1930–31 Birmingham F.C. season explained

Club:Birmingham F.C.
Season:1930–31
Manager:Leslie Knighton
Chairman:Howard Cant
Stdtitle:Ground
Stadium:St Andrew's
League:Football League First Division
League Result:19th
Cup1:FA Cup
Season Topscorer:Joe Bradford (22)
Highest Attendance:55,298 vs Chelsea, FA Cup 6th round,
Average Attendance:18,175
Pattern B1:_whitecollarplain
Leftarm1:000099
Body1:000099
Rightarm1:000099
Shorts1:FFFFFF
Socks1:000000
Prevseason:1929–30
Nextseason:1931–32

The 1930–31 Football League season was Birmingham Football Club's 35th in the Football League and their 18th in the First Division. They finished in 19th position in the 22-team division, five points clear of the relegation places. They also competed in the 1930–31 FA Cup, entering at the third round proper and reaching the final for the first time in the club's history. They lost 2–1 to Second Division club West Bromwich Albion.

Twenty-seven players made at least one appearance in nationally organised competition, and there were eleven different goalscorers. Forward Ernie Curtis played in 47 of the 49 matches over the season, and, for the 10th successive year, Joe Bradford was leading scorer, with 22 goals in all competitions, of which 14 came in the league. George Briggs scored more league goals, with 15.

The 9–1 defeat away to Sheffield Wednesday on 13 December equalled the club record for widest margin of defeat.[1]

Football League First Division

DateLeague
position		OpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
30 August 19304thSheffield UnitedHstyle=background:#cfcW3–1Morrall, Briggs, Bradford20,641
1 September 19307thLeicester CityAstyle=background:#fccL1–2Briggs14,391
6 September 19308thDerby CountyAstyle=background:#ffcD0–015,681
10 September 193010thNewcastle UnitedHstyle=background:#ffcD1–1Bradford13,893
13 September 19306thManchester CityHstyle=background:#cfcW3–2Briggs 2, Bradford11,148
17 September 19306thNewcastle UnitedAstyle=background:#ffcD2–2Briggs, Morrall19,902
20 September 19308thPortsmouthAstyle=background:#ffcD2–2Hicks, Briggs16,002
27 September 193011thArsenalHstyle=background:#fccL2–4Briggs, Roberts og31,693
4 October 193014thBlackburn RoversAstyle=background:#fccL1–2Horsman14,728
11 October 193015thBlackpoolHstyle=background:#ffcD1–1Curtis23,453
18 October 193013thAston VillaAstyle=background:#ffcD1–1Briggs55,482
25 October 193012thChelseaHstyle=background:#cfcW6–2Bradford 2, Curtis, Briggs 2, Crosbie17,277
1 November 193012thManchester UnitedAstyle=background:#fccL0–211,479
8 November 193015thWest Ham UnitedAstyle=background:#fccL0–220,171
15 November 193013thMiddlesbroughAstyle=background:#ffcD1–1Curtis11,883
22 November 193012thGrimsby TownHstyle=background:#cfcW4–1Fillingham, Firth 313,637
29 November 193015thBolton WanderersAstyle=background:#fccL0–215,361
6 December 193013thHuddersfield TownHstyle=background:#cfcW2–0Bradford, Curtis16,036
13 December 193015thSheffield WednesdayAstyle=background:#fccL1–9Briggs21,226
20 December 193015thLiverpoolHstyle=background:#cfcW2–0Briggs 216,165
25 December 193015thLeeds UnitedHstyle=background:#fccL0–124,991
26 December 193016thLeeds UnitedAstyle=background:#fccL1–3Curtis12,381
27 December 193018thSheffield UnitedAstyle=background:#fccL1–2Cringan24,208
3 January 193119thDerby CountyHstyle=background:#fccL1–2Curtis14,555
17 January 193119thManchester CityAstyle=background:#fccL2–4Briggs, Gregg19,918
28 January 193119thPortsmouthHstyle=background:#cfcW2–1Briggs, Bradford6,535
31 January 193117thArsenalAstyle=background:#ffcD1–1Bradford30,913
7 February 193117thBlackburn RoversHstyle=background:#cfcW4–1Bradford 423,642
18 February 193117thBlackpoolAstyle=background:#cfcW1–0Crosbie10,136
21 February 193118thAston VillaHstyle=background:#fccL0–449,619
7 March 193118thManchester UnitedHstyle=background:#ffcD0–017,678
16 March 193117thWest Ham UnitedAstyle=background:#cfcW2–1Firth, Bradford8,521
21 March 193117thMiddlesbroughHstyle=background:#fccL1–2Jarvis og20,311
25 March 193118thChelseaAstyle=background:#fccL0–112,968
28 March 193118thGrimsby TownAstyle=background:#fccL1–4Fillingham10,994
3 April 193120thSunderlandAstyle=background:#fccL0–118,180
4 April 193120thBolton WanderersHstyle=background:#fccL0–218,083
6 April 193119thSunderlandHstyle=background:#cfcW1–0Gregg11,207
11 April 193119thHuddersfield TownAstyle=background:#fccL0–110,920
15 April 193119thLiverpoolAstyle=background:#ffcD0–06,045
18 April 193119thSheffield WednesdayHstyle=background:#cfcW2–0Gregg, Curtis16,411
2 May 193119thLeicester CityHstyle=background:#cfcW2–1Curtis, Bradford14,704

League table (part)

Pos!scope="col"
ClubPldWDLFAGAPts
17thNewcastle United421562178870.9036
18thWest Ham United421482079940.8436
19thBirmingham4213101955700.7936
20thBlackpool42111021711250.5732
21stLeeds United421272368810.8431
KeyPos = 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[2]

FA Cup

See main article: 1930–31 FA Cup and 1931 FA Cup Final.

Birmingham "won finely" at Anfield to defeat Liverpool 2–0,[3] then eliminated Port Vale and, with Ernie Curtis "in magnificent form", Watford,[4] to reach the sixth round in which they played Chelsea. Playing in a blizzard at St Andrew's, Chelsea took the lead and had a second goal disallowed before the change of ends brought a change of fortunes. George Briggs crossed for Joe Bradford's header, then Briggs and Bradford combined for Curtis to put Birmingham ahead. With ten minutes left, a misplaced clearance by Bob Gregg allowed Jackie Crawford to equalise.[5] The replay at Stamford Bridge, before a ground-record crowd of 74,365 with thousands more locked out, remained goalless until Chelsea half-backs John Townrow and Sid Bishop were injured. With no substitutes permitted, Birmingham took advantage, winning the tie 3–0 with goals from Jack Firth and two from Bradford.[6] Curtis opened the scoring half an hour into the semi-final against First Division Sunderland. Sunderland's players thought they should have had a penalty, they failed to take numerous chances, and Harry Hibbs made some fine saves, but three minutes from time, Curtis had a shot blocked, Bradford "rushed in to help his colleague and between them they scored the second goal".[7]

After six minutes of the final, Bob Gregg's header from Jimmy Cringan's free kick was ruled offside; newspaper reports suggest the decision was incorrect. After 24 minutes, Ned Barkas deflected W. G. Richardson's shot away from Hibbs and Richardson steered it home. Chances were missed by both sides before Joe Bradford equalised with a 25yd shot. But straight from the restart, Albion ran the ball down the field, George Liddell sliced his clearance to Richardson's feet, and the forward scored from close range.[8]

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
Third round10 January 1931LiverpoolAstyle=background:#cfcW2–0Curtis, Bradford40,500
Fourth round24 January 1931Port ValeHstyle=background:#cfcW2–0Bradford 244,119
Fifth round14 February 1931WatfordHstyle=background:#cfcW3–0Bradford, Curtis 249,757
Sixth round28 February 1931ChelseaHstyle=background:#ffcD2–2Bradford, Curtis55,298
Sixth round replay4 March 1931ChelseaAstyle=background:#cfcW3–0Firth, Bradford 274,365
Semi-final14 March 1931SunderlandElland Road, Leedsstyle=background:#cfcW2–0Curtis 243,570
Final25 April 1931West Bromwich AlbionWembley Stadiumstyle=background:#fccL1–2Bradford90,368

Appearances and goals

This table includes appearances and goals in nationally organised competitive matchesthe Football League and FA Cuponly.

For a description of the playing positions, see Formation (association football)#2–3–5 (Pyramid).

Players' appearances and goals by competition
scope=col rowspan=2Namescope=col rowspan=2Positionscope=col colspan=2Leaguescope=col colspan=2FA Cupscope=col colspan=2Total
width=40 scope=col!width=40 scope=colGoalswidth=40 scope=col!width=40 scope=colGoalswidth=40 scope=col!width=40 scope=colGoals
data-sort-value="1"Goalkeeper36070430
data-sort-value="1"Goalkeeper100010
data-sort-value="1"Goalkeeper500050
data-sort-value="2"Full back33070400
data-sort-value="2"Full back10000100
data-sort-value="2"Full back29070360
data-sort-value="2"Full back13000130
data-sort-value="3"Half back100010
data-sort-value="3"Half back34170411
data-sort-value="3"Half back21200212
data-sort-value="3"Half back25421275
data-sort-value="3"Half back24070310
data-sort-value="3"Half back31270382
data-sort-value="3"Half back700070
data-sort-value="4"Forward200020
data-sort-value="4"Forward300030
data-sort-value="4"Forward2214782922
data-sort-value="4"Forward3215603815
data-sort-value="4"Forward31270382
data-sort-value="4"Forward408764714
data-sort-value="4"Forward15340193
data-sort-value="4"Forward400040
data-sort-value="4"Forward710071
data-sort-value="4"Forward25120271
data-sort-value="4"Forward200020
data-sort-value="4"Forward100010
data-sort-value="4"Forward100010
data-sort-value="4"Forward700070

See also

References

General

Specific

Notes and References

  1. http://www.statto.com/football/teams/birmingham-city/records "Birmingham City: Records"
  2. http://www.statto.com/football/teams/birmingham-city/1930-1931/table "Birmingham City 1930–1931: English Division One (old) Table"
  3. "Other F.A. Cup Matches". The Times (London): p.5. 12 January 1931.
  4. "F.A. Cup. Draw For Sixth Round". The Times (London): p.6. 17 February 1931.
  5. "Drawn Match At Birmingham". The Times (London): p.6. 2 March 1931.
  6. "Chelsea Beaten. A Day Of Misfortunes". The Times (London): p.7. 5 March 1931.
  7. "Birmingham's Fine Defence. Sunderland Miss Their Chances". The Times (London): p.6. 16 March 1931.
  8. "The Cup. Victory Of West Bromwich, A Triumph Of Youth." The Times (London): p.5. 27 April 1931.
    The Daily Mail match report, reproduced in Thraves, Andrew, ed. (1994). The History of the Wembley FA Cup Final. Weidenfeld & Nicolson (London): pp.24–25. .
    "Albion's Cup". Birmingham Mail: p.12. 25 April 1931.
    Matthews (1995), Complete Record. p.19.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "1930–31 Birmingham F.C. season".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.