Black Country derby

Black Country derby
Locale Black Country
Teams West Bromwich Albion
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Walsall
First meeting 15 December 1888[1]
Wolves 0-1 West Brom
Latest meeting Walsall 0–3 Wolves
(8 March 2014)
Statistics
Most wins West Bromwich Albion
Largest victory Wolves 0–8 West Brom
(27 December 1893)

The Black Country derby is most commonly the local derby between the English football teams West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers.[2] The term 'Black Country derby' can also be given to a match between either of these teams and Walsall F.C though such matches are less common as a result of the teams' relative league positionings - as of 2013, Albion and Wolves have played only 14 and 15 competitive matches respectively against Walsall, compared to 160 games against each other. All three clubs are in different divisions as of the 2014–15 season.

According to a survey by The Football Pools published in 2008, Albion versus Wolves is the fiercest rivalry in English football.[3]

History

The derby is one of the oldest in the world, with both clubs founder members of the English Football league. The derby is one of the most passionately contested in the country, with both clubs being of similar size with similar fanbases. The game attracts large crowds at The Hawthorns and Molineux. The record attendance for the derby is 60,945, set on 4 March 1950 in a 1–1 draw at The Hawthorns. That same season 56,661 saw the two sides draw 1-1 at Molineux. Both stand today as record league attendances for both clubs. The first ever Black Country derby took place on 20 January 1883, when Albion won 4–2 in the third round of the Birmingham Senior Cup.[4] The teams first met in the FA Cup on 2 January 1886, when Albion won 3–1 en route to reaching the final. In all, there have been 159 Black Country Derbies, seeing 62 Albion wins, 53 Wolves wins and 44 draws. Albion's record victory against Wolves was an 8-0 away win in 1893, whilst Wolves' greatest victory was 7-0 at Molineux in 1963. The derby reached is zenith in the 1950s when both sides challenged at the top of English football when Wolves enjoyed League and Cup domination for a good deal of the 1950s whilst Albion were also a strong side, renowned for their attacking flair. The derby has always been fierce although it is worth noting that for a long time Albion fans considered Aston Villa to be their main rivals. However, during the 1990s, when both sides were languishing in the second tier with just local pride to play for, Villa were in the top division, leading to a more heated rivalry surrounding the more common matches between the lower-tier sides. Most Albion fans now consider Wolves to be their greatest rivals whilst fans of Wolves have always considered Albion to be their main rivals.

The two teams have only ever met once in the final of any competition - the Charity Shield in 1954. At the time, Wolves, under manager Stan Cullis, were widely regarded one of the best teams in the world with their fast attacking style of play, whilst Albion were famed for their unique brand of attacking football. The game finished 4–4 in front of a Molineux crowd of 45,035. The scorers that night were Roy Swinbourne (2), Norman Deeley and Johnny Hancocks for Wolves and Ronnie Allen (3) and Reg Ryan for Albion. The previous season had seen Wolves pip Albion to the league title as the latter came close to completing the first 20th century English double, winning their fourth FA Cup. Albion had topped the table for the majority of the season but collapsed late on losing by four points 53-57. It is worth noting that Wolves beat Albion home and away that year, winning 1-0 both times, which proved crucial in the end.

The derby featured in the first 14 consecutive seasons of the Football League. However, the clubs once went 13 years without facing each other between 1911 and 1924 after West Brom were promoted from Division 2 while Wolves remained at that level for the intervening time. In the subsequent time, the derby has featured almost annually or with minor breaks, with the longest gap since occurring between April 1984 and October 1989.

Another major event in the rivalry between the two clubs was West Brom's promotion to the Premier League in 2001–02 season. With nine games of the season remaining for both clubs, Wolves were ten points ahead of West Brom[5] but gained only 10 more points compared to West Brom's 23[6] and West Brom clinched automatic promotion in second place on the final day of the season with a 2-0 win at home to Crystal Palace. Wolves were subsequently beaten in the play-offs by Norwich City.

The 2006–07 season saw the teams meet a record 5 times. West Brom took the first meeting with a 3-0 win at The Hawthorns. Wolves won in the return fixture at Molineux 1-0. The clubs also met in the FA Cup with West Brom winning 3-0 at Molineux - with a major riot following in the city centre as hundreds of fans clashed. 11 police officers were injured in the chaos. The other two matches were both won by West Brom, in the Championship Play-offs, sending them through to the final (4-2 on aggregate), which they lost to Derby.

Hooliganism has been a major problem in the derby since the 1960s and recent years have seen the police intervene more closely in the timing of the games. The fixture has not been staged at the traditional English kick-off time of 3pm on a Saturday since 1996, although this has also often been at the request of television. Friction between the two clubs' fanbases has also seen major restrictions on local pubs on match days.[7]

On 20 February 2011 the two sides met for the first time in the Premier League (the last top flight derby being in the First Division 27 years earlier) at the Hawthorns and the match ended 1-1 thanks to goals in either half from Jamie O'Hara and an injury time point saver from Carlos Vela, thus preventing a first away win for Wolves at Albion for 14 years.[8] Unfortunately this led to ugly scenes after the match with fans clashing, with a flare being thrown by Wolves fans and seats being thrown back by Albion fans. On 8 May 2011 at Molineux, in the return fixture of the 2010-11 Premier League season, Wolves claimed the bragging rights in a 3-1 win with goals from Steven Fletcher (2) and Adlene Guedioura cancelling out Peter Odemwingie's penalty. The victory was particularly crucial in helping Wolves survive.

On 16 October 2011, the sides met at The Hawthorns and West Brom reclaimed the bragging rights thanks to a 2-0 win, with goals in each half from Chris Brunt and Peter Odemwingie. The last derby to date occurred on 12 February 2012, West Brom humiliated Wolves by winning 5-1 away at Molineux. Striker Peter Odemwingie grabbed a hat-trick while former Wolves midfielder Keith Andrews and Jonas Olsson sealed the victory. Wolves manager Mick McCarthy was sacked the next day, after his team had picked up just 14 points from a possible 66, and Wolves were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the season.

Statistics

West Brom wins Draws Wolves wins
League 54 40 52
Play-Offs 2 0 0
FA Cup 8 2 1
Charity Shield 0 1 0
Total 64 43 53

Honours

Wolves have won the league championship three times, compared to Albion's one title. Whilst Albion have won the FA Cup five times and Wolves have won four times, Wolves have won the League Cup twice and Albion have won it once. Albion have also won the Charity Shield (now titled the Community Shield) twice (once shared), with Wolves winning on four occasions (three shared). Wolves reached the UEFA Cup final in 1972 and have spent more time in European competitions than West Bromwich Albion. The two clubs shared the Charity Shield together in 1954. Wolves have recorded more victories against Albion than any other club (in Football League & FA Cup matches).[9] Albion have won all but one of the FA cup encounters between the two rivals.

List of derbies

Here is a list of all the Black Country derbies:

WBA v Wolves

Season League Results
2011–2012 Premier League WBA 2–0 Wolves (24,872)
Wolves 1–5 WBA (27,131)
2010–2011 Premier League Wolves 3–1 WBA (28,510)
WBA 1–1 Wolves (26,170)
2007–2008 Championship Wolves 0–1 WBA (27,883)
WBA 0–0 Wolves (27,493)
2006–2007 Championship Play-Off WBA 1–0 Wolves (27,415)
Wolves 2–3 WBA (27,750)
FA Cup Round 4 Wolves 0–3 WBA (28,107)
Championship Wolves 1–0 WBA (28,016)
WBA 3–0 Wolves (26,606)
2001–2002 Division One Wolves 0–1 WBA (27,515)
WBA 1–1 Wolves (26,143)
2000–2001 Division One Wolves 3–1 WBA (25,069)
WBA 1–0 Wolves (21,492)
1999–2000 Division One WBA 1–1 Wolves (21,097)
Wolves 1–1 WBA (25,500)
1998–1999 Division One Wolves 1–1 WBA (27,038)
WBA 2–0 Wolves (22,682)
1997–1998 Division One Wolves 0–1 WBA (28,244)
WBA 1–0 Wolves (22,511)
1996–1997 Division One Wolves 2–0 WBA (27,336)
WBA 2–4 Wolves (21,791)
1995–1996 Division One WBA 1–1 Wolves (21,658)
Wolves 1–1 WBA (26,329)
1994–1995 Division One WBA 2–0 Wolves (20,661)
Wolves 2–0 WBA (27,764)
1993–1994 Division One Wolves 1–2 WBA (28,039)
WBA 3–2 Wolves (26,615)
1990–1991 Division One Wolves 2–2 WBA (22,982)
WBA 1–1 Wolves (28,310)
1989–1990 Division One Wolves 2–1 WBA (24,475)
WBA 1–2 Wolves (21,316)
1983–1984 Division One Wolves 0–0 WBA (13,208)
WBA 1–3 Wolves (18,914)
1981–1982 Division One Wolves 1–2 WBA (19,813)
WBA 3–0 Wolves (23,329)
1980–1981 Division One Wolves 2–0 WBA (29,764)
WBA 1–1 Wolves (26,324)
1979–1980 Division One WBA 0–0 Wolves (30,843)
Wolves 0–0 WBA (32,564)
1978–1979 Division One WBA 1–1 Wolves (32,395)
Wolves 0–3 WBA (29,117)
1977–1978 Division One Wolves 1–1 WBA (29,757)
WBA 2–2 Wolves (31,359)
1972–1973 Division One Wolves 2–0 WBA (33,520)
WBA 1–0 Wolves (31,121)
1971–1972 Division One Wolves 0–1 WBA (30,319)
WBA 2–3 Wolves (37,696)
1970–1971 Division One WBA 2–4 Wolves (36,754)
Wolves 2–1 WBA (39,300)
1969–1970 Division One WBA 3–3 Wolves (37,819)
Wolves 1–0 WBA (39,832)
1968–1969 Division One Wolves 0–1 WBA (37,920)
WBA 0–0 Wolves (40,175)
1967–1968 Division One WBA 4–1 Wolves (44,573)
Wolves 3–3 WBA (52,438)
1964–1965 Division One Wolves 3–2 WBA (26,722)
WBA 5–1 Wolves (23,006)
1963–1964 Division One WBA 3–1 Wolves (19,839)
Wolves 0–0 WBA (37,338)
1962–1963 Division One WBA 2–2 Wolves (15,517)
Wolves 7–0 WBA (22,618)
1961–1962 FA Cup Round 4 Wolves 1–2 WBA (46,411)
Division One Wolves 1–5 WBA (20,558)
WBA 1–1 Wolves (24,778)
1960–1961 Division One WBA 2–1 Wolves (34,108)
Wolves 4–2 WBA (31,385)
1959–1960 Division One Wolves 3–1 WBA (49,791)
WBA 0–1 Wolves (48,739)
1958–1959 Division One Wolves 5–2 WBA (44,240)
WBA 2–1 Wolves (55,498)
1957–1958 Division One WBA 0–3 Wolves (56,904)
Wolves 1–1 WBA (55,618)
1956–1957 Division One Wolves 5–2 WBA (27,942)
WBA 1–1 Wolves (34,379)
1955–1956 FA Cup Round 3 Wolves 1–2 WBA (55,564)
Division One Wolves 3–2 WBA (31,068)
WBA 1–1 Wolves (50,306)
1954–1955 Charity Shield Wolves 4–4 WBA (45,035)
Division One WBA 1–0 Wolves (28,573)
Wolves 4–0 WBA (55,374)
1953–1954 Division One WBA 0–1 Wolves (58,884)
Wolves 1–0 WBA (56,590)
1952–1953 Division One Wolves 2–0 WBA (48,375)
WBA 1–1 Wolves (54,480)
1951–1952 Division One Wolves 1–4 WBA (48,940)
WBA 2–1 Wolves (36,429)
1950–1951 Division One WBA 3–2 Wolves (39,066)
Wolves 3–1 WBA (45,087)
1949–1950 Division One WBA 1–1 Wolves (60,945)
Wolves 1–1 WBA (56,661)
1948–1949 FA Cup Round 6 Wolves 1–0 WBA (55,684)
1937–1938 Division One Wolves 2–1 WBA (43,639)
WBA 2–2 Wolves (55,444)
1936–1937 Division One Wolves 5–2 WBA (28,486)
WBA 2–1 Wolves (33,962)
1935–1936 Division One Wolves 2–0 WBA (34,790)
WBA 2–1 Wolves (43,406)
1934–1935 Division One WBA 5–2 Wolves (31,494)
Wolves 3–2 WBA (35,386)
1933–1934 Division One WBA 2–0 Wolves (24,892)
Wolves 0–0 WBA (37,308)
1932–1933 Division One Wolves 3–3 WBA (34,534)
WBA 4–1 Wolves (31,068)
1930–1931 FA Cup Round 6 WBA 1–1 Wolves (52,385)
FA Cup Round 6 Replay Wolves 1–2 WBA (46,860)
Division Two Wolves 1–4 WBA (36,054)
WBA 2–1 Wolves (40,065)
1929–1930 Division Two WBA 7–3 Wolves (20,311)
Wolves 2–4 WBA (25,961)
1928–1929 Division Two Wolves 0–1 WBA (24,340)
WBA 0–2 Wolves (24,902)
1927–1928 Division Two WBA 4–0 Wolves (37,342)
Wolves 4–1 WBA (40,816)
1923–1924 FA Cup Round 3 WBA 1–1 Wolves (55,849)
FA Cup Round 3 Replay Wolves 0–2 WBA (40,083)
1910–1911 Division Two WBA 2–1 Wolves (26,303)
Wolves 2–3 WBA (18,500)
1909–1910 Division Two WBA 0–1 Wolves (24,899)
Wolves 3–1 WBA (24,000)
1908–1909 Division Two Wolves 0–1 WBA (20,000)
WBA 0–2 Wolves (30,600)
1907–1908 Division Two WBA 1–0 Wolves (30,026)
Wolves 1–2 WBA (24,000)
1906–1907 Division Two WBA 1–1 Wolves (28,000)
Wolves 0–3 WBA (25,000)
1903–1904 Division One WBA 1–2 Wolves (6,338)
Wolves 1–0 WBA (12,431)
1902–1903 Division One WBA 2–2 Wolves (26,081)
Wolves 1–2 WBA (14,072)
1900–1901 Division One WBA 1–2 Wolves (18,188)
Wolves 0–0 WBA (12,000)
1899–1900 Division One WBA 3–2 Wolves (6,680)
Wolves 2–0 WBA (10,089)
1898–1899 Division One Wolves 5–1 WBA (12,052)
WBA 1–2 Wolves (6,457)
1897–1898 Division One Wolves 1–1 WBA (8,100)
WBA 2–2 Wolves (11,750)
1896–1897 Division One Wolves 6–1 WBA (11,561)
WBA 1–0 Wolves (6,000)
1895–1896 Division One Wolves 1–2 WBA (8,114)
WBA 2–1 Wolves (3,000)
1894–1895 FA Cup Round 3 WBA 1–0 Wolves (20,977)
Division One Wolves 3–1 WBA (6,500)
WBA 5–1 Wolves (5,100)
1893–1894 Division One Wolves 0–8 WBA (8,000)
WBA 0–0 Wolves (10,000)
1892–1893 Division One Wolves 1–1 WBA (8,000)
WBA 2–1 Wolves (4,000)
1891–1892 Division One Wolves 2–1 WBA (7,200)
WBA 4–3 Wolves (10,000)
1890–1891 Division One Wolves 4–0 WBA (9,300)
WBA 0–1 Wolves (4,300)
1889–1890 Division One Wolves 1–1 WBA (8,500)
WBA 1–4 Wolves (5,550)
1888–1889 Division One WBA 1–3 Wolves (4,000)
Wolves 2–1 WBA (8,600)
1887–1888 FA Cup Round 3 WBA 2–0 Wolves (7,429)
1885–1886 FA Cup Round 4 WBA 3–1 Wolves (5,196)

Managers

Years West Bromwich Albion manager P WBA D WW Wolverhampton Wanderers manager
188590 none 6 2 1 3 England Jack Addenbrooke
189092 England Louis Ford 4 1 0 3
189294 England Henry Jackson 4 2 2 0
189495 England Edward Stephenson 3 2 0 1
189596 England Clement Keys 2 2 0 0
189602 England Frank Heaven 10 2 3 5
190222 England Fred Everiss 14 7 2 5
192224 2 1 1 0 England George Jobey
192744 22 12 4 6 England Frank Buckley
194852 Wales Jack Smith 7 3 2 2 England Stan Cullis
195253 England Jesse Carver 1 0 1 0
195359 England Vic Buckingham 15 3 4 8
195961 England Gordon Clark 4 1 0 3
196163 Scotland Archie Macaulay 4 2 1 1
196364 England Jimmy Hagan 3 1 2 0
196465 2 1 0 1 Scotland Andy Beattie
196768 England Alan Ashman 3 1 2 0 England Ronnie Allen
196871 5 1 1 3 England Bill McGarry
197175 England Don Howe 4 2 0 2
1977 England Ronnie Allen 1 0 1 0 England Sammy Chung
1978 England Ron Atkinson 1 0 1 0
197881 6 1 4 1 England John Barnwell
198182 England Ronnie Allen 1 1 0 0
1982 1 1 0 0 England Ian Greaves
198284 Scotland Ron Wylie 1 0 0 1 England Graham Hawkins
1984 Republic of Ireland Johnny Giles 1 0 1 0
198891 England Brian Talbot 3 0 1 2 England Graham Turner
199192 England Bobby Gould 1 0 1 0
199394 England Keith Burkinshaw 2 2 0 0
1994 1 0 0 1 England Graham Taylor
199495 England Alan Buckley 2 1 1 0
199597 3 0 1 2 Scotland Mark McGhee
1997 England Ray Harford 1 1 0 0
199798 England Denis Smith 2 2 0 0
199899 1 0 1 0 England Colin Lee
199900 England Brian Little 2 0 2 0
2000 England Gary Megson 1 1 0 0
200104 3 1 1 1 England Dave Jones
200609 England Tony Mowbray 7 5 1 1 Republic of Ireland Mick McCarthy
201112 England Roy Hodgson 4 2 1 1

Walsall v WBA

Season League Results
2003-2004 Division One Walsall 4-1 WBA
WBA 2-0 Walsall
2001-2002 Division One Walsall 2-1 WBA
WBA 1-0 Walsall
1999-2000 Division One WBA 0-1 Walsall
Walsall 2-1 WBA
1992-1993 Football League Trophy Round 1 WBA 4-0 Walsall
1988-1989 Division Two WBA 0-0 Walsall
Walsall 0-0 WBA
1987-1988 League Cup Round 1 WBA 2-3 Walsall
Walsall 0-0 WBA
1965-1966 League Cup Round 2 WBA 3-1 Walsall
1899-1900 FA Cup Round 1 Walsall 1-1 WBA
FA Cup Round 1 Replay WBA 6-1 Walsall

Statistics

Walsall wins Draws West Brom wins
League 4 2 2
FA Cup 0 1 1
League Cup 1 1 1
Football League Trophy 0 0 1
Total 5 4 5

Managers

Years Walsall manager P Wal D WBA West Bromwich Albion manager
189901 England Louis Ford 2 0 1 1 England Frank Heaven
196467 England Ray Shaw 1 0 0 1 England Jimmy Hagan
198687 Scotland Tommy Coakley 2 1 1 0 England Ron Saunders
198788 1 0 1 0 England Ron Atkinson
198990 Republic of Ireland John Barnwell 1 0 1 0 England Brian Talbot
199293 England Kenny Hibbitt 1 0 0 1 Argentina Osvaldo Ardiles
199900 England Ray Graydon 1 1 0 0 England Brian Little
200002 3 2 0 1 England Gary Megson
200204 England Colin Lee 2 1 0 1

Walsall v Wolves

Season League Results
2013-2014 League One Walsall 0-3 Wolves
Wolves 0-1 Walsall
Football League Trophy Round 1 Wolves 2-2 Walsall (4-2 pen)
2002-2003 Division One Wolves 3-1 Walsall
Walsall 0-1 Wolves
2001-2002 Division One Walsall 0-3 Wolves
Wolves 3-0 Walsall
1999-2000 Division One Wolves 1-2 Walsall
Walsall 1-1 Wolves
1985-1986 Division Three Wolves 0-0 Walsall
Walsall 1-1 Wolves
League Cup Round 1 Walsall 1-1 Wolves
Wolves 0-1 Walsall
1923-1924 Division Three North Wolves 0-0 Walsall
Walsall 2-1 Wolves
1888-1889 FA Cup Round 2 Wolves 6-1 Walsall

Statistics

Walsall wins Draws Wolves wins
League 3 4 5
FA Cup 0 0 1
League Cup 1 1 0
Football League Trophy 0 1 0
Total 4 6 6

Managers

Years Walsall manager P Wal D WW Wolverhampton Wanderers manager
188891 England H. Smallwood 1 0 0 1 England Jack Addenbrooke
192224 England Joe Burchell 2 1 1 0 England George Jobey
1985 England Alan Buckley 3 1 2 0 England Bill McGarry
198586 1 0 1 0 Northern Ireland Sammy Chapman
199800 England Ray Graydon 2 1 1 0 England Colin Lee
200102 1 0 0 1 England Dave Jones
200204 England Colin Lee 3 0 0 3
2013 England Dean Smith 3 1 1 1 Wales Kenny Jackett

Crossing the divide

WBA and Wolves

The following footballers have played for both West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers:

The most notable of these is Steve Bull. As an Albion player he played just 5 games, with 3 goals, but was sold by manager Ron Saunders to Wolves, then in the fourth division. He went on to become Wolverhampton's record goalscorer.

Walsall and WBA

All three

References

  1. "West Bromwich Albion vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers". westbromwichalbion-mad.co.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  2. "Fans get pie and pint over row". Express & Star. 2007-01-22. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
  3. "Rivalries League". www.footballpools.com. The New Football Pools. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
  4. Matthews, Tony; Mackenzie, Colin (1987). Albion! A Complete Record of West Bromwich Albion 1879-1987. Breedon Books. pp. 202–210. ISBN 0-907969-23-2.
  5. Football League Division One Table, 3 March 2002
  6. Football League Division One Final Table, 2001-02
  7. "Pubs urged to shut ahead of derby". BBC News. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  8. http://liquidfootball.co.uk/2011/02/20/black-country-derby-ends-all-square/
  9. http://www.soccerbase.com/head2.sd?team2id=2848&team1id=2744

External links

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