1930–31 season | |||
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Chairman | Howard Cant | ||
Manager | Leslie Knighton | ||
Ground | St Andrew's | ||
Football League First Division | 19th | ||
FA Cup | Runner-up (eliminated by West Bromwich Albion) | ||
Top goalscorer |
League: George Briggs (15) All: Joe Bradford (22) |
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Highest home attendance | 55,298 vs Chelsea, FA Cup 6th round, 28 February 1931 | ||
Lowest home attendance | 6,535 vs Portsmouth, 28 January 1931 | ||
Average home league attendance | 18,175 | ||
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The 1930–31 Football League season was Birmingham Football Club's 35th in the Football League and their 18th in the First Division. They finished in 19th position in the 22-team division, five points clear of the relegation places. They also competed in the 1930–31 FA Cup, entering at the third round proper and reaching the final for the first time in the club's history. They lost 2–1 to Second Division club West Bromwich Albion.
Twenty-seven players made at least one appearance in nationally organised competition, and there were eleven different goalscorers. Forward Ernie Curtis played in 47 of the 49 matches over the season, and, for the 10th successive year, Joe Bradford was leading scorer, with 22 goals in all competitions, of which 14 came in the league. George Briggs scored more league goals, with 15.
The 9–1 defeat away to Sheffield Wednesday on 13 December equalled the club record for widest margin of defeat.
Birmingham "won finely" at Anfield to defeat Liverpool 2–0, then eliminated Port Vale and, with Ernie Curtis "in magnificent form", Watford, to reach the sixth round in which they played Chelsea. Playing in a blizzard at St Andrew's, Chelsea took the lead and had a second goal disallowed before the change of ends brought a change of fortunes. George Briggs crossed for Joe Bradford's header, then Briggs and Bradford combined for Curtis to put Birmingham ahead. With ten minutes left, a misplaced clearance by Bob Gregg allowed Jackie Crawford to equalise. The replay at Stamford Bridge, before a ground-record crowd of 74,365 with thousands more locked out, remained goalless until Chelsea half-backs John Townrow and Syd Bishop were injured. With no substitutes permitted, Birmingham took advantage, winning the tie 3–0 with goals from Jack Firth and two from Bradford. Curtis opened the scoring half an hour into the semi-final against First Division Sunderland. Sunderland's players thought they should have had a penalty, they failed to take numerous chances, and Harry Hibbs made some fine saves, but three minutes from time, Curtis had a shot blocked, Bradford "rushed in to help his colleague and between them they scored the second goal".