Birmingham City confirm five pre-season fixtures and start date reveals

Birmingham City have now confirmed five pre-season matches in preparation for the League One season.

Blues will play Paderborn at the end of their week-long training camp in Austria on July 13 at the Pendlingstadion, Thiersee. Paderborn finished seventh in the Bundesliga II under manager Lukas Kwasniok last season.

When Blues return to England they will face Solihull Moors on Wednesday, July 17 in the Arthur Cup in memory of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. Chris Davies’ side will travel to Shrewsbury Town – who they will also face in League One next season – on Saturday, July 20.

Blues will host Rangers in a marquee friendly at St Andrew’s on Wednesday, July 24 to mark the one-year anniversary since Trevor Francis passed away. The first Trevor Francis memorial match will take place against one of the late striker’s former clubs.

The fifth match confirmed by Blues is a trip to Walsall on Saturday, July 27. Blues haven’t faced Walsall in a number of years but they will visit the Poundland Bescot Stadium two weeks before the season begins.

There is still space for another friendly on the weekend of August 3 and 4 before the League One campaign kicks off on August 10.

Confirmed pre-season plans

• Pre-season tour, Austria, Monday 8 July – Sunday 14 July
• SC Paderborn 07 v Blues, Saturday 13 July, kick-off 4pm (local time), Pendlingstadion
• Solihull Moors v Blues, Wednesday 17 July, kick-off 7pm, the Armco Arena
• Shrewsbury Town v Blues, Saturday 20 July, kick-off 3pm, The Croud Meadow
• Blues v Rangers, St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park, Wednesday 24 July, kick-off 7.45pm
• Walsall v Blues, Saturday 27 July, kick-off 1pm, Bescot Poundland Stadium