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Willenhall Town Football Club
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Noose Lane, Willenhall, West Midlands. WV13 3BB
Phone; 01902 636586 (office) or 01902 605132 (club house)
A-Z ref; p21 5G
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Midland Football Alliance
The Midland Alliance was formed in 1994. The top clubs in the West Midland League and the Midland Combination formed the league. Prior to 1962-3 the West Midlands League was known as the Birmingham & District League. Prior to 1967-8 the Midland Combination was known as the Worcestershire Combination. Throughout the period the West Midland League was a stronger league than the Midland Combination, although with the loss of many of the former league's clubs to the Southern League the gap between the leagues narrowed. The original joining teams from the West Midland (Regional) League were; Brierley Hill Town, Chasetown, Halesowen Harriers, Hinckley Athletic, Knypersley Victoria, Oldbury Town, Paget Rangers, Rocester, Rushall Olympic (replaced Ilkeston Town who were elected to the Beazer Homes League),and Willenhall Town. The original joining teams from the Midland Football Combination were; Barwell, Boldmere St. Michaels, Bolehall Swifts, Pershore Town '88, Sandwell Borough, Shepshed Dynamo, Shifnal Town, Stapenhill, Stratford Town and West Midlands Police.
Midland Alliance Champions Runners-Up
1994-95 Paget Rangers Hinckley Athletic
1995-96 Shepshed Dynamo Blakenall
1996-97 Blakenall Hinckley Athletic
1997-98 Bloxwich Town Rocester
1998-99 Rocester King's Norton Town
1999-00 Oadby Town Stratford Town
2000-01 Stourport Swifts Rushall Olympic
2001-02 Stourbridge Bromsgrove Rovers (promoted)
2002-03 Stourbridge Rushall Olympic
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Willenhall Town History
Although the club's history dates back to the 1890's when a team call Willenhall Pickwicks were the winners of the Birmingham Junior Cup in 1894 and Champions of the Birmingham Combination in 1909, the present Willenhall Town was formed in 953 with the amalgamation of two local sides - Aston Road Villa and RAF Association.
The club was accepted into the Wolverhampton League Premier Division for the 1952/53 campaign and remained in that league until the end of the 1967/68 season.
The only highlights of these years were six League Cup Final appearances, all of which ended in defeat.
In 1968/69 Willenhall joined the Staffordshire County League under the ex-WBA player Johnny Green and two years later, the club gained it's first trophy, the JW Hunt Cup beating Whitmore Old Boys in the final.
In the 1972/73 season, the Dudley Guest Hospital Cup was won and in November of the year Peter Clarke took over as manager. Willenhall joined the newly-formed Staffordshire Premier League in 1974/75 and this season saw the start of the club's longest unbeaten run. From February to October 1975, the club won 28 games drawing just once and in the process hitting 115 goals whilst conceding just 12.
This form helped Willenhall to win the Sporting Star Cup and gain entry into the West Midlands Regional League Division One. During this time the club moved to its Noose Lane ground which had been purchased several years earlier. A stand had been obtained from Hall Green Greyhound Stadium and the ground was officially opened by Stan Cullis. In the first season in the West Midlands League, promotion was obtained and a final appearance was achieved in the League Cup.
The following two campaigns saw the club consolidate their Premier Division place whilst the reserves won the Staffordshire County League and gained promotion to the West Midlands Regional League Division 2.
1978 brought with it the end of Peter Clarke's magnificent reign and he made one last contribution to the club that ensured that the work he had begun would be ably continued by persuading Barry Stobart to take over at Noose Lane. With the assistance of Stan Plant he was soon to repeat the achievements of the 1921/22 season when Willenhall Town won the Birmingham and District League title.
The title was won on a sunny day in May when an invasion of the Red Army swarmed to the Garden Walk Stadium, home of Gornal Athletic and were rewarded with a 4-0 victory that pipped Lye Town to the title on goal difference. Also that season the Reds featured in an impressive FA Vase run which saw them through to the last eight of the competition losing out to Whickham.
A season later the club, having failed to defend their title, had the satisfaction of beating Breaton Social in the League Cup Final.
The 1980/81 season must go down as probably the most exciting in the clubs history.
The start of the season saw the erection of £20,000 worth of floodlights and a game against Aston Villa marked the official opening. However, the highlight of the season was to be the FA Vase Final appearance at Wembley Stadium, with Willenhall being the first West Midlands League club to achieve this feat.
But once again Whickham were to provide heartbreak for Town, collecting the trophy with an own goal in extra time, this after Willenhall had gained a two-goal lead and then seen their keeper carried off through injury.
The following season saw an FA Cup first round proper appearance draw a record crowd of 3,454, Crewe Alexandra spoiling the party with a narrow 1-0 win.
However, Willenhall were rewarded with promotion to the Southern League Midland Division where they finished a creditable fifth in their first season.
In 1983/84 they won the Midland Division title scoring 100 goals in the process and promotion to the Premier Division was assured.
The highest position the club gained was in 1984/85 when The Reds finished fourth just missing out on promotion to the GM Vauxhall Conference.
Since that season the club have been on a downward spiral although there have been a number of notable cup performances.
In 1985/86 the final of the Birmingham Senior Cup was reached but again the club missed out on the trophy losing out to great rivals Dudley Town 4-2.
And in season 1987/88 Willenhall drew Barnet in the Fourth Qualifying round of the FA Cup but lost 6-0.
The club returned to the West Midlands League for the 1991/92 season under the management of Joey Owen. Unfortunately a dismal start cost him his place and Colin Holder was brought in for a short space of time. Former Wolves player Campbell Chapman was then brought in but with six games remaining Chris Robinson was appointed Reds manager.
In August 1994 Robinson and assistant Brian Fox, a former Reds player, led the club into a new era as founder members of the Midland Football Alliance.
However in January 1995 with less than five months of the season gone Robinson left to join Beazer Homes League Premier Division club Atherstone United and for a short period Brian Fox took over the reins as caretaker manager.
In march 1995 former Reds player and local lad Kenny Drakeford was appointed manager. Ken who had played at most levels of the game, also managed teams in Australia and New Zealand. He led the Reds to victory in the 1996/97 League Cup final where they beat Bloxwich on penalties. The following season saw him being replaced by Des Davies.
May 1999 saw a new manager in the shape of Kevin Hadley, the former Oldbury boss.
He also led Willenhall to the League Cup final in the 1999/00 season where in a dramatic match they found themselves 3-0 down and reduced to 10 men against Knypersley Victoria. However a second half performance saw the Town win 4-3 with a last minute penalty-winning goal.
The 2000/01 season didn't start as good as what had been hoped for and in October 2000 a fire to the club house meant no income, resulting in the inability to pay the players. The management and players left, leaving reserve team boss Martin Thomas to pick up the pieces. Using reserve team players and local youngsters Thomas built a young enthusiastic team who played attacking football. This led to him being given the job on a permanent basis, and in a remarkable re-build the club finished 8th in the league and won the Midland Invitation Cup, beating Stratford 1-0 in the final.
The 2000/01 season started well with the Club topping the Alliance early in the season but a poor run dropped them into the relegation battle. November 2001 saw Martin Thomas sacked, he was replaced in December 2001 by former Redditch manger, Rob Smith. Highlight of the season was when a club record win was set when Bridgnorth were defeated 11-1 in March 2002.
After an unbeaten start to the 02/03 season, the middle part of the campaign crumbled, before an upturn in the run in. Even the signing of ex-England star Mark Walters couldn’t lift the Reds and in the end Town finished 6th in the MFA and re-building has started ready for an all out assault on the MFA for the 2003/04 season.
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Useful Football Links
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Players
NATHAN VAUGHAN- (Goalkeeper)- Young keeper in his 3rd season, progressed from the reserves. A former Plymouth Argyle YTS player who attracted several league scouts and during 2001/02 season had trials with Northampton Town, QPR and Bradford City.
MARK WALTERS - Midfield - Signed Nov 02, former England, Aston Villa, Rangers, Liverpool, Wolves scored 130 goals in over 600 league games.
CRAIG SLATER – Defender – Signed in 2001 from Cradley, dependable and skilful player with potentional to play in the Football League.
SIMON CARTER – Defender – Signed October 2001 from Shifnal, a solid defender who has improved with every game.
DANNY ROCHESTER – Midfielder – Signed Jan. 02 from Stafford Town, solid player who is a menace to defences. Previous clubs include Bilston & Blakenhall.
GARY HAY – Striker – Signed from Alvechurch in March 2002, A lively striker who is an excellent battler, scores lots of goals and is a great investment for the future.
STUART EADES – Defender – Signed Jan 02, Former Kidderminster Hariers YTS, has settled in well and is a solid player and another great prospect for the future.
RONNIE WALKER - Midfield - Joined from Wednesfield, was captain of Dr Martens league winning side Stafford Rangers.
DANNY BROMLEY - (midfield) summer signing from Darlaston, hoping to impress in his second season at club.
STUART GROSVENOR - (Midfield)- Re-joined prior to 02/03 season, experienced player from Oldbury.
MARK STIRK - (midfield) Experienced, battler who re-joined the Reds in Dec 02, was previously with Kidderminster Harriers, Moor Green, Redditch, Halesowen Town, and signed for Willenhall from Stourbridge in February 2002 before leaving in the summer.
LEON JACKSON - (midfield) - snapped up (Dec02) from Stourbridge, started his career with Port Vale as a trainee and had since had a couple of spells at Bilston Town when they were members of the Southern League, Blakenall, Bloxwich Town, Redditch United and Bromsgrove Rovers.
LEE BULLIMORE – Striker- Re-signed Feb. 02 from Bilston Town, now in his 3rd spell at Noose Lane and always a prolific scorer in a Willenhall shirt.
MARK CREIGHTON – Defender- Signed Jan 02 from Bromsgrove Rovers, a real scoop for Willenhall, a solid, dependable player who always gives 100%, played at Redditch and Halesowen Town.
JOHN QUILT - Striker - Former Rushall, Blakenhall, Wednesfield & Bloxwich player.
CHRIS PEARCE –Midfielder – Vetern signed from Stourbridge in Dec. 2001, has had service with Solihull, Moor Green and at Conference level with Bromsgrove Rovers. Experience will prove valuable.
DARREN GOODALL - Midfield - Returned to Club from Bridgnorth, previously with Kidderminster, Moor Green, Redditch & Halesowen Town.
MARK SWANN - Midfield - Former Blakenhall, Sutton, Tamworth & Redditch player. Very experienced & provides excellent service to strikers.
MIKE MOSELEY - Midfield - Joined prior to 02/03 season, tough tackler with skill, very impressive during pre season. Previously with Bloxwich & Blakenhall.
DOMINIC REECE - (defence) - Joined Dec 02 from Halesowen Town, experienced former Aston Villa trainee defender signed for Dr Martens Premier side Halesowen Town in August 2002 after a spell with Conference outfit Woking. Had joined the Cards from Sutton Coldfield Town in February 2002 after spells at Atherstone United, Redditch United and Hednesford Town.
ROB SMITH; (Boss) -Appointed in Dec 2001, he was previously manager at Dr Martens Western side Redditch United during the past 2 seasons leading them to sixth and fourth places in the league. He also spent 8 years there as a player during which time he managed the Youth side. His other previous clubs include Halesowen Town, Tamworth & Stafford Rangers.
LARRY CHAMBERS; (Ass. Boss) Joins as Rob's assistant, was his number 2 at Redditch and his previous clubs include Dudley Town, Bilston and Willenhall Town.
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