2001–02 Birmingham City F.C. season explained

Club:Birmingham City F.C.
Season:2001–02
Manager:Trevor Francis
(until 15 October)

(joint caretakers)
Steve Bruce
(from 12 December)
Stdtitle:Ground
League Result:5th
Cup2 Result:Third round
(eliminated by Liverpool)
Cup3 Result:Third round
(eliminated by Manchester City)
Season Topscorer:Tommy Mooney (15)
Highest Attendance:29,178 vs Sheffield United,
Lowest Attendance:12,015 vs Southend United,
Average Attendance:21,978[1]
Nextseason:2002–03

The 2001–02 season was Birmingham City Football Club's 99th in the Football League. They finished in 5th position in the 24-team Football League First Division, thus qualifying for the play-offs, and were successful in the final, beating Norwich City in a penalty shootout to gain promotion to the Premier League. Birmingham entered the 2001–02 FA Cup at the third round and lost to Liverpool in that round, and after entering the League Cup in the first round, lost to Manchester City in the third.

Trevor Francis was dismissed as manager in October with Birmingham mid-table in the First Division. Mick Mills and Jim Barron acted as caretakers until December, when former Crystal Palace manager Steve Bruce was appointed.[2] French manufacturers Le Coq Sportif supplied Birmingham's kit for the fourth consecutive season, and mobile phone retailer Phones4U were the new shirt sponsors.[3] Tommy Mooney was top scorer with 15 goals, of which 13 were scored in the league.

Football League First Division

Trevor Francis was dismissed as manager in October with Birmingham mid-table in the First Division. Mick Mills and Jim Barron acted as caretakers until December, when former Crystal Palace manager Steve Bruce was appointed.[2] Under his management Birmingham improved to finish fifth in the First Division for the third season running, qualifying for the play-offs yet again. This season, however, Birmingham finally tasted success: after beating Millwall 2–1 on aggregate in the semi-final, they faced Norwich City in the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium. After normal time ended goalless, the match went to extra time, only for Norwich's Iwan Roberts to score in the first minute of extra time. However, Geoff Horsfield equalised 11 minutes later and, with no further goals, the match went to a penalty shoot-out. Birmingham won 4–2 to finally gain promotion to the Premier League, 16 seasons after their previous top-flight campaign.

Match details

DateLeague
position
OpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A
ScorersAttendanceReport
11 August 200119thWimbledonAL1–3B. Hughes 87'9,142[4]
19 August 20018thMillwallHW4–0B. Hughes 22', 27', Horsfield 30', Eaden 45'19,091
25 August 20017thWalsallAW2–1Mooney 20', Horsfield 41'7,245
27 August 20013rdStockport CountyHW2–1Grainger 2', Mooney 21' pen.18,478
8 September 20013rdSheffield WednesdayHW2–0A. Johnson 43', B. Hughes 63'19,421
15 September 20017thManchester CityAL0–331,714
18 September 20019thBurnleyHL2–3A. Johnson (2) 19', 40'18,426
23 September 200114thPreston North EndHL0–123,004
26 September 200114thWatfordAD3–3B. Hughes 4', Horsfield 47', Grainger 85'13,091
29 September 200114thCrewe AlexandraAD0–07,314
13 October 200112thBarnsleyAW3–1Marcelo 36', Horsfield 55', Furlong 83'11,910
18 October 200110thNottingham ForestAD0–018,210
20 October 20016thBradford CityHW4–0Marcelo (3) 37', 45', 48', Sonner 39'25,011
23 October 20015thGillinghamHW2–1Horsfield (2) 36', 47'27,101
26 October 20016thGrimsby TownAL1–3Marcelo 49'5,419
30 October 20016thPortsmouthAD1–1Marcelo 25'15,612
4 November 200110thRotherham UnitedHD2–2Branston 45' o.g., Horsfield 51'28,436
7 November 200110thWest Bromwich AlbionHL0–123,554
17 November 200112thSheffield UnitedAL0–415,686
25 November 200111thCoventry CityHW2–0Marcelo (2) 17', 61'18,279
30 November 200111thGillinghamAD1–1Marcelo 63'8,575
8 December 200110thNorwich CityHW4–0Mooney (3) 30', 45', 58' pen., Marcelo 46'17,310
11 December 20019thCrystal PalaceHW1–0Mooney 64' pen.20,119
16 December 200110thWolverhampton WanderersAL1–2Marcelo 40'21,482
22 December 20017thWalsallHW1–0Purse 14' pen.20,127
26 December 20018thSheffield WednesdayAW1–0Horsfield 77'24,335
29 December 20016thStockport CountyAW3–0Vickers 18', Marcelo 49', Mooney 76'5,827
1 January 20027thNottingham ForestHD1–1Mooney 4'19,770
10 January 20026thMillwallAD1–1Mooney 45'11,856
19 January 20028thWimbledonHL0–217,766
29 January 20028thWest Bromwich AlbionAL0–125,266
16 February 20029thBarnsleyHW1–0John 51'19,208
23 February 20029thWatfordHW3–2Purse 21', Mooney (2) 42', 53' pen.18,059
26 February 20028thBurnleyAW1–0Mooney 25'13,504
2 March 20029thPreston North EndAL0–115,543
5 March 20029thManchester CityHL1–2M. Johnson 4'24,160
9 March 200210thWolverhampton WanderersHD2–2John 36', Devlin 45'22,104
12 March 20027thBradford CityAW3–1Purse 6', John 31', Horsfield 82'13,105
15 March 20027thNorwich CityAW1–0John 22'18,258
24 March 20027thCoventry CityAD1–1Horsfield 81'17,945
30 March 20026thGrimsby TownHW4–0B. Hughes (2) 22', 31', John 50', D. Johnson 64'23,249
1 April 20026thCrystal PalaceAD0–019,598
7 April 20026thPortsmouthHD1–1John 2'25,030
10 April 20024thCrewe AlexandraHW3–1John 30', Carter 45', Mooney 49'28,615
13 April 20024thRotherham UnitedAD2–2Grainger 38', Beech 70' o.g.10,536
21 April 20025thSheffield UnitedHW2–0Horsfield 61', Grainger 63'29,178

League table (part)

Pos!scope="col"
ClubPldWDLFAGDPts
3rdWolverhampton Wanderers462511107643+3386
4thMillwall462211136947+2277
5thBirmingham City462113127049+2176
6thNorwich City46229156051+975
7thBurnley462112137062+875
KeyPos = League position; Pld = Matches played;
W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost;
F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
Source[5]

Play-offs

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A
ScorersAttendanceReport
Semifinal 1st leg28 April 2002MillwallHD1–1B. Hughes 56'28,282
Semifinal 2nd leg2 May 2002MillwallAW1–0
2–1 agg.
John 90'16,391

Final

See main article: 2002 Football League First Division play-off Final.

FA Cup

See main article: 2001–02 FA Cup.

League Cup

See main article: 2001–02 Football League Cup.

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A
ScorersAttendanceReport
First round22 August 2001Southend UnitedHW3–0Mooney (2) 7', 90' pen., Whelan 16' o.g.12,015
Second round11 September 2001Bristol RoversAW3–0A. Johnson 45', M. Johnson 62', B. Hughes 68'5,582
Third round10 October 2001Manchester CityAL0–613,112

Transfers

In

DatePlayerClubFeeRef
18 June 2001 Huddersfield Town) Undisclosed[6]
1 July 2001 (Watford) Free[7]
1 July 2001 £25,000[8]
8 August 2001 Unattached Free[9]
17 December 2001 £425,000[10]
31 January 2002 Free[11]
8 February 2002 £100,000[12]
8 March 2002 Undisclosed[13]
13 March 2002 Undisclosed[14]
22 March 2002 £700,000[15]
8 May 2002 [16]

Brackets round club names indicate the player's contract with that club had expired before he joined Birmingham.

Out

DatePlayerFeeJoinedRef
13 July 2001 Free Hartlepool United[17]
26 October 2001 Free Bolton Wanderers[18]
7 February 2002 Undisclosed Walsall[19]
7 February 2002 Undisclosed Walsall
8 March 2002 Released (Sheffield Wednesday)[20]
8 March 2002 Released (Scarborough)
8 March 2002 Mickael Sabathier Released
15 March 2002 Ross Diamond Released [21]
30 June 2002 Released (Port Vale)[22]
30 June 2002 Released (Crystal Palace)
30 June 2002 Released (Walsall)
10 July 2002 Released (Bolton Wanderers)[23]

Brackets round a club denote the player joined that club after his Birmingham City contract expired.

Loan in

DatePlayerClubReturnRef
10 August 20015 March 2002[24] [25]
24 August 2001One month[26]
6 September 2001One month[27]
15 November 2001One month[28]
16 November 2001One month[29]
21 December 200118 February 2002[30]
24 December 2001One month[31]
4 February 2002Three months[32]
11 March 200213 March 2002
28 March 2002End of season[33]

Loan out

DatePlayerClubReturnRef
17 August 2001Two months[34] [35]
21 September 20011 January 2002[36]
2 October 2001One month[37]
18 January 2002End of season[38] [39]
4 February 2002One month
20 March 2002One month[40]
28 March 2002One month[41]
29 March 2002One month[42]

Appearances and goals

Numbers in parentheses denote appearances made as a substitute.

Players marked left the club during the playing season.

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

Players listed with no appearances have been in the matchday squad but only as unused substitutes.

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

Players' appearances and goals by competition
NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupPlay-offsTotalDiscipline[43]
GoalsGoalsGoalsGoalsGoals
1 GKIan Bennett19010000020000
2 DFNicky Eaden25 (5)100300028 (5)000
3 DFMartin Grainger40 (1)400303046 (1)4121
4 MFDanny Sonner10 (5)100300013 (5)122
5 DFDarren Purse36 (1)310102040 (1)3111
6 DFDavid Holdsworth3 (1)00010004 (1)000
7 MFJon McCarthy3 (1)00000003 (1)000
8 FW17 (5)120 (1)00 (3)00017 (9)1210
8 FWStern John15800003118800
9 FWGeoff Horsfield34 (7)1110303141 (7)1270
10MFBryan Hughes28 (4)70 (1)0213133 (5)940
11MFStan Lazaridis23 (10)0001 (1)00 (3)024 (14)010
12MF2400 (1)00 (1)00024 (2)050
12MFMichael Hughes *300000003000
13MFGraham Hyde1 (4)00000001 (4)010
14MFCurtis Woodhouse18 (10)0102 (1)00021 (11)071
15DFJerry Gill14010200017020
16FWTommy Mooney30 (4)1310123035 (4)1520
17DFMichael Johnson31 (2)100311035 (2)230
18GKNico Vaesen22 (1)000203027 (1)010
19FWAndrew Johnson9 (14)310210 (2)012 (16)430
20MFTom Williams400000004000
21MFTrésor Luntala9 (6)000100010 (6)000
22DF9 (3)0101 (1)00011 (4)000
22MFDamien Johnson5 (3)10000106 (3)120
25FWPaul Furlong2 (9)1000 (2)0002 (11)130
26DFOlivier Tébily7000003010000
28DFJoey Hutchinson0 (3)00010001 (3)000
29GKClint Davies000000000000
30GK000010001000
30DFCurtis Fleming * 600000006010
30MFArkadiusz Bąk * 2 (2)01000003 (2)000
31FWCarlos Ferrari *0 (4)00000000 (4)000
32GKNeil Barnes000000000000
32GKAlan Kelly *600000006000
33DFBjørn Otto Bragstad *300000003000
33MFDarren Carter13 (1)100001 (1)014 (2)100
35DFSteve Vickers13 (1)110002016 (1)100
36DFJeff Kenna22000003025010
37MFPaul Devlin11 (2)100002013 (2)120
Players not included in matchday squads
Name
20MF
23FWChris Ward
24FWDele Adebola
26MFRoss Diamond
27DFTony Capaldi
29MFMickael Sabathier
34FWCraig Fagan

See also

References

General

Specific

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Statistics: Attendance: Birmingham City 2001/02 . The Football League . 20 June 2013.
  2. News: Birmingham unveil Bruce . BBC Sport . 12 December 2001 . 20 June 2013.
  3. Web site: Birmingham City: Kit history . Historical Kits . Dave & Matt Moor . 20 June 2013.
  4. News: https://web.archive.org/web/20120522235537/http://www.sportinglife.com/football/cc_championship/birmingham/reports/birmingham_2001.html . Birmingham City Reports – 2001–2002 . sportinglife.com . 365 Media Group . 22 May 2012. Individual match reports are linked from this page.
  5. Web site: Birmingham City 2001–2002 : English Division One Table . Statto Organisation . 4 October 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121018125453/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/birmingham-city/2001-2002/table . 18 October 2012 . dead.
  6. News: Vaesen joins Birmingham City . BBC Sport . 18 June 2001 . 6 September 2011.
  7. News: Mooney joins Birmingham . BBC Sport . 8 June 2001 . 6 September 2011.
  8. News: Cup Blues . The Bolton News . 27 April 2001 . 4 November 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131105000413/http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/archive/2001/04/27/6032932.Cup_Blues/ . 5 November 2013 . dead.
  9. News: Poole is in from the cold . Tattum, Colin . Birmingham Evening Mail . 8 August 2001 . 19 June 2013.
  10. News: Blues land Vickers . BBC Sport . 17 December 2001 . 6 September 2011.
  11. News: Kenna joins Birmingham . BBC Sport . 1 February 2002 . 6 September 2011.
  12. News: Ginola wings in for Everton . Johnson, William . amp. Davies, Christopher . The Daily Telegraph. 8 February 2002 . 19 June 2013.
  13. News: Blues snap up Johnson . BBC Sport . 8 March 2002 . 6 September 2011.
  14. News: Williams proving upwardly mobile to boost Blues bid . Halford, Brian . Birmingham Post . 14 March 2002 . 19 June 2013.
  15. News: O'Neill sends Tebily on his way . Lawrie, Alasdair . The Scotsman . 23 February 2002 . 6 September 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20051107083021/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/sport.cfm?id=318222002 . 7 November 2005 . dead.
  16. News: Devlin deal signed and sealed . Birmingham Evening Mail . 8 May 2002 . 19 June 2013.
  17. News: Turner's triple strike as Miller decides on move . The Northern Echo . 15 July 2001 . 4 November 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131105001222/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2001/07/15/7104245.Turner_s_triple_strike_as_Miller_decides_on_move/ . 5 November 2013 . dead.
  18. News: Gordon Sharrock's Reebok Diary . The Bolton News . 27 October 2001 . 4 November 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131105000410/http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/archive/2001/10/27/6002950.Gordon_Sharrock_s_Reebok_Diary/ . 5 November 2013 . dead.
  19. News: Saddlers sign quartet to aid fight . Birmingham Post . 8 February 2002 . 19 June 2013.
  20. Web site: March 2002 . ESPN FC . 31 March 2002 . 19 June 2013.
  21. News: In brief: Football . https://web.archive.org/web/20160309001729/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-83907645.html . dead . 9 March 2016 . Birmingham Post . 16 March 2002 . 19 June 2013.
  22. News: Blues release trio . Livie, Alex . Sky Sports . 21 May 2002 . 19 June 2013.
  23. News: Blues let Holdsworth go . https://web.archive.org/web/20181117132734/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-88754968.html . dead . 17 November 2018 . Tattum, Colin . Birmingham Evening Mail . 11 July 2002 . 19 June 2013.
  24. News: Brazilian joins Blues on loan . https://web.archive.org/web/20181115200415/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-77130834.html . dead . 15 November 2018 . Birmingham Evening Mail . 10 August 2001 . 19 June 2013.
  25. News: Devlin keen on Blues move . BBC Sport . 6 March 2002 . 19 June 2013.
  26. Web site: Soccer: Irish 'keeper Kelly joins Birmingham on month's loan . BreakingNews.ie . 24 August 2001 . 19 June 2013.
  27. News: Bragstad to revitalize career . The Norway Post . 7 September 2001 . 19 June 2013.
  28. Web site: Curtis Fleming . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 19 June 2013.
  29. Web site: Steve Vickers . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 19 June 2013.
  30. News: Polish star Bak joins Blues . Tattum, Colin . Birmingham Evening Mail . 21 December 2001 . 19 June 2013.
    News: Arek's Bak in Poland . icBirmingham . Trinity Mirror . 18 February 2002 . 19 June 2013.
  31. News: Kenna joins Birmingham on loan . Fennelly, Amanda . RTÉ Sport . 24 December 2001 . 19 June 2013.
  32. News: Devlin shocked at Blues switch . Halford, Brian . Birmingham Post . 5 February 2002 . 19 June 2013.
  33. News: Blues finally land Hughes . O'Rourke, Peter . Sky Sports . 28 March 2002 . 19 June 2013.
  34. Web site: Hyde seals loan switch . Bailey, Graeme . Sky Sports . 20 August 2001 . 4 November 2013.
  35. Web site: Graham Hyde . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 19 June 2013.
  36. Web site: Tony Capaldi . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 19 June 2013 .
    News: Confident Bulls aiming to pile on misery at Green . Worcester News . 4 January 2002 . 4 November 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131105000258/http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/archive/2002/01/04/7727481.Confident_Bulls_aiming_to_pile_on_misery_at_Green/ . 5 November 2013 . dead.
  37. News: Defender hits out at Francis uncertainty . Tattum, Colin . Birmingham Evening Mail . 2 October 2001 . 19 June 2013.
  38. News: David Holdsworth . Halford, Brian . Birmingham Post . 18 January 2002 . 19 June 2013.
  39. News: Lee hoping new faces can turn the tide for Walsall . Szczepanik, Nick . The Times . 9 February 2002 . 19 June 2013.
  40. News: Vickers fear for Blues . Scott, Ged . Birmingham Post . 21 March 2002 . 19 June 2013.
  41. Web site: Blues loan McCarthy to Sheffield Wednesday . Scott, Ged . Birmingham Post . 29 March 2002 . 19 June 2013.
  42. News: Southport sign Ward . NonLeague Daily . 29 March 2002 . 7 September 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120616151416/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=3404 . 16 June 2012 .
  43. Web site: Statistics: Discipline: Birmingham City 2001/02 . The Football League . 6 September 2011.