The 1881–82 season was the 4th season of West Bromwich Albion Football Club. For this season only, Albion played their home matches at their third ground, Bunn's Field, which became known as The Birches.Matthews (2007) p. 64. 1881–82 was Albion's first season of competitive football: the club entered the Birmingham Senior Cup for the first time, reaching the semi-finals.

Birmingham Senior Cup

Albion took part in the Birmingham Senior Cup for the first time and were drawn away from home in the first four rounds. The club played their first recorded competitive match on 12 November 1881, winning 3–2 against Calthorpe. Albion then defeated Elwells and Fallings Heath, though the goalscorers for the first three rounds were not recorded. There followed a 5–2 fourth round victory over Notts Rangers. The semi-final took place at Aston Lower Grounds and was against Wednesbury Old Athletic. Billy Bisseker and Harry Aston scored for Albion but Wednesbury won 3–2.Matthews (1987) pp. 202–203.

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultGoalscorersAttendance112 November 1881CalthorpeA3–2?1,000210 December 1881ElwellsA2–1?800321 January 1882Fallings HeathA3–1?1,200418 February 1882Notts RangersA5–2Stokes, Bisseker, Whitehouse, Aston 2500SF25 March 1882Wednesbury Old AthleticN2–3Bisseker, Aston1,000

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Friendly matches

With league football yet to be established, West Bromwich Albion took part in a number of friendly matches throughout the season. Billy Bisseker scored five goals in the 12–0 win against Milton.Matthews (1987) p. 214. The record of the club's matches during their early years is not complete, thus several of the scores are missing.

+DateOpponentVenueResult10 September 1881OldburyH5–11 October 1881The GroveA2–38 October 1881MiltonH12–05 November 1881MiltonA3–0Match abandoned after 35 minutes when the ball burst.19 November 1881Walsall UnityA—Score not recorded.26 November 1881The GroveH2–43 December 1881NechellsH9–117 December 1881Walsall Alma AthleticH—24 December 1881Wednesfield RoversH—7 January 1882Brunswick Wheel WorksA2–114 January 1882Fallings Heath RangersH—28 January 1882StourbridgeH—4 February 1882West Bromwich RoversH6–125 February 1882Fallings Heath RangersH5–04 March 1882St Luke'sH10–011 March 1882NechellsA—9 April 1882Aston UnityA2–3

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See also 1881–82 in English football

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