In English football, the Birmingham derby (better known as the Second City derby^[1]) is the local derby between the two major clubs in the city of Birmingham – Aston Villa and Birmingham City. England national football team playing at Wembley Stadium Football is the national sport of England, and as such has an important place within English national life. ... In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby (pronounced der-bee in American English and dar-bee in British English after the English city) means a sporting fixture between two (generally local) rivals, particularly in Association Football. ... This article is about the British city. ... Aston Villa redirects here. ... Birmingham City Football Club are an English professional football club based in the city of Birmingham. ...

History

The clubs first met in 1879, when Birmingham City were called Small Heath, the game finished 1-0 to Small Heath. On footballderbies.com this is the highest rated English derby and is regarded as one of the most passionate in England. Year 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Notable derby matches

The two teams have engaged in several hotly contested matches. One of the most noted in history is the 1925 league game at Villa Park in which the home side were 3-0 ahead with eleven minutes to go. Birmingham scored three times in a dramatic final spell to draw the match.

The following year, Aston Villa made headlines with the sigining of Tom 'Pongo' Waring, and his first appearance was for the reserves against Birmingham City's reserves, which famously drew a crowd of 23,000. Waring scored three times in the match. Thomas (Tom) Pongo Waring (October 12, 1906 - December 20, 1980) was an English footballer. ...

The most significant clash was the final of the 1963 League Cup, which was staged not long after Aston Villa had beaten Birmingham City 4-0 in the league. Birmingham won 3-1 on aggregate over the two-legged final to claim their only major domestic honour to date.

During the 1980s the teams were in separate league divisions and their occasional meetings in cup competitions were highlights in the game locally, Aston Villa winning all contests in the second half of the decade. (In one such encouter, Aston Villa's David Platt scored four goals in eighteen minutes.) David Andrew Platt (born June 10, 1966 in Chadderton, near Oldham, in Lancashire) is a former English footballer, who played in midfield. ...

Second City Derbies in the Premiership

Birmingham's promotion to the Premier League in 2002 saw eager anticipation for the first such league derbies in 20 years. Birmingham won both derbies 3-0 and 2-0. Both matches were marred by violence as late kick-offs had allowed fans to get drunk over the course of the day. For other sports leagues which may be referred to by this name, see List of professional sports leagues. ... For more information on fans of football (soccer), see Football (soccer) culture. ...

In March 2003, during the game at Villa Park, two Villa players were sent off, one of whom, Dion Dublin had head-butted Birmingham's Robbie Savage, while trouble also took place following the game on Witton Lane outside of Villa Park, where missiles were hurled at Police who were attempting to keep both sets of fans apart. Dion Dublin (born 22 April 1969 in Leicester) is an English footballer currently with Norwich City. ...

The 2003-2004 Premiership season saw games ending in 0-0 and 2-2 draws. Both games were lunchtime kick-offs to avoid drunken behaviour, which was achieved although the games lost none of its passionate edge. The following season Birmingham got back to winning ways, with 2-1 victory at Villa Park and 2-0 at home. In the 2005-2006 Premiership Season Aston Villa finally beat City in the Premiership, thanks to a Kevin Phillips goal. This was followed up by another Villa victory on 16th April 2006, Easter Sunday, with Aston Villa winning 3-1. Birmingham were relegated in 2006 but subsequently promoted in 2007. On 11 November 2007, Villa won their third consecutive derby match with a 2-1 victory at St Andrews. Violent clashes took place outside the ground after the game in which over 20 police officers were hurt.^[2][3] The last game between the two sides took place on 20 April 2008, which ended in a 5–1 win for Aston Villa at Villa Park. Villa Park is a football stadium in the district of Aston, in Birmingham, England. ... Kevin Mark Phillips (born July 25, 1973 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire) is an English footballer who currently plays for West Bromwich Albion. ... is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 110th day of the year (111th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ...

Statistics and records

As of September 15, 2007, there have been 122 competitive first–class meetings between the two teams since the first league meeting in 1879, of which Aston Villa have won 52 and Birmingham 39.^[4] The most goals in one game were scored in a league game on the 7 July 1895, in the old first division with Birmingham losing to Aston Villa 7–3.^[4][5] The biggest winning margin was 5–0 to Aston Villa on 12 October 1988.^[4][6] The last Birmingham victory over Aston Villa was on 12 December 2004, when Birmingham won 2–1 at Villa Park;^[4] Villa have remained unbeaten against their Birmingham rivals in the last three matches the last being on the 20 April 2008 at Villa Park. is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 188th day of the year (189th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... is the 285th day of the year (286th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 346th day of the year (347th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Villa Park is a football stadium in the district of Aston, in Birmingham, England. ... is the 110th day of the year (111th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ...

Summary of results

Crossing the divide

Unlike, for example, the North London derby, there is a shortage of players who have appeared for both clubs. The most recent permanent transfer from Aston Villa to Birmingham City was that of Liam Ridgewell before the 2007–08 season. The last established first-team player to make this move was Des Bremner in 1984, though there had been loan signings and movement of youth players during this period. The last player to move directly in the other direction was Chris Sutton in 2006.^[7][8] Gilberto Silva (far left) and Ledley King (far right), the matchday captains of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur respectively, before the North London derby at White Hart Lane, on April 21, 2007. ... Liam Matthew Ridgewell (born July 21, 1984 in London) is an English footballer and defender for Birmingham City. ... The 2007–08 season is the 128th season of competitive football in England. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Christopher Roy Sutton (born 10 March 1973 in Nottingham, England) is an English former footballer. ...

Doug Ellis was a director of Birmingham City in the late 1960s before becoming part of a consortium which took over at Aston Villa in 1968. Herbert Douglas Ellis, OBE (born January 3, 1924 in Chester, Cheshire) is an entrepreneur, best known as the former chairman of Aston Villa Football Club. ...

Former Aston Villa Manager Ron Saunders, who managed Villa to League Cup in 1975 and again in 1977 before taking the club to its first Championship success for 70 years in 1981, also moved across to Birmingham City following his resignation in 1982. Ron Saunders (Born Birkenhead 6th November 1932) As a player Ron Saunders was a hard-shooting centre forward. ... The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup, is an English football competition. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... AUGUST 25 1981 US Marine Sean Vance is Born on the 25th of August {ear nav|1981}} Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ...

Notable players who have been transferred between the clubs are listed below.

Aston Villa then Birmingham

Liam Matthew Ridgewell (born July 21, 1984 in London) is an English footballer and defender for Birmingham City. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the year. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ...

Birmingham then Aston Villa

Christopher Roy Sutton (born 10 March 1973 in Nottingham, England) is an English former footballer. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

Footnotes