List of Birmingham City F.C. seasons
Birmingham City Football Club, an association football club based in Birmingham, England, was founded in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance. For the first thirteen years of their existence, there was no league football, so matches were arranged on an ad hoc basis, supplemented by cup competitions organised at local and national level. Small Heath first entered the FA Cup in the 1881–82 season, and won their first trophy, the Walsall Cup, the following season.[1] During the 1880s, they played between 20 and 30 matches each season.[2]
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In 1888, the club became a limited company under the name of Small Heath F.C. Ltd,[3] and joined the Combination, a league set up to provide organised football for those clubs not invited to join the Football League which was to start the same year. However, the Combination was not well organised and folded in April 1889 with many fixtures still outstanding.[4] Small Heath were founder members of the Football Alliance in 1889–90, and three years later were elected to the newly formed Second Division of the Football League. They topped the table in their first season, failing to win promotion via the test match system then in operation, but reached the top flight for the first time in 1894.[5] They were renamed Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.[6]
The club's official history rated 1955–56 as their best season to date.[7] The newly promoted club achieved their highest ever finishing position of sixth in the First Division, reached the 1956 FA Cup Final, and became the first English club side to participate in European competition when they played their opening game in the group stages of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.[lower-alpha 1] Their only major trophy is the League Cup, which they won in 1963 and 2011; they reached the FA Cup final twice and the final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup twice. During the 1990s, they twice won the Associate Members Cup, a competition open to clubs in the third and fourth tiers of English football.
As at the end of the 2019–20 season, the club's first team had spent 57 seasons in the top division of English football, 56 in the second, and 4 in the third. The table details their achievements in first-team competitions, and records their top goalscorer and average home league attendance, for each completed season since their first appearance in the Birmingham Senior Cup in 1878–79.
Key
Key to league record:
Key to colours and symbols:
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Key to divisions:
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Key to rounds:
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Details of abandoned competitions – The Combination in 1888–89 and the 1939–40 Football League – are shown in italics and appropriately footnoted.
Seasons
Notes
- Birmingham City became the first English club team to take part in European competition when they played their first group game in the 1955–58 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup on 15 May 1956, a goalless draw away at Internazionale. The competition lasted over three English seasons with the final not played until 1958. The London XI, a representative side made up of players from several London clubs, were the first English team when they played their first group game in 1955.[36]
- An attempt was made to set up a league called The Combination involving clubs not invited to join the Football League. Lack of proper organisation meant it was wound up in April 1889 with many fixtures still outstanding. Small Heath played 11 of their full 16 fixtures.[4]
- Founder member of the Football Alliance, which started a year after the Football League.[5]
- The United League (or United Midland Counties League) was one of several short-lived leagues of similar name. This one was established in 1894, involving ten teams from the Midlands, to be played as a supplementary competition to fill vacant dates in the season without the trouble and expense of arranging friendly matches.[8] Small Heath finished third in their four-team section in the 1893–94 season,[9] and did not participate again.
- Beginning with the 1925–26 season, the FA Cup was structured so that the third round proper contained 64 teams. Prior to that date, the structure had varied, so rounds are not directly comparable to the round of the same name after 1925. For example, in 1892–93, Small Heath's first season in the Football League, there were only three rounds proper before the semifinal, as compared with the current six.[11]
- The League Cup competition started in the 1960–61 season.[13]
- Includes goals scored in the Football Alliance, the Football League, including test matches and play-offs, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, UEFA Europa League, Associate Members' Cup / Football League Trophy, Anglo-Italian Cup, Texaco Cup, Anglo-Scottish Cup and Full Members' Cup. Goals scored in seasons from 1881–82 to 1888–89 sourced to Matthews (1995), p. 231, from 1889–90 to 2009–10 sourced to Matthews (2010), pp. 224–455, 473–483 and from 2010–11 onwards sourced to Soccerbase.[16]
- League matches only (including Football Alliance, Football League and Premier League, but excluding test matches and play-offs). Sourced from Matthews (1995) up to and including the 1994–95 season, from European Football Statistics[17] from 1995–96 to 2001–02 inclusive, and from ESPN FC[18] thereafter.
- Divisions are sorted according to their level within the English football league system at the time.
- The first of Slater's two goals in the FA Cup first round tie against Derby Town, a 4–1 win played at the Coventry Road ground on 17 October 1881, was the club's first goal in national competitive football.[19]
- FA Cup goals only.
- Disqualified for fielding an improperly registered player, after eliminating Hednesford Town and Wednesbury Old Athletic in the qualifying rounds.[3]
- The Football League expanded its membership at the end of this season by forming a Second Division. All but one of the 12 Football Alliance teams accepted invitations to join.[20]
- Promotion and relegation decided by test matches, in which third bottom in First Division played third in Second Division, second bottom in First Division played second in Second Division, and bottom club in First Division played top club from Second Division, in one-off games at neutral venues, winners to play in the following season's First Division. Small Heath drew 1–1 with Newton Heath but lost the replay 5–2, so were not promoted despite winning the division.[21]
- The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF) list Wheldon as having scored a divisional best 24 goals in Division Two,[22] but Matthews (2010) assigns him 25.[23]
- Promoted via test match, beating Darwen 3–1.[12]
- Scored 24 goals in Division Two,[22]
- Promotion and relegation decided by test match system in which bottom two clubs in First Division and top two clubs in Second Division played a mini-league of home and away matches against the two clubs in the other division, top two in mini-league to play in following season's First Division. Small Heath finished third in the mini-league so were relegated.[24]
- The final test match left the two clubs involved needing to draw for them both to win promotion, which unsurprisingly is what happened. The Football League decided to expand each division by two places, and the existing clubs voted for two clubs to take the two new places in the First Division. Candidates were the losers from the two test match series plus teams placed third to sixth in the Second Division. Small Heath came fourth in the vote, so remained in the Second Division. From then on the League adopted promotion and relegation directly dependent on league position (two up, two down).[25]
- Abbott's 34 Second Division goals and 42 total goals in a season are club records.[26]
- There was no automatic relegation from the Football League until 1987.[13] The bottom two clubs in the League, together with candidates from outside the League, applied for re-election. Each current League club had a vote. Small Heath were re-elected.[27]
- The club played 106 competitive games in regional football, the Midland Section Principal and Subsidiary Competitions, over three seasons from 1916 to 1919. Guest players were permitted, and results and records from this period are not included in official statistics.[28]
- Secretary-manager Frank Richards failed to submit the entry form in time to be granted exemption from qualifying, and the Football Association refused to bend the rules in their favour. Although that decision did not preclude their entering the competition in the qualifying rounds, the directors chose not to.[29][30]
- Birmingham's first appearance in the Cup Final was a 2–1 defeat to Second Division West Bromwich Albion.[12]
- When the Second World War began, the 1939–40 Football League season was abandoned with three matches played and Birmingham in second position.[31]
- Plus one own goal.[32]
- The club played 215 competitive games in regional league and cup football between 1939 and 1946. Guest players were permitted, and results and records from this period are not included in official statistics.[28]
- This was the only full season played in the wartime Football League North and South regionalised competitions. These leagues included Football League First and Second Division clubs divided geographically, playing each other home and away. Birmingham won the Southern section on goal average from Aston Villa.[33]
- From the first round proper to the sixth round of the 1945–46 FA Cup, matches were played over two legs. In the semifinal, Birmingham drew with Derby County at Hillsborough, Sheffield, in front of 65,000 spectators. The replay at Maine Road, Manchester, which attracted a crowd of over 80,000, went goalless into extra time, when defender Ted Duckhouse broke his leg trying to stop Derby's first goal. No substitutes were allowed, and Birmingham went on to lose 4–0.[33]
- Club's highest League finish.
- Reached the 1956 FA Cup Final without being drawn at home in any round, the first club so to do.[34] Lost 3–1 to Manchester City in the game remembered for City's goalkeeper Bert Trautmann playing the last 15 minutes of the game with a broken bone in his neck.[35]
- Equal with Chelsea on goal average; number of goals scored was not taken into account.[37]
- Birmingham became the first English club team to reach the final of a European competition, losing on aggregate to Barcelona (0–0 at home, 1–4 away). The London XI, consisting of players from several London clubs, were the first English team when they reached the final of the 1955–58 Fairs Cup.[38]
- Lost on aggregate to A.S. Roma (2–2 at home, 0–2 away).[39]
- Beat Aston Villa 3–1 on aggregate (3–1 at home, 0–0 away) to win club's first major trophy.[5]
- Between 1969–70 and 1973–74 the losing FA Cup semi-finalists took part in a third-place play-off.[40] Birmingham beat Stoke City on penalties after a goalless draw, the first time an FA Cup match had been decided via a penalty shootout.[41]
- Scored 23 goals in Division Two.[22]
- The home leg of the quarter final match against Newcastle United finished 1–1. Despite use of floodlights being banned due to the fuel crisis, the League refused to allow an earlier kickoff time for the away leg. The match was abandoned at 1–1 after 10 minutes of extra time in almost total darkness. When the match was replayed, Birmingham lost 3–1.[42]
- Number of teams promoted to and relegated from the First Division raised from two to three in 1973.[13]
- This season saw the introduction of three points for a win instead of two.[13]
- Relegated to the third tier of English football for the first time.
- Beat Tranmere Rovers 3–2 in the final of what was better known by its sponsored name of the Leyland DAF Cup at Wembley.[43]
- The Second Division was renamed Division One after the FA Premiership broke away from the Football League.[13]
- Beat Carlisle United 1–0 in the final of what was better known by its sponsored name of the Auto Windscreens Shield at Wembley in front of a crowd of 76,663. The goal was scored by Paul Tait in sudden-death extra time. This was the first time a major tournament in England was decided on a golden goal.[44]
- Missed out on a play-off place to Sheffield United by virtue of goals scored, which took precedence over goal difference from the 1992–93 to the 1998–99 Football League seasons.[45]
- Lost in the play-off semifinal to Watford on penalties.[46]
- Lost in the play-off semifinal to Barnsley on aggregate.[47]
- Lost in the play-off semifinal to Preston North End on penalties.[48]
- Lost to Liverpool on penalties after the game had finished 1–1 after extra time, in the first English final to be settled by a penalty shootout,[49] and the first English football final to be held at the Millennium Stadium while the new Wembley Stadium was being built.[50]
- Promoted to the Premier League via the play-offs, beating Millwall 2–1 on aggregate in the semifinal and Norwich City on penalties in the final after the game had finished 1–1 after extra time.[51]
- Division One was renamed The Championship from the 2004–05 season.[52]
- Beat favourites Arsenal 2–1 at Wembley to win League Cup for the second time.[53]
- Lost in the play-off semifinal to Blackpool 3–2 on aggregate.[54]
- Appearing in European competition for the first time in 50 years, courtesy of the 2011 League Cup win, Birmingham beat Nacional of Portugal in the 2011–12 Europa League play-off round to progress to the group stage. They finished third in Group H, one point behind Braga and Club Brugge, having beaten Brugge away and NK Maribor home and away.[55]
- Avoided relegation on goal difference via Paul Caddis's stoppage-time equaliser at Bolton Wanderers in the last match of the season.[57]
- Nine points deducted for breaches of the EFL's profitability and sustainability rules.[58]
- The 2019–20 season was interrupted for three months because of the COVID-19 pandemic before being completed behind closed doors;[59] the average attendance only covers those matches played with spectators present.
References
General
- Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
- Matthews, Tony (2000). The Encyclopedia of Birmingham City Football Club 1875–2000. Cradley Heath: Britespot. ISBN 978-0-9539288-0-4.
- Matthews, Tony (2010). Birmingham City: The Complete Record. Derby: Derby Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-853-2.
Specific
- Matthews (1995), p. 8.
- Matthews (2000), p. 8.
- Matthews (1995), p. 9.
- Shury, Alan; Landamore, Brian (2005). The Definitive Newton Heath F.C. (2nd ed.). Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 11. ISBN 1-899468-16-1.
- "Small Heath", "Birmingham" and "Birmingham City". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- Matthews (2000), p. 194.
- "BCFC club history". Birmingham City F.C. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
- "League Football in the Midlands. Important Development". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent. 19 October 1893. p. 8.
"United Midland Counties League". Nottinghamshire Guardian. 2 December 1893. p. 3. - "Other Competition Statistics". Stoke City F.C. Archived from the original on 1 May 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
- "The FA Cup Past Results". The Football Association. Retrieved 23 July 2020. Individual seasons accessed via dropdown menu.
- "1892–93 FA Cup" and "1925–26 FA Cup". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- "Birmingham City football club complete match record". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- "History Of The Football League". The Football League. 22 September 2010. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013.
- Matthews (2010), pp. 473–483.
- "Birmingham Senior Cup". The Birmingham City FC Archive. Archived from the original on 14 May 2005.
- "Birmingham: Player Appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 July 2020. Select season required via dropdown menu.
- "English historical attendance and performance: Birmingham City". European Football Statistics. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011.
- "Birmingham City Statistics". ESPN FC. Retrieved 23 July 2020. Select competition(s) and season required via dropdown menu.
- Matthews (1995), p. 231.
- "Football League 1892–93". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
- "Division 2 1892/93". Football Facts & Figures. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
- Ross, James M. (12 June 2009). "English League Leading Goalscorers". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 6 December 2011.
- Matthews (2010), p. 231.
- "Division 1 1895/96". Football Facts & Figures. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
- "Division 2 1897/98". Football Facts & Figures. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
- Matthews (2000), p. 97.
- "Division 2 1909/10". Football Facts & Figures. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
- Matthews (1995), p. 232.
- Matthews (1995), p. 164.
- "Association Football: The qualifying rounds of the Cup competition". Manchester Guardian. 23 April 1921. p. 11.
"Birmingham not to play for English Cup next year". Evening Telegraph. Dundee. 27 April 1921. p. 7. - Felton, Paul. "Season 1939–40 (Abandoned)". RSSSF. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
- Matthews (2010), p. 320.
- Matthews (1995), pp. 22–23.
- "Every Prospect of a Good Final". The Times. 5 May 1956. p. 4.
- Barber, David (13 January 2006). "FA Cup Heroes". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
- Zea, Antonio (28 March 2007). "European Champions' Cup 1955–56 – Details". RSSSF. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
Zea, Antonio; Haisma, Marcel (2 October 2009). "Fairs' Cup 1955–58". RSSSF. Retrieved 16 March 2010. - "Division 1 1956/57". Football Facts & Figures. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
- Stokkermans, Karel (15 January 2010). "European Champions' Cup". RSSSF. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
Stokkermans, Karel (26 January 2000). "Fairs' Cup". RSSSF. Retrieved 16 March 2010. - Zea, Antonio; Haisma, Marcel (2 October 2009). "Fairs' Cup 1960–61". RSSSF. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
- "Semi-Final Factfile". The Football Association. 13 April 2005. Archived from the original on 15 April 2005.
- "FA Cup Trivia". The Football Association. 16 May 2003. Archived from the original on 6 January 2004.
- "Season 1973/74". Toonarama. Archived from the original on 25 March 2008.
- Dick, Brian (28 May 2015). "Birmingham City On This Day: When Blues edged a five-goal thriller at Wembley". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
- Haylett, Trevor (24 April 1995). "Fry's delight as Carlisle succumb to sudden death". The Independent. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
- Kempson, Russell (17 August 1998). "Adebola key to high-rise development". The Times. London. Retrieved 16 March 2010 – via Newsbank.
Staniforth, Tommy (14 June 1999). "Keegan asks for the best of Gazza". The Independent. London. Retrieved 16 March 2010. - "Sport: Football: Hornets sting the Blues". BBC News. 20 May 1999. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
- "Barnsley book Wembley place". BBC News. 18 May 2000. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
- "Preston shock Blues in shoot-out". BBC Sport. 17 May 2001. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
- Lawton, Matt (26 February 2001). "Spot of glory for Liverpool amid Francis's tears". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
- Lacey, David (24 February 2001). "There's nothing like a knockout". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
- "Birmingham snatch dramatic win". BBC Sport. 2 May 2002. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
Winter, Henry (12 May 2002). "Birmingham in big league as Carter hits spot". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 16 March 2010. - "League gets revamp". BBC Sport. 10 June 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
- "Carling Cup final: McLeish hails 'greatest achievement'". BBC Sport. 27 February 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
- Sanghera, Mandeep (9 May 2012). "Birmingham C 2–2 Blackpool (2–3)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
- "UEFA Europa League – Birmingham". UEFA. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
- "Football League Statistics: Attendance". The Football League. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013.
- Hart, Simon (3 May 2014). "Bolton 2 Birmingham 2 match report: Paul Caddis gets Birmingham out of jail". The Independent. London. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
- "Birmingham will not appeal against nine-point deduction". Sky Sports. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- "Championship season set to restart on 20 June as coronavirus lockdown eases". BBC Sport. 31 May 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.