2004–05 West Bromwich Albion F.C. season
Encyclopedia
During the 2004–05 English football season, competed in the FA Premier League
.
as "Survival Sunday
", with accompanying promotional material advertising the last matchday like a title fight or epic movie blockbuster.
West Brom, who had been bottom of the table and eight points from safety at Christmas
, did their part by defeating at home 2–0. Norwich, the only side to have their fate completely in their own hands, lost 6–0 at and went down. Southampton lost 2–1 at home to . Palace, away to , were leading 2–1 after 71 minutes, but with eight minutes to go Jonathan Fortune
equalised for the Addicks to relegate the Eagles. Thus, West Brom stayed up, and changed history, becoming the first club in Premiership history to avoid relegation after being bottom of the table at Christmas.
At the end of 90 minutes in all 4 matches, Sky cameras focused on the Hawthorns
, as confirmation of other results began to filter through. Once the realisation dawned on the players and fans that survival had been achieved, a mass pitch invasion
was sparked, with huge celebrations. The Portsmouth fans in the away end of the ground joined in the celebrations and party atmosphere, as, through losing 2-0 to West Brom, they had "helped" relegate arch-rivals Southampton. The defeat itself mattered little to Portsmouth, as they would be unable to improve on their 16th position due to 15th-placed ' greater points tally.
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
.
Season summary
West Bromwich Albion managed to retain their Premiership status despite being in last place on Christmas Day. This is the only time in the history of the Premiership this has happened.The relegation dog fight
Going into the final round of matches, no team was assured of relegation. In each of the last three weekends of the season, the team that was bottom of the table at the start of the weekend finished it outside the drop zone. The final round of the season on 15 May started with West Bromwich on the bottom, and one point clear and in the last safe spot and two points from the bottom. For the first time since the advent of the current Premier League in 1992–1993, no club was assured of relegation going into the final day. The final matchday was publicised by Sky SportsSky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
as "Survival Sunday
Survival Sunday
Survival Sunday is a term used to refer to final day coverage of the Premier League in England. The phrase is primarily used by Sky Sports, when relegation places are still to be decided, and is used on all the adverts for the end of season football coverage...
", with accompanying promotional material advertising the last matchday like a title fight or epic movie blockbuster.
West Brom, who had been bottom of the table and eight points from safety at Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
, did their part by defeating at home 2–0. Norwich, the only side to have their fate completely in their own hands, lost 6–0 at and went down. Southampton lost 2–1 at home to . Palace, away to , were leading 2–1 after 71 minutes, but with eight minutes to go Jonathan Fortune
Jonathan Fortune
Jonathan Jay Fortune is a professional footballer.-Charlton Athletic:After coming through the Charlton youth ranks and two loan spells at Mansfield Town, Fortune made his Charlton début during the 2001–02 season and became a regular figure in the Charlton first team...
equalised for the Addicks to relegate the Eagles. Thus, West Brom stayed up, and changed history, becoming the first club in Premiership history to avoid relegation after being bottom of the table at Christmas.
At the end of 90 minutes in all 4 matches, Sky cameras focused on the Hawthorns
The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns is an all-seater football stadium in West Bromwich, Sandwell, England, with a capacity of 26,484. It has been the home of West Bromwich Albion F.C. since 1900, when it became the sixth ground to be used by the club. The ground was the last Football League ground to be built in the...
, as confirmation of other results began to filter through. Once the realisation dawned on the players and fans that survival had been achieved, a mass pitch invasion
Pitch invasion
A pitch invasion or field invasion, known as rushing the field in the United States, occurs when a crowd of people who are watching a sports game run onto the field, to celebrate or protest about an incident...
was sparked, with huge celebrations. The Portsmouth fans in the away end of the ground joined in the celebrations and party atmosphere, as, through losing 2-0 to West Brom, they had "helped" relegate arch-rivals Southampton. The defeat itself mattered little to Portsmouth, as they would be unable to improve on their 16th position due to 15th-placed ' greater points tally.
Squad
- Squad at end of season
Left club during season
Starting 11
- Considering a 4-4-2 formation
- GK: #1,
Russell HoultRussell HoultRussell Hoult is an English footballer. He is a goalkeeper and is currently player/assistant manager/goalkeeping coach for Hereford United.-Playing career:...
, 39 - RB: #4,
Thomas Gaardsoe, 27 - CB: #5, Darren PurseDarren PurseDarren John Purse is an English professional footballer who plays for League Two club Plymouth Argyle as a defender, on loan from Championship side Millwall....
, 24 (#14, Martin AlbrechtsenMartin AlbrechtsenMartin Albrechtsen is a Danish professional football player, currently playing for the Danish superliga team FC Midtjylland. He can play in any position across the back four and has played four games for the Danish national team...
, also has 24 starts) - CB: #19, Neil ClementNeil ClementNeil Clement , is an English former professional footballer who spent the majority of his career playing for West Bromwich Albion. He participated in a club record three promotions. His customary position was in defence, but he was also a versatile player who occupied several different positions...
, 38 - LB: #3, Paul Robinson, 31
- RM: #11,
Zoltan GeraZoltán GeraZoltán Gera is a Hungarian footballer who currently plays for West Bromwich Albion. He usually plays as an attacking midfielder, though he has also played on both the right and left wings throughout his career...
, 35 - CM: #2, Riccardo ScimecaRiccardo ScimecaRiccardo Scimeca is an English former professional footballer who played for Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Leicester City, West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City in a career spanning 16 years, making over 400 appearances...
, 30 - CM: #10,
Andy JohnsonAndy Johnson (Welsh footballer)Andrew James "Andy" Johnson is an English born Welsh international football midfielder who last played for King's Lynn.-Career:He began his career at Norwich City, before joining Nottingham Forest in 1997 for £2.2m...
, 23 - LM: #8, Jonathan GreeningJonathan GreeningJonathan Greening is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Nottingham Forest.He began his career in 1996 with York City, but moved to Manchester United in 1998, with whom he won the 1998–99 UEFA Champions League as a non-playing substitute in the final...
, 34 - CF: #25,
Nwankwo KanuNwankwo KanuNwankwo Kanu, OON , or simply Kanu, is a Nigerian footballer who plays for Portsmouth. He was also a member of the Nigerian national team for 16 years from 1994 until 2010...
, 23 - CF: #34, Robert EarnshawRobert EarnshawRobert Earnshaw is a Welsh footballer who plays for Cardiff City and Wales. He is the only player to have scored a hat-trick in the English Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two , the League Cup, the FA Cup and for his country at International level.Earnshaw was born in Mufulira,...
, 20 (#9, Geoff HorsfieldGeoff HorsfieldGeoffrey Malcolm "Geoff" Horsfield is an English former professional footballer, now football coach. He made more than 300 appearances in the Football League playing as a striker. He is now a coach at Port Vale....
, also has 20 starts)
- GK: #1,