West Brom

West Brom

West Bromwich Albion, founded in 1878 as West Bromwich Strollers and playing at The Hawthorns — the highest-altitude league football ground in England — since 1900, were invited to be one of 12 founding members of the Football League in 1888 and are among the true pioneers of the organised game. The club won the First Division title once (1919-20), the FA Cup five times (including 1888, 1892, and most recently 1968), and in 1931 uniquely became the only club in history to win promotion and the FA Cup in the same season. The 1970s side featuring the 'Three Degrees' — Cyrille Regis, Brendon Batson, and Laurie Cunningham — were trailblazers for Black footballers in England. Currently competing in the Championship after the Premier League cycle of promotions and relegations, the Baggies retain their blue-collar West Midlands community identity and ambitions to return to the top flight.