The 1952–53 Football League season was Birmingham City Football Club's 50th in the Football League and their 22nd in the Second Division. They finished in sixth position in the 22-team division. They entered the 1952–53 FA Cup at the third round proper and lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the sixth round (quarter-final) after two replays.
Twenty-seven players made at least one appearance in nationally organised first-team competition, and there were fifteen different goalscorers. Full-back Ken Green was ever-present through the 49-game season, and Peter Murphy was top scorer with 26 goals, of which 20 came in the league.
Football League Second Division
DateLeaguepositionOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendance23 August 195210thRotherham UnitedAD1–1Purdon15,20827 August 19527thLuton TownAW1–0Briggs20,23130 August 195213thFulhamHL1–4Briggs29,5773 September 195214thLuton TownHD2–2Briggs, Murphy17,4786 September 19529thWest Ham UnitedAW2–1Higgins, Murphy23,90310 September 19524thLeeds UnitedAW1–0Rowley14,13313 September 19523rdLeicester CityHW3–1Briggs, Murphy, Rowley29,48017 September 19523rdLeeds UnitedHD2–2Rowley 218,30120 September 19525thNotts CountyAL0–224,53827 September 19524thSouthamptonHW2–0Rowley 221,8184 October 19527thBuryAL0–316,09611 October 19527thSwansea TownAD1–1Purdon21,07418 October 19529thHuddersfield TownHL0–227,48425 October 19527thSheffield UnitedAD2–2Murphy, Wardle28,3451 November 19528thBarnsleyHW3–1Murphy, Rowley pen, Stewart19,9278 November 19528thLincoln CityAD1–1Trigg16,29315 November 19528thHull CityHW4–3Trigg pen, Murphy, Stewart, Cox17,52922 November 19526thBlackburn RoversAW2–1Murphy 218,53329 November 19527thNottingham ForestHL0–517,7946 December 19528thEvertonAD1–1Murphy23,85813 December 19525thBrentfordHW3–1Trigg, Murphy 29,96320 December 19524thRotherham UnitedHW4–0Trigg pen, Purdon, Murphy, Wardle11,97825 December 19523rdPlymouth ArgyleHW4–0Purdon, Murphy 2, Stewart31,66027 December 19524thPlymouth ArgyleAL1–2Trigg pen25,2663 January 19535thFulhamAL1–3Purdon21,50817 January 19535thWest Ham UnitedHW2–0Trigg, Purdon21,73324 January 19535thLeicester CityAW4–3Murphy 3, Trigg27,4787 February 19534thNotts CountyHW3–2Trigg 2 (2 pens), Murphy24,52221 February 19535thBuryHL0–226,0517 March 19537thHuddersfield TownAD1–1Ferris28,63611 March 19537thSwansea TownHL1–4Purdon7,11914 March 19539thSheffield UnitedHL1–2Cox22,35521 March 19536thBarnsleyAW3–1Badham, James 27,46528 March 19538thLincoln CityHD2–2Trigg pen, Stewart13,4293 April 19538thDoncaster RoversAL0–118,0564 April 19538thHull CityAL0–223,4836 April 19537thDoncaster RoversHW2–1Lane, Boyd12,06511 April 19539thBlackburn RoversHL1–2Cox18,34715 April 19539thSouthamptonAD1–1Warhurst18,38718 April 19538thNottingham ForestAW2–0Lane, Boyd16,35325 April 19536thEvertonHW4–2Boyd 2, Murphy, Stewart17,0831 May 19536thBrentfordAW2–1Lane, Murphy8,565
League table (part)
+Final Second Division table (part)PosClubPldWDLFAGAPts4thPlymouth Argyle422091365601.08495thLeicester City4218121289741.20486thBirmingham City4219101371661.08487thNottingham Forest421881677671.15448thFulham4217101581711.1444Key Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played;W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost;F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = PointsSource
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceThird round14 January 1953Oldham AthleticAW3–1Murphy 326,580Fourth round31 January 1953Sheffield UnitedAD1–1Purdon43,104Fourth round replay4 February 1953Sheffield UnitedHW3–1Murphy 2, Wardle29,554Fifth round14 February 1953ChelseaAW4–0Purdon 2, Trigg, Murphy45,872Sixth round28 February 1953Tottenham HotspurHD1–1Wardle52,348Sixth round replay4 March 1953Tottenham HotspurAD2–2aetFerris, Boyd59,543Sixth round 2nd replay9 March 1953Tottenham HotspurMolineux, WolverhamptonL0–150,801
Appearances and goals
Players marked left the club during the playing season. Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; FB – Full back; HB – Half back; FW – Forward
+ Players' appearances and goals by competitionNameLeagueFA CupTotalGoalsGoalsGoalsGK35070420GK700070FB42070490FB16070230FB24000240HB300030HB18120201HB14050190HB40471475HB23171302HB700070HB31160371HB300030FW 17400174FW200020FW23300233FW410041FW321042FW630063FW200020FW3420463826FW227632810FW870087FW 100010FW33570405FW1910512411FW25262314
See also Birmingham City F.C. seasons
References General
Source for match dates and results: Source for lineups, appearances, goalscorers and attendances: Matthews (2010), Complete Record, pp. 340–41. Source for kit: "Birmingham City". Historical Football Kits. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
Specific