Birmingham City’s St Andrew’s Stadium was bombed and burned - and most fans don’t know | OneFootball

Blues' famous old stadium was significantly damaged by the Luftwaffe in 1941

Birmingham City have been playing their home fixtures at St. Andrew's for 120 years of their 150-year existence, with the famous stadium very much the scene of drama for both good and bad reasons on the pitch.

In recent years, Blues fans have begun to pack the ground out most weeks after a brief period where only the Main Stand and Gill Merrick Stand were at a full working capacity, with mandatory repair work needed to be carried out regarding the foundations of the Tilton Road and Kop stands, which were both renovated in the mid-1990s.

Bluenoses, of course, are known for being some of the most vociferous in the country, with it being well-documented that, during their EFL Cup triumph over Arsenal at Wembley Stadium in February 2011, they are said to have recorded the highest decibel levels at the national stadium.

Local journalist, Tom Ross, once claimed that Sir Alex Ferguson compared the levels of hostility in B9 to that of Galatasary supporters in Türkiye, and such passion has largely worked in the club's favour when earning results in the current era of Tom Wagner's ownership.

St. Andrew's, is, of course, set to be no more - in its current self - in a matter of years when Birmingham transfer their history and ambitions into the 62,000-seater Powerhouse stadium.

As such, when the time comes, supporters will be left to reminisce over their greatest games and players at the approximately 30,000-capacity ground.

However, not many appear to be aware of the fact that even those stories might not have unfolded at the stadium, due to terrifying developments in the Second World War.

How Birmingham City worked hard to preserve St. Andrew's after Second World War bombings

Action Images

After moving from Muntz Street in 1906, plenty of history had already been made at St. Andrew's by Blues by the time the war broke out in 1939, which included a maiden FA Cup final in 1931, albeit defeat was suffered against West Midlands rivals, West Bromwich Albion.

In fact, during this period, the club was still officially known as 'Birmingham Football Club', with the 'City' suffix coming after the end of World War Two - as they returned to action as a Second Division team following relegation in 1938/39.

Known as the 'workshop of the world', as well as being the second-largest city by population in the United Kingdom, it was rather unsurprising that Birmingham was a prime target for the Luftwaffe.

Almost three years of raids on the city saw over 2,200 deaths, leaving only London and Liverpool as heavier-bombed cities, whilst Blues were also nearly made to count the costs of such horrendous damage.

Indeed, in 1941, the Main Stand was left destroyed after a culmination of German bombs and an accidental fire, caused by a fireman assuming petrol was hot water.

The ground's close proximity to munitions factories in East Birmingham saw it become damaged as part of 20 raids in total, with Blues supporter and former Royal Navy member, Sid Jackman, showcasing images of the scene in 2012.

Birmingham City had a golden era after wartime St. Andrew's damage

Action Images

Although the club's current record attendance of 67,341 came prior to the outbreak of World War Two, Blues were eventually able to respond to the worries over their home stadium on the pitch in a 'golden era' of sorts.

Indeed, after a further mixed period of promotions and relegations, Arthur Turner's appointment in 1954 saw them return to the First Division just months later, before reaching a second FA Cup final in 1956, although, again, they would lose to Manchester City in a game infamous for opposing goalkeeper, Bert Trautmann, playing the final stages with a broken neck.

In 1959, the Second City outfit would then record their highest-ever finish of sixth in the top-flight after also becoming the first English side to play in Europe.

Since then, the club may have won two major honours, but major potential is still yet to be realised.

While supporters can certainly remain proud of the values which Birmingham stand for as a club, and a city in general, they will hope Wagner and Co. can eventually surpass such ceilings over time at the Powerhouse.