1985–86 Birmingham City F.C. season

The 1985–86 Football League season was Birmingham City Football Club's 83rd in the Football League and their 50th in the First Division, to which they were promoted in 1984–85. They finished in 21st position in the 22-team division, so were relegated back to the Second Division after only one season. They entered the 1985–86 FA Cup in the third round proper and lost in that round, at home to non-league club Altrincham, a result that prompted the resignation of Ron Saunders as manager.[1] They were eliminated from the League Cup by Southampton in a third-round replay. John Bond succeeded Saunders as manager.

Birmingham City F.C.
1985–86 season
ChairmanKeith Coombs
(until December 1985)
Ken Wheldon thereafter
ManagerRon Saunders
(until 16 January 1986)
Keith Leonard (caretaker)
John Bond
(from 23 January)
GroundSt Andrew's
Football League
First Division		21st (relegated)
FA CupThird round
(eliminated by Altrincham)
League CupThird round
(eliminated by Southampton)
Top goalscorerLeague: Andy Kennedy (7)
All: Andy Kennedy (9)
Highest home attendance24,971 vs Aston Villa, 7 September 1985
Lowest home attendance3,686 vs Bristol Rovers, League Cup 2nd round, 7 October 1985
Average home league attendance10,899

The top scorer was Andy Kennedy with just nine goals, of which seven were scored in league competition.

With the team already in the relegation positions, chairman Keith Coombs resigned in December 1985, selling his 70% shareholding to the former chairman of Walsall F.C., Ken Wheldon, who took over as chairman. The club's serious financial situation, not helped by low attendances, led to the departure of several senior administrative staff.[2][3]

Football League First Division
Main article: 1985–86 Football League
DateLeague
position		Opponents VenueResultScore
F–A		Scorers Attendance
17 August 1985 5thWest Ham UnitedH W1–0Hopkins 11,164
20 August 1985 11thWatfordA L0–3 14,278
24 August 1985 17thChelseaA L0–2 16,534
26 August 1985 9thOxford UnitedH W3–1Kennedy, Briggs og, Hopkins 10,568
31 August 1985 12thEvertonA L1–4Kennedy 28,066
3 September 1985 10thManchester CityH W1–0Geddis 11,706
7 September 1985 11thAston VillaH D0–0 24,971
14 September 1985 10thIpswich TownA W1–0Geddis 11,616
21 September 1985 8thLeicester CityH W2–1Geddis 2 9,834
28 September 1985 10thQueens Park RangersA L1–3Armstrong 10,911
5 October 1985 12thSheffield WednesdayH L0–2 11,708
19 October 1985 14thWest Bromwich AlbionA L1–2Kennedy 14,576
26 October 1985 15thCoventry CityH L0–1 9,267
2 November 1985 17thLuton TownA L0–2 8,550
9 November 1985 17thNewcastle UnitedH L0–1 8,162
16 November 1985 17thSouthamptonA L0–1 13,167
23 November 1985 20thLiverpoolH L0–2 15,062
30 November 1985 20thArsenalA D0–0 16,673
7 December 1985 20thWatfordH L1–2Wright pen 7,043
14 December 1985 20thWest Ham UnitedA L0–2 17,481
21 December 1985 20thChelseaH L1–2Platnauer 10,594
26 December 1985 21stNottingham ForestH L0–1 10,378
28 December 1985 21stManchester CityA D1–1Geddis 24,055
1 January 1986 21stManchester UnitedA L0–1 43,095
11 January 1986 21stIpswich TownH L0–1 6,856
18 January 1986 21stEvertonH L0–2 10,502
1 February 1986 21stOxford UnitedA W1–0Clarke 9,086
8 February 1986 21stWest Bromwich AlbionH L0–1 11,514
16 February 1986 21stCoventry CityA D4–4Kennedy 2, Whitton, Kuhl 14,271
1 March 1986 21stQueens Park RangersH W2–0Clarke pen, Hopkins 7,093
8 March 1986 21stSheffield WednesdayA L1–5Geddis 17,491
12 March 1986 21stLeicester CityA L2–4Clarke, Kennedy 8,458
15 March 1986 21stTottenham HotspurH L1–2Kennedy 9,394
22 March 1986 21stAston VillaA W3–0Clarke 2, Whitton 26,294
29 March 1986 21stManchester UnitedH D1–1Handysides 22,551
31 March 1986 21stNottingham ForestA L0–3 13,134
6 April 1986 21stLuton TownH L0–2 8,836
12 April 1986 21stNewcastle UnitedA L1–4Hopkins 19,981
16 April 1986 21stTottenham HotspurA L0–2 9,359
19 April 1986 21stSouthamptonH L0–2 5,833
26 April 1986 21stLiverpoolA L0–5 42,021
3 May 1986 21stArsenalH L0–1 6,234

League table (part)
Final First Division table (part)
Pos Club Pld W D L F A GD Pts
18th Oxford United421012206280−1842
19th Leicester City421012205476−2242
20th Ipswich Town42118233255−941
21st Birmingham City4285293073−4329
22nd West Bromwich Albion42412263589−5424
Key Pos = 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 [4]

FA Cup
Main article: 1985–86 FA Cup
Round DateOpponentsVenue ResultScore
F–A		Scorers Attendance
Third round 14 January 1986AltrinchamH L1–2Hopkins 6,636

League Cup
Main article: 1985–86 Football League Cup
Round DateOpponentsVenue ResultScore
F–A		Scorers Attendance
Second round 1st leg 24 September 1985Bristol RoversA W3–2Wright 2 (2 pens), Geddis 4,332
Second round 2nd leg 8 October 1985Bristol RoversH W2–1Kennedy, Tanner og 3,686
Third round 29 October 1985SouthamptonH D1–1Kennedy 4,832
Third round replay 6 November 1985SouthamptonA L0–3 9,085

Appearances and goals
Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute.
Players with name struck through and 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 having played at least one first-team match
Pos. Nat. Name League FA Cup League Cup Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK ENG David Seaman 4201040470
DF ENG Ken Armstrong 2211030261
DF ENG Julian Dicks 18 (5)0101 (1)020 (6)0
DF ENG Billy Garton* 50000050
DF NIR Jim Hagan 310103 (1)035 (1)0
DF ENG Mark Jones 1900030220
DF ENG Ray Ranson 3701030410
DF ENG Brian Roberts 31 (2)0104036 (2)0
DF ENG Mark Smalley* 70000070
DF ENG Billy Wright 2910 (1)03 (1)232 (2)3
MF SCO Des Bremner 3201030360
MF IRL Gerry Daly† 20000020
MF ENG John Frain 1 (2)000001 (2)0
MF ENG Ian Handysides 61000061
MF ENG Robert Hopkins 3841140435
MF ENG Lee Jenkins† 10000010
MF ENG Martin Kuhl 33 (4)1103037 (4)1
MF ENG Nick Platnauer 12 (5)1103016 (5)1
MF ENG Billy Ronson* 20000020
MF ENG Stuart Storer 20000020
FW ENG Wayne Clarke 2850000285
FW ENG David Geddis 25 (1)6003028 (1)6
FW SCO Andy Kennedy 27 (5)7104232 (5)9
FW WAL Tony Rees 4 (4)000004 (4)0
FW ENG Guy Russell 0 (1)000000 (1)0
FW ENG Steve Whitton 82000082

See also

References

General

  • Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  • Matthews, Tony (2010). Birmingham City: The Complete Record. Derby: DB Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85983-853-2.
  • Source for match dates, league positions and results: "Birmingham City 1985–1986: Results". Statto Organisation. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  • Source for lineups, appearances, goalscorers and attendances: Matthews (2010), Complete Record, pp. 406–07.

Specific

  1. Jones, Stuart (17 January 1986). "Bitter end for Saunders as he resigns from embattled Birmingham". The Times. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  2. "Eire move for Clough". The Times. 17 December 1985. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  3. Matthews (1995), Complete Record, p. 44.
  4. "English Division One (old) 1985–1986 : Table". Statto Organisation. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
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