Memorial to Birmingham City fan Barrington Patterson - One Eyed Baz - appears by St Andrew’s stadium

A heartfelt memorial to Barrington Patterson - known as One Eyed Baz - has been unveiled near Birmingham City’s St Andrew’s stadium.

The former kickboxer and Birmingham City hooligan turned community activist, died aged 56 last week after suffering a heart attack, his wife Tracey confirmed on Twitter.

A monochromatic photograph has been printed onto one of the walls in Coventry Road, Small Heath - opposite Blues’ home ground.

The street art tribute was created by local artist Foka Wolf.

After seeing the tribute, many took to Twitter to praise the artist’s work.

One person wrote: “If there was one piece of art that states Welcome to Birmingham, this is it. Brilliant tribute.”

Another wrote: “Brilliant work and a great memory for family and friends.”

Baz’s wife Tracey also praised the artwork.

She tweeted: “Whoever did this just know that he would be smiling down”, before thanking Foka Wolf, writing “Bless you thank you it brings us great comfort.”

It comes after a memorial took place for Barrington on Saturday (26 March) at the Emporium Gym on Tyburn Road in Erdington where residents gathered to lay flowers.

The former professional kickboxer grew up in Handsworth and was a former member of Birmingham City’s Zulu hooligan firm.

As a child Barrington was blinded in one eye through an accident, when his sister threw a can at him, which later earned him the name One Eyed Baz.

In his later life, Barrington campaigned against knife crime and homelessness in the city.

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