Aston Villa and Birmingham City are synonymous with Villa Park and St Andrew's. But, they haven't always called those grounds home.
Muntz Street, Small Heath (Birmingham City)
Founded in 1875, Birmingham City (then Small Heath Alliance) played their home games at grounds around Bordesley Green and Sparkbrook for their first year, before settling in Small Heath between the Coventry Road and Muntz Street.
The ground was basic and uncomfortable for away teams to visit. Blues went on a 22-game unbeaten run at the ground, and beat Aston Villa in their first meeting in the late 1870s. Despite the ground being a fortress, by 1905 Birmingham City had outgrown Muntz Street. With crowds of well over 30-thousand turning up for games, it was decided a new ground was needed.
A site was identified near St Andrew's Church a mile up the road and the club moved into their new home in 1906. Today, football is still played on Muntz Street, although it's on the local school pitches, and not the likes of Blues, Villa, Derby County, Newcastle, etc.
Wellington Road, Perry Barr (Aston Villa)
Wellington Road, Perry Barr was home to Aston Villa between 1876 and 1897. Situated about a mile from Villa Park, Wellington Road is just off the A34 near the train station. Today, little evidence of a football stadium remains.
The ground hosted Villa's first football league match in 1888 - a 5-1 win vs Stoke City. Like Villa Park, the ground hosted FA Cup semi finals and even hosted an England game in 1893, a 5-1 win vs Iceland.
-