The Vase.

MATCH NO26

GROUND NO8

FA VASE EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND

SATURDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER 1992

PELSALL VILLA 5-1 BIRSTALL UTD

(1-0 HAYWOOD 51)

(2-0 WALTERS 61)

(3-0 WALTERS 70)

(3-1 JACKSON 78)

(4-1 WALTERS 83)

(5-1 TURPIN 88)

ATT 144

Pelsall.

JONES,WOOD,COLES,READ,HORNE,DUFFUS,DAVISON,HAYWOOD,PRIEST,GOUGH,WALTERS,TURPIN.

Birstall Utd.

HOWARD,MCATEE,CLAYTON,JORDAN,ROSSA,LIVIE,FRENCH,JACKSON,OVERTON,COULTHARD,COULTHARD.

Programme. 32 pages (10 of adverts)

New New Ground.

MATCH NO 25

GROUND NO7

SATURDAY 15TH AUGUST 1992

WEST MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION

ILKESTON TOWN 1-1 CHASETOWN

(1-0 OSBORNE 39)

(1-1 YATES 68)

ATT 790

Ilkeston.

RIGBY,FLETCHER,BEAVON,CAMPBELL,HARROD,BURNS,BAILEY,HUMPHREYS,KAY,OSBORNE,BURREL,ALDRIDGE,EDWARDS.

Chasetown.

WITHINGTON,COX,JONES,SHELTON,RICHARDS,LANGSTON,WALSH,ANSELL,MALCOLM,ROSE,DIXON,YATES,HILL.

Programme. 24 pages (12 of adverts)

New Season

MATCH NO24

GROUND NO6

0-2

(0-1 Palgrave 67)

(0-2 Boughey 89)

ATT 480

Chasetown. WITHINGTON,COX,JONES,HYDEN,RICHARDS,LANGSTON,SHELTON,ANSELL,WALSH,MALCOLM,DIXON,ROSE,YATES.

Stafford.
PRICE,PEARSON,BRADSHAW,SKIPPER,BERRY,ESSEX,BOUGHEY,JONES,WOOD,PALGRAVE,SURGESS,OSCAR,LYONS.

Programme. 24 pages (12 of adverts)

 

History unfolds.

MATCH NO18

GROUND NO5

SATURDAY 21ST MARCH 1992

BEAZER HOMES LEAGUE MIDLAND DIVISION

HEDNESFORD TOWN 2-1 RUSHDEN TOWN ATT 567

LINE UPS N/A

Programme. 44 pages (31 of adverts)

MATCH NO19

GROUND NO5

MONDAY 23RD MARCH 1992

WELSH CUP SEMI FINAL FIRST LEG

HEDNESFORD TOWN 1-0 COLWYN BAY ATT 2456

LINE UPS N/A

A great atmosphere. I had got my ticket and programme at the Rushden game. What a result.

Programme. Special souvinir edition 28 pages (14 of adverts).

MATCHES 20,21, AND 22

GROUND NO5

HEDNESFORD TOWN V

4/4/92 BHLMD 0-0 DUDLEY TOWN ATT 512

20/4/92 BHLMD 1-0 BRIDGNORTH ATT 546

2/5/92 BHLMD 0-0 TAMWORTH ATT 791

LINE UPS N/A

Hednesford secure Second place, and priomotion to the Premier division.

Programmes. Dudley 44 pages (29 of adverts)

                     Bridgnorth 44 pages (29 of adverts)

                     Tamworth 48 pages (29 of adverts)

MATCH NO23

GROUND NO6

THURSDAY MAY 7TH 1992

WELSH CUP FINAL

CARDIFF CITY 1-0 HEDNESFORD TOWN ATT 11000

AT CARDIFF ARMS PARK

LINE UPS N/A

The biggest match in Hednesfords history..The atmosphere was brilliant, but was marred a little by officials over reacting when people wanted to take there flasks into the ground. We also had our coach hit with bricks when leaving the viscinity.

A couple of historical facts. Hednesford were the First non-league side to play at the National stadium, and because of FAW rules, would also be the last English team to play in a Welsh cup match.

Programme. 24 pages (5 of adverts)

Away we went.

MATCH NO 17

GROUND NO 5

SATURDAY 14TH MARCH 1992

BEAZER HOMES LEAGUE MIDLAND DIVISION

SOLIHULL BOROUGH 6-1 HEDNESFORD TOWN

(AT MOOR GREEN)

ATT 601

LINE UPS N/A

Programme. 28 pages (11 of adverts)

Cross Keys again.

MATCHES 13,14,15, AND 16.

GROUND NO 4

HEDNESFORD TOWN V

30/11/91 BHLMD 1-1 SOLIHULL BOROUGH ATT 664

3/2/92 SLCR3 0-1 BROMSGROVE ROVERS ATT 598

10/2/92 BHLMD 3-3 LEICESTER UTD ATT 464

14/3/92 WELSH CUP QFR 4-0 HAVAFORDWEST ATT 1213

LINE UPS N/A

Programmes. Solihull 40 pages (25 of adverts)

                     Bromsgrove 46 pages (27 of adverts) Used programme from postponed match and added 4 page insert.

                     Leicester utd 40 pages (28 of adverts)

                     Havafordwest 44 pages (27 of adverts) Used programme from postponed match and added 4 page insert.

Vase Fever.

MATCH NO12

GROUND NO 4

ECCLESHALL 0-2 WISBECH

LINE UPS N/A

ATT 268

After famous wins against 'Hamlet S&L, Wolves Casuals, and Halesowen Harriers. The little club from the 'Staffs Senior League' were up against 'Wisbech' of the 'Eastern Counties League'.
A record crowd of 268 were treated to a pulsating clash, and a friendly welcome from club officials, who could'nt do enough for you wether it be showing you where to park your car, or where to get refreshments.

Programme. 48 pages (21 of adverts)

To Blakenall.

MATCH NO 7

GROUND NO 2

SATURDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER 1991

FA CUP 1ST QUALIFYING ROUND

BLAKENALL 1-2 BOSTON UTD

ATT 498

LINE UPS N/A

West Midlands league versus GMVC. A crowd 8 times the norm, and an early lead, were not enough to topple the opposing giants.

Programme 24 pages ( 3 of adverts)

MATCHES 8 AND 9

GROUND NO 3

28/9/91 FAC 2QR CHASETOWN 1-1 BANBURY UTD ATT 147

12/10/91 FAC 3QR CHASETOWN 0-0 VS RUGBY ATT 492

LINE UPS N/A

Furthest cup run to date.

Programme both games 24 pages ( 16 of adverts)

MATCHES 10 AND 11

GROUND NO 3

14/10/91 STAFFS SNR CUP 1ST ROUND
HEDNESFORD TOWN 2-1 OLDSWINFORD ATT 415
28/10/91 BHL MD HEDNESFORD 2-2 NUNEATON BOROUGH ATT 783
LINE UPS N/A

Programmes. Covers as earlier. Oldswinford 44 pages (27 of adverts) Two match issue with Newport BHL game.

Nuneaton Borough. 40 pages (27 of adverts)

Game on.

MATCH NO 1

GROUND NO 1

SATURDAY 13TH APRIL 1991

BEAZER HOMES LEAGUE MIDLAND DIVISION

HEDNESFORD TOWN 3-2 NUNEATON BOROUGH

LINE UPS N/A

ATT 625

So at last. I arrive at the hallowed turf which is 'Cross Keys' for the First time in 12 years. In my youth, this place along with Cannock's 'Classic' Cinema seemed like Second homes as I frequented them so often. It was an eerie feeling going back after all these years, but the ground had'nt changed too much. There were new turnstiles, and the old grassy bank and shale hard standing behind the goal had been concreted, but the essence of the place remained. Dont remember much about the game itself, but I was here.

Programme. 52 pages (35 pages of adverts)

MATCH NO 2

GROUND NO 1

SATURDAY 24TH APRIL 1991

BEAZER HOMES LEAGUE MIDLANDS DIVISION

HEDNESFORD TOWN 2-2 STOURBRIDGE

LINE UPS N/A

ATTENDANCE 897

A large crowd had gathered for this One, as the 'Whites' had a chance of runners up spot. It was'nt to be as other results went against them. Would I return next season?. Yes.

Programme (same as above)

MATCHES NO'S 3,4,5,6.

GROUND NO 1

17/8/91 BHL MD HEDNESFORD 1-1 STOURBRIDGE ATT 441
26/8/91 BHL MD HEDNESFORD 2-0 HINCKLEY TOWN ATT 594

31/8/91 FA CUP PREL RND HEDNESFORD 1-1 NORTHAMPTON SPENCER ATT 470

9/9/91 FA CUP PREL RND 2ND REP HEDNESFORD 1-0  NORTHAMPTON SPENCER ATT 771

LINE UPS N/A

So after a summer of getting married amongst other things, I returned to the 'Cross Keys' yet again for the beginning of the new season. The opening league encounter was unusual, because 'Stourbridge' were the reigning champions, but were denied promotion because of ground grading. The 'Hinckley' encounter was my First night match. I worked nights at a local factory, and had to leave such occasions a few minutes early. My First 'FA Cup' matches would follow. The original match was played in glorious sunshine, with the Second replay having a large crowd.

Notice the change of artwork on the programme. It shows the 'Keys end' from the opposite angle. In the Left hand corner you will see the new building which housed dressing rooms, and the announcers room. This was due to the old dressing rooms inside the pub becoming unusable.

Programmes all 40 pages (26 pages of adverts)

Start at the very beginning....................well almost.

It is difficult to comprehend, but I felt it was time to log my footballing travels. The main problem is that after years of watching 'Hednesford Town' during my youth in the 1970's, and visiting a couple of dozen different grounds in the process(Walsall, Brereton,Armitage, etc). I then stopped watching football for 12 years. Then in 1991 I returned to the 'Cross Keys' ground Once more and this ultimately lead to an an oddysey of groundhopping over the next 20 years.
I did'nt keep records of the 'olden' days, so for the purpose of this blog and because I have kept many records, I decided that 1991 would be the natural starting point for counting grounds and matches.This means that bizzarely although I had visited the 'Cross Keys' over 200 times, it would now be in fact my First match and new ground in the reborn era.
I thought I would give the match details, followed by a few comments(depending on my memories), and scan the programme covers. I will also try to scan odd snippets from the programmes if they are interesting enough.
The entry format would be something like this:

FA Cup round whatever.
Date.
NEW GROUND TEAM v whoever.(neutral ground would be whoever v whoever at NEW GROUND)

Line ups where available.
Score and scorers.
Attendance.
Remeniscences of the occasion.
Running total of games and grounds. EG Games 1 Grounds 1,/ Games 2/ Grounds 1 etc.
Plus programme scans where available.

Why am I attempting this? Not sure. But it would be nice to keep the records all in One place so why not a blog.
Will I ever complete it?. Not sure again, but I will give it a damn good try.

Let the memories begin........................................