SYNOPSIS

A match-by match look at West Bromwich Albion's 1999-2000 season.

FOREWARD

This time last year, I was explaining how a regular Albion Yearbook was long overdue. It seems you were pleased with what we were able to offer, for sales of the 1999 Albion Review were easily sufficient for us to continue the series, and I hope you enjoy this second offering.

Now, this period in the club's history might not be the best time to be an Albion supporter - but it's a pretty good time to edit an Albion newspaper and an annual review. The Year of the Three Managers, three boards, two chairmen, and a glorious last day escape from relegation; never let it be said that being an Albion supporter is a boring occupation...

As a result, there's plenty to read in this review. Once again, we have covered every Albion first team game, from the pre-season tour to Denmark, through a pretty dreadful First Division campaign, right up to the last gap win at home to Charlton. As before, we have included the build-up to each match as a complete day-by-day diary of the season, as well as taking an overview of the contribution of the Reserves and the Youth team.

It was the latter who gave the greatest cause for optimism during the dark days of the season. When the first team were slipping further down the table, John Trewick and Richard O'Kelly's youngsters were bringing light into the darkness with some wonderful displays of football beyond their years, which culminated in a winning Wembley appearance against Scunthorpe, closely followed by another victory in the Midland Youth Cup Final against Mansfield.

If the likes of Perry, Mkandawire, Adams, Briggs, Iezzi and Scott - to name just six youngsters from an excellent team - progress the way they should, I'm optimistic that future Albion Reviews will have to be extended in size to cover a regular diet of Premiership and European fixtures.

Once again, I would like to thank the contributions made by the regular Baggies newspaper team, including John Homer, Kevin Grice, Dave Holloway, Dave Hewitt, Laurie Rampling, Colin Mackenzie, Robert Bradley, Peter Gregory, Erin Jones, Dave Muir and Miles Robertson.

Glenn Willmore
July 1 2000