<P> West Bromwich Albion Football Club was founded as West Bromwich Strollers in 1878 by workers from George Salter's Spring Works and turned professional in 1885 . Albion won the FA Cup for the first time in 1888 and later that year became one of the founder members of the Football League . In the 1900--01 season, the club moved to its current home ground, The Hawthorns . Albion have spent the majority of their history in the top division of English football, including 24 seasons in a row between 1949--50 and 1972--73 . From 1986--87 to 2001--02, they spent 16 consecutive seasons outside the top division, recording their lowest ever league finish of seventh in Division Three in 1991--92 . Albion have been promoted 10 times and relegated 10 times, with 7 of the 20 changes of division coming between 2002 and 2010 . The team played in the Premier League for the first time in 2002--03 . </P> <P> Albion have won the League Championship once, the FA Cup five times, the League Cup once and the Charity Shield twice, one of which was shared . They have been runners - up in the League Championship twice, in the FA Cup five times and in the League Cup twice . In European competitions, Albion have reached the quarter - final stage of both the Cup Winners' Cup and UEFA Cup . </P>

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