The birth of the Second City derby as Small Heath defeat Aston Villa

The first Birmingham derby took place when Small Heath Alliance, the club that would later become Birmingham City, defeated Aston Villa 1-0 at Muntz Street. The occasion was notable not only for the result but also for the reaction of the visiting Villa players. They were reportedly unimpressed with the condition of the Muntz Street ground, describing it as “only suitable for pot-holing” — an early indication that tensions between the clubs extended beyond the football itself. At the time, organised league football had not yet begun, and local prestige was often just as important as silverware. Small Heath’s victory therefore carried significant bragging rights in the rapidly growing industrial city of Birmingham.