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Birmingham City

Birmingham City is normally identified with the Birmingham City Championship football club whose home base is St Andrews, Birmingham. We at Activ have provided an insight into the club from its beginning to 1960 plus 9, you will see why later. Birmingham City was first formed in 1875, under the name of Small Heath Alliance and its first ground was at Muntz Street, with the inaugural match being played in 1877. The club changed its name to Birmingham Football Club in 1906, and due to its growth moved to its current site, St Andrews in 1906. During the First World War the St Andrews ground was used by soldiers as a rifle range purely for training purposes. The 1925-26 season saw the first foreign team, Real Madrid, venture onto the famous St Andrews pitch, fortunately for the Blues and unfortunately for Real, they were soundly beaten 3 – 0. To those Wolves and West Bromwich fans out there, make note of the date, as foreign visitors to their teams ground was sometime later. In 1931 Birmingham visited Wembley, their first appearance at the twin towers, playing local and also arch rivals West Bromwich Albion, in the Football Association Cup Final. After what was deemed a great game Birmingham finished as 2-1 losers. In 1932 the club attracted the highest recorded attendance of 67,341 spectators, the majority standing, who watched a Football Association Cup tie against Everton. During the early years of the Second World War the German Bombers scored 20 direct hits on St Andrews in their relentless bombing of Birmingham City itself, leaving St Andrews in a very sorry state. This led to all home games being played at rivals, Aston Villa’s, Villa Park ground. Following a general clean up play again resumed at St Andrews in 1943. In the 1946 season, probably the clubs most successful, Birmingham won the Football League Championship and reached the semi final stage of the FA Cup. During the three years following the war Birmingham City was almost invincible, being beaten only eight times at St. Andrews in 63 games. The 1954-55 season saw Birmingham City gain promotion to Division 1 of the Football League. Birmingham City FC made history in 1956 becoming the first English league club side to visit Europe when they played against Internazionale and drew no goals. In the 1960 season, Birmingham City reached the final of the Fairs Cup, losing 4-1 on aggregate to the now mighty Barcelona. During the 1963 season Birmingham City won the League Cup final by beating arch city rivals Aston Villa in a two leg encounter, winning 3-1 and lifting the trophy at Villa Park. Much to the annoyance of the Villa fans, but a serious reason for celebrations by the Blues fans. Activ Birmingham will end this short Birmingham City history in the year 1970 which was the year when Trevor Francis made his first appearance for the Blues. Trevor became a Birmingham City legend scoring 133 goals in 328 appearances, some nine years later (plus 9) he nearly became the first English football one million pound player, we say nearly as Brian Clough, the Nottingham Forest manager, always insisted that his club only paid £999,999 in order to prevent the one million pound millstone tag being placed around Trevor’s neck. Moving to the present day, the 2011-12 Premiership season, with Birmingham City's recent relegation to the Championship, will see only four West Midland clubs battling it out in local derbies, Stoke, West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers, let battle commence. Best wishes to Birmingham City for a speedy return to the top flight...


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