Should we rename the club to include Birmingham in our name?

[nigel]

"Did the club miss a trick by letting Small Heath get in there first all those years ago?"

All those years ago it was decided that the City needed a club with the Citys name, both Villa and Small Heath applied to become B'ham City.
Villa, back then, were the biggest club with the richest history etc, but it was given to Small Heath as they actually played in "Birmingham"

[cdbearsfan]

Where have you got that from? I can't imagine we ever considered changing our name.

[nigel]

Where have you got that from? I can't imagine we ever considered changing our name.

It was something my Dad told me years ago.

[Walmley_Villa]

I'd rather eat Walmley_Villa's c*ck.

No worries, there's plenty to go round ;-)

[SX150]

"Did the club miss a trick by letting Small Heath get in there first all those years ago?"

All those years ago it was decided that the City needed a club with the Citys name, both Villa and Small Heath applied to become B'ham City.
Villa, back then, were the biggest club with the richest history etc, but it was given to Small Heath as they actually played in "Birmingham"

That is something I would expect a nose to say. No insult to your old man intended.

[Handsworth Wood Villa]

Birmingham St George's

Which part of Brum were they based in?

[Handsworth Wood Villa]

"Did the club miss a trick by letting Small Heath get in there first all those years ago?"

All those years ago it was decided that the City needed a club with the Citys name, both Villa and Small Heath applied to become B'ham City.
Villa, back then, were the biggest club with the richest history etc, but it was given to Small Heath as they actually played in "Birmingham"

Why didn't we just apply to become Birmingham Villa then?

Lots of cities have two clubs which carry the name of the City - Bristol, Manchester, Sheffield, Bradford,  Nottingham (kind of)

Though it is interesting that neither Celtic or Rangers have Glasgow in their title, and I have always wondered why there is no London (City) FC

[TonyD]

Worst idea ever to be conceived in the history of the human race would be putting it mildly. 

[nigel]

"Did the club miss a trick by letting Small Heath get in there first all those years ago?"

All those years ago it was decided that the City needed a club with the Citys name, both Villa and Small Heath applied to become B'ham City.
Villa, back then, were the biggest club with the richest history etc, but it was given to Small Heath as they actually played in "Birmingham"

That is something I would expect a nose to say. No insult to your old man intended.

Think my Dad would be very, very insulted to be called that 
Can't remember the full story, was a long time ago, but the location of the teams was deffinately a deciding factor.

[dave.woodhall]

With respect, that's the first time I've heard that one and much more knowledgable historians than I have never mentioned it.

[cdbearsfan]

What about the story they had to ask our permission to change? Is there any truth in that?

[nigel]

"Did the club miss a trick by letting Small Heath get in there first all those years ago?"

All those years ago it was decided that the City needed a club with the Citys name, both Villa and Small Heath applied to become B'ham City.
Villa, back then, were the biggest club with the richest history etc, but it was given to Small Heath as they actually played in "Birmingham"

Why didn't we just apply to become Birmingham Villa then?

Lots of cities have two clubs which carry the name of the City - Bristol, Manchester, Sheffield, Bradford,  Nottingham (kind of)

Though it is interesting that neither Celtic or Rangers have Glasgow in their title, and I have always wondered why there is no London (City) FC

Can't answer that TRS-T, maybe they only wanted a B'ham 'City'.

[Handsworth Wood Villa]

Found this on Wikipedia

At an Extraordinary General Meeting held in March 1905, director T. D. Todd proposed that, Small Heath being the only major football club in the city since Birmingham St George's had folded in 1892, the club should be renamed Birmingham City F.C. The shareholders were not in favour, though they were prepared to go as far as plain Birmingham Football Club instead. Even this was a step too far for some; one reporter referred to "the Small Heath club now masquerading as Birmingham".

[cdbearsfan]

So no mention of any Villa involvement then.

[nigel]

With respect, that's the first time I've heard that one and much more knowledgable historians than I have never mentioned it.

I have said I can't remember the full story, but back then to carry the name of your City must have been a prestigeous thing, and if 2 clubs wanted to do it there must have been a process of some kind.
My Dad obviousy got the story from somewhere too and I've no reason to disbelieve him