Memorable Second City derbies in recent years
Women
2 hours ago
The Second City derby is one of the most anticipated fixtures in the football calendar, with plenty of excitement, tension and passion guaranteed when Aston Villa and Birmingham City go head-to-head.
The two sides renew their rivalry on Sunday as they do battle in the Women’s Super League at Villa Park (ko 2pm) – secure your seat now for the eagerly-anticipated showdown.
To whet your appetite, join us as we take a look back at some of the most memorable claret and blue showings against our midlands neighbours in recent years…
Aston Villa 1-1 Birmingham City (6-5 on pens) - Subway Players Cup, Keys Park - October 28, 2026
Bragging rights were secured in dramatic fashion in our previous encounter with Birmingham just last month. Defender Mathilde Harviken netted her first Villa goal off the bench in the second half of our Subway Players Cup tie, before Martha Harris struck in stoppage time to secure a point for the visitors.
However, the Second City turned claret and blue courtesy of keeper Emily Ramsey’s penalty shoot-out heroics. The former blue saved from Veatriki Sarri and Asato Miyagawa to ensure a 6-5 spot-kick victory for Villa, also claiming the bonus point to keep the team fighting at the top of the league phase standings.
Aston Villa 3-3 Birmingham City - League Cup, Bescot Stadium - November 21, 2025
Our meeting with Blues in the 2025 League Cup group stage had all the makings of a derby day classic. The teams provided plenty of heat on a cold Friday night in Walsall as they battled to a 3-3 draw in a pulsating 90-minute clash.
The visitors raced into a two-goal lead before strikes from Lucia Kendall and Anna Patten drew Villa level. Tempers boiled over on the stroke of half-time, with Lynn Wilms shown a straight red card. Nevertheless, the home side dug in for the second half, holding Birmingham at bay before youngster Rachel Maltby appeared to have settled it in our favour in stoppage time. Though in one final twist the visitors scrambled in an equaliser a minute later to take a share of the spoils. Blues duly won the subsequent penalty shoot-out 4-2.
Birmingham City 0-1 Aston Villa – Women’s Super League, St Andrew's – November 14, 2021
It was joy for all those of a claret and blue persuasion the last time we crossed town for a Second City derby at St Andrew’s. Defender Anita Asante’s back-post header from a corner in the first half was enough to seal victory in the Women’s Super League. The victory was doubly sweet for Villa boss Carla Ward, who returned to haunt her old side Birmingham mere months after crossing the city divide.
Birmingham City 1-1 Aston Villa – Women’s Super League, Damson Park – April 28, 2021
Academy graduate Freya Gregory was the star turn when Villa visited Damson Park in the WSL back in the 2020/21 season. The 18-year-old finished off a slick team counter-attack to mark her first professional goal in claret and blue in a dominant showing from start to finish. Yet there was a late sting in the tale as Veatriki Sarri netted a stoppage-time leveller for the hosts, bundling home to take a share of the points.
Plus…
Would you believe it! The earliest record we have of an ‘Aston Villa Ladies’ team is a 1957 newspaper report of a match against Birmingham City during the Football Association ban on women's football.
This year represents 30 years since Aston Villa Women took the club’s name and on Sunday we’re marking the anniversary with a special pre-match event in the Sports Illustrated Warehouse at Villa Park. There will also be a host of other activities further celebrating the teams, moments and people who have helped make the club what it is today.
Stay tuned for further details…
