302:
245:
386:
515:, Muntz Street leaves the Coventry Road heading north-east, crossed by Wright Street. Gessey's field is on the south-eastern side of Muntz St, adjacent to the north-eastern side of the short part of Wright St, and with open country to the other two sides. At the centre left of the map, above the words "Small Heath", and bounded by Coventry Road, Cattell Road, Kelynge Street (now Tilton Road), Garrison Lane and the railway, is the site of the future
365:
passed overhead and deposited on the pitch for their own safety. The following Monday the same newspaper commented that had space been available, another ten or fifteen thousand spectators might well have attended, as "hundreds of people found the doors closed against them, and probably there were thousands who would not go to the ground in view of the inevitable crush." The size of the crowd preferring to attend the same day's
36:
364:
reported "a constant stream of vehicles to the ground, while the trams were disgorging their freights at Muntz Street every two or three minutes." Inside, "the swaying of the mass of spectators rendered the placing of additional supports against the barriers a necessary precaution", and children were
288:
ran along the
Coventry Road, linking Small Heath with the city centre and with other nearby districts. In 1882, the building of a tramline along the Coventry Road to Small Heath Park was authorised, and four years later, the Coventry Road steam tramway route was opened to a terminus near Dora Road, a
1114:
The number of clubs left in the competition for the
National Cup is rapidly becoming smaller, and as a natural consequence the interest taken in the matches increases. It was not surprising, therefore, that between 5,000 and 6,000 spectators were present on Saturday at the ground of the Small Heath
419:
identified a site three-quarters of a mile (1 km) nearer the city centre where a new ground could be built, on wet, sloping wasteland where a disused brickworks stood, near the railway and St Andrew's Church. Within twelve months of a 21-year lease being signed, the new ground, which
357:
match with Aston Villa highlighted the ground's inadequacies. The official attendance was given as 28,000, though with the gates closed before kick-off, thousands climbed over walls or forced entrances in order to gain admission, and the actual attendance is estimated at anything up to 35,000. The
411:, to renew the lease, which was nearing expiry, or to allow extensions to be made to the ground, which was by then surrounded by tightly-packed housing. The directors estimated that remaining at Muntz Street was losing the club as much as £2000 a year in revenue; the March 1906 cup-tie against
447:", and the crowd silently left the ground which has been the home of the club for so many years and the scene of many brilliant victories and many heartbreaking defeats, and of an uphill struggle from which the club, thanks to the courage of the directors, has at length emerged triumphant.
208:
round it which provided standing accommodation for roughly 10,000 spectators. A wooden stand was built and the terracing raised to expand the capacity to around 30,000, but eventually it proved too small for the football club's needs. They built a new stadium nearer the city centre,
256:
surrounded the pitch, and a hut acted as the players' changing room. A small but well-appointed covered wooden stand was built on the
Coventry Road side, and over the years the terracing was enlarged to raise the capacity to around 30,000. In 1895, the football club bought the
403:
editorial pointed out that "Birmingham has not escaped this great wave of popularity, and the club bearing the name of the city has found itself compelled to seek a new home. Its old one at Small Heath was quite inadequate for the requirements of an important match".
292:
Contemporary reports referred to the ground throughout its lifetime as
Coventry Road. Writer and researcher Steve Beauchampé suggests that the Muntz Street name may have been adopted to distinguish it from St Andrew's, which was also built just off the Coventry Road.
277:. The club transported it piece by piece, and re-erected it as a terrace cover behind the goal at the Muntz Street end. No other major improvements were made, nor did the club ever move their administrative offices to the site, instead maintaining premises in
329:
trenches". The first meeting between Small Heath and Aston Villa – who went on to become the club's major rivals – took place in 1879; it resulted in a 1–0 home win, after which the Villa players described the pitch as "only suitable for
1142:
237:, rented for an initial £5 a year from the family of Sam Gessey, a Small Heath player. The field had a capacity of 10,000 spectators, and was situated on the eastern edge of Birmingham's built-up area, just north of the main road to
201:– under the club's former names of Small Heath Alliance, Small Heath and Birmingham – played their home games for nearly 30 years. It also served as the headquarters of the Small Heath Athletic Club.
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213:, which hosted its first game in December 1906. Muntz Street, by then in a heavily built-up area, was demolished in 1907 and the land used for housing. The street of the same name remains.
512:
1088:
325:. This marked the start of a run of 22 games unbeaten at the new ground. The playing surface was notorious for its poor quality – bumpy and stony – and was referred to locally as the "
1115:
Alliance in the
Coventry-road, Birmingham, to witness their tie in the fifth round with Davenham. A keenly contested game was won by the Small Heath Alliance by two goals to one.
478:
Small Heath
Athletic Club (later called Small Heath Harriers) established its headquarters at the Muntz Street ground from the club's foundation in 1891. Though primarily a
1320:
241:. It was bordered on two sides by developed streets, Muntz Street on the western side, Wright Street to the south; the other two sides of the enclosure adjoined farmland.
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467:
XI, comprising players from teams in the
Birmingham area, played several representative football matches at Muntz Street. The ground twice hosted matches against the
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321:
against
Saltley College, was played on 11 September 1877. Small Heath Alliance won 5–0, in front of "a handful" of spectators who contributed gate receipts of
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519:
stadium. Lower down, parallel and very close to the left edge of the map, is Arthur Street, where Small Heath
Alliance first played their matches.
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552:
wrote that "no
English Cup tie could arouse more interest in Birmingham than the meeting between Small Heath and Aston Villa at Coventry Road".
1244:
1237:
1201:
233:, with a capacity estimated at 3,000; because the field was enclosed, admission could be charged. A year later they moved again, to a field in
204:
The Muntz Street ground, then situated on Birmingham's eastern edge and bordered on two sides by farmland, opened in 1877. It was a field with
72:
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756:
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Small Heath Alliance Football Club, founded in 1875, played their first home games on waste ground off Arthur Street, in the
415:
produced receipts of £900 from a crowd restricted to 25,000, with "probably 60,000 people anxious to attend". Club director
229:
stadium would be built some thirty years later. In 1876, they made a temporary move to a fenced-off field in Ladypool Road,
1315:
1230:
261:
to the ground, which had 11 years remaining, for a sum of £275. Two years later, they paid £90 to their near neighbours,
670:
342:
tie away from Muntz Street; the club took the money, won the match and went on to win the competition, their first ever
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774:
289:
few yards past the ground. In the early years of the 20th century, this line was converted for use by electric trams.
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Within months the ground had been demolished, the land cleared and housing built in what became Swanage Road; no
366:
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tie "at the ground of the Small Heath Alliance in the Coventry-road, Birmingham" in 1886. As late as 1905, the
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offered £200 to switch venues in a second-round FA Cup tie; the money was accepted, but without the success.
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65:
468:
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A month later the club changed its name to Birmingham Football Club, to reflect its position as the only
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193:, England, taken from the street on which it stood. During its lifetime the ground was known as
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When it first opened, the ground had few facilities for either player or spectator. Uncovered
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197:; the name "Muntz Street" is a more recent adoption. It was the ground at which the teams of
1210:
226:
198:
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3–1 in the First Division in front of some 10,000 spectators. The last goal was scored by
8:
1082:
New Ordnance Atlas of the British Isles, with large-scale plans of towns... by G.W. Bacon
490:, and during the summer months the athletes were allowed to train on the football pitch.
310:
284:
Muntz Street was readily accessible by public transport. In the early years, horse-drawn
760:
548:, having beaten them earlier in the season "at Coventry Road", and in the same year the
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471:, and between 1898 and 1906 four matches were played against teams representing the
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club in the city. Football as a spectator sport was becoming increasing popular: a
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The last game at Muntz Street was played on 22 December 1906. Birmingham beat
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1037:
The Centenary Book of the Birmingham County Football Association 1875–1975
565:
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The rent had risen to £300 a year, and the landlords refused to sell the
385:
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54:
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1106:"The Association Challenge Cup. Small Heath Alliance v Davenham".
1058:
568:, which did not become part of the city of Birmingham until 1911.
182:
58:
463:
Despite the apparently poor quality of pitch and facilities the
35:
533:
331:
326:
322:
225:
district of Birmingham, very near the site where the club's
626:
The Encyclopedia of Birmingham City Football Club 1875–2000
1057:. Solihull & Small Heath Athletic Club. Archived from
806:
A.B.C. of Small Heath and Bordesley Green Past and Present
377:– at least 3,000 spectators – lent support to that view.
285:
962:"Cup Memories. When Small Heath Alliance Made History".
1174:
716:. Liverpool: Trinity Mirror Sport Media. p. 11.
714:
Keep Right On. The Official Centenary Of St. Andrew's
540:
wrote of Small Heath "only drawing" their match with
1091:. Mapseeker Historical Maps Online. Archived from
1010:"Historical plaques in Birmingham, United Kingdom"
1209:
759:. Acocks Green Historical Society. Archived from
1371:
443:At the conclusion of the match the band played "
898:Linesman (27 February 1905). "Football Notes".
808:. Small Heath Local History Society. p. 5.
1415:Demolished sports venues in the United Kingdom
1195:
338:paid Small Heath £5 to switch the venue of a
1390:Football venues in Birmingham, West Midlands
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590:(3rd ed.). London: CollinsWillow.
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1041:Birmingham County Football Association
1034:
875:
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669:Beauchampé, Steve (26 December 2006).
649:
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465:Birmingham County Football Association
380:
16:Stadium in Small Heath, Birmingham, UK
1183:
1175:Birmingham City F.C. official website
797:
754:
711:
671:"100 years of St. Andrews – Part One"
505:
499:
389:Muntz Street and surroundings in 1904
353:Events surrounding the February 1905
248:Muntz Street and surroundings in 1890
915:"Birmingham & District League".
838:
689:
13:
1380:Defunct football venues in England
1089:"Old Town Plan of Birmingham 1883"
825:
607:Birmingham City: A Complete Record
317:The first game at Muntz Street, a
14:
1436:
1168:
1143:"History of Aston – early period"
523:
506:
500:
1405:Sports venues demolished in 1907
1084:. London: George W. Bacon. 1883.
757:"A transport history of Yardley"
486:club, they also participated in
367:Birmingham & District League
178:is the popular name of a former
34:
1400:Sports venues completed in 1877
1135:
1120:
1099:
1073:
1055:"History: Small Heath Harriers"
1047:
1028:
1002:
992:"Birmingham Again Victorious".
985:
972:
968:. 27 February 1931. p. 13.
955:
938:
925:
908:
891:
624:Matthews, Tony (October 2000).
560:Aston Villa F.C. played in the
296:
1425:1877 establishments in England
1410:English Football League venues
1112:. 18 January 1886. p. 7.
951:. 27 December 1906. p. 4.
921:. 27 February 1905. p. 4.
871:. 25 February 1905. p. 4.
767:
748:
705:
1:
1212:Birmingham City Football Club
982:, "St Andrew's", p. 193.
673:. The Stirrer. Archived from
571:
511:At the very bottom centre of
473:Scottish Football Association
458:
369:match between the two clubs'
281:, in Birmingham city centre.
775:"Played in Britain: Authors"
628:. Cradley Heath: Britespot.
169:Small Heath A.C. (1891–1906)
7:
1129:Birmingham Evening Despatch
1035:Clives, Stanley W. (1975).
804:Marsden, Bob (March 1987).
588:Football Grounds of Britain
538:Birmingham Evening Despatch
469:London Football Association
10:
1441:
1294:City of Birmingham Stadium
1131:. 3 April 1905. p. 5.
1334:
1302:
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745:, "Muntz Street", p. 160.
488:track and field athletics
305:Graph of attendances for
263:Aston Villa Football Club
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42:
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1420:Football Alliance venues
609:. Derby: Breedon Books.
532:described a fifth-round
513:the 1883 map linked here
493:
1395:Small Heath, Birmingham
1147:Birmingham City Council
822:, "Aston Villa", p. 17.
605:Matthews, Tony (1995).
455:commemorates the site.
336:Wednesbury Old Athletic
313:matches at Muntz Street
217:Location and facilities
1347:Birmingham City W.F.C.
865:"This Day's Matches".
449:
390:
314:
249:
1016:. Open Heritage C.I.C
995:Birmingham Daily Post
948:Birmingham Daily Post
918:Birmingham Daily Mail
901:Birmingham Daily Mail
868:Birmingham Daily Mail
755:Hardy, P. L. (1972).
712:Jawad, Hyder (2006).
550:Birmingham Daily Mail
441:
437:Birmingham Daily Post
424:, was ready for use.
400:Birmingham Daily Post
388:
361:Birmingham Daily Mail
304:
247:
1385:Birmingham City F.C.
1352:Reserves and Academy
346:. Nine years later,
269:from Villa's former
199:Birmingham City F.C.
180:association football
88:52.47028°N 1.85500°W
1127:"Heath Only Draw".
1061:on 20 November 2008
998:. 24 December 1905.
888:Inglis, p. 44.
677:on 12 December 2008
381:Move to St Andrew's
84: /
23:
1153:on 5 December 2011
763:on 6 October 2007.
391:
315:
279:Corporation Street
250:
93:52.47028; -1.85500
21:
1365:
1364:
1342:Second City derby
1321:25–99 appearances
1095:on 16 April 2010.
779:Played in Britain
723:978-1-905266-16-6
562:municipal borough
307:Football Alliance
173:
172:
138:11 September 1877
1432:
1335:Related articles
1326:1–24 appearances
1316:100+ appearances
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185:situated in the
165:Small Heath F.C.
146:22 December 1906
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1043:. p. 108.
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785:on 11 May 2021
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445:Auld Lang Syne
439:described how
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319:friendly match
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584:Inglis, Simon
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348:The Wednesday
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1357:All articles
1289:Muntz Street
1288:
1268:1965–present
1239:Head-to-head
1155:. Retrieved
1151:the original
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130:Construction
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1284:St Andrew's
1065:28 November
789:16 February
566:Aston Manor
517:St Andrew's
484:road-racing
422:St Andrew's
340:Walsall Cup
235:Small Heath
227:St Andrew's
211:St Andrew's
187:Small Heath
167:(1877–1906)
91: /
66:Coordinates
51:Small Heath
1374:Categories
978:Matthews,
931:Matthews,
844:Matthews,
831:Matthews,
818:Matthews,
741:Matthews,
698:Matthews,
681:4 February
572:References
459:Other uses
435:, and the
375:Villa Park
344:silverware
332:pot-holing
323:6s 8d
275:Perry Barr
273:ground in
267:grandstand
231:Sparkbrook
191:Birmingham
151:Demolished
76:52°28′13″N
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1263:1875–1965
1109:The Times
1079:Map from
586:(1996) .
546:Plumstead
529:The Times
254:terracing
206:terracing
79:1°51′18″W
1310:Managers
644:Specific
542:Woolwich
409:freehold
239:Coventry
113:Capacity
47:Location
1277:Grounds
1256:History
1232:Seasons
1225:Records
1157:5 April
1020:5 April
848:, p. 9.
835:, p. 8.
577:General
183:stadium
159:Tenants
122:Surface
117:~30,000
59:England
1303:People
1246:Europe
720:
632:
613:
594:
534:FA Cup
453:plaque
327:celery
143:Closed
135:Opened
494:Notes
286:buses
259:lease
125:Grass
104:Owner
1159:2012
1067:2008
1022:2012
791:2009
718:ISBN
683:2009
630:ISBN
611:ISBN
592:ISBN
482:and
429:Bury
309:and
154:1907
564:of
555:C.
544:at
522:B.
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