“Welcome to Broadhall Way”. It’s the line that expert orator Andy Green reeled off countless times over the years ahead of kick-off. There is, of course, one time when things were ever-so-slightly different. Was it a four-fold bump in stadium capacity? Or the swathes of blue seats surrounding him? Or that Andy was 90-odd miles from his usual patch; standing in the domain of Birmingham City for a ‘home’ FA Cup tie? Oh, those were the days. But, a generation later, those words would be offered without irony as the Blues and Boro’ met as equals for the first time.
Why was our 1996-7 cup clash held at their place in any case? Well, back then, it wasn’t unusual for non-league sides to switch home ties against bigger clubs for safety reasons. We think the experience of giving up proper home advantage is a huge reason why we did everything we could to make sure our 1998 match against Newcastle didn’t get switched. And it’s now rare to see many clubs do the switcheroo with cup ties. We’ll certainly never do it again, that’s for sure. With the case of Birmingham City in the 2024-5 League One season, we wouldn’t even need to entertain the concept.
The club came to be in 1875 under the guise of Small Heath Alliance, before binning off the Alliance add-on in 1888. In a small coinkydink, the following season saw them join the Football Alliance. We’re not sure if it was a condition of entry that you couldn’t have the same name as the competition. We doubt it, however. In 1902-3, the Blues were one of the founder members – and first champions – of Football League Division Two.
The Blues haven’t set foot outside the League since, and – to be fair – they haven’t come close to either.
Small Heath became Birmingham in 1905; the City suffix was added in 1943. And, all the while, the Blues were moving between Divisions One and Two every now and then. If you like your trivia, Wikipedia reveals (backed up by credible sources) how Birmingham were the first English club side to take part in European competition; playing their first group game in the inaugural Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1956. You can have that one for free.
How to get to Birmingham City – Travel Information – Distance: 98 miles
By Road
You want the M1 and M6, which is no great shock. When you arrive at the interchange for the M6 Toll, however, stay on the old M6 for Birmingham. You’re coming off the motorway at Spaghetti Junction for the A38(M) for the centre of Birmingham itself.
At the end of this motorway, take the ramp for the A4540 towards the NIA among others; taking the first exit at the roundabout for the A5127. After another 1.5 miles, take the first exit at a large roundabout called Bordesley Circus onto Cattell Road (B4128).
There are four car parks in and around St Andrews – but we don’t know which of these, if any, are available to away fans. The club offers a map to show where these are – but not who can use them or how much it’ll cost you. The Football Ground Guide is a bit clearer on this. But the news isn’t necessarily good.
By Rail
Station: BORDESLEY
Services to: BIRMINGHAM MOOR STREET (for BIRMINGHAM NEW STREET)
Bordesley is the nearest station at around half-a-mile from St Andrews. The Blues state that services only operate to this station on a home matchday, which – to be fair – is the answer you are hoping for. Moor Street, however, is 1.4 miles away.
If arriving at Bordesley, leave the station on Bedford Road in a northbound direction. Go right onto Coventry Road at the end and over the main roundabout in front of you. Next, you’ll need to head straight up Cattell Road.
