Sporting Birmingham

Birmingham is a sporting city through and through. It is home to famous football clubs, one of the world's great cricket grounds and some of the best athletics in Britain, and it hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2022. Here is a guide to sport in Birmingham.

Football

Aston Villa, founded in 1874, is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in English football. Villa were among the founders of the Football League in 1888, and in 1982 they won the European Cup, beating Bayern Munich in Rotterdam. Villa Park, their home since 1897, is one of the best known grounds in the country.

Birmingham City, founded in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, play at St Andrew's in Bordesley. The club won the League Cup in 1963 and again in 2011, beating Arsenal at Wembley.

The rivalry between Villa and Blues is known as the Second City derby, and it is one of the most passionate in English football.

Cricket

Edgbaston is the home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club and one of England's leading Test grounds. It has hosted many famous matches, including the 2005 Ashes Test that England won by two runs. The crowd at Edgbaston, and the Hollies Stand in particular, is famous for its atmosphere.

The Commonwealth Games

In the summer of 2022, Birmingham hosted the Commonwealth Games. The Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr was rebuilt for the Games, and events were held across the city and beyond. The Games brought thousands of athletes and visitors to Birmingham.

Athletics

The Alexander Stadium is the home of Birchfield Harriers, one of Britain's most famous athletics clubs. The stadium hosts major athletics meetings. The National Indoor Arena, now the Utilita Arena, has hosted world indoor athletics championships.

Other sports

Birmingham also has rugby union, hockey, basketball and ice hockey teams, as well as a thriving grassroots sport scene. The city's parks, from Sutton Park to Cannon Hill, are full of runners, cyclists and footballers every weekend.

The Great Birmingham Run brings thousands of runners onto the city's streets each year, and the city has hosted major cycling events.

Watching sport

Tickets for football at Villa Park and St Andrew's, and for Test matches at Edgbaston, can sell out quickly, so it is worth booking early. Edgbaston also hosts county cricket and T20 matches that are more affordable and a great way to spend a summer evening.

Getting there

Villa Park is served by Witton and Aston stations, St Andrew's is a walk from Bordesley and the city centre, and Edgbaston is a short bus ride or walk from the centre. The Alexander Stadium is next to Perry Barr station.

Whether you follow claret and blue, royal blue or county cricket, Birmingham has sport for everyone.