Today, we’re going to discuss the last Lincoln City team to beat Birmingham City, and there isn’t a man alive who will remember these players.
However, I love Imps history, and I do think it is important occasionally to look back at the grandfathers and great-grandfathers who wore the red and white back in the day, so here we go.
To find the last Lincoln City XI to beat Birmingham City, we have to go back to 15 April 1911. Titanic had not even been launched, let alone sunk: she would enter the water the following month and sink on 15 April 1912, exactly one year after our victory. The First World War was still more than three years away, the BBC would not broadcast its first programme until November 1922, and Queen Elizabeth II would not be born for another 15 years. That’s how long ago it is.
Our 1-0 victory at St Andrew’s came in the Second Division, during an Easter programme that makes modern complaints about fixture congestion sound rather quaint. Three league matches in four days, with trips to Birmingham and London included for good measure.
We began by beating Fulham 1-0 at Sincil Bank on Good Friday, 14 April, before heading to Birmingham to play the following day. There was no lengthy recovery period afterwards, either, with an Easter Monday visit to Fulham on 17 April completing the programme. A goalless draw at Craven Cottage meant we emerged with two wins, a draw and three clean sheets, taking five points from a possible six under the scoring system of the day.
Birmingham City 0-1 Lincoln City
Nearly 500 Lincoln supporters joined the excursion to Birmingham. The Echo described a well-filled train containing more than a dozen saloons, while the crowd at the ground numbered more than 10,000.
We lost the toss and began facing both the sun and a strong wind, but still created chances during a goalless first half. Four minutes after the restart, James Comrie scored from a corner to give us the lead. The Echo reported that we were the better side for a spell afterwards, with a shot from 20 yards narrowly clearing the bar and another golden opportunity wasted through hesitation.
Comrie’s goal proved enough to secure a second 1-0 victory in successive days, but the Easter programme was not finished. On Monday, 17 April, we were at Craven Cottage, where a goalless draw with Fulham completed a return of two wins, a draw and three clean sheets in four days. Five points from a possible six, trips to Birmingham and London, and barely time to put the kettle on between matches.
So, who were the last XI players to beat Birmingham City wearing Lincoln City colours? They include a player who tragically lost his life in the First World War, a Lincoln pub landlord and (I kid you not) Jack Grealish’s great-great-grandfather.
Full XI on the next page.
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