Latest news with #ChrisDavies
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Birmingham City face one problem that Ipswich didn't have two years ago
Birmingham City want to add their name to the short list of clubs that have achieved back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League. Blues appointed Chris Davies to go on 'a journey' with them last summer and recruited such quality that their stay in League One was only ever going to be a short one. Advertisement Now that Blues are back in the Championship, the ultimate aim is to do what Ipswich Town did in 2024 by going all the way from League One to the Premier League in successive seasons. READ MORE: The fraudsters and benefit cheats who betrayed trust to steal thousands READ MORE: Explained: What HS2 update means for Birmingham City Sports Quarter The Tractor Boys joined Watford, Norwich City and Southampton to become the fourth team to achieve that feat since the formation of the Premier League. Blues made light work of their first promotion, with an EFL-record 111 points, but can they emulate Ipswich? Advertisement While there are stacks of similarities between the two teams, not least the playing style and the fact Blues already have an XI in place to hit the ground running in August, there is one major difference. Ipswich were able to travel under the radar to begin with, whereas Blues won't be afforded that luxury due to their record-breaking season and their transfer spend last summer, not to mention the £3 billion Sports Quarter that is bubbling away in the background. Ipswich supporter and EFL vlogger Benjamin Bloom told the Keep Right On Podcast: 'The one thing that Ipswich had that Birmingham City categorically will not is the whole world and his mother can see Birmingham coming. No one really saw Ipswich coming. 'You said the stat, 12 wins in 14 – even me as an Ipswich fan, I'm saying 'OK, if we can ride this out we might get in the play-offs here'. No one saw it riding out to 96 points. Advertisement 'From day one, everybody is expecting Birmingham to have a good season. Everyone is going, 'OK, three year-one parachute payment teams, plus Sheffield United…' 'Who is the next team they mention? It's not Middlesbrough, it's not Norwich, it's not West Brom, it's not Watford, it's Birmingham.' Will Blues secure back-to-back promotions? Have your say HERE
Daily Record
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Kyogo set for surprising transfer as Celtic hero 'lined up' for Birmingham City move by Brendan Rodgers ally
The Hoops sold the hitman for £10million to Rennes in January but he could be set to move again inside six months Kyogo could be set for a surprising move to Birmingham City this summer. The Celtic star left in a big £10million deal to Rennes in January but the move turned sour very quickly for the former Hoops favourite with his match action very minimal as he fell down the pecking order at the Ligue 1 side. Now Japanese news outlet Sponichi Annex are claiming that the 30-year-old is likely to make the move to England's second tier where he would team up with Chris Davies and former Celtic team-mate Tomoki Iwata. They state several European clubs are keen on Kyogo's services but the Blues are the most enthusiastic as they aim to return to the English Premier League. Kyogo himself is also reported to be positive about the transfer to the English side. The former Celtic striker needs to get himself back playing with the World Cup next year. To be included in Japan's squad he would need to be playing consistently once again and a move to Birmingham would open that door. The Blues won English League One with relative ease last term and set records along the way. Now they are hoping to make a splash in the second tier as they look to complete the journey back to the big time. Kyogo was a huge success at Celtic after Ange Postecoglou brought him to Glasgow. He netted 85 goals in 165 games for the Scottish champions. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
BBC News
04-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Birmingham aim to reach Premier League next year
Birmingham City chairman Tom Wagner says the club are targeting successive promotions and reaching the Premier League next year "is certainly the goal".The League One champions broke the EFL record for most points in a season in 2024-25, and the American businessman told BBC Sport he wants the club to return to the top flight "as quickly as we can".With plans for a new stadium handed a major boost on Tuesday, after the government confirmed investment in local transport links, Wagner believes the Blues will be "highly competitive" in the he says that is because the club's commercial revenues will be "very close to, if not in line with" those of rivals in receipt of parachute payments. Leicester City, Southampton and Ipswich Town will each benefit from almost £50m next season, having been relegated from the Premier spent £25m after dropping down from the Championship last year, and Wagner vowed to be "very active in the transfer market" this summer in a bid to build on the progress under "exceptional" manager Chris added he is open to the idea of clubs playing some cup matches overseas as a means of growing an international fanbase. 'Unique opportunity' A "thrilled" Wagner was speaking after his hopes for a new 62,000-seat stadium to replace St Andrews took a significant step forward, with government funding for a new tramline to a planned £3bn 'Sports Quarter' in the east of the club's owners, US investment firm Knighthead Capital - which Wagner founded - wants to build a 125-acre sports and leisure complex on abandoned land in Bordesley Green, and have been trying to persuade ministers to grant the West Midlands billions of pounds to fund new transport links for the regeneration that has been achieved, he says the aim is for the "transformative" Sports Quarter - which will also include a 20,000-seat arena, hotel and training complex for the club's men's, women's and academy teams - to be open by 2030."We needed the transport links to ensure the site was viable," said Wagner."This will be an entertainment venue unlike many others in the world.""We have a unique opportunity. If you look across western Europe you'd be hard pressed to find another city with that much land available... where a project of this magnitude could be created."This will be a venue that is used 365 days a year, we'll create 8,500 jobs... the goal would be to host a whole range of international events, not solely football but American football, rugby."Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady is a minority owner of Birmingham asked if there was a risk that the new stadium would result in higher ticket prices for supporters, Wagner said: "If you price out the fans that are here you have different people sitting in the stands, you lose the singing, you lose the passion and then you've lost your product."We have to remember this is a club of the people and that means the solution for growing commercial revenue is not solved through ticket prices, it's solved through making a better product."Last year, Birmingham City's former chief executive Garry Cook said it would be "a great idea" if they played a league match against fellow US-owned club Wrexham on American soil."I don't think that it makes sense to do it necessarily with regular-season matches," said asked what he thought about potentially playing some domestic cup matches in the US, he said: "It's something that has to be thought of."When you think about the top-tier clubs in the Premier League, they're competing globally, which means that they have to have global fans and global-scale revenue, and if that means playing some matches overseas to create more following and revenue for the club I think that's a good thing."You have to find a way to do it that doesn't take away from your local community, so it's very much a balancing act. There's a very fine line that needs to be walked there, but I think for the top clubs it's something that has to be seriously considered."Perhaps there's a different tournament, or something that happens that allows for that, maybe at a different point in time in the season. There's a whole series of ways that could be pursued beyond simply the pre-season tours."When asked what assurances he could give to fans concerned about the number of English clubs now controlled by US investors, Wagner said: "The reason Americans are drawn to investing here is because it's English football."If we 'Americanise' it, then it's lost everything that drew people here in the first place."
BBC News
01-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
'Life will never be the same' after grandad dies in Trafford crash
The family of a man who died in a motorbike crash have paid tribute to a "deeply loved husband, father and grandad" who was "kind and thoughtful".Chris Davies, 54, died after a crash involving the motorbike he was riding and a car in the Partington area of Trafford at about 09:30 BST on 14 May, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said."He was a kind and thoughtful man who was always there to support and better the lives of his family, and who would help anybody," his family said in a statement issued by police.A man in his 70s was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and has since been bailed. Greater Manchester Police said a Peugeot 107 was travelling along Moss Lane when it was in collision with a motorbike travelling along Warburton Davies, who was from Partington, died at the scene."Chris was a huge and influential part of our lives," his family said in their tribute. "He loved his family dearly and idolised his grandchildren and we are devastated that he has been taken from us so young and in such tragic circumstances.""He did many amazing things in his life and would be proud to look back on the impact he made with everyone he met, just as we are so very proud of him," they added."His cheerful attitude and bright smile will be missed forever, and our lives will never be the same without him. "We have been left with broken hearts but lots of precious memories that we will cherish."Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact them. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'How my pet hamster led me to my future wife'
When Chris Davies's daughter first begged him for a hamster, he wasn't exactly thrilled. But eight-year-old Lily, after hours of research, managed to convince her dad they were not just "starter pets" and to welcome one into their home. The NHS nurse bought Popcorn, a hamster he said he knew there was "something different" about from the beginning. But nothing could have prepared Chris for the "surreal" impact the rodent would have on his life, eventually leading him to the woman he will soon marry. Not long after bringing Popcorn home, Chris' life took an expected turn as he had a "sudden" break-up. "I was broken after," he said. Yet during those lonely times, it was Popcorn who offered him unexpected support. "I thought I'd just be more open-minded and see what this animal was about." Chris was surprised to find that Popcorn behaved more like a loyal puppy than a rodent. "He was following me like a dog," he said. "I got him on the sofa with me, and he fell asleep on my chest. I couldn't believe it." For Chris, who struggles with anxiety, Popcorn soon became a source of calm and connection. "It was just a really beautiful thing. It was mindfulness. "Being a nurse in the NHS, some days are quite hard and it's really stressful, but Popcorn would just calm me down." Lily and other family members began encouraging Chris to post videos of Popcorn's behaviour online. "I was kind of anxious at first," Chris said. "How many blokes do you see lying on a sofa with a hamster?" But almost as soon as Chris began posting videos of Popcorn on TikTok, they took off. More than140,000 fans were charmed by Popcorn's unusual personality, his affection and his bond with Chris and Lily. He became, as Chris lovingly described him, their "micro-dog". What followed was a bizarre set of events no one could have been predicted, Chris said. As Popcorn gained popularity online, Chris and Lily wrote a book together about the impact that the little critter had on their family, which was then published in May 2024. Then one evening, Chris then received a comment from a fellow Cardiffian, Carrie, telling him his content was "cute". The pair got chatting, soon discovering mutual passions, a shared love for animals and even the same profession. "We were living only a mile apart, but we'd never bumped into each other," Chris said. "It was crazy." Chris and Carrie met in person a few months later and when Carrie held Popcorn, Chris said, it was like a something "clicked into place". The family, which has now grown to include Carrie and her children as well, sadly lost Popcorn in the summer of 2023. But fast forward to today and Chris and Carrie are engaged, set to marry this December. Their wedding cake will even feature a small tribute to Popcorn, with his name written at the bottom. "Without him it wouldn't have happened, you know. He was cupid, in a way." Chris said. Though Popcorn has been gone for a few years now, his impact remains immeasurable. For Chris, he was more than just a pet. "There's never be another Popcorn," he said. "He was just a one-off."
