Birmingham City midfielder Craig Gardner has paid for 50 families to attend this weekend’s Sky Bet Championship clash with Queens Park Rangers at St Andrews. A bumper crowd is anticipated on Saturday, with it being designated a ‘kids-for-a-quid’ match.
30-year-old Gardner, who is on loan from local rivals West Bromwich Albion before making the deal permanent in the summer, wanted to further extend the generosity of the club but paying out of his own pocket for 50 families (two adults, two chicken each) to be a part of the atmosphere this weekend.
In quick time the tickets were snapped up, taking advantage of the charitable deed from the fans’ favourite, who insists it is important that the club try to reach out to young supporters,
“When I read about the kids for a quid initiative I thought it was a great idea. And it got me thinking what could I do to help, even in some small way, to get St. Andrew’s rocking like we know it can.
“It’s important we continue to attract families and the younger generation of fans.
“All the players appreciate the support we are being given as the manager changes things and hopefully the atmosphere will be like it was in the last match at St. Andrew’s, when there was a real coming together.”
Before that, Gardner and the rest of his Birmingham teammates travel to Deepdale on Tuesday evening to take on Preston North End. The Blues are looking to bounce back from Friday night’s defeat to Sheffield Wednesday and attempt to reduce the 12-point gap to the final play-off position.
