Football Daily - In Focus: FA Cup Special with Birmingham City’s Jay Stansfield

Episode Date: February 8, 2025

In this FA Cup special episode of In Focus, Aaron Paul goes to the West Midlands to speak to Birmingham City striker Jay Stansfield. The 22-year-old joined the Blues permanently in the summer of 2024 for a reported £15 million, a record deal for a club in League One, having been on loan from Fulham the previous season. The striker talks about his journey to now, the feeling it brings at the club being owned by Tom Brady and how his team will setup in their FA Cup 4th round tie against Newcastle. He opens up on the impact his late Dad, Adam Stansfield had on him, who passed away in 2010 after suffering with colorectal cancer.

BBC Sounds music radio podcasts. The Football Daily Podcast on BBC Sounds. Hello and welcome to a special edition of 72 Plus as I've infiltrated the in focus episodes you get on a Saturday with a special chat with Birmingham City's Jay Stansfield, that ahead of their FA Cup clash with Newcastle United. Jay, we're in the inner sanctum. We can be real now. Jay Stansfield, that ahead of their FA Cup clash with Newcastle United. Jay, we're in the inner sanctum, we can be real now. Take me back to the summer and making the decision to leave Fulham World, Birmingham, with Jason New. It came quite late on in the

window, but one, what was it like having to make the decision and B, what was it like being chased? Yeah, it was a weird few weeks obviously because as soon as the draw came out in the cup and we drew Birmingham and then it was sort of a competition where there was rotations in the team so I was lucky enough to be able to start that game and then to come back to Birmingham and see all the fans again was obviously an unbelievable feeling and to have a good game and get a get a goal back at St Andrews was was also a good feeling as well but um yeah it was it was strange like it's one of them things I think back now and like I don't really remember yeah, it was strange. Like it's one of them things I think back now and like I don't really remember much of it

because it's happened so quick. But knowing my relationship with the club from last year and the connection I got with the fans, it was an easy decision for me to make this move back to such an ambitious club. And like I said, Fulham was amazing and I had amazing few years there. Great manager, great set of lads

and sort of helped me become the player I am today and I can't thank them enough for that. But my time was obviously, I went on loan a few times and I just needed to take the next step in my career and that was I weighed up my options and this was the best option for me as a young player coming through and being able to develop into the player I want to be. Who sold it to you? The whole club really. The owners were really powerful in what they, how ambitious they

were for the future and probably last season was the season I'll remember the most at the moment in my football career because it was a feeling of at the start of the season it was unbelievable. At the end of the season obviously we got relegated so that feeling was not nice but then different feelings has made me realise that anything can happen in football and you've got to enjoy the highs and when you get relegated you've got to be able to fight back and show personality and show what character you have and I think this season that's my main aim is to be able to bounce back and get this club back to where they want to be.

Tell me about the boss, he's come in, his first main job as a number one, obviously worked very closely with Brendan Rodgers and Ant Poster Coghley, had a lot of success with both of them. But he's brought an identity back to this football club, something that's lacked for a long, long time. Yeah, the gaffer's amazing, the way he motivates us before a game, the training sessions, the tactics that he brings out every day in us. And to go out on a Saturday and have them ideas and be able to have a team that puts

them ideas to work is obviously a good feeling for him, but everyone's engaged in what he's saying and yeah, it's a privilege to be able to work with him. And the team absolutely love going out on a weekend and being able to play the style of football he wants to play. And like I said, he brought 17 new players in to be able to play the football he wanted to do. So yeah, it's a great, great style of football and it's nice to be involved and be able to play the style he wants to play. What about being the young part of the group? Because you look at that front line, you talked about Lucas Jukovic being an influence, him, then Dyches has played a lot of football and

maybe he needed a reset coming from QPR. And Alfie may just get goals, doesn't it? He's a fantastic player, but being the young custodian of the group, what's that like looking up, learning? I'd imagine it's quite an enjoyable experience and a fulfilling experience. Yes, it's a great environment and to have such big names like that in the training ground with you, it's so helpful to be able to learn from them and they all have different qualities and like I said Alfie scores loads of goals in this league so being able to learn off him and being able to, for him to be able to help me and all of them is really helpful and I've really enjoyed playing with them but also

being off the pitch with them. The experience they have and being able to help me become a player I want to be is amazing and it's nice to be able to go on a pitch with them on the weekend and then be there to support me if difficult time to come on the pitch and they've obviously been experienced to be able to help me get through that. The owners want promotion, you want promotion as well after tasting Relegation last year. Where does the FA Cup fit into it? Yeah, the FA Cup is obviously a massive cup competition and we want to go as far as possible. It's another trophy that's there to win and anything can happen. You've got to be ambitious these days because that said the club's going in the right direction and that will just be an unbelievable

experience to one play at home against Newcastle in the FA Cup, but to get a victory and go further in the competition will be even better. Newcastle, under the lights, on TV, St Andrews will be absolutely rocking. There is something special about that place under the lights, isn't there? Yes, it's an amazing place to be able to walk out in front of however many thousands of people and then singing and encouraging you but also it's going to be a massive game obviously with a Premier League club coming here and it's sort of going to be good for us to be able to test ourselves in its Premier League club. Obviously that's our ambition for the future in the next coming years is to be able to try and try and

get there and obviously it's very ambitious for me to sit here and say but we know we've got the qualities and things to hopefully push on and get as close to that as possible so yeah it's going to be an unbelievable night and us as a team and the fans can't wait for it to happen. Is it a test for where you guys are at the moment as a group? Yeah. Thanks to Newcastle. Yeah I think so, I think obviously as a team we're really excited but to go out and show

our qualities against a very very good side and it's going to be an amazing atmosphere and I think it's going to be a good environment for us to go out and show our qualities individually but also what a good team we are. This was a Premier League fixture as well, once upon a time and for a good few years as well. It's not just about promotion back to the Championship is it? This club has ambitions to be in the top division. Yeah, I think you can see that with all the investments that the club are doing and like I said, you've got to be ambitious these days and that's our ambition is to get back to the Premier League and it takes however many years it does, but we're ambitious to get it done as soon as possible and that's come from the owners and that's their ambition

and like I said, it's such a privilege to be able to be part of a club that has that ambition and hopefully we can make it happen. Speaking of ambition, they've shown plenty of ambition in securing services of you. Tell me about the fee, because a lot of people would say that that is pressure on someone. Would you say you feel under pressure from it? I won't say I feel under pressure. I think it's a crazy fee, to be honest. I've grown up as a young football fan and seeing moves happens but like I said it's a privilege to be able to have that fee on my back and I can't thank the club for having faith in backing me to

be a player of that quality and I think I've just got to go out and show that I do have that quality and like I said it's one of them things we've got to deal with and the last few weeks have been tough. I've sort of maybe sort of felt the pressure a little bit but I've spoken up to people at the club and asked for help to how to deal with that pressure and I think getting two goals on the weekend and then a winner in a cup also that we want to win has sort of helped me get back to where I want to be and that's credit to them for helping me but it's one of them things you've got to deal with and there's different sides of football, there's obviously the ability on the pitch but there's the of the things you've got to deal with. And there's different sides to football. There's obviously the ability on the pitch, but there's the mental side of it.

And to be able to learn about how to deal with that. And like you said, that pressure is key. And I think this season will definitely be a massive learning curve for me, being able to deal with that and go out on the pitch and show people why Birmingham paid that for me. What's really beautiful about this whole thing is that your dad throughout his career was such a champion of young players and bringing that for me. What's really beautiful about this whole thing is that your dad throughout his career was such a champion of young players and bringing young players through. It must be quite emotional

going through this journey, knowing that he's watching on and he'd be so proud and backing you and supporting you. Yeah, definitely. I think the thing that hit home was when obviously this deal came up, I needed advice on if this would be the right move for me or if this would be the wrong move for me. And obviously would be the wrong move for me and obviously I missed having him there to be able to ask that question. It's a simple question but someone who's been in the game to be able to just even give a phone call and ask is this the right move for me and obviously that wasn't possible but I knew in my heart that he would have wanted me to take this step in my career because

as a young boy I've always dreamed of playing regular first in football and if that's a Birmingham, if that's anywhere else then so be it. But I'm so happy to be here and yeah like I said I just go out every day really and try and make him proud and make my family proud and yeah it's obviously tough but it's a good feeling when you go out and get a goal and know that he's watching down and will be happy that I've succeeded doing that. And obviously it's what I dreamed of as a kid and obviously what he dreamed of, having

a son to be able to do that. Is it difficult not being able to lean on him, obviously being a form of order as well, being a real legend in certain parts of the world, especially Exeter? I mean, what a season that must have been for you. But is it difficult not being able to go, right, let me call him up and, you know, lean on him? It's just the advice side of it, obviously. Being a footballer is tough. People don't see the ins and outs of what you have to go through.

And yeah, it's just the small little things, small little details after a game. If someone just to lean on and ask if I've done that right or if I'd done this right. And that's where I think the mental strength has had to come in. And like I said, I'm trying to deal with it as best as possible because there's lots of ups and downs in a season. And I hit a blip in form where I didn't score for four games, but it plays on your mind massively when you're here to be able to score goals. And yeah, it has been tough, but I think I've had an unbelievable support from family and things

like that to be able to encourage me and help me get through them and tough times and hopefully I can bring them the good times. The support from the football club must be incredible as well, you look at the big names involved everyone will talk about Tom Brady, but I just wonder, was that another factor because you are a sizeable fish in this pond and they've paid a big fee for you, they want you to be successful for them. Is there support from that top level as well coming down from Tom and some of the other partners? Yeah, you've got Tom Brady who's a very inspirational person in general,

but also talker and he's able to motivate you on and off the field. And it's such a privilege to be able to have someone so big, so not close to you, but someone in reaching distance that you can reach out and ask for help. Yeah, he's a big part of where we wanted to go. And like I said, the motivation he brings to the team on the sports side of it is amazing. Looking ahead to the game against Newcastle United, you go up against a Newcastle side

who have just qualified for a cup final. They're heading to the League Cup final after beating Arsenal, but they've got one of the informed strikers in Europe in their side, Alexander Isak. How exciting is it to be sort of going toe to toe, opposite number to opposite number? Yes, it's an amazing feeling. I can't wait for it and it's a privilege to be able to be on the same pitch as him. And yeah, I watched the game last night and saw his qualities and you sort of look up to them players and try and add bits to your game that you want to be able to improve on. And he's an unbelievable striker and there's definitely things that you can learn from him.

And yeah, it's going to be an amazing day and like I said I can't wait to be able to get on that pitch and be in front of the League review on the Football Daily every Sunday as we look back at all the action from the weekend. From expert analysis... They need to compete. That's your responsibility. So should we start questioning you as a manager then? To the biggest debates...

He's a free agent at the end of the year. Clubs can contact him. Who knows what's arrived in the inbox. The Premier League review only on the Football Daily. Listen on BBC Sounds. You are a very young man, but you've achieved so much already. You think about the season at Exeter and the pure love they showed you there. That must have been pretty emotional heading there and playing for them and putting on that shirt as well.

Yeah, it was an emotional feeling when I stepped out in front of the Exeter fans again with the number nine on my back and being able to run out in front of a stand that your father is named after. Not many people can say that they've done that and it was a heartwarming feeling when I could step out and do that and everyone singing your name. And that season I learnt a lot and it was an emotional season and then to score a hat trick on the last day, like I said, in front of a stand that your dad's named after. But also I went through the whole academy at Exeter to then come back to Exeter and put an Exeter shirt back on and give back to the fans and all

the coaches that coached me through the academy and things like that. So yeah, it's a special moment and special season for me, not just me, but for my whole family as well. It's interesting the way you go from Exeter to Fulham to Birmingham, the way you're sort of like going up through city life but to go to Fulham and then to come here to Birmingham City, it must be really difficult going from Exeter to Birmingham tasting relegation, having to pick yourself up again. Yeah it was sort of different seasons and different feelings but I think last season was an unbelievable season for me as an individual. Obviously the outcome was we got relegated but having the strength to be able to pick yourself up and not forget that but use that as a motivation to get Birmingham back to where they want to be as a club.

How good was it to be back here though, to be part of the charge, the team that is trying to get the club back into the championship and not just the championship, the Premier League? Yeah, it's a great feeling. The lads have been amazing. The gaff has obviously been unbelievable, but the fans as well. They welcomed me back with open arms and sort of last season was tough as a club.

And just to see the new life in the city and the new life of the fans in the club is such a good feeling to be part of. And that sort of inspires you to go out every week and prove why the club paid what they did for me. And not only that, as a team to go out and get this club back to where they want to be. You mentioned your dad, we talked about him being an inspiration, not having him there to lean on, but how amazing is it to see how much love other people have for him and how loved he was? Like I said, the Exeter fans will obviously have the closest connection with him playing there for the years he did. To have fans still sing his name and things like that, but also see me in the footsteps that he was is a great feeling. It's so nice to be able to walk around and hear people say good things about him and

that the old reminder that you play like him or things like that is emotional but it's a good feeling to have and like I said when I could go back to Exeter on loan was a special moment for me but then also going back a few months ago in a blue shirt was difficult. And obviously when the penalty got given, it was one of them, like, obviously I wanted to take it, but it's one of them where you score a goal and it's so hard not to celebrate. And I tried to keep my celebrations muted

and sort of it was one of them where you just got to give back to a club that made you into the person you are. And it was an unbelievable night where you just got to give back to a club that made you into the person you are and it was an unbelievable night because we lost on the weekend and to bounce back and get the result was massive but for me to be able to score at my home city was so good. We talked about identity, how do we ensure that Birmingham play Birmingham's game, how do you make sure that you do that rather than getting lost on the occasion and being

sort of overrun by what Newcastle can do? Just implementing our game and what we do best and what we work on every day. We have a style of play that is a very tacky and exciting style of play and I think we don't fear anyone. I think that's the main point and where we're going is that it's a game of football. We go out and it's 11 men against 11 men no matter what the badge is or what league they're in and it's going to be a great game for us to be able to go out and show fans and show other teams what qualities we

have and the style of football we play in. Yeah, it's going to be a really exciting game going toe to toe with such a big team. It's a game where we can see where we are as a team as well. I think we've obviously got a lot to improve on to get to the next level, but this would be a good test for us to see where we are as a team. Anything can happen and we hope we can go out and get a result. When St Andrews is rocking, it's an incredible place on the whole, but when it is going, it's electric. How do you harness the power of the supporters? How do you take what they're

giving you and transform it into a positive performance? It's like a 12-man, I think, being at your home ground and having all of them fans pushing you on and singing. It helps every game, but I remember Wrexham at home and it was in full voice and it was unbelievable. It's the Wrexham at home and it was in full voice and it was unbelievable. It's the best football atmosphere I've ever played in and it sort of gives you that encouragement to go on and get a tackle in or try and get a goal and it's yeah it's a great help that they're there and they're supporting us but bringing the noise as well and the fans are unbelievable. It's quite scary to be honest when you go to an away game and you see the whole away end of 5,000 Birmingham fans there supporting you and it's

a privilege to them and the club to be honest to be able to travel that far and bring numbers to the game and yeah it's a massive help for us and that's what we're going to need to get us over the finish line this season. Fulham's very different to here isn't it? Would you say you're an adopted Bromley now and an adopted Bluenose? Yeah, it is very different. But yeah, I love being here. I love my time here last year and I'm really enjoying my time this round. Just being in the city is unbelievable. And like I said, I've got a family that I also live in here as well. So it's such a good

place to live in and be part of. And yeah, my love for Birmingham is massive. And I think that's the main part of the move that I know that the decision of the move when it come up was that I've got a love for this club that I want to go out every weekend and put the shirt on with pride and run around, tackle, score goals and show the fans how much this club means to me.

And have you managed to work on the accent, twang a bit? You picking it up at all? You've been here a while now. I have been here a while. Yeah, I think when I go home, some people can see it. They don't know if it's from Birmingham or London, but yeah, it's one of them things when you live in a city, you sort of pick that up and some people might say

that I've got it, but. I wish I was more prepared. I had a list of Birminghamisms and it could have been funny to try and test you but we don't. Which Newcastle player will want to swap shirts with Jay Stansfield at the end of the game? Mark Shortman, I've got an eye on who I want to swap shirts and get it framed and put up in the house. You're going to tell us?

Obviously the number nine that I'm going up against and like I said he's such a big player and like I said it's going to be a privilege to be able to go out and share the same pitch with him and I said hopefully I can maybe score one more goal than him and we get the victory but at the end of the game it will be amazing just to be able to shake hands with them and yeah it's going to be a massive day for us as a club. Well we're excited to see you go out and do your thing live on the TV. Absolutely buzzing. Jay, best of luck. Thanks very much. Thank you.