The 1985–86 Football League season was Birmingham City Football Club's 83rd in the Football League and their 50th in the First Division, to which they were promoted in 1984–85. They finished in 21st position in the 22-team division, so were relegated back to the Second Division after only one season. They entered the 1985–86 FA Cup in the third round proper and lost in that round, at home to non-league club Altrincham, a result that precipitated the resignation of Ron Saunders as manager. They were eliminated from the League Cup by Southampton in a third-round replay. John Bond succeeded Saunders as manager.

The top scorer was Andy Kennedy with just nine goals, of which seven were scored in league competition.

With the team already in the relegation positions, chairman Keith Coombs resigned in December 1985, selling his 70% shareholding to the former chairman of Walsall F.C., Ken Wheldon, who took over as chairman. The club's serious financial situation, not helped by low attendances, led to the departure of several senior administrative staff.Matthews (1995), Complete Record, p. 44.

Football League First Division

DateLeaguepositionOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendance17 August 19855thWest Ham UnitedHW1–0Hopkins11,16420 August 198511thWatfordAL0–314,27824 August 198517thChelseaAL0–216,53426 August 19859thOxford UnitedHW3–1Kennedy, Briggs og, Hopkins10,56831 August 198512thEvertonAL1–4Kennedy28,0663 September 198510thManchester CityHW1–0Geddis11,7067 September 198511thAston VillaHD0–024,97114 September 198510thIpswich TownAW1–0Geddis11,61621 September 19858thLeicester CityHW2–1Geddis 29,83428 September 198510thQueens Park RangersAL1–3Armstrong10,9115 October 198512thSheffield WednesdayHL0–211,70819 October 198514thWest Bromwich AlbionAL1–2Kennedy14,57626 October 198515thCoventry CityHL0–19,2672 November 198517thLuton TownAL0–28,5509 November 198517thNewcastle UnitedHL0–18,16216 November 198517thSouthamptonAL0–113,16723 November 198520thLiverpoolHL0–215,06230 November 198520thArsenalAD0–016,6737 December 198520thWatfordHL1–2Wright pen7,04314 December 198520thWest Ham UnitedAL0–217,48121 December 198520thChelseaHL1–2Platnauer10,59426 December 198521stNottingham ForestHL0–110,37828 December 198521stManchester CityAD1–1Geddis24,0551 January 198621stManchester UnitedAL0–143,09511 January 198621stIpswich TownHL0–16,85618 January 198621stEvertonHL0–210,5021 February 198621stOxford UnitedAW1–0Clarke9,0868 February 198621stWest Bromwich AlbionHL0–111,51416 February 198621stCoventry CityAD4–4Kennedy 2, Whitton, Kuhl14,2711 March 198621stQueens Park RangersHW2–0Clarke pen, Hopkins7,0938 March 198621stSheffield WednesdayAL1–5Geddis17,49112 March 198621stLeicester CityAL2–4Clarke, Kennedy8,45815 March 198621stTottenham HotspurHL1–2Kennedy9,39422 March 198621stAston VillaAW3–0Clarke 2, Whitton26,29429 March 198621stManchester UnitedHD1–1Handysides22,55131 March 198621stNottingham ForestAL0–313,1346 April 198621stLuton TownHL0–28,83612 April 198621stNewcastle UnitedAL1–4Hopkins19,98116 April 198621stTottenham HotspurAL0–29,35919 April 198621stSouthamptonHL0–25,83326 April 198621stLiverpoolAL0–542,0213 May 198621stArsenalHL0–16,234

League table (part)

+Final First Division table (part)Team18thOxford United421012206280−184219thLeicester City421012205476−224220thIpswich Town42118233255−234121stBirmingham City4285293073−432922ndWest Bromwich Albion42412263589−5424

Results summary

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceThird round14 January 1986AltrinchamHL1–2Hopkins6,636

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceSecond round 1st leg24 September 1985Bristol RoversAW3–2Wright 2 (2 pens), Geddis4,332Second round 2nd leg8 October 1985Bristol RoversHW2–1Kennedy, Tanner og3,686Third round29 October 1985SouthamptonHD1–1Kennedy4,832Third round replay6 November 1985SouthamptonAL0–39,085

Appearances and goals

Numbers in parentheses denote appearances made as a substitute. Players with name in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Birmingham. Players marked left the club during the playing season. Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward

+ Players' appearances and goals by competitionNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalGoalsGoalsGoalsGoalsGKDavid Seaman4201040470DFKen Armstrong2211030261DFJulian Dicks18 (5)0101 (1)020 (6)0DFBilly Garton *50000050DFJim Hagan310103 (1)035 (1)0DFMark Jones1900030220DFRay Ranson3701030410DFBrian Roberts31 (2)0104036 (2)0DFMark Smalley *70000070DFBilly Wright2910 (1)03 (1)232 (2)3MFDes Bremner3201030360MF Gerry Daly 20000020MFJohn Frain1 (2)000001 (2)0MFIan Handysides61000061MFRobert Hopkins3841140435MF Lee Jenkins 10000010MFMartin Kuhl33 (4)1103037 (4)1MFNick Platnauer12 (5)1103016 (5)1MFBilly Ronson *20000020MFStuart Storer20000020FWWayne Clarke2850000285FWDavid Geddis25 (1)6003028 (1)6FWAndy Kennedy27 (5)7104232 (5)9FWTony Rees4 (4)000004 (4)0FWGuy Russell0 (1)000000 (1)0FWSteve Whitton82000082

See also Birmingham City F.C. seasons

Sources

For match dates, league positions and results: For lineups, appearances, goalscorers and attendances: Matthews (2010), Complete Record, pp. 406–07.

References