Birmingham Combination

Despite the formation of the Birmingham League there still a number of clubs the region that were not attached to a League. The Birmingham F.A. who already had two cup competitions in the Senior and Junior Cup’s, decided it was only logical to form a junior league, so the Birmingham & District Junior League came into being in 1892. Eight of the local leading clubs Aston St. James, Bournbrook, Bourneville, Ellen Street Victoria, Hamstead, Kings Heath Albion, Park Mills and Soho Villa took part in the inaugural season and Soho Villa were declared the first champions. The league became the Birmingham Combination in 1908 and during the 1930’s was on par with the Birmingham & District League. After the second world war the Combination suffered and a merger was suggested with the District League. The combination refused and a number of clubs moved across the leagues. Eventually in 1954 all clubs had moved to the District League and the Combination with no choice close down. Thirty-one different clubs won the championship with Bourneville Athletic holding the record of most championships with six, all in consecutive seasons between 1897 and 1903. Nuneaton Town and Darlaston also won the League on four occasions.

Wolves entered the youth team in Birmingham Combination from 1932 to 1950 and was an integral part in Wolves history. Many of the players brought to the club by Major Buckley and Stan Cullis make there Wolves bows in the League. Cullis himself played his first game for club, at home to Tamworth on 24 February 1933. Wolves first match in the League was a 2-2 draw came at Gresley Rovers on 27 August 1932, Wolves scorers were Bollington and Young, the team read Ellis, Long, Buchnall, Richard Twiss, Marshment, Green, Bryant, Fred Mitcheson, Davies, Bollington and Young. The biggest win 16-0 came at home to Atherstone Town, the scorers were Rennie with seven, Carrington five, Jimmy Myers two and one each from  Smart and Ernie Tagg. Other big victories saw the juniors net thirteen past Bourneville Athletic in November 1937 with Keetley netted eight, eleven at Dudley in November 1932. In March 1934 the junior Wolves beat Evesham Town 12-4, a match that saw George Henson net five with four other of the goals coming from two penalties and two own goals. The biggest defeat suffered by the club 7-0 came at home to Walsall in May 1937.

Juniors
Pos Pld W D L F A Pts
1932/33 5 36 17 9 10 103 53 43
1933/34 3 34 22 3 9 131 54 47
1934/35 1 32 27 1 4 127 39 55
1935/36 3 36 23 4 9 99 58 50
1936/37 4 38 20 7 11 195 58 47
1937/38 12 38 16 7 15 101 68 39
1938/39 7 38 22 4 12 101 63 48
1945/46 12 32 11 5 16 83 93 27
1946/47 12 36 16 4 16 72 67 36
1947/48 12 38 12 12 14 68 75 36
1948/49 9 38 15 11 12 73 71 41
1949/50 5 38 11 8 19 61 68 30