CITY

Introduction:-

Birmingham is the second largest city of the United Kingdom and its location is virtually in the centre of England. It is the administrative centre of the West Midlands metropolitan area and is central to rail, road and canal networks.  The current population is approximately one million.

Brief History:

Starting out as a Saxon village in 1166 the King allowed the Lord of the Manor, Peter de Birmingham, the right to hold a weekly market. eld each summer which encouraged more trade. The woolen industry was started. In the 1400’s metal working and leather trades began and the population reached 1,500 by the year 1500.

The middle ages saw knives, nails and blacksmith products being made. A grammar school was built in the 16th century.

The 17th century brought the civil war and the King arrived and plundered and looted the local population.

The population in the 18th century rose from about 10,000 in 1700 to 73,000 in 1800. As well as new products being produced such as guns, locks, shoes , buckles and glass making, the Blue Coat school was founded, streets were cleaned and lit by oil lamps. Also the General Hospital and dispensary were constructed together with a canal to Wednesbury. St. Phillip’s Church, later to become the cathedral was built in 1715.

The 19th century saw an explosion in population and general activity. Gas lighting, piped water, sewers were introduced. In 1837/38 railways were laid to connect Birmingham to Manchester and London. Further industry such as railway carriages, jewellery, bicycles and chocolate were in production.

A Town Hall, two more hospitals, botanical gardens, public baths, library, electricity and trams turned this large town into a city in 1889.

The 20th century saw the coming of the University and Repertory Theatre. Tyre making and electrical goods were added to its industrial base. By 1928 the population reached one million.

Extensive bombing in the second world war saw many dead and vast areas of bomb damage.

Extensive re-building commenced after the cessation of war which saw the introduction of much new housing, an inner ring road, Aston University and the Bullring. Other shopping centres including the Pallisades, Pavilions and eventually Mail Box were created.

However, manufacturing declined and was replaced with service industries.

The International Conference Centre was opened and a modern tram system was started in the last few years of the century.

Post millennium saw the city turn into an education, tourist and financial centre.

Things to Do:

A good range of attractions to visit are scattered throughout the city. The following may wish to be considered when visiting Birmingham.

Cadbury World:

Located in the south west of the city you can find out the history of chocolate and see how it is made.

National Sea Life Centre:

Walk through a tunnel surrounded by a million litre tank and watch exotic sea creatures from around the world.

Thinktank-Birmingham Science Museum:

Contains ten themed galleries with a fantastic planetarium. Full sized locomotives and aircraft are also amongst the inter-active displays.

Back to Back Housing:

Gives an insight into 19th century working class home life. It traces people’s lives from 1840 to 1977. Run by the National Trust it is located in Hurst/Inge Street close to China Town.

BBC Birmingham Public Space and Tours:

An interesting look at locally made radio and TV programmes. To be found in The Mailbox.

Museum of the Jewellery Quarter and Pen Museum:

wander amongst art galleries, 100 jewellery shops and 200 listed  Take the tram from New Street or Snow Hill stations.

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery:

located in the city centre has a wealth of artifacts to view. Also contains an atmospheric café.

Canals:

Amazingly, the city has more canals than Venice, many of which have been renovated and very pleasant to wander amongst the independent shops and visit the many restaurants.

Sport:

As well as League football, county cricket is played at Edgbaston. Tennis and other major sports are put on at the National Indoor Arena.

Further afield Warwick Castle, Stratford on Avon, Leamington Spa and Lichfield Cathedral are accessible.

Night Life:

Broad Street is the place to head for bars, pubs and clubs for a good night out. The Mailbox also houses good restaurants and late night entertainment. An established gay village scene is on hand within the B5 postal district.

For theatre that shows West End musicals visit the Hippodrome, with further stage entertainment at the New Alexandra Theatre and the Repertory Theatre.

There are half a dozen comedy clubs in the city.

Also ready available are cinemas, casinos, bowling alleys etc..

Eating Out:

The city centre contains a huge variety of eating establishments. These can be found as independent restaurants and cafes to national chains, mainly to be found in the Malls. There is also good eating out to be found in the hotels and department stores. Prices range from budget to gourmet.

The large ethnic population ensures a wealth of exotic eating out places. There is a very good  China Town and Balti Quarter.

Shopping:

The shopping experience in Birmingham has improved tremendously in the past decade or two. The old, tired Bullring has been completely refurbished and introduced new department stores such as Selfridges and other additional chain stores.

The Bullring is an extension to New Street, where the main central railway station is located. A new shopping centre has opened in Grand Central, above New Street Station.. .

The Mailbox is another new shopping centre formed from the old Royal Mail sorting office. This houses a Harvey Nicholls store and also BBC Birmingham.

Other streets such as Corporation Street and others in the city centre also have a range of shops.,

Accommodation:

As a major city it is taken that a large variety of national and international hotels, of all price ranges, are located. These can be found throughout the city centre and further out to suburbs and airport.

Guest houses and local small hotels are generally found in the suburbs and lining main roads entering the metropolis.

Transport:-

Rail:

Due to its importance and size the city became a rail centre from the advent of the industry. New Street, the very heart of the city is a through station and terminus which sees trains operate to and from the whole of Great Britain. Fast trains connect the city to London Euston, Manchester Piccadilly and Glasgow plus every major city and town. Midland suburban trains run from Moor Street and Snow Hill stations. Snow Hill is a stop on the new tram system which runs out to West Bromwich and Wolverhampton and starts at New Street Station. Check web site at National Rail.

Road:

Birmingham is at the very heart of the English and Welsh road system, signified by Spaghetti Junction in the north west of the city.

The M1/M6 is the London and south east route, together with M42 to Oxford and south coast. The M1 north takes in the East Midlands, Yorkshire and North East England. The M6 is for Manchester, Liverpool and North West England.

For the South West the M5 should be taken, combined with M4 for South Wales.

Buses:

From Digbeth bus station National Express run a network of coaches throughout the UK. Service buses throughout the city and suburbs are run by Network West Midlands. Check their web site for timetables.

Taxis:

At least a dozen taxi firms operate throughout the city.

Air:

Birmingham International Airport, to the south east of the city, is connected to 110 cities throughout United Kingdom,  Europe and the world.

BIRMINGHAM CITY

Stadium:- St.Andrew’s Stadium, Birmingham, B9 4RL

Founded - 1875                                     

Joined League - 1892

Chairman - Paul Suen                    

Manager -  Tony Mowbray

Current League -  League One

Phone Number - 0844 557 1875

Email Address - reception@bcfc.com

Brief History:

Birmingham City came into existence in 1875 under the name of Small Heath and this name was still in use when they entered the League in 1892. Due to the League becoming a more national competition the club changed their name to Birmingham in 1905 and this remained until 1943 when they became Birmingham City.

The club’s home ground was Muntz Street, Small Heath, until they moved to their current St. Andrew’s stadium in 1906.

They were the first club to become a Limited Company, which occurred in 1888.

City became the first English club to play in Europe when they entered the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1955, when they scored a creditable 0-0 draw with Inter Milan. They reached the final of this competition in 1960 and 1961 but lost on both occasions. They did however become the first English team to beat Inter Milan at the San Siro Stadium, in 1961, during the rounds.

City player, Trevor Francis, became the League’s first £1 million player when he transferred to Nottingham Forest in 1979.

Surprisingly, for a club that takes the name of England’s second city, Birmingham City has never won the League Championship or the FA Cup. They currently play in the Championship.

Honours:  

League Cup:- 

1963. 2011

Match Day:

Tickets:

Away visitors should apply to their own club for tickets at St. Andrews. Alternatively Ticketmaster also handle Birmingham City match tickets. For further information email  ticket.office@bcfc.com.

Transport:

Located in the centre of England getting to the city is no problem with good road and rail links and therefore reasonable access to St. Andrews is available.

Train:

Unfortunately there is no railway station adjacent to the stadium. There is a station at nearby Bordesley which is used for fans visiting Birmingham City. It is a 10 minute walk from station to ground. Before attempting this route check with National Rail regarding timetable and fares. The station lies on the Moor Street to Leamington Spa line.

Advisedly if travelling by train you need to aim for New Street and Moor Street stations and then take an onward journey by bus or taxi. The distance from stations to ground is 1.3 miles from New Street and 1.9 miles from Moor Street.

Buses:

Again, Moor Street is the hub to pick up a bus to the stadium. Buses 17, 58, 59, 60, 97 and 97a ply this route. The bus takes 15-20 minutes.

The energetic can walk the same route in 30 minutes.

Road:

Birmingham is surrounded by motorways, M5, M6, M40 and M42.

If travelling from the West of England or South Wales take the M5 to junction of M42 and head east along same. Travel until you see A45 junction and head up Coventry Road to the stadium.

From the North West take the M6 turn down the A38(M) and then the A45 south east to the stadium.

From the North take the M1 until the M42 and then south west until the M42 and then south to the A45 and travel north west up Coventry Road to stadium.

From London and South of England use the M40 until you reach the M42, then travel north east until the A45 and turn left onto Coventry Road which will take you to the stadium.

There is some on street parking and a small car park at the ground which has a small charge. There is also a pay car park at Birmingham Wheels on Adderley Road South, BN8 1AD.

Stadium

St. Andrews opened in 1906 and been rebuilt over the years.

There are four stands. A large two tier stand incorporates the Spion Kop and Tilton Road Stands and covers half the ground. Spion Kop incorporates the executive and director’s boxes.

The Gil Merrick Stand is another large two tier stand which houses away fans and the fourth stand is the smallest, the Garrison Lane stand.

Food, ranging from pies to burgers, and drink, including alcohol, are available in the stand concourse.

The atmosphere created is excellent.

There is a superstore on Cattell Road  close to the Kop stand.

Stadium tours can be booked through the ticket office and currently cost £12 for adults and £6 concessions.

There is a cash point at Morrisons on the Kop side of the ground.