Since yesterday’s Walsall Wood FC match against Alvechurch was cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch, Bill Shaw and David Evans both sent me stuff for the frustrated football fans to read while waiting for better days.

David sent some great images of a 1954 football match in very cold conditions, from near enough 61 years ago. Do you recognise any of the players? The background, as ever, is almost as interesting as interesting as the foreground.

Bill Shaw has also sent the current fixture list and some exciting news of a hot signing to The Wood, at the bottom of the post.

Thanks to both of you, and let’s hope the weather clears soon!

David wrote:

Hi Bob

These remarkable photos of a football match between Walsall Wood FC and Cookley were taken on February 6th, 1954, and kindly rescued from oblivion by Brian Stringer this week!

They show the original clubhouse, complete with toffee apple roof features, the famous clock and plaque in memory of Mr Cooper, the wooden pailing fence, the big stand resplendent with its fog-horn loudspeakers that blared out the military march to welcome the teams to the field of honour, and the ‘new’ side stand beside the equally famous flagpole and flag hanging limply in the still winter air.

I am probably somewhere in the photo… or perhaps enjoying a cup of piping hot tea and ham and marge sandwich at the outdoor tea bar, near the entrance!

Arthur Wadey, Walsall Wood’s famous trainer is among the crowd by the clubhouse, his bucket of stone-cold water and magic sponge hardly visible.

The cry in those days was ‘Bump it up Bomper!‘ and ‘Gwarn, Gwarn!’

I am afraid I don’t remember the score!

kind regards

David

Bill Shaw sent the following message:

Hiya Bob,

With the pitch resembling a paddy field we can’t go out to play today, so I thought I’d give your faithful followers something to do with football to read.

At present we haven’t reached the desperate days of Season 2012 – 2013 when we had to play 21 games in the last 7 weeks of the season, we do have 3 midweek dates left before we start to double up with Tuesday/Thursday games but with the forecast for the next few weeks that nightmare scenario is looking a possibility.

The revised fixture list for the rest of the season looks like this:

February:

• Tuesday 3rd Dunkirk Home,
• Saturday 7th Brocton Home,
• Tuesday 10th Quorn Away,
• Saturday 14th Tipton Town Away,
• Tuesday 17th Stoke City, Staffs. Senior Cup Home,
• Saturday 21st Brocton Away,
• Tuesday 24th Westfields Away,
• Saturday 28th AFC Wulfrunians Home.

March:

• Tuesday 3rd Boldmere St. Michaels Home,
• Saturday 7th Continental Star Home,
• Tuesday 10th Basford United Home,
• Saturday 14th Shepshed Dynamo Away,
• Tuesday 17th AFC Wulfrunians Away,
• Saturday 21st Basford United Away,
• Tuesday 24th Alvechurch Home,
• Saturday 28th Westfields Home.

April:

• Saturday 4th Coleshil Town Away,
• Monday 6th (Easter Monday) Boldmere St. Michaels Away,
• Saturday 11th Rocester Home,
• Saturday 18th Long Eaton United Away,
• Saturday 25th Heath Hayes Home.

The last game scheduled is Heath Hayes which bring me perfectly to the latest piece of transfer news, Wood signed striker Joe Pickering yesterday from our near neighbours to add to the already impressive list of strikers at the Wood.

All of course for The Good Of The Wood. Keep smiling, remember it takes 17 muscles to smile and 50 odd to frown – save the planet, smile & save energy. It’s true, honestly – would I lie to you?

Bill Shaw