1985–86 Birmingham City F.C. season explained

Club:Birmingham City F.C.
Season:1985–86
Stdtitle:Ground
Stadium:St Andrew's
League:Football League First Division
League Result:21st (relegated)
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:Third round
(eliminated by Altrincham)
Cup2:League Cup
Cup2 Result:Third round
League Topscorer:Andy Kennedy (7)
Season Topscorer:Andy Kennedy (9)
Highest Attendance:24,971 vs Aston Villa, 7 September 1985
Lowest Attendance:3,686 vs Bristol Rovers, League Cup 2nd round, 7 October 1985
Average Attendance:10,899
Pattern La1:_whiteborder
Pattern B1:_red_halfshoulders
Pattern Ra1:_whiteborder
Pattern Sh1:_redwhitetrim
Pattern So1:_whitetop
Leftarm1:0000ff
Body1:0000ff
Rightarm1:0000ff
Socks1:ff0000
Prevseason:1984–85
Nextseason:1986–87

The 1985–86 Football League season was Birmingham City Football Club's 83rd in the Football League and their 50th in the First Division, to which they were promoted in 1984–85. They finished in 21st position in the 22-team division, so were relegated back to the Second Division after only one season. They entered the 1985–86 FA Cup in the third round proper and lost in that round, at home to non-league club Altrincham, a result that precipitated the resignation of Ron Saunders as manager.[1] They were eliminated from the League Cup by Southampton in a third-round replay. John Bond succeeded Saunders as manager.

The top scorer was Andy Kennedy with just nine goals, of which seven were scored in league competition.

With the team already in the relegation positions, chairman Keith Coombs resigned in December 1985, selling his 70% shareholding to the former chairman of Walsall F.C., Ken Wheldon, who took over as chairman. The club's serious financial situation, not helped by low attendances, led to the departure of several senior administrative staff.[2] [3]

Football League First Division

See main article: 1985–86 Football League.

DateLeague
position		OpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
17 August 19855thWest Ham UnitedHW1–0Hopkins11,164
20 August 198511thWatfordAL0–314,278
24 August 198517thChelseaAL0–216,534
26 August 19859thOxford UnitedHW3–1Kennedy, Briggs og, Hopkins10,568
31 August 198512thEvertonAL1–4Kennedy28,066
3 September 198510thManchester CityHW1–0Geddis11,706
7 September 198511thAston VillaHD0–024,971
14 September 198510thIpswich TownAW1–0Geddis11,616
21 September 19858thLeicester CityHW2–1Geddis 29,834
28 September 198510thQueens Park RangersAL1–3Armstrong10,911
5 October 198512thSheffield WednesdayHL0–211,708
19 October 198514thWest Bromwich AlbionAL1–2Kennedy14,576
26 October 198515thCoventry CityHL0–19,267
2 November 198517thLuton TownAL0–28,550
9 November 198517thNewcastle UnitedHL0–18,162
16 November 198517thSouthamptonAL0–113,167
23 November 198520thLiverpoolHL0–215,062
30 November 198520thArsenalAD0–016,673
7 December 198520thWatfordHL1–2Wright pen7,043
14 December 198520thWest Ham UnitedAL0–217,481
21 December 198520thChelseaHL1–2Platnauer10,594
26 December 198521stNottingham ForestHL0–110,378
28 December 198521stManchester CityAD1–1Geddis24,055
1 January 198621stManchester UnitedAL0–143,095
11 January 198621stIpswich TownHL0–16,856
18 January 198621stEvertonHL0–210,502
1 February 198621stOxford UnitedAW1–0Clarke9,086
8 February 198621stWest Bromwich AlbionHL0–111,514
16 February 198621stCoventry CityAD4–4Kennedy 2, Whitton, Kuhl14,271
1 March 198621stQueens Park RangersHW2–0Clarke pen, Hopkins7,093
8 March 198621stSheffield WednesdayAL1–5Geddis17,491
12 March 198621stLeicester CityAL2–4Clarke, Kennedy8,458
15 March 198621stTottenham HotspurHL1–2Kennedy9,394
22 March 198621stAston VillaAW3–0Clarke 2, Whitton26,294
29 March 198621stManchester UnitedHD1–1Handysides22,551
31 March 198621stNottingham ForestAL0–313,134
6 April 198621stLuton TownHL0–28,836
12 April 198621stNewcastle UnitedAL1–4Hopkins19,981
16 April 198621stTottenham HotspurAL0–29,359
19 April 198621stSouthamptonHL0–25,833
26 April 198621stLiverpoolAL0–542,021
3 May 198621stArsenalHL0–16,234

League table (part)

!scope="col"
Team
18thOxford United421012206280-1842
19thLeicester City421012205476-2242
20thIpswich Town42118233255-2341
21stBirmingham City4285293073-4329
22ndWest Bromwich Albion42412263589-5424

Results summary

FA Cup

See main article: 1985–86 FA Cup.

League Cup

See main article: 1985–86 Football League Cup.

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
Second round 1st leg24 September 1985Bristol RoversAW3–2Wright 2 (2 pens), Geddis4,332
Second round 2nd leg8 October 1985Bristol RoversHW2–1Kennedy, Tanner og3,686
Third round29 October 1985SouthamptonHD1–1Kennedy4,832
Third round replay6 November 1985SouthamptonAL0–39,085

Appearances and goals

Numbers in parentheses denote appearances made as a substitute.

Players with name in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Birmingham.

Players marked left the club during the playing season.

Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward

Players' appearances and goals by competition
NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotal
GoalsGoalsGoalsGoals
GKscope=rowDavid Seaman4201040470
DFscope=rowKen Armstrong2211030261
DFscope=rowJulian Dicks18 (5)0101 (1)020 (6)0
DFscope=rowBilly Garton *50000050
DFscope=rowJim Hagan310103 (1)035 (1)0
DFscope=rowMark Jones1900030220
DFscope=rowRay Ranson3701030410
DFscope=rowBrian Roberts31 (2)0104036 (2)0
DFscope=rowMark Smalley *70000070
DFscope=rowBilly Wright2910 (1)03 (1)232 (2)3
MFscope=rowDes Bremner3201030360
MF Irelandscope=row20000020
MFscope=rowJohn Frain1 (2)000001 (2)0
MFscope=rowIan Handysides61000061
MFscope=rowRobert Hopkins3841140435
MFscope=row10000010
MFscope=rowMartin Kuhl33 (4)1103037 (4)1
MFscope=rowNick Platnauer12 (5)1103016 (5)1
MFscope=rowBilly Ronson *20000020
MFscope=rowStuart Storer20000020
FWscope=rowWayne Clarke2850000285
FWscope=rowDavid Geddis25 (1)6003028 (1)6
FWscope=rowAndy Kennedy27 (5)7104232 (5)9
FWscope=rowTony Rees4 (4)000004 (4)0
FWscope=rowGuy Russell0 (1)000000 (1)0
FWscope=rowSteve Whitton82000082

See also

Sources

Notes and References

  1. News: Bitter end for Saunders as he resigns from embattled Birmingham . Stuart . Jones . The Times . 17 January 1986 . 3 February 2012.
  2. News: Eire move for Clough . The Times . 17 December 1985 . 3 February 2012.
  3. Matthews (1995), Complete Record, p. 44.

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