displaced_seagull

Wednesday 19th April 2006

Kevin Kilbane

Dear Diary;

Looking good Birmingham! - Another point tonight, at home to Spurs - and I got on the scoresheet for the first time this year, and only the second time this season. It's my third in a Birmingham shirt, and the 32nd of my career, so they tell me.

We played very well though, and were slightly unfortunate to be held to a 2-2 draw. Unfortunatley, Norwich won - the gap is now 8 points, and with the exception of a few of us - goals always help! - morale is still pretty low, with most people facing up to relegation now. It's not something that I can face up to until we are mathematically doomed, like Derby, who went down tonight after getting beaten 3-0 by Portsmouth.

We've now got 4 to go, and if they are to be the last four Premiership games we'll play for 12 months, then we'll certainly go out with some crackers - Man United next, followed by fellow strugglers Leicester, a possible six-pointer - on the box! - against Norwich, and then finally home to West Brom, who are 5th at the moment. Big games, all of them.

Birmingham 2 - Tottenham Hotspur 2

displaced_seagull

Saturday 29th April 2006

Kevin Kilbane

Dear Diary;

Judgement day. Ironically enough, we produced our best performance of the season too - beating Leicester 3-0. It would - as we, and probably the fans - had expected, all be in vain - Bolton's 1-1 draw with Aston Villa confirming their safety, and our relegation to the Second tier of English football.

I'm fine, I've played there before, and am happy at Birmingham, but it's clear that Sam Allardyce will now have a lot of work - and a lot of financial juggling, no doubt - to do if we are to get back. We've still got a couple of games left, and hopefully with the pressure off, we'll enjoy them and put on a bit of a show for the fans.

It's still gutting though, there is no feeling like this in football. A day to forget.

Birmingham 3 - Leicester 0

Farrell Kilbane

Dear Diary;

Dismal. Shocking. Terrible. Bloody Heartbreaking. Still, at least we didn't get relegated - but neither Kevin nor myself are happy tonight. Southport were in rampant mood, and thumped us 6-0 at Haig Avenue, securing promotion for themselves in the process. I contrived to score an own goal, as did our 'keeper, Kevin Scriven - but it was long wrapped up by then.

It's a sad end to what had been a good season for both the club, and for me personally. No goalscoring send-off for Ian Pulman , who's loan deal is up after this game, and no great final game for Andy Fensome , who's retiring in the summer, nor Carl Nesbitt , who wasn't involved today.

Morale is, as could be expected, a little low - but we've now just got a couple of weeks of light, 'warm-down', training before the summer - and then it starts all over again. Hopefully Kev will be in the World Cup squad - if he is, then I may well take the missus and kids to Germany to watch 'Uncle Kevin' playing for Ireland. They certainly won't see their old man do it.

Southport 6 - Burscough 0

Final Conference North Table;

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | C | Southport | | 42 | 23 | 14 | 5 | 63 | 32 | +31 | 83 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | Pl | Worksop | | 42 | 21 | 17 | 4 | 60 | 23 | +37 | 80 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | Pl | Hinckley | | 42 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 58 | 34 | +24 | 77 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | Pl | Hucknall | | 42 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 46 | 28 | +18 | 71 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | Pl | Runcorn | | 42 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 56 | 45 | +11 | 65 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Leigh RMI | | 42 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 44 | 33 | +11 | 65 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Nuneaton | | 42 | 19 | 7 | 16 | 73 | 66 | +7 | 64 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Gainsborough | | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 58 | 54 | +4 | 57 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | BURSCOUGH | | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 65 | 65 | 0 | 57 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Alfreton | | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 56 | 64 | -8 | 57 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Worcester | | 42 | 13 | 17 | 12 | 47 | 36 | +11 | 56 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Hednesford | | 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 49 | 56 | -7 | 54 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Marine | | 42 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 54 | 57 | -3 | 52 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Altrincham | | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 53 | 67 | -14 | 52 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Bradford PA | | 42 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 41 | 44 | -3 | 51 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Moor Green | | 42 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 48 | 55 | -7 | 51 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Kettering | | 42 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 43 | 52 | -9 | 51 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Harrogate Town | | 42 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 56 | 61 | -5 | 50 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Stalybridge | | 42 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 67 | 69 | -2 | 49 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | R | Lancaster | | 42 | 10 | 10 | 22 | 44 | 65 | -21 | 40 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 21st | R | Ashton Utd | | 42 | 8 | 14 | 20 | 37 | 71 | -34 | 38 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22nd | R | Gateshead | | 42 | 7 | 11 | 24 | 38 | 79 | -41 | 32 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

displaced_seagull

Saturday 6th May 2006

Kevin Kilbane

Dear Diary;

Walking out at carrow Road to a chorus of 'Staying Up' is a pretty strange experience when you've just been relegated. It was a fairly ill-tempered affiar anyway, and I picked up another booking - one more in the final game, and I'll miss our first 'Championship' game of next season.

We drew 1-1, gaining another point, but that tells it's own story - from 37 games, we've picked up a miserly 35 Points. We're now at least certain to finish 18th in the table - Leicester, who are apparently looking to sack Micky Adams just a season after reappointing him - lost again, so they may yet prop up the table should Derby find some form and win their final game of the season.

Oh well, one to go - the World Cup starts in just over a month, and hopefully I'll be there. If not, it'll be a very long summer.

Norwich 1 - Birmingham 1

displaced_seagull

Saturday 13th May 2006

Kevin Kilbane

Dear Diary;

The last one, the final hurdle - but we've already fallen. West Brom came to town today, the visitors to St Andrews for the final time this season, and the final time Birmingham will host a match as a Premiership club for at least as season.

It was a day to forget as well, just another one in a season of disapointments. We were holding Albion fine, at 1-1 - but three minutes from time they scored a winner, and finishing fifth, will be playing in Europe next season. For us, it's off to Plymouth, Burnley, Huddersfield and Hull.

I've now just got to hope about the World Cup squad. Crossing my fingers, I think I should get the call, but you never know. It's certainly something I'm hopeful about, in any case.

Birmingham 1 - WBA 2

Final Premiership Table

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | C | Arsenal | | 38 | 26 | 5 | 7 | 78 | 36 | +42 | 83 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Chelsea | | 38 | 22 | 8 | 8 | 75 | 47 | +28 | 74 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Man Utd | | 38 | 22 | 7 | 9 | 64 | 36 | +28 | 73 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Man City | | 38 | 21 | 5 | 12 | 68 | 48 | +20 | 68 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | West Brom | | 38 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 56 | 53 | +3 | 62 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Liverpool | | 38 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 60 | 49 | +11 | 58 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Newcastle | | 38 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 57 | 50 | +7 | 58 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Everton | | 38 | 18 | 2 | 18 | 56 | 54 | +2 | 56 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Blackburn | | 38 | 16 | 7 | 15 | 53 | 55 | -2 | 55 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Southampton | | 38 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 53 | 49 | +4 | 53 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Tottenham | | 38 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 59 | 60 | -1 | 52 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Aston Villa | | 38 | 15 | 6 | 17 | 51 | 51 | 0 | 51 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Fulham | | 38 | 14 | 6 | 18 | 49 | 65 | -16 | 48 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Bolton | | 38 | 13 | 8 | 17 | 55 | 60 | -5 | 47 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Portsmouth | | 38 | 14 | 5 | 19 | 54 | 66 | -12 | 47 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Gillingham | | 38 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 58 | 65 | -7 | 46 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Norwich | | 38 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 49 | 62 | -13 | 43 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | R | BIRMINGHAM | | 38 | 10 | 5 | 23 | 43 | 67 | -24 | 35 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | R | Leicester | | 38 | 9 | 5 | 24 | 40 | 76 | -36 | 32 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | R | Derby | | 38 | 6 | 9 | 23 | 40 | 69 | -29 | 27 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

displaced_seagull

Saturday 20th May 2006

Kevin Kilbane

Dear Diary;

I'm in! - I've made the World Cup Squad for the 2006 finals, and I can't wait! - although obviously with Damian Duff and Andy Reid also in my position, I'm not guarenteed to be playing. It's not just that though, it's always an experience - last time not an entirely positive one for me personally, but an experience all the same.

It's those sort of things you remember when you retirte - and everybody wants to be playing international football, I'm sure of that.

displaced_seagull

Tuesday 6th June 2006

Farrell Kilbane

Dear Diary;

Today was a strange day. We're on our summer break - but everybody at the club got a call last night to come in this morning. Nobody shirked, which is nice to see. The Chairman spoke to us all for a little while, but you could see he was waiting for something - he kept looking at his watch. Eventually, the door opened and the gaffer walked in.

It had been a busy day for him - and when he satarted to speak, we were all shocked. He's done a great job here, but nobody - least of all, I think, him - expected him to be offered the job of Wrexham manager. Fortunatley for us, he has turned it down - and he wanted to thank us all personally for making it an easy choice to turn down.

Next season, I really think we can push for honours!

displaced_seagull

Wednesday 7th June 2006

Kevin Kilbane

Dear Diary;

This then, is it - my six month promise to Mum & Dad honoured. Myself and Farrell will no doubt look back at both our own, and each others, diaries of the final six months of last season several times - and hopefully we'll be able to reflect on these, in my case at least, self-concious words with the benefit of hindsight.

I'm just about to board the Aer Lingus flight to Berlin, and with it, the chance to play in the World Cup Finals. I can only hope it goes better than the club season has.

On that note, next season will be an interesting one. Will I still be at Birmingham? Will we go up? - Who knows.

displaced_seagull

Epilouge

And Then...

Ireland raced through the Group Stage of the World Cup, beating South Korea and the Czech Republic before a suprise defeat to Mali. In the Second Round, they came up against France, and were sent home after a Richard Dunne own goal led to a 1-0 defeat. Brazil won the World Cup, with a 2-1 victory over plucky South Korea in the Final.

Of the other Home Nations only England reached the finals - crashing out in the Quarter Finals to South Korea . The suprise package of the Tournement, other than Finalists South Korea , were undoubtedly Australia , who disposed of Argentina on their way to a Quarter Final defeat by Spain .

Kevin Kilbane played in just 84 minutes of World Cup Football, coming on off the bench in the matches against South Korea, Czech Republic and France.

Farrell Kilbane began season 2006/07 where he left off - as Captain of Burscough in the Conference North.

The End

BobBev

Nice one d_s :thup: