The club joined both the Birmingham and Staffordshire FA's and began to draw attention with their fine performances in the county cups. In 1885 Albion turned professional and were runners up to Blackburn Rovers in the following seasons FA Cup.
1888 also saw the formation of the Football League, with Albion becoming one of the twelve founder members. 1892 saw the clubs second FA Cup win, this time over Aston Villa, who revenged that defeat by winning the 1895 final.
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 a return to the top flight after a previous relegation as well another FA Cup Final appearance. On this occasion Barnsley defeated 'The Throstles' in the final. The nickname had come as the club had changed at the Plough and Harrow pub before games where the landlady kept a pet thrush in a cage.
In peacetime the club appointed a proper football coach in Jack Smith. Everiss had previously delivered a team talk after the board of directors picked the team. This paid immediate dividends as the team were promoted. Smith was replaced by Jesse Carver who introduced football into the training for the first time, which no doubt benefited the likes of Ronnie Allen. 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.
A young striker was signed from Notts County the following year by the name of Jeff Astle. Hagan began to produce an excellent side, with the team winning the League Cup of 1966 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. Hagan's side had Astle leading the line with Tony Brown, which was complimented by John Kaye, Bobby Hope and Clive Clark.
Hagan was replaced by Alan Ashman who led the team to the FA Cup in 1968 as an Astle goal defeated Everton. To see action of the great day, click here. 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.
Ronnie Allen and then veteran centre back John Wile had spells in the hotseat before Ron Atkinson was attracted to the role from Cambridge United. Atkinson was another very popular appointment as he set out an attractive team including several star youngsters such as Peter Barnes, Gary Owen and Bryan Robson as well as the famed 'Three Degrees'.
Gary Megson was appointed in March 2000 and he led the team to safety after making some late astute signings. He led the side to the play offs the following year as he built a hard to beat side. In May 2002 Albion won promotion to the Premier League as runners up in the league. Chairman Paul Thompson departed soon after following a falling out with Megson to be replaced by Jeremy Peace. Albion were relegated after just one season, but won promotion at the first attempt.
Megson wasn't faring too much better the second time around and he was replaced by former midfielder Bryan Robson. The team found themselves bottom of the table at New Year 2005, but for the first time in the history of the Premier League they survived at the end of the season from such a position 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 soon into the new season to be replaced by Tony Mowbray. He took the side to the Play Off Final, but the game was lost 1-0 to Derby County in the clubs first appearance at the new Wembley.
Roberto Di Matteo won promotion in his first season in charge, 2009-10 as the team played some splendid football. It came as a major surprise when he was sacked during the following season to be replaced by Roy Hodgson, who admittedly did a tremendous job before being given the job as England manager at the end of the 2011-12 season.
Clarke 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. The Spaniard departed in the summer of 2014 with Alan Irvine coming in.
Irvine was sacked in December 2014 as his new signings such as Brown Ideye failed to gel and starlet striker Saido Berahino showed signs of going off the rails. Tony Pulis was announces as the new West Brom boss in January 2015. Results immediately improved as the side finished in thirteenth place.
A Chinese investment group headed by Lai Guochuan bought the club from Jeremy Peace 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 eventually made manager who took the side into the playoffs helped by the goals of Dwight Gayle. Aston Villa won the derby semifinal before Slaven Bilić was appointed as the new team boss. The Croatian lead his side to promotion but was sacked the following December.
Sam Allardyce took over but couldn’t prevent his save his side from being relegated. Karlan Grant scored the goals for the team now managed by Valérien Ismaël. Steve Bruce replaced him in March 2022. Fans showed their discontent. and the authorities began to take a keen interest in the ownership of the club.
Carlos Corberán became Albion manager in October 2022. American businessman Shilen Patel bought the club in February 2024, with the side losing their playoff semifinal to Southampton a few months later.
West Bromwich Albion FC will play in the EFL Championship in the 2024-25 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 grand prix standard driver John 'Doomy' Dyer, Mick Young and Dave 'Crusher' Johnson. 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.
We were in the corner with the all seated single tiered Halfords Lane Stand to our left. Raised seated corner stands were at either end. At the far end was the Birmingham Road covered terrace with room for ten thousand fans. To our right was the Smethwich End, a large terracing with a roof at the rear, which continued around the corner to the Handsworth Side where the Rainbow Stand was located.
We said our thanks and headed off for a visit to Kidderminster Harriers before continuing for pre match beers in Hereford.
West Bromwich Albion 1 Fulham 2 (Tuesday 1st January 2013) FA Premier League (att: 25,436)
It had always been a relief to finish my night shift on the tube after New Years Eve and this one had been no exception. It also gave me great satisfaction that between my colleague and I we'd 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 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 were soon heading into Birmingham from the M6 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 fill in some time and 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.
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. t 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 could have taken a tram or train to The Hawthorns station, and as a rail service was due I went for that option, with a return ticket costing just £2.10. The ride took around seven minutes and we were entertained by a poor bloke obviously suffering on hard times.
My seat was on the very back row amongst the noisier fans and had cost me just £15 in an attempt to sell out to home fans. I was most impressed with my view and the stadium as a whole. The Halfords Lane stand was as before with corner sections added. The Smethwich End and Birmingham Road End were both single tiered seating, with the far end slightly larger.
Go here to see the teams emerge. 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 sweat, yet he was head and shoulders above everyone else on show. His control, touch and passing had the most passionate of Baggies stood next to me purring with admiration.
Somehow the Fulham goal escaped a further breach as Albion piled the pressure on with David Stockdale in goal living a charmed life. Then out of nowhere Fulham scored what turned out to be the winner. A long ball went in from deep which saw Alexander Kacaniklic take 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 while 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 of the park" to numerous nods and agreement.
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 Wilson 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 month, I'd be a very content man by the time Big Ben chimed in 2014.
The two older photos of The Hawthorns have been taken from the internet.
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