Sky Blues On The Road - West Bromwich Albion

WHO ARE THEY?
Rumoured to be formed by employees of Saltley Spring Works as West Bromwich Strollers in 1878. They turned professional in 1885 and were founder members of the Football League playing their first match in September 1888 and beating Stoke City 2-0 away from home.

Games in that season were played at Stoney Lane and the club moved to their current Hawthorns home in 1900.

The Baggies who also have the nicknames "Throstles", "Albion" or "WBA" won the Football League Division One in 1919-20. They were also twice champions of Division 2.

This is their first season back in the Championship after playing for two seasons in the top flight.

Five time winners of the FA Cup,they have also won the League Cup.

Their current manager is Tony Mowbray who was appointed in November 2006.
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THEIR OFFICAL WEBSITE
www.wbafc.co.uk
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LAST MATCH
City beat Burnley 1-0 at home whilst West Brom drew 1-1 at Barnsley.

This is the 57th game between the two sides. City have won only on fifteen occasions with fiteen draws. City have scored 64 times compared to West Brom's 98.

The last league game between the two sides saw City beaten 3-0 on March 6th 2004.

City are eleventh in the table with West Brom ninth.
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CITY TEAM NEWS
Out are David McNamee,Stuart Giddings and Don Hutchison. All the players, bar the suspended Leon McKenzie, who played in the win over Burnley should be available. Marcus Hall is also available after serving a one game suspension.

Former Sky Blue John Hartson is expected to play for the Baggies. Paul McShane is doubtful with an ankle injury. Chris Perry could return.
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MATCH OFFICIALS
The currently appointed referee is M.Jones. His assistants are R.Beevor and S.Pardoe with the Fourth Official being K.A Woolmer.
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MATCH DETAILS
Kick off is at 3pm. Tickets are priced at Adults £23 Juniors £11, Senior Citizens/ U18's £14.
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WEATHER FORECAST
Sunny with kick off time temperature expected to be eight degrees.
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HOW TO GET THERE
CCFC Coach Adult £15,Senior/junior £12,Adult season ticket £10,concession £8,Disabled £8 Leaves the Arena at 12 noon

By Car: Exit M5 at Junction 1 and follow the signs.

By Bus the 79 and 74 service from Birmingham City Centre both run past the ground.

By Train Smethwick Rolfe Street is 1.5 miles from the ground.

A nearer option is The Hawthorns Station which is 200 yards from the ground and is ten minutes by train and metro tram from Birmingham Snow Hill Station.

Trains from Coventry to Brum New Street: 13:00 13:10 13:16 13:23 13:27
Arrive 13:33 13:36 13:39 13:45 13:50

From Birmingham New Street, up the escalators and down the Pallasades ramp. Up into Corporation Street. Second left into Cherry Street, down the right hand side of St Phillips Cathedral and Snow Hill Station is across the road on your right.

By Metro The Hawthorns Metro Station is 200 yards from the ground and is nine minutes by tram from Birmingham Snow Hill station. Services are every twelve minutes and every eight minutes back.

MORE INFO
Visiting fans at The Hawthorns are seated in the Smethwick End stand, block A, on the south side of the stadium. Main access is via Middlemore Road and access to the Smethwick End stand is up a ramp.

Away fans travelling to the ground by other forms of transport will be able to access the stadium from the Halfords Lane side of the ground or via the East Stand Car Park. However, access to the Smethwick End from the East Stand Car Park entrance is closed, on the advice of the Police, 15 minutes before the scheduled kick off time and access thereafter will be via the  Middlemore Road entrance.

Directional signs to assist spectators are displayed at convenient locations around the stadium.

When the game has ended, segregation gates located at the East Stand Car Park and at the rear of the Smethwick End stand between the home and away sections are closed, until away fans have exited the ground.

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OTHER SATURDAY MATCHES
Championship: Burnley v Sunderland,Colchester v Stoke, Derby v Palace, Hull v Cardiff,Ipswich v Leeds,Leicester v Barnsley,Preston v Plymouth,QPR V Wolves, Sheff Wed v Birmingham, Southampton v Norwich

FA Trophy 1 Nuneaton Borough v Redditch United

SL Mid: Bedworth United v Woodford United

Mid All: Barwell v Leamington, Loughborough v Atherstone,
Racing Club Warwick v Biddulph, Stratford Town v Oadby Town

Mid Comb Prem: Alveston v Cadbury, Brocton v Southam,Coleshill v Massey Ferguson,Coventry Sphinx v Heath Hayes, Highgate United v Coventry Copsewood, Nuneaton Griff v Bolehall Swifts.