Why West Brom are known as the Baggies
West Brom have seen their nickname transcend generations of football fans in B71 and beyond.
The West Midlands outfit have been affectionately known as the Baggies for a large part of their history, in what is undoubtedly one of the more peculiar nicknames within English football.
Ryan Mason is preparing to lead West Brom into a new era this term, but the club’s ties with its traditions are stronger than ever before.
Founder members of the Football League way back in 1888, they are gearing up for yet another push to try and secure a return to the top tier of English football.
The Baggies nickname dates back to the early 1900s
West Brom’s relocation to The Hawthorns in 1900 played a central part in their links with the Baggies moniker being established, as they had previously been known as the Throstles.
Albion’s home was the first Football League ground to be built in the 20th century, and is set to celebrate its 125th anniversary in the coming weeks.
Its origins and early structural features are also closely tied to the club’s nickname, which is still commonly used to this day.
- The Hawthorns opened with a 1-1 draw against Derby County on 3 September 1900
- 64,815 fans packed in to see West Brom beat Arsenal in a 1937 FA Cup quarter final – its record crowd
- The Hawthorns played host to an average of 25,031 supporters per game in the Championship last term
The term Baggies comes from the turnstile operators walking along the side with bags holding the takings from each game, according to the club’s former historian Tony Matthews.
“In its early days, The Hawthorns had only two entrances, one behind each goal,” Matthews said, his comments relayed by Metro (February 2021).
“On match days, the gatekeepers would gather up the takings at each end and be escorted by policemen along the sides of the pitch to the centre line, where there was a small office under the stand.
“The gate money, mostly in pennies, amounted to a considerable sum and was carried in large cloth bags.
“The crowd started shouting ‘here come the bag men!’ at their appearance in front of the main stand, and this developed into a chant of ‘here come the Baggies!’, giving the team its unofficial nickname.”
West Brom set for special afternoon v Derby on 13 September
West Brom are set to hand The Hawthorns a special afternoon on 6 September, with a legends game organised in aid of The Albion Foundation just days after the ground’s 125th birthday.
The Baggies will also continue the anniversary celebrations on 13 September, when they welcome Derby for a momentous Championship clash.
| Season | Wins | Draws | Losses | League Rank |
| 2024/25 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 7th |
| 2023/24 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 5th |
| 2022/23 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 7th |
| 2021/22 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 6th |
| 2020/21 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 19th (Premier League relegation) |
The Rams were the first ever visitors to The Hawthorns on 3 September 1900, and the EFL allowed Albion to ensure that they would take on the same opponents for the upcoming anniversary.
It’s sure to be an incredible few weeks for the club, and they will be desperate to ensure the clash against Derby is topped off with a crucial early victory.
Their home form has been crucial to them over the years, as Mason will be looking to ensure the Hawthorns becomes a fortress once again as his side push for the Premier League this term.
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