West Bromwich Albion Wiki

West Bromwich Albion was founded by workers of George Salter's Spring Works in 1878 as the West Bromwich Strollers. "Albion" replaced "Strollers" shortly thereafter and by 1888 they were considered one of the top five English football teams. For most of their existence they've played in white shirts with navy blue stripes, white shorts and white socks, earning them the nickname The Stripes.

The team has played at The Hawthorns since 1900, named for the hawthorn bushes that were cleared to make way for the grounds. It now holds 26,500 spectators and is the highest grounds in the Premier League and Football League at 551 feet above sea level.

The team earned the nickname The Baggies because of the baggy trousers they used to wear to protect their legs from iron in the foundries the members worked in. Their mascots are Baggie Bird and Baggie Bird Junior, a nod to the throstle on the club's crest.

Robert Di Matteo is the club's current manager, joining them in 2009. Honors include being champions in Second Division, 5 FA Cup wins, a League Cup, 2 FA Charity Shield wins and a number of wins in minor cur competitions.