The Blues have announced a new family zone in Arthur’s name
Birmingham City have announced that they have renamed part of St. Andrew’s Stadium in memory of six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.
Arthur tragically died in 2020. He was tortured and killed by his stepmother and father, with Emma Tustin receiving a 29-year prison sentence for murder and child cruelty, whilst Thomas Hughes received 21 years for manslaughter.
The club confirmed in the stadium the launch of a new family zone which will be known as Arthur’s Area, with a giant flag and memorial bricks also placed outside St. Andrew’s Stadium.
For Arthur. 💙
— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) December 10, 2021
The club statement said: “In addition to the previously announced plans of installing a giant flag and memorial bricks at the front of St. Andrew’s, the Club, along with the support of our brand partner Fridays, has renamed the Fridays Family Zone to Arthur’s Area.
“This will be a fun-filled space for young supporters to enjoy prior to kick-off. Planned activities will be arranged on a match-by-match basis with information points installed by local children’s charities to help tackle child abuse.
“The Club has also been contacted by local stencil artist Disney, who recently sprayed a touching tribute to Arthur in the city, and he has kindly offered to donate his talent to the area, creating designs in the new Arthur’s Area to ensure his memory lives on.”
The Championship club also added that plans were being made to create a memorial garden in tribute to Arthur and that £1 of all programme sales for their game against Cardiff City on Saturday (11 December) would be donated to children’s charities in and around Birmingham.
They said: “Plans are in place to create a memorial garden in Arthur’s name at St. Andrew’s where supporters can take a quiet moment to remember him, and all their loved ones who have passed away. The Club will share the designs with supporters when they have been finalised.
“The programme for Saturday’s fixture with Cardiff City will also honour Arthur on the front cover, and £1 from every sale will be donated to children’s charities in Birmingham.
“Further plans to honour Arthur permanently are being put in place and will be communicated in due course. The Club will also be reaching out to Arthur’s family, and work with them to decide which charities the family would like us to support.”
As per the BBC, fans of Birmingham have arranged for a fan march to the ground ahead of their game against Cardiff, with plans to lay a wreath before kick-off, with hopes from organisers that as many as 1000 fans will attend.
Related links:
- Arthur Labinjo-Hughes’ dad to release body to family for funeral
- Boris Johnson backs ‘Arthur’s law’ which would see child killers die in prison
- Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Dad and partner found guilty of killing boy who was tortured and starved
