The late 1990s and early 2000s were an enjoyable and relatively successful period for all connected with Birmingham City.
After climbing their way out of the third tier doldrums under Barry Fry in 1995, Blues eventually saw the charismatic boss replaced by their greatest ever player, in the form of Trevor Francis one summer later.
Francis then oversaw three consecutive seasons of progression at St Andrew’s, as the club went from finishing in 15th place to an eventual 4th-place finish at the conclusion of the 1998/99 season, where they were stopped in their aims of ending a 14-year exile from the top flight, losing on penalties to Watford in B9.
As is so often referenced in the club’s famous ‘Keep Right On’ anthem, Birmingham endured plenty of joys and sorrows in the coming years whilst, simultaneously, Francis was piecing together a squad that would feature a string of future cult heroes in the Second City, and one of those would join in the summer of 1999.
