On this day in 1879, the first ever Birmingham Derby took place with Birmingham City winning 1-0 against Aston Villa.
Like many other football clubs of that era, the two clubs’ origins lie in cricket…and the church. Both were formed by members of cricket clubs who were looking for a recreational activity for the winter months.
Birmingham City were founded in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance by a cricket team based at the Holy Trinity Church in east Birmingham, while Aston Villa was formed in 1874 by four players of the Villa Cross Wesleyan Chapel cricket team.