A Fantastic Afternoon in the Chairmans Box at Birmingham City FC

Some afternoons stand out for more than one reason. A recent visit to Birmingham City FC as a guest in the Chairman’s Box was one of them — good company, excellent food, a win on the pitch, and the chance to catch up with some familiar faces from our player relocation work. It made for a thoroughly enjoyable few hours.

Seeing Tom Wagner Back in the Stands

One of the highlights of the afternoon was seeing Chairman Tom Wagner back in attendance. Wagner, the co-founder of Knighthead Capital, which now holds a 96% stake in the club, suffered a stroke earlier in the year and stepped back from his day-to-day involvement while he recovered.

Seeing him back enjoying the football — this was only his second match appearance since the incident — was genuinely good to see. Everyone at Partridge Homes wishes him a continued and full recovery. His commitment to the club’s future is clear, not least through the ambition behind the proposed £2 billion Sports Quarter development in Bordesley Green, which includes a planned 62,000-seat stadium with a target completion date of 2029.

The Chairman’s Box: Food, Company and a Result

Spending the afternoon in the Chairman’s Box was a real pleasure. The hospitality was provided by Glyn Purnell, one of Birmingham’s best-known chefs. Purnell held a Michelin star at Purnell’s restaurant for 14 years before closing it in 2024 and going on to open his new Birmingham restaurant, Trillium, in December 2025. The food was exactly what you’d expect from someone with that background — considered, well-executed and a long way from a typical matchday pie.

As a lifelong Blues supporter, I’ll admit the result played its part too. Birmingham City finished the 2025–26 Championship season in 10th place, and afternoons like this are a reminder of how much the club has moved on since the Knighthead takeover. A big thank you to everyone involved in putting together such a well-run occasion.

Catching Up with Players’ Families

Away from the football itself, it was lovely to catch up with some of the players’ families who were there supporting the team. These are people we’ve got to know through our Sports & Entertainment relocation work, and seeing them settled and enjoying a matchday is always a good sign.

Moving clubs is rarely straightforward. A transfer doesn’t just affect the player — it affects partners, children, and the whole shape of family life. Finding a new area, getting children into schools, working out which route takes you to the training ground: these things take time and support to get right. That’s the part of our work that goes beyond the property itself.

It means a lot to see those families looking comfortable and at home. That’s what the job is really for.

Our Track Record with Birmingham City FC

Partridge Homes has built a strong working relationship with Birmingham City over a number of years. In the 2025–26 season alone, as the club rebuilt its squad following promotion back to the Championship, we handled the relocation of all 19 new signings — a 100% success rate across a busy and sometimes fast-moving transfer window.

Some of those moves required a quick turnaround. In one case, we were contacted on the morning a transfer was being finalised, and by that same day had sourced a suitable property, arranged a private viewing, agreed terms, and prepared for a move-in by the following Sunday.

That kind of speed is only possible because of the relationships we have with landlords, developers, and contacts across the region — and because many of the properties we work with never appear on the open market. Discretion matters in this line of work, and it’s something we take seriously.

You can read more about how we work with clubs, agencies, and players’ representatives on our dedicated football player relocation page.

What Player Relocation Actually Involves

Every move is different. Some players are arriving from abroad and need guidance on everything from local areas to utility set-up. Others are moving from elsewhere in the UK and have a clearer sense of what they want. What they share is a need for speed, privacy, and someone who can handle the process without fuss.

The priorities vary too:

• Privacy — properties away from busy roads and public footfall, with appropriate security
• Proximity to training — travel time to the training ground matters, particularly during pre-season
• Space for family — enough room for partners, children, and visiting family
• Flexibility — short-term or longer-term arrangements depending on contract length and personal circumstances

Our role is to understand what matters to each individual and find something that fits, rather than working from a standard checklist.

Afternoons like the one at St Andrew’s are a reminder of why this work is worthwhile. The relationships built through player relocation don’t end when the keys are handed over — and it’s always good to see that reflected in person.

Keep Right On.

If you’re a club, agency, or representative looking for discreet and reliable player relocation support in Birmingham and Solihull, get in touch with Partridge Homes to speak with Paul Partridge directly.

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