Members News: Reminder- Stuart Giddings Is Our CBS ‘Special’ Tonight For Blackburn
Stuart in the Sky Blue
Just to remind you that CCFPA member and Sky Blues former full back/ defender Stuart Giddings is our ‘special guest’ later tonight (ko 7.45pm) at the CBS Arena as the Sky Blues’ take on high flying Blackburn Rovers in a Championship clash. Mark Robins men are desperate for points languishing in 19th in the table with a poor performance in that 3-0 defeat at Leeds United at the weekend.
We are sure Stuart will get a warm welcome from a likely large crowd at the CBS Arena tonight. He is a regular attender alongside family members and like all Sky Blues fans will be looking for an uptick in the energy and quality of performance shown by the home team easpecially as Rovers, managed by former CCFC midfielder John Eustace, may well feature popular ex Sky Blue duo Kyle McFadzean and Dom Hyam (all three Association members now).
Oggy in the Press Box
Look out for Stuart ‘around the lounges’ pre-match for Q&As in the company of our member, club host and ex Sky Blue defender Brian ‘Harry’ Roberts. He also may well be persuaded to do a half-time pitch side interview. After the game, as is tradition, Stuart will be down in the G-Casino appearing on stage with CCFPA’s Billy Bell in their Lady Gs Lounge to wrap up the evening with more craic and a Sky Blue song!
As usual we expect the CCFC Legend that is Steve Ogrizovic (also an Association member) to be doing live match-day commentary for BBC CWR for those who can’t make the game.
There will also be other CCFC Former Players present at the game (all CCFPA members) including Association committee members Dave Bennett, Dietmar Bruck and Kirk Stephens as well as Peter Hormantschuk and Graham Walker.
CCFPA Committee member Mike Young and recent former chairman Jim Brown will also have their usual pages in the club’s excellent programme PUSB!
Stuart in July 2002 in England U17 shirt
To remind readers Stuart, now 38, was brought through the Club’s youth system and collected England caps from under 16 to U19 level along the way. He made his Sky Blues first team debut in the Championship in May 2004 as a sub and made his full debut the following season.
He is yet another illustration of the success of CCFC’s record of bringing through young players to first team action. Even today the Club relies on many players who cut their teeth in the Sky Blues Academy. Stuart was also a Birmingham Senior Cup winner with City in 2006-07.
Stuart Giddings at LD24
In total, Stuart turned out nineteen times for the first team before being released in March 2008 (after a loan spell at Oldham Athletic). Since 2009 Stuart has played at Hinckley Athletic (two spells), Ilkeston Town and Darlington (on a season’s loan) but his career was sadly set back by a long-term knee ligament injury from 2011.
Stuart has become an increasingly frequent attender of Sky Blues home games and has undertaken the chores of being the Association’s ‘special guest’ at both the Ricoh in the past (including broadcasting with the BBC CWR team) during City’s exile at St Andrews as well as subsequent seasons back at the Ricoh/CBS Arena. He has also turned out for the Sky Blues Legends XI in matches supporting various charitable causes. He was at Wembley supporting the Sky Blues in their recent F.A.Cup semi-final. Stuart has also been present at our most recent major former player gatherings including last May’s Legends Day 2024.
Stuart Giddings with CCFPA’s ‘Benno’ at LD19
Fingers crossed Stuart sees a much improved Sky Blue performance tonight with three points to help them climb the Championship table!
