Back: Arthur Swift, Syd Webb, Ted Sylvester, Sam Ward.
Middle: Charlie Payne, Joe Caddick, Joe Gould (in suit), Bert Ratcliffe, Walter Lamb.
Front: Herbie Jones, Alonzo Poulton, Walter Cook.

At the time, the League was one of the major competitions outside the Football League and was dominated by the reserve teams of the leading West Midlands clubs. With the advantage of full-time training and club facilities, they were normally in a totally different class to the local town clubs. In the days when games were simply eleven versus eleven, it was by no means uncommon to see current internationals playing in the Birmingham League. Aston Villa Reserves won the competition for 8 seasons in succession between 1902 and 1910, and City’s success was the first by a club without Football League connections since 1895.

Several of the City players had played in the Football League earlier in their careers. Full-back Walter Cook had made over 100 appearances for Walsall; full-back Sam Ward and winger Charlie Payne had both appeared for Wolves in the First Division; half-back Syd Webb moved onto play for Birmingham after failing to make the first team at Aston Villa.

Centre-half and captain Joe Gould was an inspirational, hard drinking, local legend who had been with City since 1902. A truly respected iron man, Joe had been winning battles with Football League forwards for years.

Brothers Jack and Walter Lamb, the left side forwards, had an almost uncanny understanding and they had played everywhere together. 1913/14 showed for the first time that Jack Lamb was the better player. After scoring 17 goals he was transferred to Notts County for a fee of £350 (the English record was then £1000) in February 1914. Bert Ratcliff was signed from Hereford Thistle to replace Jack. Sadly, World War 1 would put paid to Jack Lamb’s Football League career.

City brought in forward Arthur Swift early in the season on loan from West Bromwich Albion, and after scoring 16 goals before Christmas, he was recalled and made his professional debut for Albion. In return City were loaned another young West Brom forward, Alonzo Poulton, who scored 25 times, including both goals in City’s 2-0 win over Stourbridge in the 1914 Worcestershire Senior Cup final. He went on to play for Bristol City, Middlesborough and Reading after World War 1.

Skipper Joe Caddick moved on in summer 1914 to Bristol Rovers, having been awarded a benefit season in 1913/14.

City won the title on the final day of the season by winning 3-2 at Coventry Reserves. Shrewsbury Town, who finished one point behind, protested to the League that Coventry had fielded a weakened team, but their appeal was dismissed. Upon their return, the City players were met by a large crowd of fans when their train pulled into Shrub Hill Station on Saturday evening, and were carried high on shoulders down to a pub in Lowesmoor for a night of celebration.

This photo was taken by a local photographer called Mr Norman of 57, Rainbow Hill, although it’s unclear if that’s where it was taken.

More Photos from this Album can be found at: City Photos