Albion’s first enclosed ground was at Bunn’s Field in Walsall Street, now Alfred Street, which is near to the Police Station in West Bromwich. The move here was made in August 1881, when a nine month lease was taken out and the players again equipped the field themselves leveling and rolling it and then erecting goal posts something by now they must have been experts in.
The posts again linked by tape for a crossbar. The entrance to the field was opposite Christ Church School where so many of the Albion players were educated.
As for the ground itself, it was so muddy at times that the supporters used to bring there own planks to stand on in wet weather ( can you imagine the stewards today “sorry mate, you can’t take that in there health and safety”).
The ground was so bad there was no covered stands and one of the original founders of the club Jimmy Stanton told the founder of the football league William McGregor that the only thing resembling a grandstand was a manure heap. Dressing rooms were found at The Roebuck Inn , at the corner of New Street.
The name of Bunn’s Field was changed to The Birches and due to the field being enclosed Albion could charge admission to theyr matches for the first time. The first match at The Birches is believed to have been against Oldbury in a 5- 1 victory.
The Games
- 10/09/1881 – Friendly, v Oldbury Town, 5 – 1
- 01/10/1881 – Friendly, v The Grove, 2 – 3
- 08/10/1881 – Friendly, v Milton, 12 – 0
- 05/11/1881 – Friendly, abandoned in 35 mins, v Burst Ball Milton, 3 – 0
- 12/11/1881 – Birmingham Cup, 1st Round, v Calthorpe, 3 – 2
- 19/11/1881 – Friendly, v Walsall Unity, * – *
- 26/11/1881 – Friendly, v The Grove, 2 – 4
- 03/12/1881 – Friendly, v Nechells, 9 – 1
- 10/12/1881 – Birmingham Cup, 2nd Round, v Elwells, 2 – 1
- 17/12/1881 – Friendly, v Walsall Alma Athletic, * – *
- 24/12/1881 – Friendly, v Wednesbury Rovers, * – *
- 07/01/1882 – Friendly, v Brunswick Wheel Works, 2 – 1
- 14/01/1882 Friendly, v Fallings Heath Rangers, * – *
- 21/01/1882 – Birmingham Cup, 3rd Round, v Fallings Heath Rovers, 3 – 1
- 28/01/1882 – Friendly, v Stourbridge, * – *
- 04/02/1882 – Friendly, v West Bromwich Rovers, 6 – 1
- 18/02/1882 – Birmingham Cup, 4th Round, v Notts Rangers, 5 – 2
- 25/02/1882 – Friendly, v Fallings Heath Rangers, 5 – 0
- 04/03/1882 – Friendly, v St Lukes, 10 – 0
- 11/03/1882 – Friendly, v Nechells, * – *
- 18/03/1882 – Friendly, v Smethwick Windmill, * – *
- 25/03/1882 – Birmingham Cup, Semi Final (at Aston ), v Wednesbury Old Athletic, 2 – 3
- 01/04/1882 – Friendly, v Walsall Alma Athletic, 1 – 2
- 07/04/1882 – Friendly, v Sandwell Road, * – *
- 08/04/1882 – Friendly, v Aston Unity, 2 – 3
