The 1914–15 Football League season, the last to be played before the league was abandoned because of the First World War, was Birmingham Football Club's 23rd in the Football League and their 15th in the Second Division. They finished in sixth position in the 20-team division. They also took part in the 1914–15 FA Cup, entering at the first round proper and losing to Oldham Athletic in the third round (last 16).
| 1914–15 season | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Howard Cant | |
| Manager | Bob McRoberts | |
| Ground | St Andrew's | |
| Football League Second Division | 6th | |
| FA Cup | Third round (eliminated by Oldham Athletic) | |
| Top goalscorer | League: Andy Smith (21) All: Andy Smith (24) | |
| Highest home attendance | 39,024 vs Oldham Athletic, FA Cup 3rd round, 20 February 1915 | |
| Lowest home attendance | 5,000 (four matches) | |
| Average home league attendance | 11,526 | |
| ||
Twenty-three players made at least one appearance in nationally organised first-team competition, and there were thirteen different goalscorers. Goalkeeper Willie Robb and forward Richard Gibson were ever-present over the 43-match season; full-back Frank Womack and half-back Percy Barton each missed only one game. Andy Smith was leading scorer with 24 goals, of which 21 came in the league.
Football League Second Division
edit| Date | League position |
Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 September 1914 | 5th | Nottingham Forest | A | D | 1–1 | W. Smith | 5,000 |
| 5 September 1914 | 17th | Leicester Fosse | A | L | 0–1 | 4,000 | |
| 12 September 1914 | 11th | Barnsley | H | W | 2–0 | Eyre, A. Smith | 10,000 |
| 19 September 1914 | 10th | Glossop | A | D | 3–3 | Tinkler, A. Smith pen, Gibson | 500 |
| 26 September 1914 | 12th | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | L | 1–2 | Gibson | 20,000 |
| 3 October 1914 | 11th | Fulham | A | W | 3–2 | Windridge, A. Smith 2 | 12,000 |
| 10 October 1914 | 14th | Stockport County | H | L | 0–1 | 12,000 | |
| 17 October 1914 | 14th | Hull City | A | D | 0–0 | 7,000 | |
| 24 October 1914 | 11th | Leeds City | H | W | 6–3 | A. Smith 3, Barton, Windridge, Gibson | 8,000 |
| 31 October 1914 | 12th | Clapton Orient | A | D | 1–1 | Gibson | 8,000 |
| 7 November 1914 | 8th | Woolwich Arsenal | H | W | 3–0 | A. Smith 2, Gibson | 15,000 |
| 14 November 1914 | 12th | Derby County | A | L | 0–1 | 7,000 | |
| 21 November 1914 | 9th | Lincoln City | H | W | 2–0 | Gibson, A. Smith pen | 5,000 |
| 28 November 1914 | 7th | Blackpool | H | W | 3–0 | Gibson, W. Smith, A. Smith pen | 5,000 |
| 5 December 1914 | 9th | Grimsby Town | A | L | 0–1 | 4,000 | |
| 12 December 1914 | 5th | Huddersfield Town | H | W | 1–0 | Duncan | 12,000 |
| 19 December 1914 | 4th | Bristol City | A | W | 3–2 | Barton, A. Smith, Gibson | 4,000 |
| 25 December 1914 | 3rd | Bury | H | W | 1–0 | Gibson | 20,000 |
| 26 December 1914 | 4th | Bury | A | W | 3–1 | Roulson 2, Windridge | 5,000 |
| 28 December 1914 | 3rd | Nottingham Forest | H | W | 3–0 | A. Smith 2 (1 pen), Hodges | 25,000 |
| 2 January 1915 | 2nd | Leicester Fosse | H | W | 2–0 | Gibson, Windridge | 16,000 |
| 6 January 1915 | 2nd | Glossop | H | W | 11–1 | A. Smith 4, Windridge 5 (1 pen), Eyre, Hodges | 8,000 |
| 13 February 1915 | 3rd | Stockport County | A | L | 1–3 | A. Smith | 4,000 |
| 27 February 1915 | 5th | Leeds City | A | L | 0–2 | 7,000 | |
| 1 March 1915 | 4th | Fulham | H | W | 1–0 | Barton | 5,000 |
| 6 March 1915 | 3rd | Clapton Orient | H | W | 1–0 | A. Smith | 15,000 |
| 8 March 1915 | 4th | Barnsley | A | L | 1–2 | Roulson | 3,000 |
| 13 March 1915 | 5th | Woolwich Arsenal | A | L | 0–1 | 19,067 | |
| 20 March 1915 | 5th | Derby County | H | L | 0–2 | 18,000 | |
| 24 March 1915 | 5th | Hull City | H | D | 2–2 | Reed, A. Smith | 5,000 |
| 27 March 1915 | 4th | Lincoln City | A | W | 1–0 | Morgan | 3,000 |
| 2 April 1915 | 4th | Preston North End | A | L | 0–2 | 10,000 | |
| 5 April 1915 | 5th | Preston North End | H | D | 1–1 | Hodges | 10,000 |
| 10 April 1915 | 6th | Grimsby Town | H | W | 3–0 | Windridge, Barton, Roulson pen | 10,000 |
| 14 April 1915 | 6th | Blackpool | A | L | 1–3 | W. Smith | 5,000 |
| 17 April 1915 | 5th | Huddersfield Town | A | D | 0–0 | 4,000 | |
| 19 April 1915 | 5th | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | D | 0–0 | 8,000 | |
| 24 April 1915 | 6th | Bristol City | H | D | 1–1 | Windridge | 10,000 |
League table (part)
edit| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 38 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 77 | 52 | 1.48 | 45 |
| 5th | Woolwich Arsenal | 38 | 19 | 5 | 14 | 69 | 42 | 1.68 | 43 |
| 6th | Birmingham | 38 | 17 | 9 | 12 | 62 | 39 | 1.59 | 43 |
| 7th | Hull City | 38 | 19 | 5 | 14 | 65 | 54 | 1.20 | 43 |
| 8th | Huddersfield Town | 38 | 17 | 8 | 13 | 61 | 42 | 1.45 | 42 |
| Key | Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = Points | ||||||||
| Source | [1] | ||||||||
FA Cup
edit| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First round | 9 January 1915 | Crystal Palace | H | D | 2–2 | A. Smith pen, Eyre | 18,000 |
| First round replay | January 1915 | Crystal Palace | H * | W | 3–0 a.e.t. |
Gibson, Tinkler, A. Smith | 17,000 |
| Second round | 30 January 1915 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | D | 0–0 a.e.t. |
9,000 | |
| Second round replay | 6 February 1915 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | W | 3–0 | Gibson, Morgan, A. Smith | 28,000 |
| Third round | 20 February 1915 | Oldham Athletic | H | L | 2–3 | Gibson, Hodges | 39,024 |
- * Crystal Palace forfeited home advantage for the replay.
Appearances and goals
edit- This table includes appearances and goals in nationally organised competitive matches – the Football League and FA Cup – only.
- For a description of the playing positions, see Formation (association football)#2–3–5 (Pyramid).
| Name | Position | League | FA Cup | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| William Robb | Goalkeeper | 38 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 43 | 0 |
| William Ball | Full back | 36 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
| Arthur Stanton | Full back | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Frank Womack | Full back | 37 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| Percy Barton | Half back | 37 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 42 | 4 |
| James Bumphrey | Half back | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Ernie Edwards | Half back | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Albert Gardner | Half back | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Alec McClure | Half back | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Joe Roulson | Half back | 21 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 26 | 4 |
| Alf Tinkler | Half back | 29 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 30 | 2 |
| Charlie Duncan | Forward | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Edmund Eyre | Forward | 23 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 26 | 3 |
| Richard Gibson | Forward | 38 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 43 | 13 |
| Jack Hall | Forward | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Frank Hodges | Forward | 17 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 22 | 4 |
| Billy Morgan | Forward | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 2 |
| Arthur Reed | Forward | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Andy Smith | Forward | 30 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 35 | 24 |
| Wally Smith | Forward | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 3 |
| Charles Sprigg | Forward | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Billy Walker | Forward | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Jimmy Windridge | Forward | 26 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 29 | 11 |
See also
editReferences
editGeneral
- Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Breedon Books (Derby). ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
- Matthews, Tony (2010). Birmingham City: The Complete Record. DB Publishing (Derby). ISBN 978-1-85983-853-2.
- Source for match dates and results: "Birmingham City 1914–1915: Results"[permanent dead link]. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- Source for lineups, appearances, goalscorers and attendances: Matthews (2010), Complete Record, pp. 274–75. Note that attendance figures are estimated.
- Source for kit: "Birmingham City". Historical Football Kits. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
Specific
- ^ "Birmingham City 1914–1915: English Division Two (old) Table" Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 20 May 2012.