# 1994–95 Birmingham City F.C. season

The 1994–95 Football League season was Birmingham City Football Club's 92nd in the Football League and their fourth in the third tier of English football, the Football League Second Division, to which they were relegated in 1993–94. They finished in first position in the 24-team division, so were promoted straight back to Division One for 1995–96. They entered the 1994–95 FA Cup in the first round, losing in the third round to Premier League club Liverpool in a penalty shootout in which they failed to convert a single penalty. They entered the League Cup in the first round and lost to Blackburn Rovers in the second. They won the Football League Trophy for the second time in four attempts, defeating Carlisle United at Wembley in front of a crowd of 76,663 with the first golden goal to determine a major English competition.
The club's top scorer was Steve Claridge with 20 league goals and 25 in all competitions. Goalkeeper Ian Bennett missed only one match of the 63 played in all competitions, the first round of the Football League Trophy, in which his replacement Ryan Price made his only competitive first-team appearance for Birmingham.

## Football League Second Division
### Match details

| Date | League position | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 13 August 1994 | 15th | Leyton Orient | A | L | 1–2 | Claridge | 7,578 |
| 20 August 1994 | 14th | Chester City | H | W | 1–0 | Donowa | 12,188 |
| 27 August 1994 | 10th | Swansea City | A | W | 2–0 | Claridge 2 | 5,807 |
| 30 August 1994 | 11th | Wycombe Wanderers | H | L | 0–1 | | 14,305 |
| 3 September 1994 | 8th | Plymouth Argyle | H | W | 4–2 | Regis 2, Wallace, Tait | 13,202 |
| 10 September 1994 | 11th | Oxford United | A | D | 1–1 | Claridge | 8,072 |
| 13 September 1994 | 11th | Rotherham United | A | D | 1–1 | Bull | 3,574 |
| 18 September 1994 | 6th | Peterborough United | H | W | 4–0 | Bull 2, Tait, Dominguez | 10,800 |
| 24 September 1994 | 9th | Hull City | H | D | 2–2 | Claridge pen, Dominguez | 12,192 |
| 1 October 1994 | 9th | Wrexham | A | D | 1–1 | Claridge | 6,012 |
| 8 October 1994 | 9th | Huddersfield Town | H | D | 1–1 | Bull | 15,265 |
| 15 October 1994 | 9th | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | W | 1–0 | Donowa | 11,004 |
| 22 October 1994 | 9th | Brentford | A | W | 2–1 | Shearer, Ward | 7,779 |
| 29 October 1994 | 6th | Bristol Rovers | H | W | 2–0 | Bull, Claridge | 15,886 |
| 1 November 1994 | 4th | Crewe Alexandra | H | W | 5–0 | Hunt 3, Donowa, Claridge | 14,212 |
| 5 November 1994 | 3rd | Shrewsbury Town | A | W | 2–0 | Bull, Hunt | 5,949 |
| 19 November 1994 | 3rd | AFC Bournemouth | H | D | 0–0 | | 15,477 |
| 26 November 1994 | 3rd | Stockport County | A | W | 1–0 | Hunt | 5,577 |
| 10 December 1994 | 2nd | Chester City | A | W | 4–0 | Daish, Claridge, McGavin, Lowe | 3,946 |
| 17 December 1994 | 2nd | Leyton Orient | H | W | 2–0 | Donowa 2 | 20,022 |
| 26 December 1994 | 2nd | Cambridge United | H | D | 1–1 | Otto | 20,743 |
| 28 December 1994 | 2nd | Cardiff City | A | W | 1–0 | Otto | 7,420 |
| 31 December 1994 | 1st | Blackpool | H | W | 7–1 | Claridge 2, Donowa 2, Lowe, Parris, Bradshaw og | 18,025 |
| 2 January 1995 | 1st | Bradford City | A | D | 1–1 | Cooper | 10,539 |
| 14 January 1995 | 1st | York City | A | L | 0–2 | | 6,828 |
| 4 February 1995 | 1st | Stockport County | H | W | 1–0 | Dinning og | 17,160 |
| 11 February 1995 | 3rd | Crewe Alexandra | A | L | 1–2 | Donowa | 6,359 |
| 18 February 1995 | 3rd | York City | H | W | 4–2 | Francis 2, Otto, Shearer | 14,846 |
| 21 February 1995 | 3rd | AFC Bournemouth | A | L | 1–2 | Francis | 6,024 |
| 25 February 1995 | 2nd | Wrexham | H | W | 5–2 | Francis 2, Shearer, Otto, Donowa | 18,884 |
| 4 March 1995 | 3rd | Hull City | A | D | 0–0 | | 9,854 |
| 11 March 1995 | 4th | Swansea City | H | L | 0–1 | | 16,191 |
| 18 March 1995 | 4th | Wycombe Wanderers | A | W | 3–0 | Shearer, Claridge, Poole | 7,289 |
| 21 March 1995 | 3rd | Oxford United | H | W | 3–0 | Francis, Claridge, Daish | 19,781 |
| 25 March 1995 | 3rd | Peterborough United | A | D | 1–1 | Shearer | 8,796 |
| 29 March 1995 | 3rd | Bristol Rovers | A | D | 1–1 | Claridge | 7,851 |
| 1 April 1995 | 3rd | Rotherham United | H | W | 2–1 | Francis, Shearer | 16,077 |
| 4 April 1995 | 3rd | Blackpool | A | D | 1–1 | Claridge | 4,944 |
| 11 April 1995 | 3rd | Shrewsbury Town | H | W | 2–0 | Claridge 2 | 18,366 |
| 15 April 1995 | 2nd | Cardiff City | H | W | 2–1 | Tait, Ward pen | 17,455 |
| 17 April 1995 | 3rd | Cambridge United | A | L | 0–1 | | 5,317 |
| 19 April 1995 | 1st | Plymouth Argyle | A | W | 3–1 | Claridge 2, Whyte | 8,550 |
| 26 April 1995 | 1st | Brentford | H | W | 2–0 | Francis, Daish | 25,581 |
| 29 April 1995 | 1st | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | D | 3–3 | Dominguez, Shearer, Ward | 19,006 |
| 2 May 1995 | 1st | Bradford City | H | D | 0–0 | | 25,139 |
| 6 May 1995 | 1st | Huddersfield Town | A | W | 2–1 | Claridge, Tait | 18,775 |

### League table (part)

Final Second Division table (part) :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1st | Birmingham City | 46 | 25 | 14 | 7 | 84 | 37 | +47 | 89 |
| 2nd | Brentford | 46 | 25 | 10 | 11 | 81 | 39 | +42 | 85 |
| 3rd | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 25 | 8 | 13 | 80 | 68 | +12 | 83 |
| 4th | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 22 | 16 | 8 | 70 | 40 | +30 | 82 |
| 5th | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 22 | 15 | 9 | 79 | 49 | +30 | 81 |

### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Source:

## FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| First round | 12 November 1994 | Slough Town | A* | W | 4–0 | Shearer 2, McGavin 2 | 13,394 |
| Second round | 12 December 1994 | Scunthorpe United | H | D | 0–0 | | 13,832 |
| Second round replay | 14 December 1994 | Scunthorpe United | A | W | 2–1 | McGavin, Cooper | 6,280 |
| Third round | 7 January 1995 | Liverpool | H | D | 0–0 | | 25,326 |
| Third round replay | 18 January 1995 | Liverpool | A | D | 1–1 aet 0–2 pens | Otto 69' | 36,275 |
* Played at St Andrew's, Birmingham

## League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| First round 1st leg | 16 August 1994 | Shrewsbury Town | A | L | 1–2 | Daish | 5,049 |
| First round 2nd leg | 23 August 1994 | Shrewsbury Town | H | W | 2–0 2–1 agg. | Saville, Claridge pen | 9,847 |
| Second round 1st leg | 20 September 1994 | Blackburn Rovers | A | L | 0–2 | | 14,517 |
| Second round 2nd leg | 4 October | Blackburn Rovers | H | D | 1–1 1–2 agg. | McGavin | 16,275 |

## Football League Trophy

| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| First round | 27 September 1994 | Peterborough United | A | W | 5–3 | Bull, Dominguez, Hunt 3 | 2,044 |
| Second round | 18 October 1994 | Walsall | H | W | 3–0 | Shearer 2, Donowa | 10,089 |
| Third round | 29 November 1994 | Gillingham | H | W | 3–0 | McGavin, Poole, Tait | 17,028 |
| Fourth round | 10 January 1995 | Hereford United | H | W | 3–1 | Claridge, Ward pen, Otto | 22,351 |
| Southern area semi-final | 31 January 1995 | Swansea City | H | W | 3–2 Golden goal | Claridge, Francis, Tait | 20,326 |
| Southern area final 1st leg | 28 February 1995 | Leyton Orient | H | W | 1–0 | Shearer | 24,002 |
| Southern area final 2nd leg | 14 March 1995 | Leyton Orient | A | W | 3–2 4–2 agg. | Claridge 2, Williams | 10,830 |
| Final | 23 April 1995 | Carlisle United | Wembley | W | 1–0 Golden goal | Tait | 76,663 |

## Appearances and goals

    Numbers in parentheses denote appearances made as a substitute.
    Players with name in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Birmingham.
    Players marked † left the club during the playing season.
    Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward
Players' appearances and goals by competition :
| Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Football League Trophy | Total | Total |
| Pos. | Nat. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | ENG | Ian Bennett | 46 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 62 | 0 |
| GK | ENG | Ryan Price | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Dave Barnett | 31 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 45 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Jon Bass | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Mick Bodley * | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Gary Cooper | 26 | 1 | 3 (1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 (1) | 0 | 34 (2) | 2 |
| DF | IRE | Liam Daish | 37 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 52 | 4 |
| DF | ENG | Richard Dryden † | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | John Frain | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| DF | ENG | Ian Hendon * | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Scott Hiley | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | David Howell | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | George Parris | 1 (1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (1) | 1 |
| DF | ENG | Gary Poole | 34 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 46 | 2 |
| DF | ENG | Richard Scott † | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Bryan Small * | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Chris Whyte | 31 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 (1) | 0 | 39 (1) | 1 |
| MF | ENG | Neil Doherty | 3 (5) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 (2) | 0 | 4 (8) | 0 |
| MF | POR | José Dominguez | 12 (18) | 3 | 2 (1) | 0 | 1 (2) | 0 | 2 (2) | 1 | 17 (23) | 4 |
| MF | ENG | Louie Donowa | 21 (10) | 9 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 (1) | 1 | 34 (11) | 10 |
| MF | POR | Rui Esteves * | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | ENG | Paul Harding | 5 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 (1) | 0 |
| MF | ENG | Jonathan Hunt | 18 (2) | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 22 (2) | 8 |
| MF | ENG | Kenny Lowe | 4 (3) | 2 | 2 (1) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 2 (1) | 0 | 8 (6) | 2 |
| MF | ENG | Ricky Otto | 18 (6) | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 25 (6) | 6 |
| MF | ENG | Steve Robinson | 5 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 (1) | 0 |
| MF | ENG | Peter Shearer | 20 (3) | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 28 (3) | 12 |
| MF | ENG | Paul Tait | 18 (6) | 4 | 2 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 (3) | 3 | 23 (10) | 7 |
| MF | ENG | Danny Wallace † | 4 (2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 5 (4) | 1 |
| MF | ENG | Mark Ward | 41 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 55 | 4 |
| MF | ENG | Matthew Webb | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 |
| FW | ENG | Gary Bull * | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 7 |
| FW | ENG | Steve Claridge | 41 (1) | 20 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 56 (1) | 25 |
| FW | ENG | Miguel de Souza † | 4 (4) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 (5) | 0 |
| FW | SKN | Kevin Francis | 15 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 9 |
| FW | ENG | Steve McGavin † | 10 (5) | 1 | 3 (1) | 3 | 1 (1) | 1 | 1 (3) | 1 | 15 (10) | 6 |
| FW | ENG | Paul Moulden † | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 |
| FW | ENG | Dave Regis † | 4 (2) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 (2) | 2 |
| FW | ENG | Andy Saville | 3 (7) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 (8) | 0 |
| FW | ENG | Paul Williams * | 8 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 (3) | 0 |
| FW | ENG | Roger Willis † | 1 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (2) | 0 |