Black Country derby
Historic rivalry among three Black Country football clubs.
The Black Country derby refers to any match between English football clubs West Bromwich Albion, Walsall, and Wolverhampton Wanderers. In practice, it is most associated with the fixture between West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers, as Walsall has spent the majority of its history in lower divisions. The three clubs are located within the historic boundaries of Staffordshire, separated by about 11 miles in the Black Country region of what is now the West Midlands county.
The most successful side in the most common version of this derby is West Bromwich Albion, who have lost only four of the last 24 meetings between the two teams. The Black Country derby between Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion is scheduled to resume in the 2026–27 EFL Championship season, following Wolves' relegation from the Premier League and West Brom's survival in the Championship. Walsall will be competing in League Two during that season.
The earliest Black Country derbies took place before the Football League existed. The first known match occurred on 20 January 1883, when Albion won 4–2 in the third round of the Birmingham Senior Cup. Wolves and Albion’s first two official meetings were in the FA Cup in 1886 and 1887, with Albion winning both times and reaching the final each year. Walsall’s first matches against Wolves and Albion also came in the FA Cup, in 1889 and 1900 respectively.
Since both West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers were founder members of the Football League in 1888, their derby is one of the oldest in league football worldwide. The fixture was played in each of the first 13 league seasons, from 1888 to 1901. Early attendances were modest, reflecting the sport’s gradual growth in popularity at the time. By the 1906–07 season, crowds regularly exceeded 20,000, and the rivalry intensified.
The Albion–Wolves derby reached its peak in the 1950s, when both clubs competed for top honours in English football. Both were in the First Division from 1949 to 1965. Wolves dominated much of the decade, finishing in the top three nine times, winning the league three times, and the FA Cup twice. Albion, known for their attacking style, also challenged near the top and won the FA Cup in 1954.
The 1953–54 season was the only time the two sides finished first and second in the league.
- First derby
- 20 January 1883
- Most common fixture
- West Bromwich Albion vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Most successful side (recent)
- West Bromwich Albion (lost only 4 of past 24 matches)
- Distance between clubs
- 11 miles (18 km)
- Return fixture set
- 2026–27 EFL Championship
Lore & Background
The earliest Black Country derbies were contested before the formation of the Football League. The first ever derby took place on 20 January 1883, when Albion won 4–2 in the Birmingham Senior Cup. Wolves and Albion's first two official meetings came in the FA Cup in 1886 and 1887, with Albion winning both. With both clubs being founder members of the Football League in 1888, the Black Country derby is one of the oldest in world league football. By the 1906–07 season, fixtures regularly attracted crowds above 20,000.
The Albion–Wolves derby reached its peak in the 1950s when both sides challenged for honours in the First Division. Wolves won the league title three times and the FA Cup twice in that decade; Albion won the FA Cup in 1954. The 1953–54 season saw the sides finish as the top two clubs for the only time, with Wolves winning the league and Albion the cup. They contested the Charity Shield in 1954, the only time they have met in a final, ending 4–4.
In the 1999–2000 season, all three sides were in the same division for the first time. Walsall took bragging rights with a double over Albion and an away win at Molineux. The 2006–07 season saw Albion and Wolves meet a record five times, including in the Championship play-offs, which Albion won 4–2 on aggregate. The 2010–11 season marked the first Premier League derby in nearly 27 years. The latest meetings between Albion and Wolves were in the 2011–12 season, with Albion claiming a league double.
Reader's Guide
The Black Country derby is significant as one of the oldest local derbies in world league football, dating back to the 1880s. It embodies the industrial heritage of the Black Country region and has produced memorable moments across more than a century. The rivalry between West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers has been the most prominent, with both clubs enjoying periods of success, particularly in the 1950s when they finished first and second in the league. The derby has also been marked by intense fan passion, leading to police concerns and the fixture not being staged at the traditional 3pm Saturday kick-off since 1996. Hooliganism was a problem in the 1960s, and frictions between fanbases cause regular restrictions on local pubs on match days. Walsall, though less frequently in the same division, has contributed to the derby's history, notably in 1999–2000 when all three clubs were together for the first time. The rivalry continues to evolve, with the Albion–Wolves derby set to return in the 2026–27 EFL Championship following Wolves' relegation from the Premier League.
Did You Know?
- The first Black Country derby took place on 20 January 1883, with West Bromwich Albion winning 4–2.
- The 1953–54 season was the only time West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers finished as the top two clubs in England.
- In the 2006–07 season, the two sides met a record five times, including in the FA Cup and Championship play-offs.
- The fixture has not been staged at the traditional 3pm Saturday kick-off since 1996 due to police concerns.
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