The 1913–14 Football League season was Birmingham Football Club's 22nd in the Football League and their 14th in the Second Division. They finished in 14th position in the 20-team division. They also took part in the 1913–14 FA Cup, entering at the first round proper and losing to Southern League club Queens Park Rangers in the third round (last 16).
| 1913–14 season | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Howard Cant | |
| Manager | Bob McRoberts | |
| Ground | St Andrew's | |
| Football League Second Division | 14th | |
| FA Cup | Third round (eliminated by Queens Park Rangers) | |
| Top goalscorer | League: Andy Smith (10) All: Andy Smith (10) | |
| Highest home attendance | 25,000 (four matches) | |
| Lowest home attendance | 7,000 vs Huddersfield Town, 28 September 1913 Blackpool (14 March 1914) | |
| Average home league attendance | 17,095 | |
| ||
No fewer than thirty-five players made at least one appearance in nationally organised first-team competition, and there were twenty different goalscorers. Full-back Frank Womack played in 39 of the 41 matches over the season; only three other players exceeded 20 appearances. Andy Smith was leading scorer with 10 goals, all of which came in the league.
In November 1913, Birmingham captain Womack was offered an inducement of £55 to fix the result of the match against Grimsby Town. A similar offer was made to West Bromwich Albion captain Jesse Pennington in relation to their match against Everton. Both men reported the matter to club officials and the police, an arrest was made, and the culprit, one Pascoe Bioletti, who was connected with a football betting service based in Switzerland,[1] was convicted and sentenced to five months' imprisonment in relation to Pennington. After his release, the charge in relation to Womack was withdrawn, as "the Football Association did not want to be vindictive as Bioletti was 68 years old."[2]
Football League Second Division
edit| Date | League position |
Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 September 1913 | 4th | Stockport County | H | W | 3–2 | Reed 2, Hastings | 13,000 |
| 6 September 1913 | 8th | Bradford Park Avenue | H | L | 1–2 | Billy Jones | 20,000 |
| 13 September 1913 | 13th | Notts County | A | L | 1–5 | Andy Smith | 12,000 |
| 20 September 1913 | 13th | Leicester Fosse | H | W | 1–0 | Ballantyne | 20,000 |
| 27 September 1913 | 13th | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | L | 0–1 | 20,000 | |
| 4 October 1913 | 13th | Hull City | H | D | 1–1 | Hastings | 9,000 |
| 11 October 1913 | 13th | Barnsley | A | D | 1–1 | Gibson | 9,000 |
| 18 October 1913 | 13th | Bury | H | W | 1–0 | Neilson | 15,000 |
| 25 October 1913 | 15th | Huddersfield Town | A | L | 0–7 | 10,000 | |
| 1 November 1913 | 14th | Lincoln City | H | W | 2–0 | Andy Smith, Hodges | 18,000 |
| 8 November 1913 | 13th | Blackpool | A | D | 2–2 | Andy Smith, Walker | 4,000 |
| 15 November 1913 | 12th | Nottingham Forest | H | W | 2–0 | Bumphrey, Walker | 15,000 |
| 22 November 1913 | 13th | Woolwich Arsenal | A | L | 0–1 | 30,000 | |
| 29 November 1913 | 14th | Grimsby Town | H | L | 1–2 | Walker | 12,000 |
| 6 December 1913 | 15th | Fulham | A | L | 0–1 | 10,000 | |
| 13 December 1913 | 14th | Bristol City | A | W | 2–1 | Gibson, Walker | 15,000 |
| 20 December 1913 | 15th | Leeds City | H | L | 0–2 | 15,000 | |
| 25 December 1913 | 13th | Glossop | H | W | 6–0 | Walker 2, Foster, Hall 2, Bumphrey | 25,000 |
| 26 December 1913 | 14th | Glossop | A | L | 1–4 | Walker | 2,000 |
| 27 December 1913 | 15th | Bradford Park Avenue | A | L | 1–5 | Morgan | 6,000 |
| 1 January 1914 | 16th | Stockport County | A | L | 0–2 | 8,000 | |
| 3 January 1914 | 15th | Notts County | H | W | 2–1 | Morgan, Pointon | 10,000 |
| 17 January 1914 | 13th | Leicester Fosse | A | D | 0–0 | 6,000 | |
| 24 January 1914 | 12th | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | W | 4–1 | Reed, Duncan, Ballantyne, Morgan | 30,000 |
| 7 February 1914 | 12th | Hull City | A | D | 0–0 | 9,000 | |
| 14 February 1914 | 13th | Barnsley | H | D | 0–0 | 18,000 | |
| 24 February 1914 | 14th | Bury | A | L | 1–3 | Gibson | 4,116 |
| 28 February 1914 | 15th | Huddersfield Town | H | L | 1–4 | Arthur Smith | 15,000 |
| 7 March 1914 | 15th | Lincoln City | A | D | 1–1 | Morgan | 8,000 |
| 14 March 1914 | 15th | Blackpool | H | D | 0–0 | 7,000 | |
| 21 March 1914 | 15th | Nottingham Forest | A | L | 1–3 | Hall | 5,000 |
| 28 March 1914 | 14th | Woolwich Arsenal | H | W | 2–0 | Andy Smith 2 | 17,810 |
| 4 April 1914 | 14th | Grimsby Town | A | W | 2–0 | Andy Smith 2 | 8,000 |
| 10 April 1914 | 13th | Clapton Orient | H | W | 2–0 | Hall, Andy Smith | 30,000 |
| 11 April 1914 | 13th | Fulham | H | L | 0–1 | 20,000 | |
| 13 April 1914 | 13th | Clapton Orient | A | D | 2–2 | Walker, Hall | 12,000 |
| 18 April 1914 | 13th | Bristol City | H | D | 2–2 | Wally Smith, Andy Smith | 15,000 |
| 25 April 1914 | 14th | Leeds City | A | L | 2–3 | Andy Smith, Gardner | 10,000 |
League table (part)
edit| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12th | Stockport County | 38 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 77 | 52 | 0.96 | 36 |
| 13th | Huddersfield Town | 38 | 13 | 8 | 17 | 47 | 53 | 0.89 | 34 |
| 14th | Birmingham | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 48 | 60 | 0.80 | 34 |
| 15th | Grimsby Town | 38 | 13 | 8 | 17 | 42 | 58 | 0.72 | 34 |
| 16th | Blackpool | 38 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 33 | 44 | 0.75 | 32 |
| Key | Pos = 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
edit| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First round | 10 January 1914 | Southend United | H | W | 2–1 | Duncan 2 | 18,000 |
| Second round | 31 January 1914 | Huddersfield Town | H | W | 1–0 | Morgan | 45,000 |
| Third round | 23 February 1914 | Queens Park Rangers | H | L | 1–2 | Duncan | 35,000 |
Appearances and goals
edit- This table includes appearances and goals in nationally organised competitive matches – the Football League and FA Cup – only.
- For a description of the playing positions, see Formation (association football)#2–3–5 (Pyramid).
- Players marked † left the club during the playing season.
See also
editReferences
editGeneral
- Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Breedon Books (Derby). ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
- Matthews, Tony (2010). Birmingham City: The Complete Record. DB Publishing (Derby). ISBN 978-1-85983-853-2.
- Source for match dates and results: "Birmingham City 1913–1914: Results". Statto Organisation. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
- Source for lineups, appearances, goalscorers and attendances: Matthews (2010), Complete Record, pp. 272–73. Note that attendance figures are estimated.
- Source for kit: "Birmingham City". Historical Football Kits. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
Specific
- ^ Matthews (2010), Complete Record, p.272.
"Alleged Attempt to Bribe Football Captain". The Times (London): p.5. 12 December 1913.
"Alleged Attempt to Bribe Football Captains". The Times (London): p.56. 31 December 1913. - ^ "Charge of Football Bribery Withdrawn". The Times (London): p.5. 16 June 1914.
- ^ "Birmingham City 1913–1914: English Division Two (old) Table" Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 20 May 2012.