1971–72 Birmingham City F.C. season
# 1971–72 Birmingham City F.C. season

The 1971–72 Football League season was Birmingham City Football Club's 69th in the Football League and their 31st in the Second Division. They finished in second place in the 22-team division, so were promoted to the First Division for 1972–73, despite never having been in the promotion positions until after the final game of the season.

They entered the 1971–72 FA Cup in the third round proper and progressed to the semi-final, in which they lost to Leeds United. This was the third year of five in which the losing semifinalists were required to compete in a "match for third place"; following a goalless 90 minutes, Birmingham beat Stoke City in a penalty shootout, the first time this method had been used to determine the result of an FA Cup match. They lost to Queens Park Rangers in their opening match in the second round of the League Cup, and finished fourth of the six English entrants in the third staging of the Anglo-Italian Cup, a tournament held after the end of the league season.

Twenty-five players made at least one appearance in nationally organised first-team competition, and there were ten different goalscorers. Defender Roger Hynd, midfielder Alan Campbell and centre-forward Bob Latchford played in all 53 first-team matches over the season. Latchford finished as leading goalscorer with 30 goals, of which 23 came in league competition. The average attendance in Second Division matches exceeded 32,000.

## Football League Second Division

| Date | League position | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 14 August 1971 | 8th | Sunderland | A | D | 1–1 | Bowker | 9,749 |
| 21 August 1971 | 6th | Carlisle United | H | W | 3–2 | Summerill, Bowker, Campbell | 26,254 |
| 28 August 1971 | 12th | Portsmouth | A | L | 0–1 | | 14,729 |
| 1 September 1971 | 17th | Hull City | A | L | 0–1 | | 16,746 |
| 4 September 1971 | 10th | Charlton Athletic | H | W | 4–1 | Francis, R. Latchford 3 | 25,231 |
| 11 September 1971 | 12th | Luton Town | A | D | 0–0 | | 14,678 |
| 18 September 1971 | 9th | Bristol City | H | W | 1–0 | R. Latchford | 28,745 |
| 25 September 1971 | 9th | Blackpool | A | D | 1–1 | Francis | 22,610 |
| 28 September 1971 | 5th | Watford | H | W | 4–1 | R. Latchford 3, Francis | 28,095 |
| 2 October 1971 | 5th | Oxford United | H | D | 0–0 | | 31,759 |
| 9 October 1971 | 8th | Queens Park Rangers | A | L | 0–1 | | 16,039 |
| 16 October 1971 | 8th | Sunderland | H | D | 1–1 | R. Latchford | 27,341 |
| 19 October 1971 | 8th | Swindon Town | A | D | 1–1 | R. Latchford | 14,269 |
| 23 October 1971 | 8th | Preston North End | H | D | 2–2 | R. Latchford, Francis | 28,956 |
| 30 October 1971 | 8th | Burnley | A | D | 1–1 | R. Latchford | 17,170 |
| 6 November 1971 | 7th | Orient | H | W | 2–0 | Hatton, R. Latchford | 27,349 |
| 13 November 1971 | 6th | Norwich City | A | D | 2–2 | Campbell pen, R. Latchford | 24,094 |
| 20 November 1971 | 8th | Millwall | A | L | 0–3 | | 15,724 |
| 27 November 1971 | 7th | Fulham | H | W | 3–1 | R. Latchford, Hatton 2 | 25,545 |
| 4 December 1971 | 6th | Middlesbrough | A | D | 0–0 | | 15,761 |
| 11 December 1971 | 7th | Sheffield Wednesday | H | D | 0–0 | | 29,272 |
| 18 December 1971 | 7th | Charlton Athletic | A | D | 1–1 | Hatton | 8,313 |
| 27 December 1971 | 5th | Cardiff City | H | W | 3–0 | Pendrey, Hatton, Francis | 40,793 |
| 1 January 1971 | 6th | Bristol City | A | L | 0–1 | | 17,457 |
| 8 January 1972 | 5th | Portsmouth | H | W | 6–3 | Hatton 2, R. Latchford 2, Campbell pen, Francis | 22,410 |
| 22 January 1972 | 4th | Watford | A | W | 1–0 | Francis | 10,884 |
| 29 January 1972 | 4th | Swindon Town | H | W | 4–1 | Francis, R. Latchford 2, Hatton | 27,824 |
| 12 February 1972 | 4th | Preston North End | A | D | 0–0 | | 17,794 |
| 19 February 1972 | 4th | Burnley | H | W | 2–0 | Taylor, Hatton | 32,035 |
| 4 March 1972 | 4th | Norwich City | H | W | 4–0 | Hatton 2, R. Latchford, Hynd | 40,899 |
| 11 March 1972 | 4th | Queens Park Rangers | H | D | 0–0 | | 35,557 |
| 21 March 1972 | 3rd | Carlisle United | A | D | 2–2 | Hatton, R. Latchford | 12,279 |
| 25 March 1972 | 3rd | Luton Town | H | W | 1–0 | Hatton | 34,539 |
| 31 March 1972 | 3rd | Oxford United | A | W | 1–0 | Hatton | 18,990 |
| 1 April 1972 | 3rd | Cardiff City | A | D | 0–0 | | 23,667 |
| 4 April 1972 | 3rd | Blackpool | H | W | 2–1 | R. Latchford, Francis | 45,181 |
| 8 April 1972 | 3rd | Millwall | H | W | 1–0 | R. Latchford | 43,483 |
| 18 April 1972 | 3rd | Fulham | A | D | 0–0 | | 16,553 |
| 22 April 1972 | 3rd | Middlesbrough | H | D | 1–1 | Francis | 37,202 |
| 25 April 1972 | 3rd | Hull City | H | W | 2–0 | Campbell pen, Francis | 40,749 |
| 29 April 1972 | 3rd | Sheffield Wednesday | A | W | 2–1 | Hatton, Francis | 27,991 |
| 2 May 1972 | 2nd | Orient | A | W | 1–0 | R. Latchford | 33,383 |

### League table (part)

Final Second Division table (part) :

| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GA | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1st | Norwich City | 42 | 21 | 15 | 6 | 60 | 36 | 1.67 | 57 |
| 2nd | Birmingham City | 42 | 19 | 18 | 5 | 60 | 31 | 1.94 | 56 |
| 3rd | Millwall | 42 | 19 | 17 | 6 | 64 | 46 | 1.39 | 55 |
| 4th | Queens Park Rangers | 42 | 20 | 14 | 8 | 58 | 28 | 2.04 | 54 |
| 5th | Sunderland | 42 | 17 | 16 | 9 | 67 | 57 | 1.18 | 50 |
| 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 | 15 January 1972 | Port Vale | H | W | 3–0 | Hynd, Francis 2 | 32,937 |
| Fourth round | 5 February 1972 | Ipswich Town | H | W | 1–0 | R. Latchford | 40,709 |
| Fifth round | 26 February 1972 | Portsmouth | H | W | 3–1 | Hatton, R. Latchford 2 | 43,886 |
| Sixth round | 18 March 1972 | Huddersfield Town | H | W | 3–1 | Page, R. Latchford, Hatton | 52,470 |
| Semi-final | 15 April 1972 | Leeds United | Hillsborough, Sheffield | L | 0–3 | | 54,723 |
| 3rd/4th place playoff | 5 August 1972 | Stoke City | H | W | 0–0 4–3 pens | Campbell, Francis, Hope, Harland | 23,841 |

## League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Second round | 7 September 1971 | Queens Park Rangers | A | L | 0–1 | | 15,032 |

## Anglo-Italian Cup

| Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 June 1972 | Lanerossi Vicenza | A | D | 0–0 | | 3,000 |
| 4 June 1972 | Sampdoria | A | L | 1–2 | Campbell pen | 15,000 |
| 7 June 1972 | Lanerossi Vicenza | H | W | 5–3 | R. Latchford 2, Francis, Hatton, Taylor | 23,642 |
| 10 June 1972 | Sampdoria | H | W | 2–0 | R. Latchford, Hatton | 19,510 |

Clubs were classified according to total points (2 for a win, 1 for a draw) added to goals scored. The top club of each national section qualified for the final.

English section :

| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3rd | Leicester City | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 15 |
| 4th | Birmingham City | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 13 |
| 5th | Sunderland | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 12 |
| Key | Pos = Position; Pld = Matches played W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost F = Goals for; A = Goals against Pts = Points; Total = Sum of points and goals scored | Pos = Position; Pld = Matches played W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost F = Goals for; A = Goals against Pts = Points; Total = Sum of points and goals scored | Pos = Position; Pld = Matches played W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost F = Goals for; A = Goals against Pts = Points; Total = Sum of points and goals scored | Pos = Position; Pld = Matches played W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost F = Goals for; A = Goals against Pts = Points; Total = Sum of points and goals scored | Pos = Position; Pld = Matches played W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost F = Goals for; A = Goals against Pts = Points; Total = Sum of points and goals scored | Pos = Position; Pld = Matches played W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost F = Goals for; A = Goals against Pts = Points; Total = Sum of points and goals scored | Pos = Position; Pld = Matches played W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost F = Goals for; A = Goals against Pts = Points; Total = Sum of points and goals scored | Pos = Position; Pld = Matches played W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost F = Goals for; A = Goals against Pts = Points; Total = Sum of points and goals scored | Pos = Position; Pld = Matches played W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost F = Goals for; A = Goals against Pts = Points; Total = Sum of points and goals scored |

## Appearances and goals

    Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute.
    Players with name struck through and marked † left the club during the playing season.
    Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Birmingham.

Players having played at least one first-team match :

| Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Anglo-Italian Cup | Anglo-Italian Cup | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Pos. | Nat. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | ENG | Paul Cooper | 12 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| GK | ENG | Mike Kelly | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 20 (1) | 0 |
| GK | ENG | Dave Latchford | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| DF | SCO | Kenny Burns | 7 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 (1) | 0 |
| DF | IRL | Tommy Carroll | 27 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Stan Harland | 19 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Mike Harrison | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| DF | SCO | Roger Hynd | 42 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 53 | 2 |
| DF | ENG | Ray Martin | 14 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 (1) | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Garry Pendrey | 40 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 (1) | 0 | 48 (1) | 1 |
| DF | ENG | Dave Robinson | 10 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 (2) | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Tony Want | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Alan Whitehead | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 3 (1) | 0 |
| MF | SCO | Alan Campbell | 42 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 53 | 5 |
| MF | SCO | Bobby Hope | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| MF | ENG | Mike O'Grady * | 2 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 (1) | 0 |
| MF | WAL | Malcolm Page | 38 (1) | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 48 (1) | 1 |
| MF | ENG | George Smith | 22 (3) | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 26 (4) | 0 |
| MF | ENG | Gordon Taylor | 27 (3) | 1 | 5 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 37 (4) | 2 |
| FW | ENG | Keith Bowker | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| FW | ENG | Trevor Francis | 39 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 48 | 15 |
| FW | ENG | Bob Hatton | 26 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 36 | 19 |
| FW | ENG | Bob Latchford | 42 | 23 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 53 | 30 |
| FW | ENG | Steve Phillips | 6 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 (1) | 0 |
| FW | ENG | Phil Summerill | 7 (2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 7 (3) | 1 |
