List of Birmingham City F.C. players


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For the current Birmingham City first-team squad, see current squad.

Birmingham City Football Club, an English association football club based in the city of Birmingham, was founded in 1875 under the name of Small Heath Alliance. They first entered the FA Cup in the 1881–82 season. When nationally organised league football in England began, the club, by then called simply Small Heath F.C., was a founder member of the Football Alliance, formed the year after the Football League. In 1892, the Football League decided to form a Second Division, inviting the members of the Football Alliance to join; as one of the less successful members, Small Heath were placed in the Second Division. Since that time the club's first team has competed in numerous nationally and internationally organised competitions, and all players who have played in 100 or more such matches are listed below.

A young white man of athletic build wearing a blue sports shirt and shorts and carrying a kitbag walks across sunlit grass. In the background are trees and the edge of a football goal.
Maik Taylor, the club's most capped international player

Each player's details include the duration of his Birmingham career, his typical playing position while with the club, and the number of games played and goals scored in domestic league matches and in all senior competitive matches. Where applicable, the list also includes the national team for which the player was selected, and the number of senior international caps he won.

As of the date specified below, more than 200 men had made 100 or more appearances in senior competitive matches for Birmingham. Frank Womack holds the club record for league appearances, having played 491 matches between 1908 and 1928, closely followed by Gil Merrick with 485 between 1946 and 1959. If all senior competitions are included, Merrick has 551, followed by Womack's 515 which is the record for an outfield player. The goalscoring record is held by Joe Bradford, with 249 league goals, and 267 in total, scored between 1920 and 1935. No other player comes close: Trevor Francis is the nearest with 119 league goals, 133 in total, scored between 1970 and 1979. Bradford holds the record for league goals scored in a top-flight season with 29 in the 1927–28 First Division.[1] A club record for transfer fee received was set when Ché Adams joined Southampton in 2019; officially undisclosed, it was reported as £15 million.[2] Forty years earlier, Trevor Francis became the first player transferred between British clubs for a £1 million fee,[3] and in 1896, future England international forward Fred Wheldon joined league champions Aston Villa for terms reportedly "higher than have ever been concluded": a fee of £350 plus the proceeds of a friendly match between the clubs.[4] Caesar Jenkyns was the first man capped by his country while a Birmingham (then Small Heath) player when he represented Wales against Ireland in February 1892.[5] The player with most senior international caps while at the club is Maik Taylor with 58 for Northern Ireland,[6] and Harry Hibbs has most for England, with 25.[5]

Bob McRoberts, Billy Beer, George Liddell, Merrick, Garry Pendrey, Francis and Gary Rowett all went on to manage the team.[7] Others took part in significant matches in club history. Billy Ollis, Jenkyns, Ted Devey, Jack Hallam, Wheldon and Tommy Hands appeared in Small Heath's first Football League match in 1892.[8] Eight men listed were part of Birmingham's pioneering venture into club football in Europe in the 1955–58 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup,[a] and ten played on the losing side in the 1956 FA Cup final[b] (an eleventh, Roy Warhurst, missed the match through injury).[12] In more recent times, Paul Tait scored the first golden goal to decide a Wembley cup final, against Carlisle United in the 1995 Football League Trophy.[13] Geoff Horsfield scored the extra-time equaliser that took the 2002 First Division play-off final into a shootout; Paul Devlin and Stan Lazaridis converted their spot-kicks as Birmingham were promoted to the Premier League for the first time.[14] Seven men listed here, including captain Stephen Carr and goalscorer Nikola Žigić, took the field as Birmingham won the 2011 League Cup; another two were unused substitutes.[c] Just three years later, the first headed goal of full-back Paul Caddis's career, 93 minutes into the final match of the season, saved the team from relegation to the third tier of English football.[16]

  • The list is ordered first by number of appearances in total, then by number of League appearances, and then if necessary by date of debut.
  • Appearances as a substitute are included.
  • Statistics are correct up to and including the match played on 5 October 2024. Where a player left the club permanently after this date, his statistics are updated to his date of leaving.
Player
Players marked * were registered for the club as at the date specified above.
Players with name in italics and marked † were on loan from another club for the duration of their Birmingham career. The loaning club is noted in the Notes column.
Players marked ‡ have been inducted into the Birmingham City F.C. Hall of Fame.[17]
Players marked $ have won the Birmingham City F.C. Player of the Year award.[P 1]
Position
Playing positions are listed according to the tactical formations that were employed at the time. Thus the change in the names of defensive and midfield positions reflects the tactical evolution that occurred from the 1960s onwards.[A]
Club career
Club career is defined as the first and last calendar years in which the player appeared for the club in any of the competitions listed below.
League appearances and League goals
League appearances and goals comprise those in the Football Alliance, the Football League and the Premier League. Appearances in the 1939–40 Football League season, abandoned after three games because of the Second World War, are excluded.
Total appearances and Total goals
Total appearances and goals comprise those in the Football Alliance, Football League (including test matches and play-offs), Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Europa League, Associate Members' Cup/Football League Trophy, Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, Anglo-Italian Cup, Texaco Cup, Anglo-Scottish Cup and Full Members' Cup. Matches in wartime competitions are excluded.
International selection
Countries are listed only for players who have been selected for international football. Only the highest level of international competition is given, except where a player competed for more than one country, in which case the highest level reached for each country is shown.
Caps
For players having played at full international level, the caps column counts the number of such appearances during his career with the club.

Players with 100 or more appearances

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Players with fewer than 100 appearances

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  1. ^ The eight team members were Gil Merrick, Jack Badham, Ken Green, Johnny Watts, Noel Kinsey, Eddy Brown, Peter Murphy and Alex Govan.[9] Birmingham City became the first English club team to take part in European competition when they played their first group game in the 1955–58 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup on 16 May 1956, a goalless draw away at Internazionale. The competition lasted over three English seasons with the final not played until 1958. The London XI, a representative side made up of players from several London clubs, were the first English team when they played their first group game in 1955.
  2. ^ The ten were Merrick, Jeff Hall, Green, Trevor Smith, Len Boyd, Gordon Astall, Kinsey, Boyd, Murphy and Govan.[11]
  3. ^ The seven who took the field were Stephen Carr, Liam Ridgewell, Sebastian Larsson, Craig Gardner, Keith Fahey, Nikola Žigić and Cameron Jerome; the two unused were Maik Taylor and David Murphy.[15]
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Player who later managed the club.[7]
  5. ^ Green was a member of England's squad for the 1954 World Cup but did not take the field.[21]
  6. ^ a b c d e f Player statistics exclude three games played in the aborted 1939–40 Football League season.[22]
  7. ^ Matthews omits Frain from the starting eleven for the 30 January 1996 Anglo-Italian Cup match against West Bromwich Albion.[24]
  8. ^ a b Matthews attributes Colin Withers' 23 November 1960 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup appearance against KB to Johnny Schofield, who had fractured his skull some days before.[28]
  9. ^ Matthews attributes Greg Farrell's appearance against Everton on 4 October 1963 to Hellawell, who was unavailable due to influenza.[30]
  10. ^ Matthews attributes Harry Wilcox's 18 February 1899 appearance against New Brighton Tower to McRoberts, who had broken a collarbone the previous week.[36]
  11. ^ a b c Reliable sources differ widely on the scorers in Small Heath's 10–1 win at home to Blackpool on 2 March 1901.[37] This article uses the English National Football Archive (ENFA)'s version – McMillan 5, Aston 2, Archer, McRoberts, and Wharton – as likely the result of more recent research.[38]
  12. ^ Matthews omits Kinsey's 3 December 1956 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup substitute appearance against the Zagreb XI.[42][43]
  13. ^ a b Matthews attributes Winston Foster's 20 April 1962 appearance against Everton to Brian Farmer, who had left the club.[45] He also attributes Brian Sharples' 18 September 1965 appearance against Portsmouth to the injured Foster.[46] Foster's totals are correct, albeit coincidentally, while Farmer should have one fewer league appearance than listed by Matthews.
  14. ^ Matthews attributes the only first-team appearance made by Fred Jones, against Stoke City on 1 September 1934, to Wilson Jones, who had not yet joined the club.[48][49]

Player statistics include games played while on loan from clubs listed below. Unless individually sourced, loaning clubs come from the appearances source or "Birmingham City: 1946/47–2013/14". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Players Database. Neil Brown. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2020.

  1. ^ Burnley
  2. ^ Fulham
  3. ^ Arsenal
  4. ^ a b Aston Villa
  5. ^ Charlton Athletic
  6. ^ Swindon Town
  7. ^ Sheffield United
  8. ^ West Bromwich Albion
  9. ^ Chelsea

General

  1. ^ Playing position sourced to Matthews (2010), pp. 120–199 until the 2009–10 season, and thereafter to "Birmingham City". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Archived from the original on 26 May 2007. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b Appearances and goals for players whose Birmingham careers ended before the 2010–11 season are sourced to Matthews (2010), pp. 234–455, 466–483. Because of proofreading errors, appearances in the 1992–93 Anglo-Italian Cup are sourced to Matthews (1995), p. 244. Later players are sourced individually.
  3. ^ a b Unless sourced individually, international selection and caps are sourced to Matthews (2010), pp. 498–503 or via the alphabetical list at worldfootball.net.[20]

Player of the Year

  1. ^ a b

Specific

  1. ^ "Top League Goalscorers". The Birmingham City FC Archive. Tony Jordan. Archived from the original on 10 April 2003.
  2. ^ Dick, Brian (23 July 2019). "Confirmed: Birmingham City sanction club record transfer". Birmingham Mail. Archived from the original on 23 July 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  3. ^ a b Harris, Nick (4 February 2004). "Landmark £1m fee for Francis was no big deal for Clough". The Independent. London. Retrieved 31 December 2015 – via Newsbank.
  4. ^ Centre-Forward (29 June 1896). "Facts and Fancies". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent. p. 11. Speculation has been rife in football circles as to the price paid by Aston Villa for the transfer of Wheldon, the Small Heath inside left. It turns out that the terms are higher than have ever been concluded, it being officially stated at the annual meeting of the Small Heath club in Birmingham on Friday evening that the sum guaranteed was £350, with a prospect of a still further amount conditional on the proceeds of a match to be played in the autumn.
  5. ^ a b c Matthews (2010), pp. 498–503.
  6. ^ "Maik Taylor". NIFG. Jonny Dewart. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Birmingham: Manager history". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  8. ^ Matthews (2010), p. 231.
  9. ^ Matthews (2010), p. 473.
  10. ^ Matthews (2010), pp. 346–347.
  11. ^ Matthews (2010), p. 170.
  12. ^ Haylett, Trevor (24 April 1995). "Fry's delight as Carlisle succumb to sudden death". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Birmingham reach Premiership". BBC Sport. 12 May 2002. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  14. ^ a b McNulty, Philip (27 February 2011). "Arsenal 1–2 Birmingham". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  15. ^ a b "Birmingham City: Lee Clark revels in Championship survival". BBC Sport. 3 May 2014. Archived from the original on 2 April 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  16. ^ "Legends XI Confirmed". Birmingham City F.C. 2 February 2010. Archived from the original on 12 February 2010.
    Danter, Ian (12 March 2012). "My week". Football Writers' Association. Archived from the original on 29 March 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  17. ^ Lewis (2000), p. 63.
  18. ^ Husband, Ben (5 June 2019). "Jota breaks his silence on why he left Birmingham City for Aston Villa". Birmingham Mail. Archived from the original on 29 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
    "Striker Sutton joins Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 3 October 2006. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2014. Birmingham released Chris Sutton in June 2006, after which he was out of football until joining Villa in October, so it was not a direct transfer.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Birmingham City: Players from A–Z". worldfootball.net. HeimSpiel Medien. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  20. ^ "England in Switzerland 1954 Finals Squad". England Football Online. Chris Goodwin & Glen Isherwood. 1 January 2018. Archived from the original on 15 January 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  21. ^ Matthews (1995), p. 236.
  22. ^ "L. Jutkiewicz". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  23. ^ Colquhoun, Andy (31 January 1996). "Albion are spot on as penalties sink Blues". Birmingham Post. p. 20. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ Courtney, Barrie (13 January 2011). "Jamaica International Matches Details 1998–2010". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  25. ^ "Games played by Maxime Colin in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g Player profile linked from "All Birmingham City football club players: 2011". 11v11. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  27. ^ "Blues in Europe – Part Three 1960–1962". Birmingham City F.C. Archived from the original on 22 January 2011.
  28. ^ "Vince Overson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  29. ^ "Blues without Mike Hellawell". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 4 October 1963. p. 67. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Alan Campbell". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  31. ^ "Games played by Harlee Dean in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g h Rollin & Rollin (2010), pp. 971–81.
  33. ^ a b c d "Match results The C Team". England Football Online. Chris Goodwin & Glen Isherwood. 6 January 2023. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  34. ^ "Games played by Marc Roberts in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  35. ^ "Serious accident to McRoberts". Birmingham Daily Mail. 11 February 1899. p. 4. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ Matthews (2010), p. 246.
  37. ^ "Clubs: Birmingham City/Small Heath: 1900/01: Season results". English National Football Archive (ENFA). Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  38. ^ "Games played by Gary Gardner in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  39. ^ "Games played by Michael Morrison in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  40. ^ a b c d e f g Player profile linked from "All Birmingham City football club players: 2017". 11v11. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  41. ^ "Blues in Europe – Part One 1956–1958". Birmingham City F.C. Archived from the original on 7 April 2011.
  42. ^ "Player search: Kinsey, N (Noel)". English National Football Archive (ENFA). Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  43. ^ "Games played by Ivan Sunjic in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  44. ^ "Only Leek finds way to goal". Birmingham Post. 21 April 1962. p. 12. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. ^ "Gordon the 'guide' for Blues". Sunday Mercury. Birmingham. 19 September 1965. p. 36. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ^ "Games played by Scott Hogan in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  47. ^ Nimrod (1 September 1934). "Gazette Sportsman's Diary". Birmingham Gazette. p. 13. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. ^ "New centre-forward". Birmingham Gazette. 28 September 1934. p. 12. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. ^ "Ron Wylie". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  50. ^ a b Courtney, Barrie (27 March 2004). "England – U-23 International Results – Details". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 13 April 2004. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  51. ^ "Jon McCarthy". NIFG. Jonny Dewart. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  52. ^ a b Courtney, Barrie (21 March 2004). "England – International Results B-Team – Details". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  53. ^ Holstein, Dick; Owsianski, Jarek; Passo Alpuin, Luis Fernando (6 December 2006). "Peter Ndlovu – International Goals". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  54. ^ "David Murphy". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  55. ^ "Tony Want". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  56. ^ "Games played by Craig Gardner in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  57. ^ "Alan Ainscow". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  58. ^ "England's Matches: the under 20s". England Football Online. Chris Goodwin & Glen Isherwood. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  59. ^ "Forssell Mikael" (in Finnish). Football Association of Finland. Archived from the original on 3 August 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  60. ^ "Colin Withers". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  61. ^ "Games played by Juninho Bacuna in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  62. ^ Match of the Day [@BBCMOTD] (17 October 2023). "Curtis Davies has made his international debut at the age of 38! 🤩 He's started for Sierra Leone in a friendly against Somalia" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 October 2023 – via Twitter.
  63. ^ "Games played by Jordan James in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  64. ^ "Wade Elliott". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  65. ^ Phillips, Terry (24 September 2008). "French goal rush sinks Wales". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  • Lewis, Peter, ed. (2000). Keeping right on since 1875. The Official History of Birmingham City Football Club. Lytham: Arrow. ISBN 1-900722-12-7.
  • Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  • Matthews, Tony (2000). The Encyclopedia of Birmingham City Football Club 1875–2000. Cradley Heath: Britespot. ISBN 978-0-9539288-0-4.
  • Matthews, Tony (2010). Birmingham City: The Complete Record. Derby: Derby Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-853-2.
  • Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2010). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2010–2011. Headline. ISBN 978-0-7553-6107-6.
  • "Birmingham City". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Archived from the original on 26 May 2007. Retrieved 5 October 2024.