1887–88 West Bromwich Albion F.C. season

The 1887–88 season was the 10th season in the history of West Bromwich Albion Football Club. The club reached the FA Cup final for the third successive season and won the competition for the first time, beating Preston North End 2–1. Albion also competed in four local cup competitions, winning the Walsall Senior Cup and West Bromwich Charity Cup and finishing as runners-up in the Birmingham Senior Cup and Staffordshire Senior Cup. Due to a congested fixture list, the club refused to take part in the Birmingham Charity Cup.[3]

West Bromwich Albion
1887–88 season
ChairmanHenry Jackson/Edward W. Heelis[1][nb 1]
ManagerNone[2][nb 2]
StadiumStoney Lane
FA CupWinners
Birmingham Senior CupRunners-up
Staffordshire Senior CupRunners-up
Walsall Senior CupWinners
West Bromwich Charity CupWinners
Top goalscorerLeague: N/A[nb 3]
All: Jem Bayliss (25)[nb 4]
Highest home attendance9,093 (vs Stoke, 7 January 1888)[nb 4]
Lowest home attendance2,484 (vs Wednesbury Old Athletic, 15 October 1887)[nb 4]
Average home league attendance5,757[nb 4]

FA Cup
See also: 1887–88 FA Cup and 1888 FA Cup Final

West Bromwich Albion began their fifth season in the FA Cup with a 7–1 first round victory against Wednesbury Old Athletic, including a hat-trick from Jem Bayliss. Bayliss also scored the only goal of the second round match away at Mitchell St George's. Albion defeated Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers (2–0) in round three. After receiving a bye in the fourth round, Albion faced Stoke in round five. Bayliss scored all four of Albion's goals in a 4–1 victory, becoming the first Albion player to score four in an FA Cup game.[4] Old Carthusians were defeated 4–2 in the quarter-final.

The semi-final took place at Stoke's Victoria Ground and saw Albion beat Derby Junction 3–0. Goals from Bayliss, Wilson and Woodhall saw Albion reach the final for the third year running.[5] In the final, the team faced Preston North End at the Kennington Oval in front of 18,904 spectators. Billy Bassett crossed the ball for Bayliss to put Albion ahead, his 10th goal of the competition. Preston equalised just after half-time, but Bassett's pass set up Woodhall for the winning goal and Albion's first major honour. Upon their return to West Bromwich, the players were greeted by thousands of supporters as they drove through the town in a "four-horse brake".[6]

RoundDateOpponentVenueResult[nb 5]GoalscorersAttendance
115 October 1887Wednesbury Old AthleticH7–1Bayliss 3, Wilson 2, Pearson, E. Horton2,484
25 November 1887Mitchell St George'sA1–0Bayliss7,800
326 November 1887Wolverhampton WanderersH2–0Bassett, Wilson7,429
4Albion received a bye to the fifth round
57 January 1888StokeH4–1Bayliss 49,093
628 January 1888Old CarthusiansH4–2Pearson 2, Wilson 28,818
SF18 February 1888Derby JunctionN3–0Bayliss, Wilson, Woodhall5,996
F24 March 1888Preston North EndN2–1Bayliss, Woodhall18,904

Source for match details:[5]

Birmingham Senior Cup
Joe Wilson scored in the semi-finals of four cup competitions.

In what was their seventh Birmingham Senior Cup campaign, Albion beat Small Heath Alliance in the first round, with both goals scored by Jem Bayliss. There followed victories over Burslem Port Vale, Aston Shakespeare and Mitchell St. George's. Goals from Joe Wilson and George Timmins were enough to see off Wolverhampton Wanderers in the semi-final, a result that meant that Albion had reached the final without having conceded a goal, and was their third Birmingham Senior Cup final in as many seasons. Pearson scored twice for Albion in the final at Aston Lower Grounds, but it was Aston Villa who ran out winners, by a 3–2 scoreline.[7]

RoundDateOpponentVenueResult[nb 5]GoalscorersAttendance
18 October 1887Small Heath AllianceH2–0Bayliss 24,000
231 October 1887Burslem Port ValeA3–0Askin, Bayliss, J. Horton2,500
319 November 1887Aston ShakespeareH3–0G. Bell, Woodhall 23,500
424 December 1887Mitchell St. George'sH4–0Wilson 2, Pearson, Woodhall4,500
SF11 February 1888Wolverhampton WanderersH2–0Wilson, Timmins5,000
F3 March 1888Aston VillaN2–3Pearson 212,000

Source for match details:[7]

Staffordshire Senior Cup

West Bromwich Albion recorded their biggest win of the season by defeating Burton Wanderers 12–2 in the first round of the 1887–88 Staffordshire Senior Cup, including hat-tricks from Woodhall and Bayliss. They then beat Wednesbury Old Athletic (2–1) and Leek (3–2) respectively. The club won away from home for the fourth time in succession when they beat Stoke in the semi-final; a Joe Wilson goal was enough to secure the victory for Albion.

Albion were participating in the competition for the sixth time and aiming to win the trophy for a third season in succession. The final against Wolverhampton Wanderers required two replays to determine a winner: after 0–0 and 1–1 draws, both played at Stoke, Albion lost the second replay 1–2 at home, despite Woodhall's seventh goal of the competition.[8]

RoundDateOpponentVenueResult[nb 5]GoalscorersAttendance
11 October 1887Burton WanderersA12–2Black (o.g.), Woodhall 3, Pearson 2, Bayliss 3, Wilson, Bassett 23,500
228 November 1887Wednesbury Old AthleticA2–1Woodhall, Bayliss3,000
331 December 1887LeekA3–2Woodhall, Pearson, Wilson2,700
SF17 March 1888StokeA1–0Wilson5,500
F31 March 1887Wolverhampton WanderersN0–0—8,000
F(R)14 April 1888Wolverhampton WanderersN1–1[nb 6]Woodhall8,500
F(2R)28 April 1888Wolverhampton WanderersH1–2Woodhall7,000

Source for match details:[8]

Walsall Senior Cup

West Bromwich Albion usually put out their reserves for the Walsall Senior Cup. However, after two draws against Oldbury Town in the first round, it was decided that the first team should participate in the second replay. Albion won the match 5–1, before the second team took over once more, beating Walsall Swifts in the final by a 4–1 scoreline.[9]

RoundDateOpponentVenueResult[nb 5]GoalscorersAttendance
1 (2R)12 December 1887Oldbury TownA5–1Bayliss 3, Askin, H. Green1,000

Source for match details:[9]

West Bromwich Charity Cup

Taking part in the West Bromwich Charity Cup for the first time, Albion defeated Wednesbury Old Athletic 4–1 in the semi-final, which saw "skirmishes" between the two sets of supporters. In the final, the club recorded their second biggest win of the season, beating Great Bridge Unity 10–1.[10]

RoundDateOpponentVenueResult[nb 5]GoalscorersAttendance
SF7 May 1888Wednesbury Old AthleticH4–1Wilson, Bayliss, Woodhall 25,000
F21 May 1888Great Bridge UnityH10–1Bayliss 4, Wilson 2, Bassett 2, Woodhall, H. Green6,500

Source for match details:[10]

Friendlies and benefit matches

With league football yet to be established, West Bromwich Albion played in a number of friendly matches throughout the season.

DateOpponentVenueResult[nb 5]
27 August 1887Oldbury Town CrosswellsA1–0
3 September 1887Sheffield WednesdayH4–1
10 September 1887Third Lanark Rifle VolunteersA0–2
17 September 1887StokeH4–0
24 September 1887Bolton WanderersA1–1
3 October 1887Notts County[nb 7]H5–1
17 October 1887Walsall TownH8–0
22 October 1887Blackburn RoversA6–7
29 October 1887Lincoln CityH4–1
7 November 1887Bolton WanderersH6–0
12 November 1887Preston North EndA2–4
14 November 1887Brierley Hill Alliance[nb 8]A3–0
21 November 1887Oxford UniversityA6–2
3 December 1887BurnleyH3–0
5 December 1887Cambridge UniversityH5–0
10 December 1887Lincoln CityA6–1
17 December 1887Long Eaton RangersH3–1
26 December 1887Wolverhampton WanderersH1–1
14 January 1888Notts County[nb 7]A3–3
21 January 1888Wolverhampton WanderersA5–0
4 February 1888Oxford UniversityA5–0
25 February 1888Aston VillaH4–1
27 February 1888Cambridge UniversityA6–1
10 March 1888Aston VillaA4–0
2 April 1888Third Lanark Rifle VolunteersA0–3
3 April 1888Newcastle West EndA5–1
7 April 1888EvertonA1–0
16 April 1888BurnleyA1–0
21 April 1888Preston North EndH2–2
5 May 1888Blackburn RoversH2–1
12 May 1888Third Lanark Rifle VolunteersH5–2
19 May 1888Renton[nb 9]N1–4
22 May 1888Walsall Town Swifts[nb 10]H3–0
26 May 1888Aston VillaA1–1
28 May 1888Preston North EndA0–2

Source for match details:[11]

See also

Footnotes
  1. Heelis succeeded Jackson at some point during 1888, but the source does not specify whether this was during 1887–88 or 1888–89.
  2. Albion did not have a secretary-manager until 1890 and did not appoint a full-time manager until 1948.
  3. There was no league football in England until 1888–89.
  4. Includes all matches in the FA Cup, Birmingham Senior Cup, Staffordshire Senior Cup, and West Bromwich Charity Cup. Only the first round second replay of the Walsall Senior Cup is included, since all other matches in the competition were contested by Albion's reserve team.
  5. West Bromwich Albion's score is listed first, regardless of venue or result.
  6. After extra time.
  7. The source refers to the team as Nottingham County.
  8. Benefit match for Brockmoor Colliery Relief Fund
  9. This match was played to decide the 'Championship of the World'.
  10. Benefit match for R. Roberts

References
Citations
  1. Matthews (2005) p. 267.
  2. Matthews (2005) pp. 257–258.
  3. Matthews (1987) p. 207.
  4. Matthews (2007) pp. 392–394.
  5. Matthews (1987) p. 158.
  6. Jones p. 22–23.
  7. Matthews (1987) pp. 202–203.
  8. Matthews (1987) pp. 205–206.
  9. Matthews (1987) p. 204.
  10. Matthews (1987) p. 209.
  11. Matthews (1987) pp. 210 & 214.
Sources
  • Morris, Peter (1965). West Bromwich Albion: Soccer in the Black Country. Heinemann.
  • McOwan, Gavin (2002). The Essential History of West Bromwich Albion. Headline. ISBN 0-7553-1146-9.
  • Matthews, Tony; Mackenzie, Colin (1987). Albion! A Complete Record of West Bromwich Albion 1879-1987. Breedon Books. ISBN 0-907969-23-2.
  • Matthews, Tony (2005). The Who's Who of West Bromwich Albion. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-474-4.
  • Matthews, Tony (2007). West Bromwich Albion: The Complete Record. Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-565-4.
  • Willmore, G.A. (1980). West Bromwich Albion: The First Hundred Years. Readers Union.
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