1989–90 Birmingham City F.C. season


The 1989–90 Football League season was Birmingham City Football Club's 87th in the Football League and the first in their history in which they played in the third tier of the English football league system. After a sound start to the season, with six wins from the first ten games, their results worsened, and they eventually finished in seventh position in the 24-team Third Division, three points outside the playoff places. They entered the 1989–90 FA Cup in the first round proper and lost in the third, eliminated by Oldham Athletic after a replay, and entered the League Cup at the first round and lost in the second, beaten 3-2 by West Ham United over two legs. They lost in the preliminary round of the Football League Trophy, a competition open to teams in the third and fourth tiers of the League.
Dennis Bailey was the club's top scorer for the season, with 20 goals in all competitions, of which 18 came in the league.
In April 1989, the club was sold 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 Samesh Kumar became chairman.

Football League Third Division

DateLeague
position		OpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
19 August 19891stCrewe AlexandraHW3–0Yates, Sturridge, Bailey10,447
26 August 198910thBristol CityAL0–18,938
2 September 19895thSwansea CityHW2–0Bailey, Hopkins8,071
9 September 198910thShrewsbury TownAL0–24,714
16 September 19899thTranmere RoversHW2–1Gordon, Bailey8,604
23 September 19894thBrentfordAW1–0Sturridge5,386
26 September 19893rdWalsallHW2–0Bailey pen., Tait10,834
30 September 19893rdBlackpoolAL2–3Sturridge, Gleghorn5,681
7 October 19898thRotherham UnitedAL1–5Sturridge4,676
14 October 19895thNorthampton TownHW4–0Gleghorn 2, Bailey 2 8,731
17 October 19899thChester CityAL0–41,890
21 October 198910thHuddersfield TownHL0–17,951
28 October 198911thBuryAD0–03,383
31 October 198910thCardiff CityHD1–1Sturridge7,468
4 November 198910thReadingAW2–0Sturridge, Hicks og3,527
11 November 198910thLeyton OrientHD0–07,491
25 November 19898thBolton WanderersHW1–0Bailey pen.8,081
1 December 19898thWigan AthleticAL0–12,506
16 December 19897thPreston North EndHW3–1Yates, Bailey, Frain6,391
26 December 19899thBristol RoversAD0–06,573
30 December 19899thNotts CountyAL2–3Atkins pen., Bailey7,786
1 January 19899thFulhamHD1–1Gleghorn8,932
13 January 19909thBristol CityHL0–411,277
20 January 19909thCrewe AlexandraAW2–0Bailey, Sturridge4,681
27 January 19909thShrewsbury TownHL0–17,461
9 February 199010thTranmere RoversAL1–5Bailey pen.6,033
13 February 199011thSwansea CityAD1–1Madden3,603
17 February 199010thWigan AthleticHD0–05,473
24 February 199012thBolton WanderersAL1–3Gordon7,618
3 March 199011thMansfield TownHW4–1Sturridge, Bailey 2, Ashley5,746
6 March 19909thBlackpoolHW3–1Peer, Sturridge, Bailey pen.7,085
10 March 19909thWalsallAW1–0Gleghorn6,036
13 March 199010thBrentfordHL0–18,169
17 March 19909thRotherham UnitedHW4–1Tait, Atkins, Gordon, Sturridge6,985
20 March 19909thNorthampton TownAD2–2Peer, Gleghorn4,345
24 March 199010thChester CityHD0–07,584
31 March 199010thHuddersfield TownAW2–1Bailey, Gleghorn5,837
3 April 199010thMansfield TownAL2–5Bailey, Gleghorn4,164
7 April 199010thBuryHD0–06,808
10 April 19908thCardiff CityAW1–0Hopkins3,322
14 April 19907thFulhamAW2–1Hopkins, Gleghorn4,568
16 April 19907thBristol RoversHD2–2Matthewson, Hopkins12,438
21 April 19907thPreston North EndAD2–2Bailey 27,680
24 April 19907thNotts CountyHL1–2Hopkins10,533
28 April 19907thLeyton OrientAW2–1Peer, Hopkins5,691
5 May 19907thReadingHL0–114,278

League table (part)

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
First round17 November 1989Leyton OrientAW1–0Sturridge4,063
Second round9 December 1989Colchester UnitedAW2–0Gleghorn 23,858
Third round7 January 1990Oldham AthleticHD1–1Gleghorn13,131
Third round replay10 January 1990Oldham AthleticAL0–19,982

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
First round 1st leg22 August 1989ChesterfieldHW2–1Atkins, Bailey6,722
First round 2nd leg28 August 1989ChesterfieldAW1–0Bailey3,313
Second round 1st leg19 September 1989West Ham UnitedHL1–2Sproson10,987
Second round 2nd leg4 October 1989West Ham UnitedAD1-1Atkins12,187

Football League Trophy

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
Preliminary round28 November 1989AldershotAL0–31,148
Preliminary round12 December 1989Hereford UnitedHW1–0Atkins3,168

Appearances and goals