Championship club to have alternative sponsorship for brilliant reason

Posted Saturday, March 18, 2017 by Dreamteamfc.com

Championship side Birmingham City will be wearing a special one-off shirt this weekend in support of a leading UK-wide brain injury charity.

The Blues' back of the shirt sponsor No5 Barristers' Chamber have offered up their position on the shirt to Headway, the brain injury association.

But the reason behind it all stems for a tragic tale involving a former Birmingham youth player.

Former Birmingham City youth team player Jack Rutter was 18 years old when, a month away from signing his first professional contract, he went out for a celebratory night with friends at a nightclub in Gloucester.

A few hours later, his life changed irreparably when he was brutally assaulted in an unprovoked attack outside the club. A punch to the back of Jack's head caused him to fall and hit his head on the curb, leaving him with a brain injury.

Jack woke up from a coma in intensive care with his dreams of becoming a professional footballer shattered.

With the help of Headway, Jack began the tough task of rebuilding his life - but he wouldn't let the dream of being a footballer die.

In last year's 2016 Paralympics in Brazil, Rutter led out Team GB's Cerebral Palsy team as captain, and helped the country to a fifth placed finish.

Birmingham welcome Championship leaders Newcastle to St Andrew's, with Headway emblazoned on the back of their shirts and digital board advertising to raise awareness and funds to the charity.

Alongside the players wearing the kits, the match day mascots will have special kits with the Headway logo emblazoned on the front. Headway Ambassador, Team GB Paralympian and Cerebral Palsy Football Captain Jack Rutter, will be the special guest on the day. He will be interviewed by Sky TV presenter, Chris Skudder at half-time.

Tony McDaid, Chief Executive and Director of Clerking at No5 Barristers' Chambers said: "We have been working with Headway over many years and continue to marvel at the level of support they offer to individuals and their families post brain injury.

"The charity's Concussion Aware campaign is an initiative that both we at No5 and our friends at Birmingham City Football Club fully support."

Head of Commercial, Ian Dutton at Birmingham City FC commented: "When No5 Barristers' Chambers approached us with the idea, we were delighted to support the campaign. As a football club, the safety of our players at all levels is of the upmost importance and we wanted to do as much as we could to raise more awareness on the impact of concessions in sport.

"We look forward to welcoming the Headway team and Ambassador Jack Rutter to the game for what should be a very special occasion."