Which Blues legend was sacked due to an Eric Cantona like incident with the crowd? When were Blues first nicknamed “Blues”? Which Midlands club is one of only 6 English clubs to have achieved a 100% home league record during a season?

The answers to all these and more can be found in David Ely’s entertaining early history of the Blues “The Uphill fighters of Small Heath” which covers the history of Blues from their formation up to the outbreak of The Great War.

Given that next year marks the 150th anniversary of the formation of Blues (as Small Heath Alliance) it’s very appropriate timing for the publication of this book which brings to life a number of significant events in the early history of the club. The book covers the origins of the club, as a group of cricketers from Trinity Church who looked to break away and give themselves something to do in the winter months, through to professionalism, election to the Football League, the adoption of the “Blues” nickname, the building of St. Andrew’s and the struggle to establish themselves as a football force.

Though there are several “typical Blues” moments – winning the inaugural Division 2 Championship in 1892/3 yet failing to get promoted and the disastrous first season at St. Andrew’s to name a couple – there are also many impressive highs too. Amongst these were an FA Cup semi-final appearance, a 100% home league record during a season and a genuine attempt to win the First Division title where after two-thirds of the season the club were strong contenders. Off the field Small Heath were pioneers, becoming the first club to turn themselves into a Limited liability company with shareholders – an innovation that was to be copied across the country and the globe.

One of the themes of the book is the rivalry with our friends across the Expressway and the struggle to establish Blues against a team in the same city who were phenomenally successful during the Victorian era (even if not very much so since). Another theme are the financial battles that many clubs had at the time. Through both of these struggles the book charts how Blues famous resolve and resilience blossomed.

The book is meticulously researched, drawing on a variety of contemporaneous resources to give a rich picture of events. It is also well illustrated with photos, tables and clippings. Some football history books can be quite dry but the author avoids this by bringing a multitude of characters to life as well as including a variety of colourful episodes, such as Blues first foreign tour.

As a Blues fan who knew something of the club’s history I learned quite a lot from this lively and entertaining read.

The Uphill Fighters of Small Heath: The Story of Birmingham City Football Club’s First Forty Years (1875 to 1915) – David Ely (Old Boots Publishing)

The Uphill Fighters of Small Heath by David Ely | Waterstones

https://amzn.eu/d/eRmmnck

Neil Cottrell
Chair, Blues Trust