List of Birmingham City F.C. seasons
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a8/SmallHeath1893.jpg/300px-SmallHeath1893.jpg)
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]
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]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/BirminghamCityFC_League_Performance.svg/220px-BirminghamCityFC_League_Performance.svg.png)
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.[a] 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 Football League Trophy, a competition open to clubs in the third and fourth tiers of English football.
As of the end of the 2023–24 season, the club's first team had spent 57 seasons in the top division of English football, 60 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:
| Key to divisions:
| 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
Season | League[4][5][10][9] | FA Cup[11][e] | League Cup[14][f] | Other[14][16][17] | Top scorer(s)[g] | Avg.[h] attendance | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division[i] | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Pos | Competition | Result | Player(s) | Goals | ||||
1878–79 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | R1 | n/a | — | — |
1879–80 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | R2 | n/a | — | — |
1880–81 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | R4 | n/a | — | — |
1881–82 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | R2 | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | R2 | Billy Slater[j] | 2 | — |
1882–83 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | R1 | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | R1 | Billy Slater | 2 | — |
1883–84 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | R1 | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | R3 | Arthur James | 2 | — |
1884–85 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | R1 | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | R2 | No goalscorer | — | — |
1885–86 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SF | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | R2 | Eddy Stanley | 7 | — |
1886–87 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | R1 | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | SF | Jack Price | 1 | — |
1887–88 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | R2 | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | R1 |
| 2 | — |
1888–89 | Comb[b] | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 24 | 17 | 15 | 6th | R1 | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | R1 | Will Devey[k] | 5 | — |
1889–90 | All | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 44 | 67 | 17 | 10th | R2 | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | R2 | Will Devey | 27 | 1,068 |
1890–91 | All | 22 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 58 | 66 | 16 | 10th | DQ[l] | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | R1 | 17 | 2,545 | |
1891–92 | All | 22 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 53 | 36 | 29 | 3rd | R2 | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | R2 | Fred Wheldon | 29 | 2,100 |
1892–93 | Div 2[m] | 22 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 90 | 35 | 36 | 1st[n] | R1 | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | SF | Fred Wheldon[o] | 26 ♦ | 2,181 |
1893–94 |
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| R1 | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | R1 | Frank Mobley[q] | 25 ♦ | 2,928 |
1894–95 | Div 1 | 30 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 50 | 74 | 25 | 12th | R1 | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | SF | Frank Mobley | 13 | 6,440 |
1895–96 | Div 1 ↓ | 30 | 8 | 4 | 18 | 39 | 79 | 20 | 15th[r] | R1 | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | R1 | Frank Mobley | 11 | 6,233 |
1896–97 | Div 2 | 30 | 16 | 5 | 9 | 69 | 47 | 37 | 4th | R1 | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | R2 | Jimmy Inglis | 16 | 4,526 |
1897–98 | Div 2 | 30 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 58 | 50 | 36 | 6th[s] | QR3 | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | R2 | Walter Abbott | 19 | 5,633 |
1898–99 | Div 2 | 34 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 85 | 50 | 41 | 8th | R2 | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | R2 | Walter Abbott[t] | 42 ♦ | 5,588 |
1899–1900 | Div 2 | 34 | 20 | 6 | 8 | 78 | 38 | 46 | 3rd | QR5 | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | R1 | Bob McRoberts | 24 | 5,176 |
1900–01 | Div 2 ↑ | 34 | 19 | 10 | 5 | 57 | 24 | 48 | 2nd | QF | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | R1 | Bob McRoberts | 17 | 5,558 |
1901–02 | Div 1 ↓ | 34 | 11 | 8 | 15 | 47 | 45 | 30 | 17th | IntR | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | R1 | Bob McRoberts | 11 | 13,058 |
1902–03 | Div 2 ↑ | 34 | 24 | 3 | 7 | 74 | 36 | 51 | 2nd | R1 | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | R1 | Arthur Leonard | 16 | 7,411 |
1903–04 | Div 1 | 34 | 11 | 8 | 15 | 39 | 52 | 30 | 11th | IntR | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | R1 |
| 8 | 11,386 |
1904–05 | Div 1 | 34 | 17 | 5 | 12 | 54 | 38 | 39 | 7th | R1 | — | Birmingham Senior Cup | W | Billy Jones | 16 | 14,441 |
1905–06 | Div 1 | 38 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 65 | 59 | 41 | 7th | QF | — | — | — | Billy Jones | 24 | 11,868 |
1906–07 | Div 1 | 38 | 15 | 8 | 15 | 52 | 52 | 38 | 9th | R1 | — | — | — | Billy Jones | 15 | 15,315 |
1907–08 | Div 1 ↓ | 38 | 9 | 12 | 17 | 40 | 60 | 30 | 20th | R1 | — | — | — | Edmund Eyre | 9 | 15,473 |
1908–09 | Div 2 | 38 | 14 | 9 | 15 | 58 | 61 | 37 | 11th | R1 | — | — | — |
| 8 | 10,607 |
1909–10 | Div 2 | 38 | 8 | 7 | 23 | 42 | 78 | 23 | 20th[u] | R1 | — | — | — | Walter Freeman | 10 | 8,921 |
1910–11 | Div 2 | 38 | 12 | 8 | 18 | 42 | 64 | 32 | 16th | R1 | — | — | — | Jack Hall | 14 | 13,764 |
1911–12 | Div 2 | 38 | 14 | 6 | 18 | 55 | 59 | 34 | 12th | R1 | — | — | — | Jack Hall | 21 | 13,052 |
1912–13 | Div 2 | 38 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 59 | 44 | 46 | 3rd | R1 | — | — | — | Billy Jones | 16 | 15,157 |
1913–14 | Div 2 | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 48 | 60 | 34 | 14th | R3 | — | — | — | Andy Smith | 10 | 17,411 |
1914–15 | Div 2 | 38 | 17 | 9 | 12 | 62 | 39 | 43 | 6th | R3 | — | — | — | Andy Smith | 24 | 11,315 |
1915–19 | The Football League and FA Cup were suspended until after the First World War.[v] | |||||||||||||||
1919–20 | Div 2 | 42 | 24 | 8 | 10 | 85 | 34 | 56 | 3rd | R3 | — | — | — | Bert Millard | 15 | 22,880 |
1920–21 | Div 2 ↑ | 42 | 24 | 10 | 8 | 79 | 38 | 58 | 1st | R1 | — | — | — | Harry Hampton | 16 | 31,244 |
1921–22 | Div 1 | 42 | 15 | 7 | 20 | 48 | 60 | 37 | 18th | DNE[w] | — | — | — | 10 | 27,967 | |
1922–23 | Div 1 | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 41 | 57 | 37 | 17th | R1 | — | — | — | Joe Bradford | 19 | 25,328 |
1923–24 | Div 1 | 42 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 41 | 49 | 39 | 14th | R1 | — | — | — | Joe Bradford | 24 | 20,395 |
1924–25 | Div 1 | 42 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 49 | 53 | 46 | 8th | R3 | — | — | — |
| 11 | 22,547 |
1925–26 | Div 1 | 42 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 66 | 81 | 40 | 14th | R4 | — | — | — | Joe Bradford | 27 | 21,649 |
1926–27 | Div 1 | 42 | 17 | 4 | 21 | 64 | 73 | 38 | 17th | R4 | — | — | — | Joe Bradford | 23 | 24,372 |
1927–28 | Div 1 | 42 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 70 | 75 | 41 | 11th | R5 | — | — | — | Joe Bradford | 32 | 21,646 |
1928–29 | Div 1 | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 68 | 77 | 40 | 15th | R4 | — | — | — | Joe Bradford | 24 | 23,406 |
1929–30 | Div 1 | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 67 | 62 | 41 | 11th | R4 | — | — | — | Joe Bradford | 23 | 22,193 |
1930–31 | Div 1 | 42 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 55 | 70 | 36 | 19th | F[x] | — | — | — | Joe Bradford | 22 | 21,275 |
1931–32 | Div 1 | 42 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 78 | 67 | 44 | 9th | R4 | — | — | — | Joe Bradford | 28 | 23,380 |
1932–33 | Div 1 | 42 | 14 | 11 | 17 | 57 | 57 | 39 | 13th | QF | — | — | — | 14 | 20,044 | |
1933–34 | Div 1 | 42 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 54 | 56 | 36 | 20th | R5 | — | — | — | Fred Roberts | 8 | 24,718 |
1934–35 | Div 1 | 42 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 63 | 81 | 36 | 19th | QF | — | — | — | Wilson Jones | 17 | 22,795 |
1935–36 | Div 1 | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 61 | 63 | 41 | 12th | R3 | — | — | — | Wilson Jones | 20 | 22,955 |
1936–37 | Div 1 | 42 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 64 | 60 | 41 | 11th | R3 | — | — | — | Seymour Morris | 16 | 25,452 |
1937–38 | Div 1 | 42 | 10 | 18 | 14 | 58 | 62 | 38 | 18th | R3 | — | — | — |
| 9 | 26,434 |
1938–39 | Div 1 ↓ | 42 | 12 | 8 | 22 | 62 | 84 | 32 | 21st | R5 | — | — | — | Fred Harris | 17 | 22,432 |
1939–40 | Div 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 2nd[y] | — | — | — | — |
| 1 | — |
1939–45 | The Football League and FA Cup were suspended until after the Second World War.[aa] | |||||||||||||||
1945–46 | —[ab] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SF[ac] | — | — | — | Jock Mulraney[k] | 7 | — |
1946–47 | Div 2 | 42 | 25 | 5 | 12 | 74 | 33 | 55 | 3rd | QF | — | — | — | Cyril Trigg | 19 | 32,462 |
1947–48 | Div 2 ↑ | 42 | 22 | 15 | 5 | 55 | 24 | 59 | 1st | R3 | — | — | — | Harold Bodle | 14 | 36,467 |
1948–49 | Div 1 | 42 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 36 | 38 | 37 | 17th | R3 | — | — | — | Jackie Stewart | 11 | 38,821 |
1949–50 | Div 1 ↓ | 42 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 31 | 67 | 28 | 22nd | R3 | — | — | — | Jimmy Dailey | 9 | 34,310 |
1950–51 | Div 2 | 42 | 20 | 9 | 13 | 64 | 53 | 49 | 4th | SF | — | — | — | Cyril Trigg | 19 | 24,728 |
1951–52 | Div 2 | 42 | 21 | 9 | 12 | 67 | 56 | 51 | 3rd | R4 | — | — | — | Tommy Briggs | 19 | 24,570 |
1952–53 | Div 2 | 42 | 19 | 10 | 13 | 71 | 66 | 48 | 6th | QF | — | — | — | Peter Murphy | 26 | 20,046 |
1953–54 | Div 2 | 42 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 78 | 58 | 47 | 7th | R4 | — | — | — | Ted Purdon | 15 | 22,594 |
1954–55 | Div 2 ↑ | 42 | 22 | 10 | 10 | 92 | 47 | 54 | 1st | QF | — | — | — | Peter Murphy | 20 | 21,002 |
1955–56 | Div 1 | 42 | 18 | 9 | 15 | 75 | 57 | 45 | 6th[ad] | F[ae] | — | Inter-Cities Fairs Cup[a] | — | Eddy Brown | 29 | 33,828 |
1956–57 | Div 1 | 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 69 | 69 | 39 | 12th[af] | SF | — | Inter-Cities Fairs Cup | — | Alex Govan | 30 | 32,582 |
1957–58 | Div 1 | 42 | 14 | 11 | 17 | 76 | 89 | 39 | 13th | R3 | — | Inter-Cities Fairs Cup | SF | Peter Murphy | 23 | 29,647 |
1958–59 | Div 1 | 42 | 20 | 6 | 16 | 84 | 68 | 46 | 9th | R5 | — | Inter-Cities Fairs Cup | — | Bunny Larkin | 23 | 26,893 |
1959–60 | Div 1 | 42 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 63 | 80 | 36 | 19th | R3 | — | Inter-Cities Fairs Cup[ag] | F | Johnny Gordon | 19 | 26,880 |
1960–61 | Div 1 | 42 | 14 | 6 | 22 | 62 | 84 | 34 | 19th | R5 | R3 | Inter-Cities Fairs Cup[ah] | F | Jimmy Harris | 17 | 25,751 |
1961–62 | Div 1 | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 65 | 81 | 38 | 17th | R3 | R1 | Inter-Cities Fairs Cup | R2 |
| 20 | 23,587 |
1962–63 | Div 1 | 42 | 10 | 13 | 19 | 63 | 90 | 33 | 20th | R3 | W[ai] | — | — | Ken Leek | 29 | 22,559 |
1963–64 | Div 1 | 42 | 11 | 7 | 24 | 54 | 92 | 29 | 20th | R3 | R2 | — | — | Bertie Auld | 10 | 21,996 |
1964–65 | Div 1 ↓ | 42 | 8 | 11 | 23 | 64 | 96 | 27 | 22nd | R3 | R2 | — | — | 10 | 19,714 | |
1965–66 | Div 2 | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 70 | 75 | 41 | 10th | R4 | R2 | — | — | Geoff Vowden | 23 | 14,398 |
1966–67 | Div 2 | 42 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 70 | 66 | 40 | 10th | QF | SF | — | — | Geoff Vowden | 21 | 19,798 |
1967–68 | Div 2 | 42 | 19 | 14 | 9 | 83 | 51 | 52 | 4th | SF | R3 | — | — | Barry Bridges | 28 | 28,083 |
1968–69 | Div 2 | 42 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 73 | 59 | 44 | 7th | R5 | R2 | — | — | 17 | 26,008 | |
1969–70 | Div 2 | 42 | 11 | 11 | 20 | 51 | 78 | 33 | 18th | R3 | R2 | — | — | Phil Summerill | 13 | 24,028 |
1970–71 | Div 2 | 42 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 58 | 48 | 46 | 9th | R3 | R4 | — | — | Phil Summerill | 21 | 24,164 |
1971–72 | Div 2 ↑ | 42 | 19 | 18 | 5 | 60 | 31 | 56 | 2nd | P3rd[aj] | R2 | Anglo-Italian Cup | Group | Bob Latchford[ak] | 30 ♦ | 32,337 |
1972–73 | Div 1 | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 53 | 54 | 42 | 10th | R3 | R4 | — | — | Bob Latchford | 20 | 36,663 |
1973–74 | Div 1 | 42 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 52 | 64 | 37 | 19th | R4 | QF | Texaco Cup[al] | QF | Bob Hatton | 20 | 33,048 |
1974–75 | Div 1 | 42 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 53 | 61 | 37 | 17th | SF | R2 | Texaco Cup | SF | Bob Hatton | 18 | 30,854 |
1975–76 | Div 1 | 42 | 13 | 7 | 22 | 57 | 75 | 33 | 19th | R3 | R3 | — | — | Trevor Francis | 18 | 28,002 |
1976–77 | Div 1 | 42 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 63 | 61 | 38 | 13th | R4 | R2 | — | — | Trevor Francis | 21 | 28,338 |
1977–78 | Div 1 | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 55 | 60 | 41 | 11th | R4 | R2 | Anglo-Scottish Cup | Group | Trevor Francis | 29 | 23,910 |
1978–79 | Div 1 ↓ | 42 | 6 | 10 | 26 | 37 | 64 | 22 | 21st | R3 | R2 | — | — | Alan Buckley | 8 | 20,164 |
1979–80 | Div 2 ↑ | 42 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 58 | 38 | 53 | 3rd[am] | R5 | R3 | Anglo-Scottish Cup | Group | Keith Bertschin | 18 | 20,427 |
1980–81 | Div 1 | 42 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 50 | 61 | 38 | 13th | R4 | QF | — | — | Frank Worthington | 18 | 19,248 |
1981–82 | Div 1[an] | 42 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 53 | 61 | 44 | 16th | R3 | R2 | — | — | Tony Evans | 16 | 17,116 |
1982–83 | Div 1 | 42 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 40 | 55 | 50 | 17th | R4 | R4 | — | — | Mick Ferguson | 8 | 15,880 |
1983–84 | Div 1 ↓ | 42 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 39 | 50 | 48 | 20th | QF | R4 | — | — | Mick Harford | 15 | 14,106 |
1984–85 | Div 2 ↑ | 42 | 25 | 7 | 10 | 59 | 33 | 82 | 2nd | R3 | R3 | — | — | Wayne Clarke | 19 | 12,522 |
1985–86 | Div 1 ↓ | 42 | 8 | 5 | 29 | 30 | 73 | 29 | 21st | R3 | R3 | — | — | Andy Kennedy | 8 | 10,899 |
1986–87 | Div 2 | 42 | 11 | 17 | 14 | 47 | 59 | 50 | 19th | R4 | R3 | Full Members' Cup | R2 | Wayne Clarke | 19 | 7,426 |
1987–88 | Div 2 | 44 | 11 | 15 | 18 | 41 | 66 | 48 | 19th | R5 | R1 | Full Members' Cup | R1 | Steve Whitton | 16 | 8,576 |
1988–89 | Div 2[ao] ↓ | 46 | 8 | 11 | 27 | 31 | 76 | 35 | 23rd | R3 | R2 | Full Members' Cup | R1 | Steve Whitton | 6 | 6,289 |
1989–90 | Div 3 | 46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 60 | 59 | 66 | 7th | R3 | R2 | Associate Members' Cup | Group | Dennis Bailey | 20 | 8,558 |
1990–91 | Div 3 | 46 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 45 | 49 | 65 | 12th[ap] | R2 | R1 | Associate Members' Cup[aq] | W |
| 10 | 7,030 |
1991–92 | Div 3 ↑ | 46 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 69 | 52 | 81 | 2nd | R1 | R3 | Associate Members' Cup | Group | Nigel Gleghorn | 22 | 12,399 |
1992–93 | Div 1[ar] | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 50 | 72 | 51 | 19th | R1 | R1 | Anglo-Italian Cup | R1 | John Frain | 8 | 12,328 |
1993–94 | Div 1 ↓ | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 52 | 69 | 51 | 22nd | R3 | R2 | Anglo-Italian Cup | Prelim | 10 | 14,378 | |
1994–95 | Div 2 ↑ | 46 | 25 | 14 | 7 | 84 | 37 | 89 | 1st | R3 | R2 | Football League Trophy[as] | W | Steve Claridge | 25 | 16,941 |
1995–96 | Div 1 | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 61 | 64 | 58 | 15th | R3 | SF | Anglo-Italian Cup | QF | Jonathan Hunt | 15 | 18,098 |
1996–97 | Div 1 | 46 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 52 | 48 | 66 | 10th | R5 | R2 | — | — | Paul Devlin | 19 | 17,732 |
1997–98 | Div 1 | 46 | 19 | 17 | 10 | 60 | 35 | 74 | 7th[at] | R5 | R3 | — | — | Paul Furlong | 19 | 18,751 |
1998–99 | Div 1 | 46 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 66 | 37 | 81 | 4th[au] | R3 | R3 | — | — | Dele Adebola | 17 | 20,794 |
1999–2000 | Div 1 | 46 | 22 | 11 | 13 | 65 | 44 | 77 | 5th[av] | R4 | R4 | — | — | Paul Furlong | 11 | 21,895 |
2000–01 | Div 1 | 46 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 59 | 48 | 78 | 5th[aw] | R3 | F[ax] | — | — | Geoff Horsfield | 12 | 21,283 |
2001–02 | Div 1 ↑ | 46 | 21 | 13 | 12 | 70 | 49 | 76 | 5th[ay] | R3 | R3 | — | — | Tommy Mooney | 15 | 21,978 |
2002–03 | Prem | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 41 | 49 | 48 | 13th | R3 | R3 | — | — | Stern John | 9 | 28,831 |
2003–04 | Prem | 38 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 43 | 48 | 50 | 10th | R5 | R2 | — | — | Mikael Forssell | 19 | 29,078 |
2004–05 | Prem | 38 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 40 | 46 | 45 | 12th | R4 | R3 | — | — | Emile Heskey | 11 | 28,760 |
2005–06 | Prem ↓ | 38 | 8 | 10 | 20 | 28 | 50 | 34 | 18th | QF | QF | — | — | 8 | 27,392 | |
2006–07 | Champ[az] ↑ | 46 | 26 | 8 | 12 | 67 | 42 | 86 | 2nd | R4 | R4 | — | — | Gary McSheffrey | 16 | 22,273 |
2007–08 | Prem ↓ | 38 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 46 | 62 | 35 | 19th | R3 | R3 | — | — | Mikael Forssell | 9 | 26,181 |
2008–09 | Champ ↑ | 46 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 54 | 37 | 83 | 2nd | R3 | R2 | — | — | Kevin Phillips | 14 | 19,081 |
2009–10 | Prem | 38 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 38 | 47 | 50 | 9th | QF | R3 | — | — | Cameron Jerome | 11 | 25,246 |
2010–11 | Prem ↓ | 38 | 8 | 15 | 15 | 37 | 58 | 39 | 18th | QF | W[ba] | — | — | Craig Gardner | 10 | 25,461 |
2011–12 | Champ | 46 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 78 | 51 | 76 | 4th[bb] | R5 | R3 | UEFA Europa League[bc] | Group | Marlon King | 18 | 19,126[58] |
2012–13 | Champ | 46 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 63 | 69 | 61 | 12th | R3 | R2 | — | — | Marlon King | 14 | 16,702 |
2013–14 | Champ | 46 | 11 | 11 | 24 | 58 | 74 | 44 | 21st[bd] | R4 | R4 | — | — | 10 | 15,457 | |
2014–15 | Champ | 46 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 54 | 64 | 63 | 10th | R4 | R2 | — | — | Clayton Donaldson | 16 | 16,111 |
2015–16 | Champ | 46 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 53 | 49 | 63 | 10th | R3 | R3 | — | — | Clayton Donaldson | 11 | 17,602 |
2016–17 | Champ | 46 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 45 | 64 | 53 | 19th | R3 | R1 | — | — | Lukas Jutkiewicz | 12 | 18,717 |
2017–18 | Champ | 46 | 13 | 7 | 26 | 38 | 68 | 46 | 19th | R4 | R2 | — | — | Ché Adams | 9 | 21,041 |
2018–19 | Champ | 46 | 14 | 19 | 13 | 64 | 58 | 52[be] | 17th | R3 | R1 | — | — | Ché Adams | 22 | 22,483 |
2019–20 | Champ | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 54 | 75 | 50 | 20th | R5 | R1 | — | — | Lukas Jutkiewicz | 15 | 20,411[bf] |
2020–21 | Champ | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 37 | 61 | 52 | 18th | R3 | R1 | — | — | Lukas Jutkiewicz | 8 | 0[bg] |
2021–22 | Champ | 46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 50 | 75 | 47 | 20th | R3 | R2 | — | — | Scott Hogan | 10 | 16,161[bh] |
2022–23 | Champ | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 47 | 58 | 53 | 17th | R4 | R1 | — | — | Scott Hogan | 10 | 16,758[bh][65] |
2023–24 | Champ ↓ | 46 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 50 | 65 | 50 | 22nd | R4 | R2 | — | — | Jay Stansfield | 13 | 21,180[bh] |
Notes
- ^ a b 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.[38]
- ^ a b 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.[12][13]
- ^ The League Cup competition started in the 1960–61 season.[15]
- ^ 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.[18]
- ^ 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[19] from 1995–96 to 2001–02 inclusive, from ESPN FC[20] thereafter, or individually.
- ^ 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.[21]
- ^ a b 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.[22]
- ^ 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.[23]
- ^ The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF) lists Wheldon as having scored a divisional best 24 goals in Division Two,[24] but Matthews (2010) assigns him 25.[25]
- ^ Promoted via test match, beating Darwen 3–1.[14]
- ^ Scored 24 goals in Division Two,[24]
- ^ 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.[26]
- ^ 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).[27]
- ^ Abbott's 34 Second Division goals and 42 total goals in a season are club records.[28]
- ^ There was no automatic relegation from the Football League until 1987.[15] 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.[29]
- ^ 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.[30]
- ^ 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.[31][32]
- ^ Birmingham's first appearance in the Cup Final was a 2–1 defeat to Second Division West Bromwich Albion.[14]
- ^ When the Second World War began, the 1939–40 Football League season was abandoned with three matches played and Birmingham in second position.[33]
- ^ Plus one own goal.[34]
- ^ 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.[30]
- ^ 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.[35]
- ^ 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.[35]
- ^ Highest League finish.
- ^ Reached the 1956 FA Cup Final without being drawn at home in any round, the first club so to do.[36] 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.[37]
- ^ Equal with Chelsea on goal average; number of goals scored was not taken into account.[39]
- ^ 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.[40]
- ^ Lost on aggregate to A.S. Roma (2–2 at home, 0–2 away).[41]
- ^ 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.[42] Birmingham beat Stoke City on penalties after a goalless draw, the first time an FA Cup match had been decided via a penalty shootout.[43]
- ^ Scored 23 goals in Division Two.[24]
- ^ 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.[44]
- ^ Number of teams promoted to and relegated from the First Division raised from two to three in 1973.[15]
- ^ This season saw the introduction of three points for a win instead of two.[15]
- ^ Relegated to the third tier of English football for the first time.
- ^ Lowest League finish.
- ^ Beat Tranmere Rovers 3–2 in the final of what was better known by its sponsored name of the Leyland DAF Cup at Wembley.[45]
- ^ The Second Division was renamed Division One after the FA Premiership broke away from the Football League.[15]
- ^ 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.[46]
- ^ 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.[47]
- ^ Lost in the play-off semifinal to Watford on penalties.[48]
- ^ Lost in the play-off semifinal to Barnsley on aggregate.[49]
- ^ Lost in the play-off semifinal to Preston North End on penalties.[50]
- ^ 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,[51] and the first English football final to be held at the Millennium Stadium while the new Wembley Stadium was being built.[52]
- ^ 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.[53]
- ^ Division One was renamed The Championship from the 2004–05 season.[54]
- ^ Beat favourites Arsenal 2–1 at Wembley to win League Cup for the second time.[55]
- ^ Lost in the play-off semifinal to Blackpool 3–2 on aggregate.[56]
- ^ 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.[57]
- ^ Avoided relegation on goal difference via Paul Caddis's stoppage-time equaliser at Bolton Wanderers in the last match of the season.[59]
- ^ Nine points deducted for breaches of the EFL's profitability and sustainability rules.[60]
- ^ The 2019–20 season was interrupted for three months because of the COVID-19 pandemic before being completed behind closed doors;[61] the average attendance only covers those matches played with spectators present.
- ^ Because of COVID restrictions, all Birmingham's 2020–21 home matches were played behind closed doors. Some clubs in lower-risk areas were able to admit fans, as a brief pilot in September and more widely in December, but Birmingham was in too high a tier to qualify.[62]
- ^ a b c The lower tiers of two sides of Birmingham's stadium were closed for safety reasons for the whole of the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons and for part of 2023–24.[63][64]
References
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- 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.
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