1960–61 Birmingham City F.C. season
# 1960–61 Birmingham City F.C. season

The 1960–61 Football League season was Birmingham City Football Club's 58th in the Football League and their 34th in the First Division. They finished in 19th position in the 22-team division for the second consecutive season. They entered the 1960–61 FA Cup in the third round proper and lost to Leicester City in the fifth round after a replay, and entered the inaugural season of the Football League Cup in the second round, losing to Plymouth Argyle in the third, again after a replay. In the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, Birmingham beat Inter Milan both at home and away in the semi-final to reach their second consecutive final, but the competition schedule meant that the match itself was played in September and October 1962, well into the 1961–62 playing season.

Manager Gil Merrick, appointed to succeed Pat Beasley at the end of the 1959–60 season, brought in former Spanish international winger Emilio Aldecoa – the first Spaniard to play in the Football League – as coach. Twenty-four players made at least one appearance in nationally organised first-team competition, and there were twelve different goalscorers. Full back Brian Farmer played in 54 of the 55 first-team matches over the season, and Jimmy Harris finished as leading goalscorer with 17 goals in all competitions; in the league, Harris and Mike Hellawell were joint top scorers, each with 10 goals.

## Football League First Division

| Date | League position | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 20 August 1960 | 8th | Bolton Wanderers | A | D | 2–2 | Gordon, Hooper | 20,543 |
| 24 August 1960 | 7th | West Bromwich Albion | A | W | 2–1 | Rudd, Hooper | 32,102 |
| 27 August 1960 | 9th | Sheffield Wednesday | H | D | 1–1 | Hooper | 27,197 |
| 31 August 1960 | 4th | West Bromwich Albion | H | W | 3–1 | Gordon, Astall, Williams og | 37,811 |
| 3 September 1960 | 8th | Fulham | A | L | 1–2 | Rudd | 19,292 |
| 6 September 1960 | 11th | Arsenal | A | L | 0–2 | | 20,065 |
| 10 September 1960 | 14th | Preston North End | H | L | 1–3 | Gordon | 24,435 |
| 14 September 1960 | 10th | Arsenal | H | W | 2–0 | Stubbs 2 | 22,905 |
| 17 September 1960 | 11th | Burnley | A | L | 1–2 | Cummings og | 20,749 |
| 24 September 1960 | 10th | Nottingham Forest | H | W | 3–1 | Gordon, Singer, Astall | 26,659 |
| 1 October 1960 | 11th | Manchester City | A | L | 1–2 | Singer | 27,665 |
| 8 October 1960 | 14th | West Ham United | A | L | 3–4 | Rudd, Hellawell 2 | 15,954 |
| 15 October 1960 | 11th | Chelsea | H | W | 1–0 | Hellawell | 23,334 |
| 22 October 1960 | 13th | Aston Villa | A | L | 2–6 | Hellawell, Thomson og | 44,722 |
| 29 October 1960 | 14th | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | L | 1–2 | Showell og | 32,284 |
| 5 November 1960 | 15th | Blackburn Rovers | A | L | 0–2 | | 13,463 |
| 12 November 1960 | 14th | Manchester United | H | W | 3–1 | Gordon, Taylor, Neal | 31,564 |
| 19 November 1960 | 14th | Tottenham Hotspur | A | L | 0–6 | | 46,010 |
| 26 November 1960 | 16th | Leicester City | H | L | 0–2 | | 25,828 |
| 3 December 1960 | 14th | Blackpool | A | W | 2–1 | Hellawell 2 | 11,720 |
| 10 December 1960 | 17th | Everton | H | L | 2–4 | Neal, Stubbs | 27,717 |
| 17 December 1960 | 17th | Bolton Wanderers | H | D | 2–2 | Harris 2 | 19,051 |
| 24 December 1960 | 18th | Newcastle United | A | D | 2–2 | Hellawell, Neal | 20,354 |
| 26 December 1960 | 17th | Newcastle United | H | W | 2–1 | Bloomfield, Hellawell | 29,437 |
| 31 December 1960 | 17th | Sheffield Wednesday | A | L | 0–2 | | 22,993 |
| 14 January 1961 | 14th | Fulham | H | W | 1–0 | Singer | 23,265 |
| 21 January 1961 | 13th | Preston North End | A | W | 3–2 | Bloomfield, Hellawell, Singer | 7,667 |
| 11 February 1961 | 17th | Nottingham Forest | A | L | 0–1 | | 23,541 |
| 25 February 1961 | 14th | West Ham United | H | W | 4–2 | Harris 2 (1 pen), Bloomfield, Neal | 16,856 |
| 4 March 1961 | 17th | Chelsea | A | L | 2–3 | Gordon, Astall | 27,727 |
| 11 March 1961 | 17th | Aston Villa | H | D | 1–1 | Singer | 41,656 |
| 18 March 1961 | 18th | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | L | 1–5 | Singer | 23,835 |
| 22 March 1961 | 14th | Manchester City | H | W | 3–2 | Harris pen, Bloomfield 2 | 18,092 |
| 25 March 1961 | 15th | Blackburn Rovers | H | D | 1–1 | Hellawell | 19,301 |
| 31 March 1961 | 13th | Cardiff City | A | W | 2–0 | Harris pen, Orritt | 16,339 |
| 1 April 1961 | 16th | Everton | A | L | 0–1 | | 31,872 |
| 3 April 1961 | 13th | Cardiff City | H | W | 2–1 | Harris, Orritt | 20,065 |
| 8 April 1961 | 14th | Tottenham Hotspur | H | L | 2–3 | Harris 2 (1 pen) | 40,961 |
| 15 April 1961 | 16th | Manchester United | A | L | 1–4 | Foulkes og | 28,376 |
| 22 April 1961 | 18th | Blackpool | H | L | 0–2 | | 17,834 |
| 27 April 1961 | 18th | Burnley | H | L | 0–1 | | 15,015 |
| 29 April 1961 | 19th | Leicester City | A | L | 2–3 | Harris, Singer | 19,920 |

### League table (part)

Final First Division table (part) :

| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GA | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 17th | Fulham | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 72 | 95 | 0.76 | 36 |
| 18th | Bolton Wanderers | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 58 | 73 | 0.80 | 35 |
| 19th | Birmingham City | 42 | 14 | 6 | 22 | 62 | 84 | 0.74 | 34 |
| 20th | Blackpool | 42 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 68 | 73 | 0.93 | 33 |
| 21st | Newcastle United | 42 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 86 | 109 | 0.79 | 32 |
| Key | Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = Points | Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = Points | Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = Points | Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = Points | Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = Points | Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = Points | Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = Points | Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = Points | Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = Points |
| Source | | | | | | | | | |

## FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Third round | 7 January 1961 | Nottingham Forest | A | W | 2–0 | Singer 2 | 19,919 |
| Fourth round | 28 January 1961 | Rotherham United | H | W | 4–0 | Singer 2, Neal, Harris | 31,931 |
| Fifth round | 18 February 1961 | Leicester City | H | D | 1–1 | Harris pen | 53,589 |
| Fifth round replay | 22 February 1961 | Leicester City | A | L | 1–2 | Harris | 41,916 |

## League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Second round | 31 October 1960 | Bradford Park Avenue | A | W | 1–0 | Hellawell | 4,736 |
| Third round | 14 November 1960 | Plymouth Argyle | H | D | 0–0 | | 15,313 |
| Third round replay | 16 November 1960 | Plymouth Argyle | A | L | 1–3 | Wyatt og | 14,132 |

## Inter-Cities Fairs Cup

In the semi-final, Birmingham beat Inter Milan both at home and away; no other English club was to beat them in a competitive match in the San Siro until Arsenal did so in the Champions League more than 40 years later. Birmingham reached the final for the second consecutive season, having lost to Barcelona in 1960. The 1961 final was scheduled for late September and mid-October 1961, well into the 1961–62 playing season, by which time the first round of the 1961–62 competition would already be under way.

| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| First round 1st leg | 19 October 1960 | Újpesti Dózsa | H | W | 3–2 | Gordon 2, Astall | 23,381 |
| First round 2nd leg | 26 October 1960 | Újpesti Dózsa | A | W | 2–1 | Rudd, Singer | 25,000 |
| Second round 1st leg | 23 November 1960 | KB Copenhagen | A | D | 4–4 | Gordon 2, Singer 2 | 2,500 |
| Second round 2nd leg | 7 December 1960 | KB Copenhagen | H | W | 5–0 | Stubbs 2, Harris, Bloomfield, Hellawell | 22,486 |
| Semi-final 1st leg | 19 April 1961 | Inter Milan | A | W | 2–1 | Harris, Balleri og | 20,000 |
| Semi-final 2nd leg | 3 May 1961 | Inter Milan | H | W | 2–1 | Harris 2 | 29,530 |

## Appearances and goals

* Players with name struck through and marked † left the club during the playing season.

Players having played at least one first-team match :

| Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Fairs Cup | Fairs Cup | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Pos. | Nat. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | ENG | Johnny Schofield | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| GK | ENG | Colin Withers | 24 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 33 | 0 |
| FB | ENG | George Allen | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 51 | 0 |
| FB | ENG | Brian Farmer | 41 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 54 | 0 |
| HB | ENG | Malcolm Beard | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| HB | ENG | Winston Foster | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| HB | WAL | Terry Hennessey | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| HB | ENG | Dick Neal | 39 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 52 | 5 |
| HB | ENG | Graham Sissons | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| HB | ENG | Trevor Smith | 31 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| HB | ENG | Johnny Watts | 29 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
| FW | ENG | Gordon Astall | 17 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 4 |
| FW | SCO | Bertie Auld | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | ENG | Ray Barlow | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| FW | ENG | Jimmy Bloomfield | 25 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 34 | 6 |
| FW | ENG | Johnny Gordon† | 24 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 29 | 10 |
| FW | ENG | Jimmy Harris | 20 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 27 | 17 |
| FW | ENG | Mike Hellawell | 28 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 40 | 12 |
| FW | ENG | Harry Hooper† | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 |
| FW | WAL | Bryan Orritt | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 2 |
| FW | ENG | Billy Rudd | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 4 |
| FW | ENG | Jimmy Singer | 18 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 26 | 14 |
| FW | ENG | Robin Stubbs | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 5 |
| FW | ENG | Brian Taylor | 17 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 1 |
| FW | ENG | Don Weston† | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |

* 1 2 General source mistakenly includes Allen rather than Sissons in the team for the match against Blackburn in March.
