The 1882âÂÂ83 season was the fifth season in the history of West Bromwich Albion Football Club. This was the club's first season at their fourth ground, the Four Acres. The ground had been home to the West Bromwich Dartmouth Cricket Club since 1834, but the cricket club allowed Albion to play football matches there on Saturdays and Mondays. The club wore two different kits during 1882âÂÂ83: as well as the chocolate and blue halves from the previous season, the club also sported narrow red and white hoops.
Albion won their first ever trophy when they defeated Stoke 3âÂÂ2 in the final of the Staffordshire Senior Cup, winning the competition at the first attempt. They also reached the final of the Wednesbury Charity Cup, but lost 5âÂÂ3 to Notts Rangers. In the Birmingham Senior Cup, Albion reached the fourth round, having registered their record competitive victoryâÂÂa 26âÂÂ0 win against CoseleyâÂÂin round one.
It was the first season in which Albion fielded a reserve side in addition to their first team; the club's second team played 24 matches and went through the season undefeated.
In the first round of their second Birmingham Senior Cup campaign, Albion beat Coseley by a 26âÂÂ0 scoreline, having led 17âÂÂ0 at half-time. Every Albion outfield player scored at least once; goalkeeper Bob Roberts was the only one of the team not to appear on the scoresheet. Harry Aston led the scoring, netting five times, while Billy Bisseker, George Timmins and George Bell also scored hat-tricks in what remains the club's record competitive victory. After receiving a bye in round two, Albion defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 4âÂÂ2; this was the first ever meeting between the two local rivals and therefore the first Black Country derby match. Wednesbury Old Athletic were the opposition in the fourth round match. Aston scored for Albion but the team lost 2âÂÂ1 as Old Athletic eliminated Albion from the competition for the second successive season.
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Albion, taking part in the Staffordshire Senior Cup for the first time, defeated Bloxwich Strollers 4âÂÂ0 in the first round replay, following a 3âÂÂ3 draw. In round two, Albion met local rivals Aston Villa for the first time, and after another 3âÂÂ3 draw, won the replay with a goal from George Timmins. The team drew 2âÂÂ2 in the third round, but their opponents St George's were then disqualified from the competition for fielding two ineligible players in the match, so Albion progressed by default. In the semi-final against Leek White Star, Harry Aston scored a hat-trick as Albion won 8âÂÂ0 to reach a cup final for the first time.
In the final, Albion faced Stoke at the latter's Victoria Ground. More than 1,500 West Bromwich Albion supporters took advantage of a special rail excursion to attend the game. Johnson opened the scoring for Stoke after 15 minutes, but Albion replied through Timmins and Fred Bunn. Stoke equalised before half-time when Johnson claimed his second goal of the match. George Bell scored the winning goal in the second half when he headed a cross past Stoke's goalkeeper Wildin. Albion's 3âÂÂ2 victory meant that they had won their first ever trophy.
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Albion participated in the Wednesbury Charity Cup for the first time and drew 3âÂÂ3 with Wednesbury Strollers in the first round. In the replay, Albion progressed by a 7âÂÂ1 scoreline. Harry Aston scored the only goal of the semi-final against Aston Unity at Wellington Road. The final took place at the same venue, against Notts Rangers; two goals from Harry Aston and one from Bisseker were not enough as Albion were defeated 5âÂÂ3.
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As league football had yet to be established, West Bromwich Albion took part in a number of friendly matches throughout the season. Among these games was a 10âÂÂ0 win against Stourbridge Standard in which Billy Bisseker scored six goals. This was the first match held at the Four Acres. Later in the season, Harry Aston scored six times as Albion were 10âÂÂ1 winners against Birmingham Junior Association. The record of the club's matches during their early years is not complete, thus several of the scorelines are missing.
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