Cody Fisher’s grieving mother pleads with Birmingham council to reject plans to reopen the club where her son was stabbed to death

The mother of murdered footballer Cody Fisher has made an emotional plea to block the reopening of the Birmingham nightclub where her son was fatally stabbed on Boxing Day 2022. Eighteen months on, the tragedy still haunts the city—and for Tracey Fisher, it’s a nightmare that never ends.

Cody, a 23-year-old former Birmingham City academy player and teacher, was killed at the Crane nightclub in Digbeth in an attack that shocked the nation. The venue had its licence revoked in the wake of the stabbing, but now a fresh application from Matthew Boulter of Kanvas Birmingham Limited seeks to bring life—and drinkers—back to 50 Adderley Street.

Tracey, Cody’s heartbroken mother, is fighting to ensure that doesn’t happen. Represented by her solicitor at a tense licensing hearing, she spoke of the devastation that continues to engulf her family. “Her youngest son and best friend has never come home,” the solicitor said. “Since that day, her own life has ended, as though she was stabbed through her heart on that fateful night.”

The bid to reopen the infamous club has drawn fierce opposition, not only from Cody’s family but also from West Midlands Police. Officers raised serious concerns over the new licence, suggesting links to former management may still linger and warning that reopening could occur before the appeal against the original licence revocation is even resolved.

“This application, if granted, could mean the venue trading well before the appeal… can be heard and determined,” warned police barrister Gary Grant. “There are few licensing applications as sensitive as the one before you today. This premises hosted an event when a man lost his life.”

Despite the new team’s claims of a clean break from the past—including new management and robust security plans—officers and campaigners remain deeply sceptical. For the family and community, the nightclub is forever tainted by the horror it once harboured.

Cody was enjoying a night out with friends when he was attacked on the crowded dancefloor. His murder not only devastated his loved ones but sparked a broader conversation about safety, youth violence, and the responsibilities of nightlife venues.

The new licence application has revived that debate—and rekindled a deep pain for the Fisher family. “It’s not just a building,” one family supporter said. “It’s the last place Cody ever walked into. You can’t wash that away with new paint and promises.”

All eyes now turn to Birmingham City Council, which must weigh the emotional and legal implications of the request. With emotions raw and security under scrutiny, many wonder whether some venues should remain closed—not for business reasons, but for the sake of respect, safety, and remembrance.

As Tracey Fisher waits for the council’s decision, one message echoes through her grief: “No other family should suffer what we’ve suffered. Let Cody’s death mean something. Don’t reopen those doors.”