2006-07 Season

2nd, promoted from the Championship
League Cup: 4th round: Liverpool h. 0-1
FA Cup: 4th round: Reading h. 2-3.

Highlight:
5-1 win at Newcastle United in an FA Cup 3rd round replay, 17/1/07

Low Spot:
1-3 home defeat to Southend United, 30/1/07.

Good:
Gary McSheffrey
Joined from Coventry for big money early on in the season and made a massive contribution to the clubs' promotion push with his goals and assists.
Has the quality to make his mark in the Premier League.
Radhi Jaidi
Big, scary Tunisian who made an imposing opponent for Championship forwards everywhere. Also weighed in with his usual quota of goals.

Bad:
Julian Gray
Barely got a look in and looks destined for a career in the lower divisions. His sending off at West Brom represented a real low.
Mikael Forssell
One goal from his clutch of appearances was a paltry return and his career seems to be at a crossroads. Next season will be crucial if he is to realise his early promise.

In Brief:
The club made a good start to the season and then went on a cracking run after collecting only one point from four games at the end of September. By Boxing Day they led the division by eight points and promotion looked a formality.
The club then faltered, however, losing three times in January and defeats to Burnley and Barnsley in early April left them in danger of sinking into the play offs.
Four successive victories, including a memorable 3-2 success at Wolves, then clinched promotion but the title eluded them after a final day defeat at Preston.
Steve Bruce hardly saw his popularity with the Birmingham support grow, however, and significant improvements will be required to ensure the club can cement a place in the Premier League.

Birmingham City FC Club History

Birmingham City football club were founded in 1875 under the name Small Heath Alliance and like their closest rivals Aston Villa, they emerged from a local cricket team, who became enamoured with the 'new game' of football. The team became professional in 1885, however, it wasn't until 1905 that the name of Birmingham City Football Club was adopted.

The current home of St Andrews was not used until 1906, home games having been played at Arthur Street (1875-1877) & Muntz St (1877-06).Early achievements for Birmingham City, were Division 2 Tiltles in 1893 & 1921, but the Blues had to wait until 1931 for their first chance of cup glory, when they reached the FA cup Final against near neighbours West Bromwich Albion, although they lost the game 2-1.

There was to be a bit of a yo-yo period and Birmingham were again promoted to Division One as Champions of Division Two in both 1948 & 1955. The following season 1955/6 was to prove their best in the top flight, finishing a creditable 6th and reaching the final of the FA Cup again, only to be beaten by 3-1 by Manchester City.

The next few years were to prove Birminham's best so far. There were European outings, culminating in 2 successive Fairs Cup Finals in 1960 & 1961. In 1960 they were beaten 4-1 on aggregate by the mighty Barcelona, with all the goals coming in the away leg & in 1961 Roma were their victors with a 4-2 aggregate defeat.

The nearly men of Birmingham City got a taste of glory in 1963, winning the League cup and success was made all the more sweeter by the fact it was Aston Villa they conquered 3-1 on aggregate. This was back in the days of two legged Finals, so the Blues were delighted to recieve the trophy after the second leg at Villa Park.

There has been little success since at City, promoted in 1972 & 1985 as runners up in the Second Division being minor triumphs before the Blues reached their lowest ebb being relegated to the Third Division in 1989. Promoted in 1992, Birmingham looked set to recover, only to fall back, relegated again in 1994.

The recent upturn was started when then manager, Barry Fry brought the Division 2 Title in 1995, along with a bonus piece of 'silverware' - The Autoglass Trophy.

Fry made way for Trevor Francis, who had enthralled St Andrews crowds as a player, now to manage the Blues. Francis almost escorted Birmingham back to the Top Flight but was thwarted in 2 play offs & he also lead them to the League Cup Final again, where they were beaten by Liverpool FC.

With Francis replaced by Steve Bruce, City finally made it back to the big time, with aFootball League Division One play off final win over Norwich City . Birmingham City football club were in the Premier League , where they remain still today.