The 1903–04 Football League season was Small Heath Football Club's 12th in the Football League and their 4th in the First Division, having been promoted from the Second Division as runners-up in 1902–03. After spending much of the season in the relegation places, they won six of the last nine matches to finish in 11th place in the 18-team league. They also took part in the 1903–04 FA Cup, entering at the intermediate round (between the qualifying rounds and the rounds proper) and losing in that round to Manchester United after three replays. In locally organised competition, they lost to Aston Villa in the first round of the Birmingham Senior Cup.
Twenty-three players made at least one appearance in nationally organised first-team competition, and there were twelve different goalscorers. Forward Charlie Athersmith played in 37 matches over the 38-match season. Billy Jones and Freddie Wilcox were joint leading scorers with eight goals, all of which came in the league.
Football League First Division DateLeaguepositionOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendance1 September 19036thDerby CountyAL1–4Leonard5,0005 September 190316thSheffield UnitedHL1–3Wilcox12,0007 September 190311thNottingham ForestHD3–3Leonard, Wilcox, Athersmith9,00012 September 190315thNewcastle UnitedHL1–3 Wilcox6,00019 September 190314thAston VillaHD2–2 Wilcox, Robertson25,00026 September 190317thMiddlesbroughAL1–3Howard20,0003 October 190318thLiverpoolHL1–2Wigmore10,00010 October 190318thBuryAL0–14,00017 October 190317thBlackburn RoversHW2–1Windridge 210,00024 October 190315thNottingham ForestAW1–0 Wilcox7,00031 October 190315thSheffield WednesdayHD0–012,0007 November 190317thSunderlandAL1–3Wigmore14,00014 November 190317thWest Bromwich AlbionHL0–112,56321 November 190317thWolverhampton WanderersAL0–17,00028 November 190318thEvertonAL1–5Leonard5,0005 December 190317thStokeHW1–0Robertson5,00019 December 190318thManchester CityHL0–315,00026 December 190318thNotts CountyAL0–212,0002 January 190418thSheffield UnitedAD1–1Jones12,0009 January 190417thNewcastle UnitedHW3–0Beer 2, Jones8,00016 January 190418thAston VillaAD1–1Green20,00023 January 190418thMiddlesbroughHD2–2Athersmith, Field11,00030 January 190416thLiverpoolAW2–0Jones, Wilcox20,00013 February 190416thBlackburn RoversAD1–1Jones2,00027 February 190418thSheffield WednesdayAL2–3Jones 27,0005 March 190416thSunderlandHW2–1Beer 212,00012 March 190415thWest Bromwich AlbionAW1–0Green22,76019 March 190414thWolverhampton WanderersHW3–0Green, Beer, Wilcox12,00026 March 190413thEvertonHD1–1Beer12,0002 April 190415thStokeAL0–16,0004 April 190414thBuryHW1–0 Wilcox15,0009 April 190413thDerby CountyHW1–0Jones8,00016 April 190414thManchester CityAL0–415,00023 April 190411thNotts CountyHW2–0Green, Jones8,000
League table (part)
+Final First Division table (part)PosClubPldWDLFAGAPts9thNottingham Forest341191457571.003110thMiddlesbrough349121346470.983011thSmall Heath341181539520.753012thBury347151240530.762913thNotts County341251737610.6129Key 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 = PointsSource"Birmingham City 1903–1904: English Division One (old) Table" . Statto Organisation. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceIntermediate round12 December 1903Manchester UnitedAD1–1Wassell10,000Int. round replay16 December 1903Manchester UnitedHD1–1a.e.tLeonard4,000Int. round second replay21 December 1903Manchester UnitedBramall Lane, SheffieldD1–1a.e.tField5,000Int. round third replay11 January 1904Manchester UnitedHyde Road, ManchesterL1–3Athersmith9,372
Appearances and goals
This table includes appearances and goals in nationally organised competitive matchesthe Football League and FA Cuponly. For a description of the playing positions, see Formation (association football)#2–3–5 (Pyramid). Players marked left the club during the playing season.
+ Players' appearances and goals by competitionNamePositionLeagueFA CupTotalGoalsGoalsGoals Goalkeeper300030 Goalkeeper31040350 Full back100010 Full back14000140 Full back10000100 Full back26040300 Full back16031191 Half back23640276 Half back400040 Half back9010100 Half back401050 Half back200020 Half back28130311 Half back31240352 Forward33241373 Forward22121242 Forward23430264 Forward21820238 Forward16321184 Forward14000140 Forward621072 Forward28840328 Forward9220112
See also Birmingham City F.C. seasons
References General Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Breedon Books (Derby). . Matthews, Tony (2010). Birmingham City: The Complete Record. DB Publishing (Derby). . Source for match dates and results: "Birmingham City 1903–1904: Results". Statto Organisation. Retrieved 23 May 2012. Source for lineups, appearances, goalscorers and attendances: Matthews (2010), Complete Record, pp. 252–53. Note that attendance figures are estimated. Source for kit: "Birmingham City". Historical Football Kits. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
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