Former Birmingham City midfielder becomes manager at just 28

Former Birmingham City player-turned-coach James Fry has a new coaching role.

The UEFA A Licence holder called time on his playing career in May, having come through the Blues academy.

He retired at just 28 years old and mainly played in the non-league for the likes of Kidderminster, Leamington, Stratford Town, Tamworth, and Bromsgrove Sporting before finishing his career at Rugby Town.

Fry held a coaching role within the academy set-up at St Andrew’s and led the under-18 squad to a play-off spot a few years ago.

He has now been granted one of his first roles in senior management, having been appointed as Alvechurch’s new first-team manager. Fry replaces Ian Long who left the club last week.

In a club statement, Alvechurch said: "Jimmy is a highly qualified, young, and talented coach who has most recently been working across the age groups at Birmingham City Football Club Academy program.

“His knowledge of the game certainly surprised us all and after several meetings, we felt he is absolutely the right man to take us forward into a new era."

At the time of his appointment, Alvechurch are 15th in the Southern League Premier Central, which is the sixth tier of English football. His first game in charge will come against Long Eaton United on Saturday. Fry’s appointment at Alvechurch will see him manage Adan George who joined The Church following his release from Birmingham City.

In addition to the glowing praise from his new club explaining his appointment, West Brom’s first-choice goalkeeper Alex Palmer congratulated him on the role and said: “Thoroughly deserved! Gonna smash it.”

In other news, Birmingham City’s under-21 team are next in action on Tuesday, October 3 against Sheffield Wednesday.

The young Blues are second in the Professional Development League standings and trail Sheffield United by three points, and they boast two games in hand.

Birmingham’s under-18’s team meanwhile recorded a 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday, and have a home match against Sheffield United on Saturday, September 30, which will be played at the Wast Hills Training Ground. Blues are top of the league after a perfect start to the campaign and