1956–57 Birmingham City F.C. season


The 1956–57 Football League season was Birmingham City Football Club's 54th in the Football League and their 30th in the First Division. They finished in 12th position in the 22-team division. They entered the 1956–57 FA Cup at the third round proper and lost in the semi-final to Manchester United. In the inaugural edition of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, Birmingham finished top of their group so progressed to the semi-final.
Twenty-four players made at least one appearance in nationally organised first-team competition, and there were thirteen different goalscorers. Goalkeeper Gil Merrick played in 49 of the 51 first-team matches over the season, and Alex Govan finished as leading goalscorer with 30 goals in all competitions, of which 24 were scored in the league.

Football League First Division

DateLeague
position		OpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
18 August 195612thManchester UnitedAD2–2Govan, Jones og32,958
22 August 19566thPortsmouthHW3–1Astall, Govan 233,307
25 August 19563rdArsenalHW4–2Brown, Murphy 2, Govan37,197
29 August 19562ndPortsmouthAW4–3Govan 3, Astall25,686
1 September 19566thBurnleyAL0–225,531
5 September 19562ndNewcastle UnitedHW6–1Kinsey, Murphy 2, Govan 332,506
8 September 19562ndPreston North EndHW3–0Govan 344,458
15 September 19563rdChelseaAL0–140,530
22 September 19564thCardiff CityHW2–1Kinsey, Govan39,931
29 September 19566thWolverhampton WanderersAL0–344,191
6 October 19566thBolton WanderersHD0–029,614
13 October 19566thLeeds UnitedAD1–1Larkin34,460
20 October 19566thLuton TownHW3–0Brown 2, Orritt31,783
27 October 19567thAston VillaAL1–3Astall54,927
3 November 19566thBlackpoolHD2–2Astall, Govan35,597
10 November 19569thManchester CityAL1–3Kinsey21,005
17 November 19566thCharlton AthleticHW4–2Brown, Kinsey, Astall, Murphy27,564
24 November 19565thSunderlandAW1–0Orritt33,807
1 December 19564thTottenham HotspurHD0–038,035
8 December 19567thEvertonAL0–229,579
15 December 19565thManchester UnitedHW3–1Brown 2, Orritt36,146
22 December 19568thArsenalAL0–428,644
25 December 19566thSheffield WednesdayHW4–0Brown, Murphy, Astall, Govan24,380
29 December 19565thBurnleyHW2–0Brown, Govan31,733
1 January 19576thNewcastle UnitedAL2–3Brown, Govan29,383
12 January 19579thPreston North EndAL0–119,430
19 January 19579thChelseaHL0–130,157
2 February 19578thCardiff CityAW2–1Brown, Astall16,854
9 February 19578thWolverhampton WanderersHD2–2Astall, Govan45,915
20 February 19579thBolton WanderersAL1–3Astall11,284
9 March 195710thEvertonHL1–3Brown23,881
16 March 195712thBlackpoolAL1–3Brown17,610
30 March 195713thCharlton AthleticAL0–117,839
3 April 195713thLuton TownAD0–012,881
6 April 195713thSunderlandHL1–2Brown24,548
10 April 195713thAston VillaHL1–2Murphy29,853
13 April 195714thTottenham HotspurAL1–5Astall33,512
20 April 195715thLeeds UnitedHW6–2Brown 2, Govan 3, Astall30,642
22 April 195714thWest Bromwich AlbionAD0–018,755
23 April 195713thWest Bromwich AlbionHW2–0Kinsey, Govan30,332
27 April 195712thManchester CityHD3–3Brown, Govan, Phoenix og23,747
29 April 195712thSheffield WednesdayAL0–313,845

League table (part)

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
Third round5 January 1957Carlisle UnitedAD3–3Murphy 2, Astall27,445
Third round replay9 January 1957Carlisle UnitedHW4–0Brown 2, Kinsey, Astall56,458
Fourth round26 January 1957Southend UnitedAW6–1Murphy, Govan 3, Cox, Lawler og28,964
Fifth round16 February 1957MillwallAW4–1Kinsey 2, Govan, Brown41,986
Sixth round2 March 1957Nottingham ForestHD0–057,827
Sixth round replay6 March 1957Nottingham ForestAW1–0Murphy36,486
Semi-final23 March 1957Manchester UnitedHillsborough, SheffieldL0–265,107

Inter-Cities Fairs Cup

The last two group matches of the inaugural season of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup were completed during this season, as a result of which Birmingham qualified for the semi-finals, in which they were to play Barcelona the following season.
RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
Group B3 December 1956Zagreb XIHW3–0Orritt, Brown, Murphy40,144
Group B17 April 1957Inter MilanHW2–1Govan 234,461

Appearances and goals