PELSALL VILLA (The Bush Ground)

MIDLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE,
PELSALL VILLA 4-1 BOLEHALL SWIFTS, ATTENDANCE: 63

On a beautiful sunny afternoon I made my way down the M6 for what I thought was to be a "vulture job" as it was announced earlier in the year that Pelsall Villa would be leaving their Bush Ground at the end of the season.

However, after having a quick word with an official of the club at the ground, I was told an agreement was in place with the landowners for the club to play there next season and probably the season after next. All good news.



Pelsall is a small village near Walsall and The Bush ground has been home to Pelsall Villa since the mid seventies and is named after the adjacent public house The Old Bush, which is now derelict. The is a covered stand behind one of the goals but the most noticeable aspect of the ground is the sloping pitch.

The club were reformed in 1961, after the original Pelsall football club were founded in 1897. The club joined the West Midlands (Regional) League in the 1980's and were promoted to the Midland Alliance in 1996. The club subsequently dropped back to the WMRL before joining the Midland Combination in 2009. The Midland Alliance and Midland Combination merged in 2014 and Pelsall Villa were placed in Division One of the new set up, where they remain to this day.

However Pelsall are currently in a battle to stay in Division One, finding themselves second bottom of the table and in their last game out they were hammered 10-0 by Bromsgrove. There was a definite need for a reaction from the Villains.

Bolehall Swifts were the visitors today and it was they who started the game brightest. After 22 minutes they took the lead when a cross from the left was slotted home by Ben Brookes. However just five minutes later the game was all square when Swifts failed to clear a corner and the ball fell to Osiris Robertson in the six yard box and he turned to fire the ball home.

In the second half Pelsall began to take control of the game as their defence withstood anything Bolehall could throw at it. Kicking down the slope they were also looking very potent on the counter attack. After 61 minutes Pelsall got themselves in front when Tom Green was on hand to finish off a good passing move.

In the final stages, as Bolehall pushed for an equaliser, they were caught on the break twice and Green (89) and Tan Katsukunya (90) added some gloss to the scoreline. However then can be no argument it was a deserved, and much needed, victory for Pelsall.

BOLEHALL SWIFTS (Rene Road)

MIDLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, BOLEHALL SWIFTS 3-7 NUNEATON GRIFF, ATTENDANCE: 46 (h/c)

From Kings Norton I headed across to Tamworth where Bolehall Swifts were hosting Nuneaton Griff in an evening kick off. The journey was made in plenty of time, allowing for a quick slurp in the Sir Robert Peel in town.


Bolehall are struggling this season and are yet to register a victory. I was speaking to the couple behind the counter in the tea bar, as they prepared me a delicious steak pie, and they were telling me that their manager and most of their players from last season had departed in the summer and the team was rather youthful at the moment. I guess the last thing they needed was a visit from a team that hit 10 (v Heather) in midweek.

The game kicked off in torrential rain and the pitch did incredibly well to hold up as well as it did. Bolehall looked great when they came forward, and actually took the lead through Leo Thompson after five minutes, but it is at the back they struggled with some self inflicted errors not helping their cause. Ryan Millerchip (10) equalised for Griff from the penalty spot before Sean Gardiner (26) restored the Swifts lead.

Millerchip (29) drew Griff level for the second time before the visitors took the game away from Bolehall. Luke Shorthouse (31) gave Nuneaton the lead before Josh Ruff (40) and Dave Barnett (44) made it five for The Heartlanders.

Bolehall had chances to claw their way back into the game but Nuneaton added more goals late on through Aden Moore (79) and Ryan Slinn (88). They did look a very, very good side.

I enjoyed my evening at Rene Road, despite the weather, and I hope Bolehall can work things out and start picking up some wins. I wish them every success for the rest of the season.

PILKINGTON XXX (Triplex Sports Association Ground)

MIDLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, PILKINGTON XXX 0-5 BROMSGROVE SPORTING, ATTENDANCE: 139

For the first leg of my bank holiday double I found myself in Kings Norton, at the Triplex Sports Association Ground, the home of Pilkington XXX. I have to confess that this was not my original choice for my first game but a combination of an FA Cup replay and appalling Bank Hoilday traffic put paid to plans A, B and C. 

However fate certainly smiled on me as I landed at a great little ground and watched a fine entertaining game. Sadly, for them, the home side were on the wrong end of a five goal beating.

Goals from Craig Jones (6 & 34) and Dale Edwards (11) put Bromsgrove Sporting in a commanding position at the half time interval. If I am being honest it could easily have been double that but for some great saves in The Pilks goal by Reece Francis.

Naturally Bromsgrove took their foot off the gas in the second period and only added the gloss to the scoreline late on, after Francis had been sent off on 78 minutes for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

With no replacement goalie on the bench, Matthew Stirzaker went between the sticks and although he got hands to Reece Hewitt's penalty, the power of the kick saw the ball spin agonisingly into the net. Ollie Gibson (86) completed the scoring for Sporting.

The Pilks were formed in 2002 when Burman Hi-Ton changed their name to Pilkington XXX. The forerunners of the club were the Triplex Safety Glass works team who, in 1984, as Triplex FC, joined the Midland Combination before folding in 1993. Burman Hi-Ton were also a works team and they took over the sports ground after the demise of Triplex FC and another local team, Richmond Swifts, who ironically had developed the ground before they folded.

NORTHFIELD TOWN (Shenley Lane Community Sports Ground)

MIDLANDS FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION THREE, NORTHFIELD TOWN 2-1 INKBERROW, ATTENDANCE: 48 (h/c)

Taking a break from my trip around Wales, the chance of some rare Thursday night action drew me to England's second city. Northfield Town play at the Shenley Community Sports Ground in Selly Oak, just south of Birmingham. 

When I heard the name Selly Oak it brought to mind Crossroads, that rubbish soap opera from years ago, as that was set in the fictional Midlands town of Kings Oak. Anyhow, I digress. Northfield's ground is shared with cricket and also has two other pitches, indeed another match was taking place at the same as this game.

The ground is superb for what is a team playing at Step 8 of the English pyramid system. There is cover and seating behind one goal and a small piece of cover on the halfway line. I am guessing that it would be difficult to erect floodlights with the shared facilities, which would no doubt hinder the clubs ability to climb the pyramid.

This evening Northfield were taking on Inberrow, a small village in Worcestershire, 18 miles from Selly Oak. 

The game kicked off on time but the visitors started the game with only 7 men on the field, it wasn't until about 5 minutes into the game that the rest of the team finally arrived and took to the pitch.

The home side took the lead courtesy of a superb pile driver from Wayne Boyce in the first half and doubled their lead in the second period when Lewis Jones burst through and beat the Inkberrow 'keeper.

Northfield had chances to extend their lead further but a nervy finish ensued when Nathan Davies pulled one back for the visitors but The Town held on to claim the victory.

I was made to feel most welcome this evening (despite being mistaken for a Norwegian!) and a visit to Northfield Town comes highly recommended.