. Slowly but surely, fans in the Tilton exploited the gap I’d left for an away team sub and pockets of fans starting shouting “Who?” when I paused for the outgoing player and then said it again after the name of the replacement was announced, followed rapidly by a quick “‘Oo are ya, Oo are ya?!?” to round things off!

I wondered as this crept in if it would be a fad. Far from it, and by the 1999/2000 season it was very much part of the fabric right around the stadium in league matches. Some opposition managers were known to complain about what they saw as unsportsmanlike behaviour from the stands in the way their players were belittled. Undaunted, I carried on with my method, and more and more Blues fans joined in the fun around the stadium.

And then we drew Bobby Robson’s Newcastle United in the 1999/2000 League Cup.

A chance not only for a cup upset against a Premier League side, but also to make the most of this new found tradition we had amongst ourselves. And I have to say it fell beautifully into our collective laps in the 2nd half.

With an hour gone, Blues were 2-0 up as Martin O’Connor and Darren Purse scored, Newcastle ‘keeper Steve Harper had been sent off just before Skip’s penalty and all was happiness and euphoria in the stands.

Our stadium announcer’s box at St Andrew’s is located right above the unused tunnel in the middle of the main stand, and from that vantage point, me and the legendary Rob Shannon alongside me could see activity on the Newcastle bench. In those times, there were no electronic boards for substitution numbers – just numbers on boards that were held up by the 4th official.

“Hey! Loooook!” exclaimed Rob next to me, “They’ve got the number 9 ready!!!!! This is it Ian! Go for it!!!!”

One of England’s greatest ever strikers was about to be hooked by his manager and when the ball next went out of play to herald the change, I pressed the microphone button and said “Substitution for Newcastle United…”

Immediately, fans all around the ground were hushing each other wanting complete silence for my next sentence – they’d seen the number 9 about to be held up pitchside just as we had.

I left a pause for the shushing to cease and then it came with my slightly questioning tone; “Replacing Number 9…Alan Shearer?”

“WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO??????????????!!!!!!!!!!”

The fans were laughing. Laughing out loud at what they’d just shouted at a true legend of our game. The laughter I heard was so loud I don’t think they properly did a “WHOOO?!??” for the player that replaced Shearer (Paul Robinson I think it was).

There was also a time not long after when I’d handed the P.A. microphone to my pal Keith Laurent when Bolton were in town and Bo Hansen was brought on for them. Keith said his name, got the traditional response and then went “I said…Bo Hanson!” Cue even more uproarious laughter and – I think – an official complaint from The Trotters!!

This simple yet highly effective “WHO?!?” moment that still exists now at home games just sums up the gallows humour, quick wit and the unity of Birmingham City fans that I’ve known and adored my whole life. Anything that brings us still closer as supporters to laugh, joke, reminisce and debate about this club we love so much is to be cherished.

KRO

Dants