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Birmingham City F.C.

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Article Genealogy
Parent: Birmingham Hop 4
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Birmingham City F.C.
ClubnameBirmingham City
FullnameBirmingham City Football Club
NicknameThe Blues
Founded1875 (as Small Heath Alliance)
GroundSt Andrew's
Capacity29,409
ChairmanTom Wagner
ManagerWayne Rooney
LeagueEFL Championship
Season2023–24
Position17th

Birmingham City F.C. is a professional association football club based in Birmingham, England. Founded in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, the club has played in the English football league system's top tiers, competing in cup competitions such as the FA Cup and the EFL Cup. The team has a history of notable managers, players and European matches, and plays home fixtures at St Andrew's in the Bordesley area of Birmingham.

History

Small Heath Alliance, formed in 1875, became Small Heath in 1888 before adopting the name Birmingham in 1905 and later Birmingham City in 1943. The club joined the Football League in 1892 and experienced promotions and relegations across the First Division, the Second Division and modern Premier League eras. Key figures in the club's development include founders active in late-Victorian Birmingham civic life and later managers such as Leslie Knighton, Trevor Francis, and Barry Fry who influenced transfers and tactical shifts. Significant moments include the 1956 and 1960s cup runs, the 1963 League Cup triumph led by players like Roy Warhurst and Gil Merrick, the 1990s revival under owners involved with David Sullivan and David Gold dynamics, and the 2011 UEFA Europa League campaign after reaching the 2011 League Cup final against Arsenal F.C..

Stadium

St Andrew's, opened in 1906 in Bordesley Green near Birmingham city centre, has hosted league and cup fixtures, wartime matches, and concerts. The ground has undergone redevelopment phases including stands reconstruction in the 1990s and improvements complying with Taylor Report recommendations following the Hillsborough disaster. St Andrew's neighbors landmarks such as The Hippodrome (Birmingham) and transport hubs including Birmingham Moor Street railway station and Small Heath railway station. The stadium has been the venue for local derbies against clubs like Aston Villa and fixtures featuring touring sides such as Real Madrid, hosting community events with partners such as Birmingham City Council and local charities.

Supporters and Rivalries

Supporters base across West Midlands suburbs such as Handsworth, Sutton Coldfield and Edgbaston has produced fan groups that attend home and away fixtures at grounds including Villa Park and The Hawthorns. Traditional rivalry with Aston Villa—the Second City derby—is a defining fixture alongside regional competitive links with West Bromwich Albion and occasional contests with Wolverhampton Wanderers. Supporter culture includes fanzines, official supporters' clubs, and organised away travel coordinated with transport nodes like New Street station. Notable fan figures and incidents have involved interactions with policing by West Midlands Police and community initiatives with Midlands charities.

Players and Staff

The playing squad has featured internationals capped by associations such as England national football team, Scotland national football team, Republic of Ireland national football team and other FIFA members. Historic players include Walter Abbott, Joe Bradford, Trevor Francis, and Jude Bellingham who progressed from youth ranks to wider prominence. Managerial appointments have ranged from long-serving caretakers to marquee names such as Alex McLeish, Blakeley, and more recently Pep Clotet in interim spells before appointments like Gary Rowett and Lee Clark. The academy has links with coaches and scouts collaborating with bodies like the Football Association and youth competitions run under UEFA youth rules.

Club Identity and Culture

Club colours—royal blue shirts with white trim—have signified the club's nickname, The Blues, and featured in kit designs produced by manufacturers that have included national and international sports brands. The crest has evolved from early municipal motifs to modern badges incorporating elements referencing Birmingham's industrial heritage and civic symbols such as local heraldry visible in museums like the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Songs and chants performed by supporters include renditions adapted from broader football culture heard at St Andrew's and televised on networks such as Sky Sports and BBC Sport. The club participates in community programmes with organisations such as Kick It Out and local education partners, maintaining heritage displays and halls of fame documenting players and seasons.

Honours and Records

Major honours include the Football League Cup (League Cup) victory in 1963 and runners-up finishes in national cup competitions such as the FA Cup (finalists 1931, 1956) and the 2011 League Cup final. The club's league records encompass seasons in the First Division and modern EFL Championship and Premier League, with notable top-flight campaigns in the 1950s and late 1970s. Individual records include leading goal scorers like Joe Bradford and appearance records held by long-serving players, while managerial records cite longest-serving and highest win-percentage bosses across eras. European competition involvement includes qualification for the UEFA Europa League following domestic cup success in the early 2010s.

Category:Football clubs in England Category:Sport in Birmingham