Clark inspired Blues’ heroics, admits Caddis
PAUL Caddis revealed how a motivational masterstroke inspired Blues to their greatest escape. On May 3, 2014, the popular defender etched his name in club folklore when he headed a stoppage-time equaliser to give Blues a 2-2 draw at Bolton Wanderers – and the point they needed to dodge relegation.
It was an iconic goal that sparked wild celebrations, made all the more memorable for Caddis’ topless shirt-whirling euphoria and, at the end, manager Lee Clark’s passionate sprint towards the visiting supporters. But Caddis has recalled how an idea conceived days before, during an orderly build-up to the match, helped inspire Blues.
“The gaffer had asked secretary Rita Greenaway to contact the players’ families to see if they would record messages for us – and he played them to us in the hotel the night before,’’ he said.
“They told us how proud they were of us and that we had their support – and that kind of reminded you of what you were playing for.
“It helped us relax a bit more but also made you realise we were doing it for the people behind the scenes who might lose their jobs or struggle to pay their mortgage or whatever.
“For Lee Clark to have done that was a really good touch.”
But even on that afternoon the road was still long for Blues as they went a goal down – and then, ironically, Lukas Jutkiewicz made it 2-0 with only 14 minutes to go.
“As soon as we kicked off it was just a case of get one back and go from there. Thankfully Ziggy
(Nikola Zigic) did that.”
But the real drama was to come. The game was deep into added time when a Zigic header was kept out and the ball looped invitingly back to Caddis.
“For three or four seconds the weight just lifted off your shoulders. I remember thinking, ‘I needed to waste as much time as possible’,’’ he said. “I’d taken my shirt off and I knew I was going to get booked so I ran back into our half so the referee would have to come a long way.” Blues managed to see out the remainder of the game and the
Scot, who now plays for Swindon, will forever be remembered – and the game will go down as the most dramatic in Clark’s tenure.
“It’s a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life,” added Caddis. And he’s not the only one.