West Bromwich Albion

West Bromwich Albion (The Baggies)

Club history

West Bromwich Albion was one of the founding members of The Football League in 1888 and won their first game against Stoke City 2-0, going on to clinch the FA Cup for the first time in the same year. West Brom moved into their current home The Hawthorns in 1900, and became known at "The Baggies" five years later.

From 1986 to 2002 the club spent their longest ever period outside the country's top division. There's been something of a revival in recent years however, as the 2010/11 campaign will be their fifth season in the Premier League since 2002.

Roberto Di Matteo currently manages the squad and pulled them back into the top flight after replacing Tony Mowbray in 2009. Historically, Albion's greatest rivals have always been Aston Villa. The two clubs contested three FA Cup Finals between 1887 and 1895 with Villa notching up two wins to West Brom's one.

In recent years however, most Albion fans have seen Wolverhampton Wanderers as their main rivals. Albion and Wolves have contested the Black Country derby more than 150 times, with their first major clash being their FA Cup tie in 1886.