Boxing Day stabbing: Cody Fisher named as 23-year-old man killed on dancefloor at Crane nightclub

A man stabbed on the dancefloor of the Crane nightclub in Birmingham on Boxing Day has been named as Cody Fisher.

The 23-year-old from Redditch was fatally stabbed while ‘enjoying a night out with friends’ at the venue in Adderley Street in Digbeth, West Midlands Police said.

A family relative at the Fisher home in Studley told MailOnline: ‘As you can imagine, it’s a very difficult time for the family. We’re devastated and trying to make sense of it.

‘Cody was a wonderful boy and the family had had a wonderful Christmas. All of this is really heart breaking.’

A man stabbed on the dancefloor of the Crane nightclub in Birmingham on Boxing Day has been named as Cody Fisher

The 23-year-old from Redditch was fatally stabbed while ‘enjoying a night out with friends’ at the venue in Adderley Street in Digbeth, police said

Officers from West Midlands Police were called to Crane nightclub just before 11.45pm after reports of the stabbing.

But despite efforts to save him he died about 30 minutes later.  

Cody Fisher, a semi-professional footballer who had played for Stratford Town, Stourbridge FC and Bromsgrove Sporting, was pronounced dead around 30 minutes later.

Revellers at the nightclub criticised security searches at the event and recalled a ‘moody’ atmosphere inside the venue, where popular techno DJ Marco Carola was playing. 

Sydnee Power, from Birmingham, described ‘groups of lads’ who were ‘looking to cause trouble’.

The 23-year-old said: ‘As soon as me and my friends walked in, we got a very weird vibe and the atmosphere wasn’t good.

‘There were just groups of lads everywhere, most of them looked moody.

‘A lot of them were definitely looking to cause trouble, they clearly weren’t there to enjoy the music.’

An 18-year-old man from Wolverhampton, who did not want to be named, said the incident was a ‘disaster waiting to happen’ because the security searches were poor and ‘anyone could have brought anything in’. 

He said of the security searches: ‘Me and the friend I was with, not once did we get asked to clear our pockets out even though mine were full. I had cargo trousers on with pockets full.

‘They didn’t even touch me whilst searching me, they just followed the outline of my body with their hands then tapped me to say go on through.

‘Obviously you want everyone to have a good time and enjoy themselves (but) when we got in I said to my friend: ‘That’s the worst search I’ve ever seen’. Anyone could have brought anything in.’

Stratford Town Football posted in memory of their player on Twitter, saying: ‘Everyone at Stratford Town Football is saddened to hear of the tragic loss of one of our own players, Cody Fisher’

The Crane cancelled its New Year’s Eve event in light of the incident and said it was working closely with police as they continue to investigate

A police van outside the Crane nightclub in Digbeth after a 23-year-old man was stabbed to death on the dancefloor on Boxing Day

The Crane cancelled its New Year’s Eve event in light of the incident and said it was working closely with police as they continue to investigate. 

Cody was a semi-professional footballer and played as a defender.  

The talented left-back was part of Birmingham City FC’s academy and played as a Walsall FC youth trainee before making senior appearances for Stratford Town, Stourbridge FC and Bromsgrove Sporting.

He is remembered for a number of stand-out performances, including being named as fans’ man of the match in September 2021 after scoring for Bromsgrove in his debut, leading towards a 2-0 FA Cup win. 

Cody featured for Alvechurch ahead of the 2018/19 season before signing for Stratford Town in September 2018. There, he went on to establish himself as a first-team regular.

In August 2021, Bromsgrove Sporting announced they were ‘thrilled’ to have bagged the youngster, and he also coached pupils at Woodrow First School in Redditch. 

Tributes have poured in on social media to the ‘great lad and good friend’ following the news.

Jed McCrory, the chairman of Stratford Town gave a tribute to Sky News, saying everyone was ‘devastated’ by the death of a ‘lovely, lovely young man’ and ‘talented footballer’. 

Stratford Town Football posted in memory of their player on Twitter, saying: ‘Everyone at Stratford Town Football is saddened to hear of the tragic loss of one of our own players, Cody Fisher.

‘Our sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of Cody. Our thoughts are with you at this very difficult time.’  

Non-league football club Bromsgrove Sporting also paid tribute to their former player.

In a tweet, the club said: ‘All of us at Bromsgrove Sporting Football Club are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Cody Fisher.

‘Cody, was a friend to many at the club and we send our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.’

Among those to pay tribute was former professional footballer and current coach Darren Byfield who said: ‘Saw the tweets earlier about the boy getting stabbed in Digbeth and only just found out it was a player I signed while at Stratford Town.

‘Cody Fisher RIEP, Your family will be in my prayers’. 

Crowds of people were seen enjoying the music and flashing lights inside the club before the incident

Former professional footballer and coach Darren Byfield was among those to pay tribute to 23-year-old Cody Fisher

Meanwhile a person said: ‘One of the good guys man, rip cody’.

Another posted: ‘Rip Cody, great lad and good friend will always cherish the memories brother’.

A third added: ‘Such a shame man rip Cody was a top person’.

Police have launched a murder investigation but no arrests have yet been made.  

Detectives are viewing CCTV from the nightclub, which was hosting an event featuring Italian DJ Marco Carola and British artists Steve Lawler and Mason Maynard.

Video from inside the club taken before the stabbing shows hundreds of revellers enjoying the music amid flashing lights.

The scene remains closed today while police gather evidence, with patrols stepped up in the neighbourhood in the coming days. 

A statement posted on the club’s Instagram page said: ‘We are all deeply shocked and saddened that a man lost his life last night as our Boxing Day event came to a close. Our thoughts are with the victim and his family and friends.

‘We are working closely with West Midlands Police as they investigate this crime. We encourage anybody who witnessed this incident, or has any information to share which may help West Midlands Police, to contact them directly.

‘We do not feel it is right to hold our New Years Eve event under these circumstances. All ticket holders will be contacted directly and refunded by the relevant ticket providers.’

Detective Inspector Michelle Thurgood, leading the investigation, said: ‘This was a young man enjoying himself with friends on a Boxing Day night out and our thoughts are with his friends and family today.

‘We know there were hundreds of people in the nightclub at the time. While we’ve spoken to a number of them already, we still need to hear from anyone who was there and who witnessed or even filmed what happened.

‘We believe that the victim was approached by a group of people, and was then stabbed, so we’re working hard to identify all of those involved.’

Anyone with information or who was in the area at the time has been asked to get in touch with West Midlands Police via Live Chat, quoting log 3792 of 26 December.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.