The word ‘legend’ is bandied around far too loosely these days in a footballing sense but there is no denying Gil Merrick is Birmingham’s finest ever goalkeeper and one of the best this country has ever produced.
As a Birmingham fan, my dad would often wax lyrical about just how good Merrick was and I have been fortunate enough to meet this great man. Merrick would always attend club functions to raise money for others and his forthright views were a joy to behold.
In fact, rather fittingly, he was voted into Birmingham’s inaugural ‘Legends XI’ and the dinner took place last week.
The great man was conspicuous by his absence but his aura lives on and with the Railway End now known as the Gil Merrick Stand it will for all eternity.
I last saw the 88-year-old, who passed away on Wednesday afternoon, at the August fixture between Birmingham and Stoke this season at St Andrew’s.
On being introduced myself as a St Andrew’s legend I took the match day host to task and told him there was only one legend in the room and that was Gil Merrick.
He was sitting at his table in his usual unassuming manner but the whole room – and I mean everyone – rose and broke into spontaneous applause such is his standing at St Andrew’s.
Not only was he a fearless and talented goalkeeper in an era where they received little protection he is also the only manager in the club’s history to lead them towards a major trophy.
Merrick, who won 23 caps for England, made a record 551 appearances for the club between 1939 and 1960 and represented his country in the 1954 World Cup.
He was part of what is widely acclaimed as the ‘best ever’ Birmingham City team that finished sixth in the top flight and lost in the FA Cup Final to Manchester City in 1956.
Fittingly, for a man with blue blood who was born in Sparkhill less than three miles from the ground, he went on to manage the side to a 1963 League Cup final over their fiercest rivals Aston Villa.
That remains the team’s finest hour and Merrick will always be remembered as the finest goalkeeper in the club’s history.
In August of this year, Merrick became a recipient of a Broad Street Star on the Birmingham Walk of Fame and had a record of 126 consecutive appearances for the club between 1949 and 1952.
He was famously in goal for England during the 6-3 defeat to Hungary back in 1953 having made his debut two years earlier against Ireland.
As a Blues fan it was a privilege to meet Merrick and to discover that he was as much of a colossus off the pitch as he was on it in terms of being a true gentleman.
A minute’s’ applause will take place before this Sunday’s game with Wolves and Blues players will wear black armbands to commemorate his life. Both goalkeepers will then lay a wreath in each goal bearing the message ‘Gil Merrick – England’s Number One’.
Blues’ fans will always remember Gil Merrick – RIP.
