Baggies Boiinngging to the Bridge

Champions
By BlueBlood
August 23 2005

West Bromwich Albion were originally called West Bromwich Strollers. This came about in 1879 when a group of workers from the George Salter Spring Works took a walk to nearby Wednesbury to buy a ball and hey presto a football club was born. The name change to West Bromwich Albion came in 1880.

The Strollers first ever game was played at Dartmouth Park, West Bromwich where they beat a team called Black Lake Victoria 1-0 and the scorer is believed to have been a certain gentleman by the name of Harry Aston.

In 1883 WBA won the Staffordshire Cup beating Stoke City 3-2 in the final after beating near rivals Aston Villa in the semi-final in a replay 1-0 after a 3-3 draw.

Also in 1883 WBA entered the world famous FA Cup competition for the first time. In 1886 WBA reached the final but were beaten in a replay by Blackburn Rovers 2-0 after the first game ended in a 0-0 draw. After another final disappointed the next year, WBA won the cup in 1888 beating Preston North End 2-1.

Nowadays WBA survived the dreaded drop last season when they won their final league game against Portsmouth on Survival Sunday. Last Saturday WBA repeated the victory over Portsmouth, winning 2-1.

WBA's Manager is old boy and Captain Marvel, Bryan Robson

Chelsea beat WBA 4-1 and 1-0 last season.

WBA's Honours:

FA Cup Winners: 1888, 1892, 1931, 1954, 1968
FA Cup Runners-up: 1886, 1887, 1895, 1912, 1935
League Cup Winners: 1966
League Cup Runners-up: 1967, 1970
First Division Champions: 1920
First Division Runners-up: 1925, 1954
Second Division Champions: 1902, 1911
Second Division Runners-up: 1931, 1949, 2002
Third Division Play-off winners: 1993