Wikipedia

1995–96 Birmingham City F.C. season

The 1995–96 Football League season was Birmingham City Football Club's 93rd in the English football league system. They finished in 15th place in the 24-team Football League First Division, to which they were promoted as Division Two champions in 1994–95. They entered the 1995–96 FA Cup at the third round, losing in that round to Wolverhampton Wanderers after a replay, and entered the League Cup in the first round and progressed to the semi-final, in which they lost on aggregate score to Leeds United. They also took part in the last season of the Anglo-Italian Cup, losing in the quarter-final after a penalty shootout.

Birmingham City F.C.
1995–96 season
ChairmanJack Wiseman
ManagerBarry Fry
GroundSt Andrew's
Football League First Division15th
FA CupThird round
(eliminated by Wolverhampton Wanderers)
League CupSemi-final
(eliminated by Leeds United)
Anglo-Italian CupQuarter-final
(eliminated by West Bromwich Albion)
Top goalscorerLeague: Jonathan Hunt (11)
All: Jonathan Hunt (15)
Highest home attendance24,781 vs Leeds United, League Cup semi-final 1st leg, 11 February 1996[1]
Lowest home attendance7,446 vs Grimsby Town, League Cup 2nd round 1st leg, 20 September 1995[1]
Average home league attendance18,098[2]

At the end of the season, club owner David Sullivan dismissed Barry Fry as manager and replaced him with playing legend Trevor Francis.[3][4]

Football League First Division edit

Main article: 1995–96 Football League
Date League
position		 Opponents Venue Result Score
F–A		 Scorers Attendance
12 August 1995 4th Ipswich Town H W 3–1 Tait, Otto, Bowen 18,910
19 August 1995 9th Charlton Athletic A L 1–3 Bowen 9,710
26 August 1995 4th Norwich City H W 3–1 Hunt 3 (1 pen.) 19,267
30 August 1995 9th Huddersfield Town A L 2–4 Ward 2 12,305
2 September 1995 6th Barnsley A W 5–0 Hunt pen., Claridge, Forsyth, Doherty, Charlery 11,121
9 September 1995 5th Crystal Palace H D 0–0 19,403
12 September 1995 6th Stoke City H D 1–1 Hunt 19,005
17 September 1995 11th West Bromwich Albion A L 0–1 17,854
23 September 1995 13th Watford A D 1–1 Finnan 9,422
30 September 1995 12th Oldham Athletic H D 0–0 17,289
8 October 1995 6th Southend United H W 2–0 Claridge 2 17,491
14 October 1995 5th Portsmouth A W 1–0 Claridge 10,009
21 October 1995 3rd Grimsby Town H W 3–1 Claridge 2, Charlery 16,445
29 October 1995 2nd Port Vale A W 2–1 Claridge, Tait 8,875
4 November 1995 2nd Millwall H D 2–2 Castle, Charlery 23,016
11 November 1995 3rd Reading A W 1–0 Charlery 10,203
18 November 1995 3rd Luton Town A D 0–0 7,920
21 November 1995 3rd Derby County H L 1–4 Ward pen. 19,417
26 November 1995 5th Leicester City H D 2–2 Hunt 2 (1 pen.) 17,350
2 December 1995 5th Southend United A L 1–3 Claridge 7,770
9 December 1995 4th Watford H W 1–0 Francis 16,790
16 December 1995 8th Oldham Athletic A L 0–4 6,602
23 December 1995 4th Tranmere Rovers H W 1–0 Hunt 18,439
26 December 1995 3rd Sheffield United A D 1–1 Francis 17,668
14 January 1996 7th Charlton Athletic H L 3–4 Edwards, Hunt pen., Forsyth 18,539
20 January 1996 9th Ipswich Town A L 0–2 12,388
4 February 1996 11th Norwich City A D 1–1 Otto 12,612
17 February 1996 13th Stoke City A L 0–1 15,709
20 February 1996 13th Barnsley H D 0–0 14,168
27 February 1996 13th Crystal Palace A L 2–3 Bowen 2 13,415
2 March 1996 15th Sheffield United H L 0–1 16,799
5 March 1996 13th Wolverhampton Wanderers H W 2–0 Devlin 2 (1 pen.) 22,051
9 March 1996 12th Tranmere Rovers A D 2–2 Hunt, Legg 8,696
12 March 1996 11th Huddersfield Town H W 2–0 Devlin, P. Barnes 15,296
17 March 1996 11th Sunderland H L 0–2 23,251
20 March 1996 11th West Bromwich Albion H D 1–1 Hunt 19,147
23 March 1996 12th Wolverhampton Wanderers A L 2–3 Devlin 2 (1 pen.) 26,256
30 March 1996 13th Grimsby Town A L 1–2 P. Barnes 5,773
2 April 1996 13th Portsmouth H W 2–0 Devlin pen., P. Barnes 14,886
6 April 1996 9th Port Vale H W 3–1 Tait, P. Barnes, Peschisolido 17,469
10 April 1996 10th Millwall A L 0–2 9,271
13 April 1996 9th Luton Town H W 4–0 Francis, Devlin, P. Barnes 2 15,426
16 April 1996 9th Sunderland A L 0–3 19,831
20 April 1996 9th Derby County A D 1–1 Breen 16,757
27 April 1996 12th Leicester City A L 0–3 19,702
5 May 1996 15th Reading H L 1–2 P. Barnes 16,223


League table (part) edit

Final Division One table (part)
Pos Club Pld W D L F A GD Pts
13th Tranmere Rovers 46 14 17 15 64 60 +4 59
14th Southend United 46 15 14 17 52 61 -9 59
15th Birmingham City 46 15 13 18 61 64 -3 58
16th Norwich City 46 14 15 17 59 55 +4 57
17th Grimsby Town 46 14 14 18 55 69 -14 56
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 [5]

Note that goals scored took precedence over goal difference as a tiebreaker in the Football League.[5]

Results summary edit

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
46 15 13 18 61 64  −3 58 11 7 5 37 23  +14 4 6 13 24 41  −17

Source: [5]

FA Cup edit

Main article: 1995–96 FA Cup
Round Date Opponents Venue Result Score
F–A		 Scorers Attendance
Third round 6 January 1996 Wolverhampton Wanderers H D 1–1 Poole 21,349
Third round replay 17 January 1996 Wolverhampton Wanderers A L 1–2 Hunt 28,088

League Cup edit

Main article: 1995–96 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponents Venue Result Score
F–A		 Scorers Attendance
First round 1st leg 15 August 1995 Plymouth Argyle H W 1–0 Cooper 7,964
First round 2nd leg 22 August 1995 Plymouth Argyle A W 2–1
3–1 agg.		 Edwards, Hunt 6,529
Second round 1st leg 20 September 1995 Grimsby Town H W 3–1 Daish, Hunt, Claridge 7,446
Second round 2nd leg 3 October 1995 Grimsby Town A D 1–1
4–2 agg.		 Bowen 3,280
Third round 24 October 1995 Tranmere Rovers H D 1–1 McGreal o.g. 13,752
Third round replay 8 November 1995 Tranmere Rovers A W 3–1
a.e.t.		 Charlery 2, Rushfeldt 9,151
Fourth round 29 November 1995 Middlesbrough A D 0–0 28,031
Fourth round replay 20 December 1995 Middlesbrough H W 2–0 Francis 2 19,878
Fifth round 10 January 1996 Norwich City A D 1–1 Francis 13,028
Fifth round replay 24 January 1996 Norwich City H W 2–1 Daish, Bowen 21,097
Semi-final 1st leg 11 February 1996 Leeds United H L 1–2 Francis 24,781
Semi-final 2nd leg 25 February 1996 Leeds United A L 0–3
1–5 agg.		 35,435

Anglo-Italian Cup edit

Main article: 1995–96 Anglo-Italian Cup
Round Date Opponents Venue Result Score
F–A		 Scorers Attendance
Group stage 5 September 1995 Genoa H L 2–3 Bowen 2 20,430
Group stage 11 October 1995 Perugia A W 1–0 Castle 1,200
Group stage 15 November 1995 Ancona A W 2–1 Edwards, Tentoni o.g. 1,500
Group stage 12 December 1995 Cesena H W 3–1 Hunt, Claridge, Donowa* 7,813
Quarter-final 30 January 1996 West Bromwich Albion H D 2–2
1–4 pens.		 Poole, Bull 9,113

Transfers edit

In edit

Date Player Club Fee Ref
July 1995 Ken Charlery Peterborough United £400,000 [6]
July 1995 Richard Forsyth Kidderminster Harriers £50,000 [6]
July 1995 Andy Edwards Southend United £450,000 [6]
July 1995 Jae Martin Southend United Free [6]
July 1995 Jason Bowen Swansea City £275,000 [6]
July 1995 Steve Castle Plymouth Argyle £225,000 [6]
August 1995 Ian Richardson Dagenham & Redbridge £60,000 [6]
September 1995 Michael Johnson Notts County £225,000 [6]
September 1995 Steve Barnes Welling United £30,000 [6]
October 1995 Bart Griemink WK Emmen Free [6]
December 1995 Gary Bull Nottingham Forest Free [6]
January 1996 Fred Barber Luton Town Free [6]
February 1996 Gary Breen Peterborough United £250,000 [6][7]
February 1996 Paul Devlin Notts County £250,000
February 1996 Andy Legg Notts County £250,000
March 1996 Paul Barnes York City £350,000 [8]
March 1996 Martin Grainger Brentford £400,000
May 1996 Steve Bruce Manchester United Free [9]
June 1996 Barry Horne Everton £250,000 [10]
June 1996 Gary Ablett Everton £390,000 [11]

Out edit

Date Player Fee Joined† Ref
July 1995 Andy Saville £100,000 Preston North End [6]
September 1995 Ryan Price £20,000 Macclesfield Town [6]
January 1996 Ben Sedgemore Free Peterborough United [6]
December 1995 Kenny Lowe Free (Gateshead) [6]
February 1996 Ken Charlery * Peterborough United [6][7]
February 1996 Liam Daish £1.5m Coventry City [12]
March 1996 Steve Claridge £1.2m Leicester City [13]
March 1996 Gary Bull § York City [8]
March 1996 Chris Whyte Free One month [14]
March 1996 Ian Richardson £150,000 Notts County [15]
March 1996 Mark Ward Free Huddersfield Town [15]
March 1996 Scott Hiley £200,000 Manchester City [15]
June 1996 Peter Shearer Released (Peterborough United)
June 1996 Gary Cooper Released
June 1996 Neil Doherty Released (Kidderminster Harriers)
† Brackets round a club denote the player joined that club after his Birmingham City contract expired.
* Part of the deal in which Gary Breen joined Birmingham from Peterborough United for £250,000.[6][7]
§ Part of the deal in which Paul Barnes joined Birmingham from York City for £350,000.[8]


Loan in edit

Date Player Club Return Ref
October 1995 Sigurd Rushfeldt Tromsø IL Three months [16]
November 1995 Dan Sahlin Hammarby IF One month [17]
November 1995 Danny Hill Tottenham Hotspur One month [18]
November 1995 David Preece Derby County One month [19]
January 1996 Paul Sansome Southend United One month [20]
February 1996 Vinny Samways Everton End of season [21]
February 1996 John Sheridan Sheffield Wednesday One month [21]

Loan out edit

Date Player Club Return Ref
September 1995 Ian Muir Darlington One month [22]
December 1995 Chris Whyte Coventry City One month [23]
January 1996 Ian Richardson Notts County Two months [24]
January 1996 Ken Charlery Southend United One month [25]
February 1996 Scott Hiley Manchester City One month [26]
February 1996 Neil Doherty Northampton Town End of season [27]
February 1996 Steve Castle Gillingham End of season [28]
March 1996 Steve Finnan Notts County End of season [29]

Appearances and goals edit

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 included in matchday squads
Pos. Nat. Name League FA Cup League Cup Anglo-Italian Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   ENG Fred Barber 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
GK   ENG Ian Bennett 24 0 1 0 8 0 4 0 37 0
GK   NED Bart Griemink 20 0 1 0 3 0 1 (1) 0 25 (1) 0
GK   ENG Paul Sansome*† 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
DF   ENG Jon Bass 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 6 0
DF   IRE Gary Breen 17 (1) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 (1) 1
DF   ENG Gary Cooper 16 (2) 0 0 0 6 (1) 1 2 (1) 0 24 (4) 1
DF   IRE Liam Daish† 16 (1) 0 2 0 7 2 1 0 26 (1) 2
DF   ENG Andy Edwards 36 (1) 1 2 0 11 1 5 1 54 (1) 3
DF   ENG John Frain 22 (1) 0 2 0 6 0 1 0 29 (1) 0
DF   ENG Martin Grainger 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
DF   ENG Scott Hiley† 5 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 7 0
DF   JAM Michael Johnson 31 (2) 0 1 0 5 0 4 0 41 (2) 0
DF   ENG Gary Poole 27 (1) 0 2 1 10 0 3 1 42 (1) 2
DF   ENG Simon Rea 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 1 (1) 0 1 (2) 0
DF   ENG Chris Whyte† 4 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 9 0
MF   ENG Steve Barnes 0 (3) 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 (1) 0 0 (5) 0
MF   WAL Jason Bowen 16 (7) 4 0 (2) 0 3 (5) 2 2 2 21 (14) 8
MF   ENG Steve Castle 12 (3) 1 1 0 7 0 3 1 23 (3) 2
MF   WAL John Cornforth 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
MF   ENG Louie Donowa 5 (8) 0 1 0 3 (5) 0 1 1 10 (14) 0
MF   IRE Steve Finnan 6 (6) 1 0 0 2 (2) 0 2 (1) 0 10 (9) 1
MF   ENG Richard Forsyth 12 (14) 2 2 0 7 2 3 (1) 0 24 (15) 4
MF   ENG Danny Hill*† 5 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 7 0
MF   ENG Jonathan Hunt 43 (2) 11 1 (1) 1 8 (3) 2 5 1 52 (6) 15
MF   WAL Andy Legg 9 (3) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 (3) 1
MF   ENG Kenny Lowe 0 (2) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (2) 0
MF   ENG Ricky Otto 6 (12) 2 0 0 3 (3) 0 3 0 12 (15) 2
MF   ENG David Preece*† 6 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 7 0
MF   ENG Ian Richardson† 3 (4) 0 2 0 3 (1) 0 1 (2) 0 9 (7) 0
MF   SWE Dan Sahlin*† 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0
MF   ENG Vinny Samways* 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 0
MF   IRE John Sheridan*† 1 (1) 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 (1) 0
MF   ENG Paul Tait 23 (4) 3 0 0 4 (1) 0 2 (1) 0 29 (6) 3
MF   ENG Mark Ward 13 3 0 0 3 (1) 0 1 0 17 (1) 3
FW   ENG Paul Barnes 15 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 7
FW   ENG Gary Bull† 3 (3) 0 0 (2) 0 0 (1) 0 0 (1) 0 3 (7) 0
FW   LCA Ken Charlery† 8 (9) 4 0 0 3 (1) 2 2 (1) 0 13 (11) 6
FW   ENG Steve Claridge† 28 8 2 0 11 (1) 1 2 (1) 1 43 (2) 10
FW   SCO Paul Devlin 16 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 7
FW   ENG Neil Doherty 0 (2) 1 0 0 1 (1) 0 0 (1) 0 1 (4) 1
FW   SKN Kevin Francis 11 (8) 3 2 0 6 4 1 0 20 (8) 7
FW   ENG Jae Martin 1 (6) 0 0 0 0 0 0 (2) 0 1 (8) 0
FW   ENG Ian Muir 1 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 0 1 (1) 0
FW   CAN Paul Peschisolido 7 (2) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 (2) 1
FW   NOR Sigurd Rushfeldt*† 3 (4) 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 5 (4) 1
Players not included in matchday squads
Pos. Nat. Name
GK   ENG Ryan Price†
MF   ENG Peter Shearer

See also edit

Sources edit

  • 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.
  • For match dates, league positions and results: "Birmingham City 1995–1996: Results". Statto Organisation. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  • For lineups, appearances, goalscorers and attendances: Matthews (2010), Complete Record, pp. 426–27, 477–78.
  • For transfers: "Birmingham Transfers 1995/96". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 June 2013.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Matthews (2010), pp. 477–78.
  2. ^ "English historical attendance and performance: Birmingham City". European Football Statistics. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  3. ^ Shaw, Phil (8 May 1996). "Francis fancied as Fry is sacked". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Francis returns to St Andrew's". The Independent. London. 11 May 1996. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  5. ^ a b c "Birmingham City 1995–1996: English Division One Table". Statto Organisation. Archived from the original on 23 October 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Barry Fry's comings and goings at St Andrew's". The Independent. London. 10 February 1996. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Culley, Jon (3 February 1997). "Football: That was the weekend that was". The Independent. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  8. ^ a b c Shaw, Phil (5 March 1996). "Football: FA probes problem of tactical bookings". The Independent. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  9. ^ Martin, Andrew (22 May 1996). "Bruce signs for Birmingham". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  10. ^ "Birmingham sign Horne". The Independent. London. 5 June 1996. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  11. ^ "A Week in EFC History: 21–27 June". The Everton Collection. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  12. ^ "Wembley date announced for Anglo-Italian Cup final". The Independent. London. 24 February 1996. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  13. ^ Duxbury, Nick (2 March 1996). "Hoddle's move for Wright rejected". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 16 October 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Chris Whyte". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  15. ^ a b c "Flitcroft plans to catch peers". The Independent. London. 23 March 1996. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  16. ^ "Plymouth to sign Huddersfield's Richard Logan". The Independent. London. 28 October 1995. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  17. ^ Bjunér, Andreas (2 December 2004). "Fortsättning: Tidernas 23:e största Bajenprofil" [Continued: Best ever Bajen (Hammarby) players #23] (in Swedish). Hammarby IF. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011.
  18. ^ "Danny Hill". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  19. ^ "David Preece". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  20. ^ "Paul Sansome". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  21. ^ a b "Nicholl's opportunity". The Independent. London. 9 February 1996. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  22. ^ "Ian Muir". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  23. ^ Turner, Andy (14 May 1999). "The day I gave Shearer hell..." Coventry Telegraph. pp. 86–87. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  24. ^ "Ian Richardson". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  25. ^ "Ken Charlery". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  26. ^ "Scott Hiley". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  27. ^ "Neil Doherty". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  28. ^ "Steve Castle". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  29. ^ "Steve Finnan". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
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