1961–62 Birmingham City F.C. season explained

Club:Birmingham City F.C.
Season:1961–62
Manager:Gil Merrick
Chairman:Harry Morris, Jr
Stdtitle:Ground
Stadium:St Andrew's
League:Football League First Division
League Result:17th
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:Third round
(eliminated by Tottenham Hotspur)
Cup2:Football League Cup
Cup2 Result:First round
(eliminated by Swindon Town)
Cup3:1960–61 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
Cup3 Result:Final
(eliminated by AS Roma)
Cup4:1961–62 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
Cup4 Result:Second round
(eliminated by Espanyol)
League Topscorer:Ken Leek (18)
Season Topscorer:Jimmy Harris, Ken Leek (20)
Highest Attendance:46,096 vs Tottenham Hotspur, FA Cup 3rd round, 6 January 1962
Lowest Attendance:11,596 vs Swindon Town, League Cup 1st round, 13 September 1961
Average Attendance:25,751
Pattern La1:_whiteborder
Pattern B1:_whitecollar
Pattern Ra1:_whiteborder
Pattern So1:_top_on_white
Leftarm1:000099
Body1:000099
Rightarm1:000099
Shorts1:ffffff
Socks1:000099
Prevseason:1960–61
Nextseason:1962–63

The 1961–62 Football League season was Birmingham City Football Club's 59th in the Football League and their 35th in the First Division. They finished in 17th position in the 22-team division. They entered the 1961–62 FA Cup in the third round proper and lost in that round to Tottenham Hotspur after a replay, and entered the League Cup at the first round, again losing their opening match after a replay, this time against Swindon Town. Birmingham lost in the final of the 1960–61 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in October 1961, and only a few weeks later, were eliminated from the 1961–62 competition in the second round by Espanyol.[1] [2] This was Birmingham's last appearance in major European competition for nearly 50 years.

Twenty-five players made at least one appearance in nationally organised first-team competition, and there were eleven different goalscorers. Forward Mike Hellawell played in all 50 first-team matches over the season (half back Malcolm Beard missed only one), and Ken Leek and Jimmy Harris finished as joint leading goalscorers with 20 goals in all competitions; Leek was top scorer in league competition with 18 goals.

Football League First Division

See main article: 1961–62 Football League.

DateLeague
position		OpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
19 August 19614thFulhamHstyle=background:#cfcW2–1Harris, Bloomfield25,387
22 August 19618thNottingham ForestAstyle=background:#fccL1–2Harris19,486
26 August 196117thSheffield WednesdayAstyle=background:#fccL1–5Bloomfield29,931
30 August 196119thNottingham ForestHstyle=background:#ffcD1–1Harris21,095
2 September 196121stLeicester CityHstyle=background:#fccL1–5Bloomfield21,977
6 September 196120thWest Bromwich AlbionAstyle=background:#ffcD0–020,541
9 September 196121stIpswich TownAstyle=background:#fccL1–4Singer20,017
16 September 196122ndBurnleyHstyle=background:#fccL2–6Bloomfield, Hellawell18,764
20 September 196122ndWest Bromwich AlbionHstyle=background:#fccL1–2Hellawell23,931
23 September 196122ndArsenalAstyle=background:#ffcD1–1Harris pen31,749
30 September 196122ndBolton WanderersHstyle=background:#cfcW2–1Bloomfield, Auld17,214
7 October 196122ndWolverhampton WanderersHstyle=background:#fccL3–6Harris 2 (1 pen), Bloomfield29,159
14 October 196121stManchester UnitedAstyle=background:#cfcW2–0Orritt, Hellawell30,674
21 October 196121stChelseaHstyle=background:#cfcW3–2Harris, Bloomfield 220,095
28 October 196119thAston VillaAstyle=background:#cfcW3–1Harris 2, Orritt49,532
4 November 196117thBlackpoolHstyle=background:#ffcD1–1Orritt21,450
11 November 196121stBlackburn RoversAstyle=background:#fccL0–212,083
18 November 196119thWest Ham UnitedHstyle=background:#cfcW4–0Harris pen, Bloomfield, Orritt, Auld20,682
25 November 196120thSheffield UnitedAstyle=background:#fccL1–3Harris16,838
2 December 196115thCardiff CityHstyle=background:#cfcW3–0Leek 2, Hellawell20,959
9 December 196119thTottenham HotspurAstyle=background:#fccL1–3Leek32,509
16 December 196116thFulhamAstyle=background:#cfcW1–0Leek12,730
23 December 196112thSheffield WednesdayHstyle=background:#ffcD1–1Leek19,109
26 December 196113thManchester CityHstyle=background:#ffcD1–1Leek21,926
13 January 196211thLeicester CityAstyle=background:#cfcW2–1Harris, Auld22,691
20 January 196210thIpswich TownHstyle=background:#cfcW3–1Leek 2, Baker og26,968
3 February 196211thBurnleyAstyle=background:#fccL1–7Auld24,047
10 February 196210thArsenalHstyle=background:#cfcW1–0Harris27,797
17 February 196211thBolton WanderersAstyle=background:#fccL2–3Leek, Auld13,308
24 February 196214thWolverhampton WanderersAstyle=background:#fccL1–2Leek29,665
3 March 196213thManchester UnitedHstyle=background:#ffcD1–1Leek25,817
9 March 196213thChelseaAstyle=background:#ffcD1–1Leek23,959
17 March 196216thAston VillaHstyle=background:#fccL0–243,489
24 March 196218thBlackpoolAstyle=background:#fccL0–111,854
30 March 196216thBlackburn RoversHstyle=background:#cfcW2–1Leek, Hellawell17,431
6 April 196214thWest Ham UnitedAstyle=background:#ffcD2–2Bloomfield, Leek22,668
11 April 196214thManchester CityAstyle=background:#cfcW4–1Harris, Bloomfield, Leek, Hellawell21,941
14 April 196214thSheffield UnitedHstyle=background:#cfcW3–0Harris 2 (1 pen), Hellawell19,514
20 April 196214thEvertonAstyle=background:#fccL1–4Leek47,506
21 April 196217thCardiff CityAstyle=background:#fccL2–3Leek 28,608
24 April 196217thEvertonHstyle=background:#ffcD0–021,910
28 April 196217thTottenham HotspurHstyle=background:#fccL2–3Leek, Beard29,614

League table (part)

Pos!scope="col"
ClubPldWDLFAGAPts
15thManchester United421591872750.9639
16thBlackburn Rovers4214111750580.8639
17thBirmingham City4214101865810.8038
18thWolverhampton Wanderers4213101973860.8536
19thNottingham Forest4213101963790.8036
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[3]

FA Cup

See main article: 1961–62 FA Cup.

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
Third round6 January 1962Tottenham HotspurHstyle=background:#ffcD3–3Harris 2, Leek46,096
Third round replay10 January 1962Tottenham HotspurAstyle=background:#fccL2–4Harris, Leek62,917

League Cup

See main article: 1961–62 Football League Cup.

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
First round13 September 1961Swindon TownHstyle=background:#ffcD1–1Neal11,596
First round replay25 September 1961Swindon TownAstyle=background:#fccL0–213,063

1960–61 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup

See main article: 1960–61 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and 1961 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Final.

The final of the 1960–61 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup took place in late September and mid-October 1961, when the first round of the 1961–62 competition was already under way. In the semi-final, Birmingham had beaten Inter Milan home and away; no other English club beat them in a competitive match in the San Siro until Arsenal did so in the Champions League more than 40 years later.[4] Birmingham played in the final for the second consecutive season, having lost to Barcelona in 1960. In the first leg, missed chances and poor defending allowed Roma to take a two-goal lead at St Andrew's, but second-half goals from Mike Hellawell and Bryan Orritt, whose late equaliser came after Jimmy Harris's shot rebounded from the crossbar, took Birmingham into the second leg on level terms. In front of a large crowd in the Stadio Olimpico, Roma won 2–0 to take the trophy 4–2 on aggregate.[5]

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
Final 1st leg27 September 1961AS RomaHstyle=background:#ffcD2–2Hellawell, Orritt21,005
Final 2nd leg11 October 1961AS RomaAstyle=background:#fccL0–250,000

1961–62 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup

See main article: 1961–62 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

As finalists in the previous season's competition, Birmingham were awarded a bye to the second round, in which they were drawn against Espanyol. They lost heavily in the first leg, in Barcelona, where Antonio Camps scored a hat-trick.[6] They won the ill-tempered return leg 1–0 with a goal from Bertie Auld, but four players, including Birmingham's Jimmy Harris and Auld himself, were sent off.[7]

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
Second round 1st leg15 November 1961EspanyolAstyle=background:#fccL2–5Bloomfield, Harris pen60,000
Second round 2nd leg7 December 1961EspanyolHstyle=background:#cfcW1–0Auld16,874

Appearances and goals

Players marked left the club during the playing season.

Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; FB – Full back; HB – Half back; FW – Forward

Players' appearances and goals by competition
NameLeagueFA CupLeague Cup1960–61 1961–62 Total
GoalsGoalsGoalsGoalsGoalsGoals
data-sort-value=1GK35020202020430
data-sort-value=1GK700000000070
data-sort-value=2FB500010000060
data-sort-value=2FB7000202000110
data-sort-value=2FB16000001000170
data-sort-value=2FB21120000020251
data-sort-value=2FB33020102020400
data-sort-value=2FB200000000020
data-sort-value=3HB42120202020501
data-sort-value=3HB34020102020410
data-sort-value=3HB600011000071
data-sort-value=3HB39020201020460
data-sort-value=3HB500000000050
data-sort-value=4FW38520001021436
data-sort-value=4FW3511002020114012
data-sort-value=4FW100000000010
data-sort-value=4FW3916231020214620
data-sort-value=4FW42720202120508
data-sort-value=4FW2418220000102720
data-sort-value=4FW17420102120245
data-sort-value=4FW200000000020
data-sort-value=4FW210010100041
data-sort-value=4FW700010000080
data-sort-value=4FW300010000040
data-sort-value=4FW000010000010

See also

References

General

Specific

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fairs' Cup 1960–61 . 17 April 2012 . Zea . Antonio . Haisma . Marcel . amp. 2 October 2009 . Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF).
  2. Web site: Fairs' Cup 1961–62 . 17 April 2012 . Zea . Antonio . Haisma . Marcel . amp. 2 October 2009 . Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF).
  3. Web site: Birmingham City 1961–1962: English Division One (old) Table . Statto Organisation . 11 April 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151025210144/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/birmingham-city/1961-1962/table . 25 October 2015 . dead . dmy-all .
  4. News: Arsenal routs Inter Milan . New York Times . Reuters . 25 November 2003 . 16 December 2019.
  5. Matthews (2010), p. 98.
  6. Matthews (2010), p. 46.
  7. News: Four Players Sent Off . The Times . London . 5 . 8 December 1961.

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