The Giant Killers
BIRMINGHAM CITY
Birmingham originally started life in the F A cup as Small Heath Alliance, first making it into the big time in 1895. The next ninety years were mostly spent struggling against relegation from the top tier or battling for promotion from the second. In 1989 the club sank into the third tier for the first time but Birmingham were back in the big time within a decade. Despite having reached a European final back in the days of the Fairs cup, Birmingham have yet to win either League title or F A cup, their most recent cup final being back in 1956 when Peter Murphy's goal proved little more than a consolation in defeat to Manchester City. Two years earlier Birmingham had recorded a memorable victory at Wolves when still in Division Two.
Magic Moments
2-1 vs Stoke {after extra time}
First round replay: 13th February 1901
Scorers: Bennett, Sid Wharton
Ranked at the time: 37
Today: outside the top 700
2-0 vs Everton
First round: January 10th 1920
Attendance:30,000
Scorers: Laurie Burkinshaw, Jack Whitehous
Ranked at the time:95
Today: Outside the top 500
Team: 1:Dan Tremelling, 2:'Kosher' Ball, 3:Percy Barton, 4:Joe Roulson, 5:Frank Womack, 6: Millard or McLure, 7:Laurie Burkinshaw, 8:Short, Hampton or Gibson, 9:Jack Elkes, 10:Jack Whitehouse, 11:Billy Morgan
1-0 vs Portsmouth
Fourth round: Saturday January 25th 1947
Attendance: 50,00 [est]
Scorer: Fred Harris
Ranked at the time: 290
Team:1:Gil Merrick, 2:Ted Duckhouse, 3:Dennis Jennings, 4:Fred Harris, 5:Arthur Turner, 6:Don Dearson, 7:Jock Mulraney, 8:Neil Dougall, 9:Cyril Trigg, 10:Harold Bodle, 11:Edwards
3-1 @ Derby County
Third Round: Saturday January 27th 1951
Attendance: 37,384
Scorers: Cyril Trigg, Bill Smith, Jackie Stewart
Ranked at the time: 199
Team: 1:Gil Merrick, 2:Jack Badham, 3:Roy Martin, 4:Len Boyd, 5:Arthur Atkins, 6:Ray Ferris, 7:Jackie Stewart, 8:Jimmy Higgins, 9:Cyril Trigg, 10:Bill Smith, 11:Johnny Berry
1-0 vs Manchester United
Quarter Final: Saturday February 24th 1951
Attendance: 50,000
Scorer: Jimmy Higgins
Ranked at the time: 237
Team: 1:Gil Merrick, 2:Jack Badham, 3:Ken Green, 4:Len Boyd, 5:Arthur Atkins, 6:Ray Ferris, 7:Jackie Stewart, 8:Jimmy Higgins, 9:Cyril Trigg, 10:Bill Smith, 11:Johnny Berry. {Manager-Bob Brocklebank}
1-0 @ Fulham
Third Round: Saturday January 12th 1952
Attendance: 25,806
Scorer: Tommy Briggs
Ranked at the time: 330
Team: 1:Gil Merrick, 2:Ken Green, 3:Roy Martin, 4:Jack Badham, 5:Arthur Atkins, 6:Roy Warhurst, 7:Jackie Stewart, 8:Tommy Briggs, 9:Cyril Troy, 10:Bill Smith, 11:Billy Wardle {Manager-Bob Brocklebank}
1953
Chelsea 0-4 Birmingham City
Fifth Round: Saturday February 14th 1953
Attendance: 45,872
Scorers: Ted Purdon {2}, Peter Murphy Cyril Trigg
Ranked at the time: 278
City: 1:Gil Merrick, 2:Jeff Hall, 3:Ken Green, 4:Keith Bannister, 5:Ray Ferris, 6:Len Boyd, 7:Jackie Stewart, 8:Ted Purdon, 9:Cyril Trigg, 10:Peter Murphy, 11:Roy Warhurst. Manager:Bob Brocklebank
2-1 @ Wolverhampton Wanderers
Third Round: Saturday January 9th 1954
Attendance: 36,786
Scorers: Ken Rowley, Peter Murphy
Ranked at the time: 35
Team: 1:Gil Merrick, 2:Jeff Hall, 3:Ken Green, 4:Noel Kinsey, 5:John Newman, 6:Len Boyd, 7:Gordon Astall, 8:Peter Murphy, 9:Jackie Lane, 10:Ken Rowley, 11:Alex Govan. Manager:Bob Brocklebank
2-1 vs Arsenal
Fourth Round replay: Tuesday March 12th 1968
Attendance: 51,586
Scorer: Barry Bridges {2}
Ranked at the time: 366
Team: 1:Jim Herriot, 2:Bert Murray, 3:Ray Martin, 4:Ron Wylie, 5:Winston Foster, 6:Malcolm Beard, 7:Barry Bridges, 8:Malcolm Page, 9:Fred Pickering, 10:Geoff Vowden, 11:Trevor Hockey
1-0 vs Chelsea

Quarter Final: Saturday March 30th 1968
Attendance: 51,576
Scorers: Fred Pickering {63}
Ranked at the time: 361
{Image: Fred Pickering is mobbed by players and fans alike after scoring while a quintet of Chelsea players accept their fate}
Team: 1:Jim Herriott, 2:Bert Murray, 3:Colin Green, 4:Ron Wylie {replaced by 12:Ray Martin}, 5:Winston Foster, 6:Malcolm Beard, 7:Geoff Vowden, 8:Trevor Hockey, 9:Fred Pickering, 10:Malcolm Page, 11:Barry Bridges

2-1 vs Sheffield Wednesday
Fourth Round replay: Tuesday January 28th 1969
Attendance: 51,463
Scorers: Malcolm Beard, Fred Pickering
Ranked at the time: 252
{image left: Ray Martin gets in a challenge to keep Peter Eustace in check}
Team: 1:Jim Herriot, 2:Ray Martin, 3:Colin Green, 4:Malcolm Page, 5:Dave Robinson, 6:Malcolm Beard, 7:Johnny Vincent, 8:Jimmy Greenhoff, 9:Fred Pickering, 10:Trevor Hockey, 11:Dennis Thwaites
1-0 @ Wolverhampton Wanderers
Third Round replay: Wednesday January 16th 2012
Attendance: 10,153
Scorer: Wade Elliott
Ranked at the time:
Team: 13:Colin Doyle, 3:David Murphy, 4:Stephen Caldwell, 23;Jonathan Spector, 24:Curtis Davies, 11:Jean Beausejour, 12:Jordan Mutch, 14:Morgaro Gomis, {Replaced by 18:Keith Fahey-90}, 15:Wade Elliott, 22:Nathan Redmond, {Replaced by 7:Chris Burke-76}, 17:Adam Rooney {Manager-Mick McCarthey}