How many kids dream of becoming a professional footballer? Dream of playing for the side that they've always supported? Dream of playing in a winning cup final team at Wembley? Dream of becoming captain?

Well Ian Clarkson, who turned out 172 times for the Blues in a five-year spell at St. Andrew's between 1988 and 1993, lived that very dream.

The pity of it was that it happened during Blues' most depressing period of recent history, when we were relegated to the old Third Division for the first time ever and kicked our heels in the football wilderness.

As a result, Clarkson never had the chance to showcase his very significant talents at the highest level.

"It was a difficult time for the club," he remembers of the early days.

"On the outside, it was still Birmingham City, a big city club, but we used to play in front of crowds of only nine or ten thousand."

The up-side for Clarkson was that the lack of money in the club meant that young players like him got a chance to play for the first team much sooner than they might have expected.

"As a player learning your trade it was fantastic, when you got a chance to play in the first team on a regular basis," he admits.

Playing at a lower level didn't mean that Blues were bereft of talent however.

John Bond, Garry Pendrey and Dave Mackay, Blues' managers in Clarkson's early years, were able to bring in some good players such as Nigel Gleghorn, Ian Rodgerson and like Simon Sturridge.

"I always thought that Simon was better than his brother, Dean, really," says Clarkson.

"Although Dean's done better in his career, technique-wise, Simon was the better player".

Of course it wasn't all doom and gloom in those days and one of the highlights of Clarkson's career, and that of countless Blues fans, was the club's first ever Wembley victory in the 1991 Leyland Daf Trophy final against Tranmere Rovers.

As Clarkson pointed out, "Looking back that victory was a turning point in Blues' history.

"It got people interested again all of a sudden and there were 50-odd thousand Blues fans there.

"I honestly believe that the momentum from that day helped us gain promotion the following season."

Those of us lucky enough to watch the match first hand will always remember the two extraordinary goals scored by the legendary John Gayle, the second of which was a breathtaking over-head kick which won the game for Blues 3-2.

"They were both fantastic," Clarkson remembers and then quipped: "I'm surprised the Blues signed Steve Vickers after those goals."

Thousands of Bluenoses turned out in Victoria Square to watch the Civic Reception for their victorious side on the balcony of the Council House.

Most were hoping that manager and former Old Trafford legend, Lou Macari, would be leading us back to glory the following season.

However, before the champagne had gone flat, Macari had quit the club and headed up the M6 to join Stoke City. 

"Something went on between him and Samesh Kumar which I don't know about to this day," says Clarkson.

"However, they can't have been bosom buddies, because he wouldn't have just walked out to go to Stoke. They certainly weren't any bigger than Blues.

"It wasn't just because he owned a chip shop in Manchester and wanted to be closer to that! There must have been some reason behind it".

Macari was closely followed out the door by club captain and central defensive rock, Vince Overson.

"Wasn't it Vince who called the club 'comatose'?" queried Clarkson.

"He was always a bit outspoken," he went on.

"But he was a good lad. I enjoyed playing with Vince and he was always willing to look after the young lads".

Overson's departure meant elevation to captain for Clarkson, which was a very proud moment for him and all the more remarkable given his age.

"To be captain at 20 was definitely something to be proud of," he admits.

Clarkson's last 12 months at the Blues were fittingly marked by the renaissance of the club he had always supported.

Terry Cooper took over as manager for the 1991/1992 season, which culminated in Blues returning to Division One.

The following season, David Sullivan and Karren Brady arrived to begin the monumental and unbelievable transformation of the club that all Bluenoses are able to witness today.

At the very beginning of the Sullivan revolution, in September 1993, Clarkson and Simon Sturrdige were both transferred to newly promoted Stoke City, rejoining former boss Macari and team mates Overson and Gleghorn.

Indeed the Potters became something of a Blues Old Boys outfit when, 18 months later, they were joined by Wembley hero John Gayle.

Clarkson enjoyed three years of First Division football at the Victoria Ground and almost made it into the Premiership in his final season.

"We lost the play-off semi-final against Leicester City, who had a very young Emile Heskey playing wide left", he recalls.

Having helped the Potters to fourth place in Division One, Clarkson was angered by the derisory contract terms he was offered to stay at the club.

"I called it p*** poor," laughs Clarkson.

"So I had a bit of a chat with Chief Executive Jez Moxey (now at Wolves) and that was me on my way!"

Clarkson dropped down two divisions and moved across the Midlands to Northampton Town, where again he was part of a Blues reunion, this time involving Gayle, Sturridge and former St. Andrew's stalwart John Frain.

"We won promotion and got to the Play-Off Final the next year," recalls Clarkson.

"I know that Wimbledon and Charlton, who were both in the top flight at the time, were having a look at me".

His chance to play in the Premiership however was snatched away in the cruellest fashion when, in 1998, he broke his leg and, as he said himself, "that was me finished".

Or so he thought.

Released by Northampton, Clarkson asked to be allowed to train at Kidderminster Harriers and ended up signing for the then-Conference club.

Just as with Blues, Stoke and Northampton, the Clarkson magic had the effect of transforming the Aggborough outfit.

"I'm not saying it's all down to me," quipped Clarkson, "but we only lost one out of the next 30 games!"

Kidderminster went onto clinch the Conference crown and then repaid Clarkson's insurance payout and funded an operation on his knee so that their captain could join them in Division Three.

"I'll always be thankful for those extra two years in the league," he says, "because at 28 I thought I was knackered to be honest."

Clarkson finally hung up his boots at the end of last year, but can still be seen turning out for the Blues Old Stars.

Nowadays, he earns a living from journalism and writes for the Sunday Mercury and the Professional Footballers Association website, ironically writing articles about former players, including ex-Blues stars.

Not that he needed an excuse as a 100 per cent Bluenose, but his new sports reporting career allows Clarkson to make regular trips to St. Andrew's.

"It's the best squad we've had in years," he remarks of the current crop of Blues talent.

"The circles we're moving in now and our ability to attract players like Dugarry and Forsell and other internationals is absolutely fantastic.

"You can see that Steve Bruce is continually trying to improve the squad and he has the man-management skills that are vital to running a successful Premiership club".

It's a shame that Ian Clarkson never had the chance to play in the Premier League, but let's hope that he is soon writing about Blues' first ever triumph in the Champions League.

By: Andy Bulman