League One is arguably one of the toughest leagues in the English football pyramid.
One only needs to ask the likes of Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday, and Sheffield United, all of whom spent longer than they would have liked in the third tier.
This season, all eyes are on Midlands giants Birmingham City following their shock relegation last season.
Throughout the summer, the Second City outfit has embarked upon a spending spree unlike anything the third division has seen before. The Blues have forked out over £30m on new signings, more than the rest of the teams in the division combined. Their spending was so high that they spent more than all but one of the EFL Championship clubs, as well as reigning Premier League champions Manchester City.
After the money that the Blues forked out on new signings in the summer, many expected them to run away with the League One title this season. However, as of right now, they currently find themselves in second place, behind the early league leaders Wycombe Wanderers. The bookies are unmoved though, with the latest football betting odds still making the Brummies a 33/100 favourite for the title.
So, considering the record-breaking funds that have been forked out on players, Birmingham should be setting the points record this season, should they not? Let’s find out what the current record is, and what the Blues need to do to match it.
Photo by Terrace Grain on Unsplash
Historical Giants of League One
The benchmark for excellence in League One is set by Birmingham’s Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers, who amassed an astounding 103 points in the 2013/14 season. Back then, a forward line of Frenchman Nouha Dicko and Leigh Griffiths, supported by midfielders Bakary Sako and David Edwards, was far too much for the third tier to handle. Wolves bagged a whopping 89 goals throughout the campaign, including six in a 6-4 victory at home to Rotherham United, a team that was also promoted via the playoffs that very same year.
While that tally remains the golden standard, several teams have come close to matching it. Two years prior, Charlton Athletic set the record for most points, racking up a remarkable 101 throughout a scintillating campaign in which they went head to head with the two Sheffield clubs in an all-time showdown for promotion. The Addicks ultimately came out on top, while Wednesday took full advantage of a late-season United meltdown to claim the second automatic promotion spot.
Last year, Plymouth Argyle also became centurions as they topped league one. The Pilgrims racked up 101 points throughout the 2022/23 season under Steven Schumacher. They are now firmly established in League One, with new manager Wayne Rooney aiming to consolidate them into a comfortable midtable side rather than being a relegation candidate.
Can the Blues Catch Up?
Even though Birmingham isn’t currently top of the league, they are certainly in with a chance of matching Wolves’ record points total. After 13 games in that record-breaking campaign, Kenny Jackett’s side were on 31 points after 13 games, while City currently sit on 30. They had only lost once, just as the Blues have, and there are plenty of parallels to be drawn.
Wolves’ main time to rack up points came in the New Year. They signed striker Nouha Dicko from Wigan Athletic in the January transfer window, and the ex-Rotherham loanee immediately got to work. Wanderers won eight straight following his arrival, with the French hitman scoring in five of them. The Blues will need to match that kind of form if they won’t seal their spot in the history books, but don’t be surprised to see them do exactly that, especially if they open the chequebook once again in January.
Article written by Mark Williams
Photos by Terrace Grain on Unsplash
