Gil Merrick memories

Gil Merrick would have appreciated the way Blues came from behind to force an unlikely victory against Wolves.

On the day when the great man's life and career was remembered, a performance of such character to respond when it seemed that the chips were down was apt.

It may not have been the prettiest, but the spirit - and Kevin Phillips predatory brilliance - was akin to the days of old when Merrick was in his pomp for Blues as a goalkeeper and later manager: the Brummie skill and steel, talent mixed with toil.

Merrick, who died on Wednesday, aged 88, was a true legend.

And before his passing, it was heartening that he had made his peace with the club and had been enthusiastically welcomed back into the fold.

St Andrew's was a no-go zone for an incredible 42 years following his sacking as manager.

In the fascinating 2009 biography of Merrick by Keith Dixon (Breedon Books), the reasons for his bitterness are disclosed.

He felt he was dismissed, after four years in the hot seat, because of a grudge vice-chairman David Wiseman - father of Jack, grandfather of Michael - held against him.

When it was announced that Merrick was to play for England, FA Councillor Wiseman told him he had the first caps of Harry Hibs and Joe Bradford, and he wanted his too.

Merrick said he would give it to his father.

"I don't think David Wiseman ever forgave me for that," Merrick was quoted as saying in the book.

"The nature of my sacking was in my opinion conducted as an act of revenge by David Wiseman, who had held a grudge against me since the early 1950s."

Over the years Blues tried - and failed - to coax Merrick back.

But a breakthrough was made by Ivan Barnsley, who ran the Birmingham City Historical and Collectors' Society, persuaded him to make a presentation and Merrick was astonished by the ovation he received.

The Birmingham City Former Players Association, the organisation driven by Kevan Broadhurst and Tom Ross which is now enthusiastically backed by the Carson Yeung regime, kept up the good work and were instrumental in Merrick becoming the first inductee to the new Hall of Fame at St Andrew's.

It is poignant to know now that the Association only recently encouraged the club to bid successfully - to the tune of £5,000 - for one of Merrick's England caps which had to be auctioned off to help finance essential work on his home, designed to help ease of mobility.

Merrick said himself he was born to be a goalkeeper. The size of his hands were huge, he had a quick mind and agile body and he always tended to veer to be defensively-minded in whatever sports he played.

He went on to become a pivotal figure in pivotal moments in Blues history, after joining the groundstaff in 1939, whether as a player or boss.

He felt that Blues, red hot favourites, lost the 1956 FA Cup final to Manchester City due to a blazing row at half-time between manager Arthur Turner and Len Boyd.

The former blamed the latter for not being able to shackle Don Revie, who had dropped into a deep-lying centre-forward position and was causing tremendous problems.

The score was 1-1 at the break but Merrick felt an opportunity to plan positively at the interval was wasted because of the set-to.