Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "History of Birmingham City F.C. (1875–1965)" in English language version.
If you happened to pass a health clinic yesterday, or on any day since April 4, you would have seen a queue—a big one—of mothers and children, teenagers and young people at work, waiting for polio inoculations. Why since April 4? Because that was the day that Jeff Hall, the Birmingham and England full-back, died of the disease. Before that there were few queues. Polio injections had been made available to more than 6,000,000 youngsters between 15 and 26, and many appeals were made to them to take advantage of it. But by the end of February only one in 12 of them had paid attention to the warning. Jeff Hall's death changed all that.
The rejected applicants for admission to the Football League did not lose much time in making other arrangements, which have resulted in the formation of another league under the title of the Football Alliance. This entirely destroys the badly managed Football Combination of last season, and also seriously interferes with the proposed organisation of the Northern and Midland Counties Leagues.
People in Birmingham are blaming the Small Heath directors for not strengthening their team. ... Despite this the executive will not have a Scotchman though possibly their weak spot – at half-back – might therefore be remedied. Their patriotism is more to be commended than their judgment.
While the majority of the players have fallen far short of expectation, it is not clear that the team has been managed to the best advantage. No fewer than four centre forwards have been played in a month, which is hardly likely to give any one of them a fair chance, while at least one man took part in Saturday's game who was quite out of condition, and not fit to take part in any match of importance.
When this club obtained its position in the First League last season the committee had a splendid chance of obtaining big "gates" and doing well. But the chances were thrown away. They were afraid to speculate ... and went on with the old team last season, and they delayed enterprise this year until too late.
Speculation has been rife in football circles as to the price paid by Aston Villa for the transfer of Wheldon, the Small Heath inside left. It turns out that the terms are higher than have ever been concluded, it being officially stated at the annual meeting of the Small Heath club in Birmingham on Friday evening that the sum guaranteed was £350, with a prospect of a still further amount conditional on the proceeds of a match to be played in the autumn. Aston Villa are also paying Wheldon a big salary for his services.
It was also resolved that instructions be sent out to referees, asking them to inspect and observe the condition of nets prior to the commencement of League games.
Merrick's reward, however, was the sack, delivered abruptly in the spring of 1964, a decision which left him heartbroken as he believed he had laid the foundations for a successful future.
Smith was an inspirational figure in both legs of their League Cup victory over local rivals Aston Villa in 1963, especially in the goalless second game at Villa Park, when his tight marking of the combative Bobby Thomson was a crucial factor in the Blues maintaining their 3–1 advantage from the opening encounter.
It was a fair result but I still say to this day that if Roy Warhurst had been fit then there would only have been one winner.
For 36 years he did not set foot in St Andrew's, but in later years he returned to the fold; and in 2009 the club renamed the ground's Railway End Stand after Gil Merrick.
It was a fair result but I still say to this day that if Roy Warhurst had been fit then there would only have been one winner.
