Football fan puts West Brom on the map - literally

Mike Cochrane has designed a special Tube-style map highlighting the club’s history from its formation to the present day.

The map includes all the Baggies’ major achievements and the names of its star players through the ages, including Jeff Astle, Cyrille Regis and Tony Brown.

Going through Albion’s history a decade at a time, with past players and managers replacing famous Underground stations such as Oxford Circus and Kings Cross, Mike took six weeks to complete the project.

He said: “They are a team with a great tradition and good players. They were founder members of the Football League and they have a good story to tell.

“There’s been plenty of ups and downs, therefore its a good story to put on a map.”

Mike has previously designed similar maps for a host of football teams throughout the country, including Manchester United, Liverpool and Bristol Rovers.

“I work my way through various teams, not just the big clubs,” he said.

“I’m just trying to work my way through all the different teams. As soon as I did the Wolves one I was getting asked where the Albion one was.

“The Albion one was really interesting to do because as well as the history of the club line by line, which includes player appearances, goals and trophies won, I’ve managed to incorporate the history of the Albion badge and also their most iconic kits.”

That includes the famous yellow and green away kit from the late 1970s.

The 50-year-old, from Cardiff, added: “The maps are getting so full of information now its hard to fit anything else on.

“But it’s a good way to display information. People have commented how detailed and interesting they are – and different in a world of commercialisation. This is certainly true of this Albion one.”

As well as football, Mike has designed a Tube map for the England rugby union team. Previously a HR consultant for more than 30 years, this is now Mike’s full-time venture.

“It was a hobby, then it was a glorified hobby and now it’s a job,” he said.

“It’s an interesting job, I enjoy the work and putting it all together.

The standard A3 print of the map costs £24 but a limited edition, signed and numbered version can be bought for £75.

For more information or to purchase a tube map go to tubeart.co.uk and search West Bromwich.