West Bromwich Albion

West Bromwich Albion FC

Ground: The Hawthorns

Capacity: 26,688

Club Founded: 1878

League: EFL Championship (current level)

One of the twelve founding members of the Football League, West Bromwich Albion FC have a proud history, which they look to build on as a prominent club in the West Midlands.

Club History

Early Years

The football club was formed as West Bromwich Strollers by employees of Salter's Spring Works in 1878, before adopting the current title two years later. The Strollers was initially chosen because no footballs were sold in their hometown, so they had to walk to nearby Wednesbury to purchase one. 

'Albion' was chosen as it was the name of a district in West Bromwich where several players lived. The club quickly grew, losing in the 1885-86 FA Cup final to Blackburn Rovers in the following season's FA Cup. The next season saw another final appearance, this time going down to local rivals Aston Villa. 

However, they were not to be denied as they won the trophy in 1886-87, beating Preston North End 2-1 in the Oval showpiece. 1888 also saw the formation of the Football League, with Albion becoming one of the twelve founding members. 1891-92 saw the club's second FA Cup win, this time over Aston Villa, who avenged that defeat by winning the 1894-95 final. 

Inauguration of The Hawthorns

In 1890, the club moved to The Hawthorns after earlier playing home games at The Birches, and then Four Acres. In May 1902, the nineteen-year-old Fred Everiss became the club secretary/manager, going on to hold the post for the next forty-six years. The 1910-11 season saw another FA Cup Final appearance, ending in defeat to Barnsley. 

The nickname of the Throstles was adopted as the club had changed at the Plough and Harrow pub before games, where the landlady kept a pet thrush in a cage. Fred Morris's goals helped Albion to the league title in 1919-20. The 1930-31 season saw WBA win promotion after an earlier relegation and a third FA Cup win, as Birmingham were defeated. 

The side reached the final again four years later, losing to Sheffield Wednesday. Following World War II, Albion were back in the second tier and appointed a proper football coach, Jack Smith. This paid immediate dividends as the team was promoted. He was replaced by Jesse Carver, who introduced football into the training for the first time.

Star Strikers

Ronnie Allen became a rising star as new manager Vic Buckingham built an exciting footballing side after Carver was seduced back to Italy. The 1953-54 season almost saw Albion complete the League and Cup double. Unfortunately, league form dipped at the vital time, with local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers pipping them to the title. 

Solace was sought with an FA Cup Final victory over Preston North End at Wembley. The team was consistent over the following seasons until Buckingham was lured to take over at Ajax. Derek Kevan scored plenty of goals during a steady decline until Jimmy Hagan took over as boss in 1963.

A young striker, Jeff Astle, was signed from Notts County the following year. Hagan began to produce an excellent side, with the team winning the League Cup of 1965-66 over two legs against West Ham United, before falling to a huge shock as Third Division Queens Park Rangers defeated them in the first Wembley final the following year. 

Another FA Cup Win Followed by Decline

Hagan's side had Astle leading the line with Tony Brown, which was complemented by John Kaye's steel. Alan Ashman led the team to win the FA Cup in 1967-68, as Astle scored the goal that defeated Everton. 1970 saw another Wembley visit, but this time it ended in defeat as Manchester City lifted the League Cup. 

Don Howe replaced Ashman as boss in 1971, but couldn't prevent the team from being relegated a couple of years later. The popular Johnny Giles arrived as player-manager, taking the team back up in 1975-76 before handing in his resignation. 

Ronnie Allen and then veteran centre-back John Wile had spells in the hot seat before Ron Atkinson was attracted to the role from Cambridge United. 

My drawing of The Hawthorns, old club crests, and team kits.
Click on the images to enlarge them.

The Three Degrees

Atkinson built an attractive team, including several star youngsters such as Peter Barnes, Gary Owen, and Bryan Robson, as well as the famed 'Three Degrees'. Cyrille Regis, Lawrie Cunningham, and Brendan Batson challenged the racism in the game at the time. It was around this period that the alternative nickname of 'The Baggies' became popular. 

The talent was sold off under the conservative chairmanship of Bert Millichip before Atkinson took the vacant job at Manchester United in 1981. Experienced managers came and went but couldn't prevent Albion dropping back down to the second tier.

More Ups and Downs

The period was one of real depression around the West Midlands, and the football clubs suffered like every other industry. Talbot was sacked after a 4-2 home defeat to Woking in the FA Cup in January 1991. Bobby Gould took over, but at the end of the season, Albion were demoted to the League's third tier for the first time. 

Ossie Ardiles took the team up via the playoffs in 1992-93, beating Port Vale at Wembley as Bob Taylor's goals were too much for several opponents. Ardiles was appointed as boss by his former club, Tottenham Hotspur, soon after. Another succession of managers followed, with local lad Lee Hughes banging in regular goals

Manager Gary Megson led Albion to promotion to the Premier League in 2001-02, and they were then relegated a year later. The team recovered to reclaim its status before former playing hero Bryan Robson was appointed as manager.

Survival Miracle

Despite being bottom of the table at New Year 2005, Albion made history as the first Premier League team to survive relegation after beating Portsmouth on the final day of the season. The 2005-06 season wasn't as successful and ended in relegation, with Robson leaving early in the new season to be replaced by Tony Mowbray. 

He took the side to the playoff final, losing 1-0 to Derby County in the club's first appearance at the new Wembley. In 2007-08, Albion reached the FA Cup semi-final, where they were defeated by Portsmouth. Mowbray took the side up at the end of the season, but yet again their spell in the top flight lasted just one season, at which point the manager left to join Celtic.

Roberto Di Matteo won promotion in his first season in charge as the team played some splendid football. It came as a major surprise when he was replaced by Roy Hodgson, who also did a tremendous job before he took over as England manager at the end of the 2011-12 season. 

Steve Clarke was appointed in his place and led the side to an eighth-place finish in 2012-13, but he was sacked midway through the following season to be replaced by Pepe Mel. He didn't last long, and neither did those succeeding him, before Tony Pulis was announced as the new West Brom boss in January 2015. 

A Chinese investment group headed by Lai Guochuan bought the club in September 2016. Further steady finishes were achieved before Pulis was replaced by Alan Pardew in November 2017. He lasted until the following April as Albion were relegated. Darren Moore was in charge of the team that lost to Aston Villa in the playoff semi-finals.

Slaven Bilić was appointed as the new team boss. The Croatian led his side to promotion but was sacked the following December. Sam Allardyce took over as the Baggies went down. More managerial appointments followed, while the authorities began to take a keen interest in the club's ownership.

American businessman Shilen Patel bought the club in February 2024, with the side losing their playoff semifinal to Southampton a few months later. After more comings and goings in the manager's office, fans' favourite James Morrison was given the job after an interim period, steering the side to safety at the end of the 2025-26 season.

My visits

Wednesday 21st October 1987

Scarborough were away to Hereford United in their debut Football League season, and I was heading to the game in a car with our driver, Doomy, who adhered to Grand Prix standards, Mick and Crusher. 

We had set off early to have a look at some grounds along the way and had already called in at Burton Albion, Aston Villa, Walsall, and Wolves. After parking up outside, we saw a groundsman coming out of a corner gate, and he was most kind in letting us inside.

It was a fine traditional venue, with the main stand the only recent addition. The Hawthorns would change beyond all recognition over the next fifteen or so years. We said our thanks and headed off to visit Kidderminster Harriers before continuing for pre-match beers in Hereford.

West Bromwich Albion 1 Fulham 2

Premier League - Tuesday 1st January 2013

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 25,436 🎟️ £15

It had always been a relief to finish my night shift on the tube after New Year's Eve, and this one had been no exception. It also gave me great satisfaction that my colleague and I had dealt with things professionally and as well as possible. Heading to a top-flight game at a new ground the following morning also helped me along.

The Megabus, which cost just £5 from Victoria, was packed, but it would matter little to me, as going past Lord's Cricket Ground was the last thing I knew about anything for the best part of two hours. I awoke from my slumber as we approached Coventry, and after a drop there, we soon arrived in Birmingham, going past Villa Park.

I was in good form as the bus dropped me ten minutes ahead of schedule on a cool but beautiful morning. My next job was to find a pub to toast the new year, as I knew the area around The Hawthorns was pub-free and I didn't really fancy hanging around inside the stadium concourse supping overpriced lager. 

Birmingham city centre was extremely quiet. A pub recommended by the CAMRA app on my iPhone was closed, and I was about to give up when I spotted a man in an alleyway sitting at a table with a pint. I entered the back door of the establishment and walked into a veritable Aladdin's Cave of a real ale pub.

The Wellington was the local CAMRA pub of the year, with very good reason. Sixteen hand pumps dispensed fine ales from lots of Midlands brewers. After advice from the knowledgeable barman, I plumped for a pint of the hoppy Citra from Oakham Ales of Peterborough. It went down a treat. 

In fact, it was that good that I put another couple away before following some other gents in Albion shirts back across to Snow Hill station. I caught the train to The Hawthorns station, with a return ticket costing just £2.10. The ride took around seven minutes. We were entertained by a poor bloke obviously suffering hard times. 

However, he had a great memory of his days when he was in his prime, as he recalled random names from the past at volume, such as Bobby Hope, Bomber Brown, and Dick Krzywicki, and great games. As I said to the youngish lad opposite me, "That's what taking the Wolves job does to you. "Aye, he replied, "it breaks the best of 'em.

We were soon alighting and following the crowds up Halford Lane, past a stall selling bags of sweets to keep the kids happy, and to the turnstiles of the Smethwich End. The long queue was quickly dealt with so I had time for a good meat pie. I was taken by the generally friendly atmosphere and good support around me.

My seat was on the very back row amongst the noisier fans. I was most impressed with my view and the stadium as a whole. The sun shone on the pitch, but still a couple of visiting players wore gloves. One was Dimitar Berbatov, and he was probably the only player on the pitch who didn't break a sweat.

Despite this, he was head and shoulders above everyone else on show. His control, touch, and passing had the most passionate of Baggies standing next to me, purring with admiration. It was good to be next to a proper fan who appreciated both teams. He wasn't so glowing in his praise of his own skipper, Chris Brunt, and with good reason. 

He performed as though he were one of my customers from a few hours earlier. Albion gave their London too much space, and the game was just drifting along. I was still starving, so I went downstairs before the break and saw Berbatov put Fulham ahead on one of the TV's. I noticed the doors open at the back so fans could use the burger van inside the compound. 

It wasn't cheap, but it certainly did a job! No doubt Steve Clarke offered plenty of advice to his team at the break, and they came out looking like a different team. The defence was tightened, and play became quicker, with the wide man attacking and getting up to support the forwards. A fine piece of play from Billy Jones led to Romelu Lukaku slotting home. 

As with many of the players, the Baggies faithful had a clever song for the scorer. "Lukaku whoa whoa Lukaku whao whoa, he comes from Stamford Bridge, he's bigger than a fridge." It made me laugh anyway! Somehow, the Fulham goal escaped further breaches as Albion piled on the pressure

David Stockdale in the Fulham goal was having a fine game. Then, out of nowhere, Fulham scored what turned out to be the winner. A long ball went in from deep. Alexander Kacaniklic took advantage of keeper Ban Foster's strange decision to come well out of his goal to slide the ball into an unguarded net. That was that. Albion had the stuffing knocked out of them.

The brilliant Berbatov went off to a cacophony of jealous boos and suggestions he had a self-indulgent hobby, while he smiled, waved, and walked off slowly, milking the applause from the purists and away fans. A bloke just behind me, as I stood by the exit, commented, he's the best player on the park, to numerous nods and agreements.

I made a run for it on full time, and within twenty-five minutes of the final whistle, I was back in the pub. There were plenty more drifting back to chat with fans of other clubs supping their pints, with some offering updates via their radios. "Villa are one down already, and it should be three", reported one bloke, to knowing groans around the bar. 

I settled for a relaxing pint before heading through the impressive city centre to New Street station. I had managed to purchase a cheap rail ticket, which proved to be a wise choice. I slept like a baby and felt refreshed, ready to go and meet my good pal Jim for beers in Camden.

It had been a great day of football and beer. If every day out was to be like that over the following twelve months, I'd be a very contented man by the time Big Ben chimed to announce the arrival of 2014.