1988–89 Birmingham City F.C. season


The 1988–89 Football League season was Birmingham City Football Club's 86th in the Football League and their 26th in the Second Division. They finished in 23rd position in the division, expanded for this season to 24 teams as part of a restructuring process, so were relegated to the Third Division for the first time in the club's history. They entered the 1988–89 FA Cup in the third round proper and lost to Wimbledon in that round, were eliminated at the second-round stage of the League Cup by local rivals Aston Villa 7–0 over two legs, and lost in the first round of the Full Members' Cup, again to Aston Villa, this time by six goals to nil.
The top scorers in league matches were Steve Whitton and Colin Robinson with five goals apiece; Whitton scored six, if goals scored in all competitions are counted. The average attendance, of 6,289, was the lowest ever at St Andrew's.
In April 1989, Ken Wheldon sold the club to the Kumar brothers, owners of a Manchester-based fashion and leisurewear company. Dave Mackay was brought in as general manager, previous manager Garry Pendrey refused to stay on as part of Mackay's staff, and Wheldon retained a seat on the board while Samesh Kumar became chairman.

Football League Second Division

DateLeague
position		OpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
27 August 198822ndWatfordAL0–112,656
3 September 198822ndLeicester CityHL2–3Walsh og, Robinson7,932
10 September 198824thOldham AthleticAL0–45,810
17 September 198820thSunderlandHW3–2Childs, Atkins, Robinson6,871
20 September 198822ndWalsallAL0–58,780
24 September 198823rdBlackburn RoversAL0–37,562
1 October 198824thBarnsleyHL3–5Atkins, Robinson, Langley4,892
4 October 198824thPlymouth ArgyleHL0–14,435
8 October 198822ndAFC BournemouthAW1–0Frain6,186
15 October 198822ndWest Bromwich AlbionHL1–4Bremner10,453
22 October 198824thManchester CityAD0–020,205
25 October 198824thStoke CityHL0–16,262
29 October 198824thSwindon TownAL1–2Atkins pen6,937
5 November 198824thPortsmouthHD0–05,866
12 November 198824thOxford UnitedAL0–35,600
19 November 198824thHull CityAD1–1Langley5,134
22 November 198824thLeeds UnitedHD0–06,168
26 November 198824thIpswich TownHW1–0Whitton5,932
3 December 198824thBradford CityAD2–2Whitton, Richards9,503
10 December 198824thCrystal PalaceHL0–16,523
16 December 198824thChelseaHL1–4Whitton7,897
26 December 198823rdShrewsbury TownAD0–07,347
31 December 198823rdBrighton & Hove AlbionAL0–49,324
2 January 198823rdOldham AthleticHD0–05,998
14 January 198923rdLeeds UnitedAL0–121,843
21 January 198923rdWatfordHL2–3Whitton 2 6,396
4 February 198923rdPlymouth ArgyleAW1–0Robinson7,721
11 February 198923rdAFC BournemouthHL0–16,444
18 February 198923rdManchester CityHL0–211,707
25 February 198923rdWest Bromwich AlbionAD0–016,148
28 February 198924thStoke CityAL0–17,904
4 March 198924thOxford UnitedHD0–0Whitton4,954
11 March 198924thPortsmouthAL0–18,110
18 March 198923rdWalsallHW1–0Wigley6,558
25 March 198924thLeicester CityAL0–29,464
27 March 198924thShrewsbury TownHL1–2Sturridge4,964
1 April 198924thSunderlandAD2–2Frain, Yates10,927
4 April 198924thChelseaAL1–3Richards14,796
8 April 198924thBrighton & Hove AlbionHL1–2Sturridge4,579
15 April 198924thBarnsleyAD0–06,464
18 April 198924thSwindon TownHL1–2Peer4,026
22 April 198924thBlackburn RoversHW2–0Robinson, Yates5,813
29 April 198924thIpswich TownAL0–49,998
1 May 198923rdBradford CityHW1–0Frain4,735
6 May 198923rdHull CityHW1–0Yates4,686
13 May 198923rdCrystal PalaceAL1–4Sturridge17,581

League table (part)

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
Third round7 January 1989WimbledonHL0–110,431

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
First round 1st leg30 August 1988Wolverhampton WanderersAL2–3Thompson og, Bird11,007
First round 2nd leg6 September 1988Wolverhampton WanderersHW1–0Whitton8,981
Second round 1st leg27 September 1988Aston VillaHL0–221,177
Second round 2nd leg12 October 1988Aston VillaAL0–519,753

Full Members' Cup

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
First round9 November 1988Aston VillaAL0–68,324

Appearances and goals