And now, Time for a long overdue football update from Walsall Wood FC.

It’s been a bit difficult of late, as with so many postponements due to the remarkably wet weather, and disparate reports, I’ve been waiting for enough material to put together into one post – the last match report was astonishingly on the 20th October. It’s been a funny old month or so.

Well, followers of the Woodmen – it’s your lucky day. Sort of. I’ve a whole bunch of different stuff to wrap up here in an article which will be a bit all over the place – but should, hopefully, have something for everyone.

First up there’s an unusual Monday evening match this week (tomorrow) kicking off  at Boldmere St. Micheal’s Church Road ground at 7:30pm – it’s rather important.

Walsall Wood FC, having beaten Chasetown on Tuesday 24th November now progress to the quarter finals of the Walsall Senior Cup on Monday 2nd December 2019 – kick off at 7.30pm – as they play Boldmere St Michaels at the Mike’s Church Road home ground.

That’s Church Rd, Sutton Coldfield B73 5RY – just a short run down the Chester Road

This will surely be a match to savour and enjoy, as was their last encounter: It’s on an all weather pitch, too.

That’s a cup worth playing for! Vintage image from David Evans.

Next up, there’s much to be positive about from Walsall Wood at the moment. They are currently top of the Midland Football League, leading arch rivals Romulus and Willenhall’s Sporting Khalsa by 33 to 31 points:

Only 5 points separate the top 7 teams right now.

See the full league table here.

However, as can be seen the table is very tight right now so just about anything could happen!

Walsall Wood FC are also happy that they’re finally easier to find. I’ll let this press release from the club explain:

For the first time, in the lifetime of Walsall Wood FC, we have recognition at last in the community having received directional road signage to our ground.

The Wood currently play in the Midland Football League Premier and have circa 30 teams under the clubs community banner.

Walsall Wood FC has been established at Oak Park since 1912 and maybe before this date as local historians suggest.

We had requested a sign on several occasions for many years but the cost has always been out of our reach and or funding just not available.

This signage has now come to fruition through support and advice from Walsall Council Officers John Morris and Simon Hinton, whose input we are extremely grateful for.

The monies raised to cover the cost of the sign has come through a donation of tracksuit tops from a local and successful fashion brand, Luke1977.

These quality tops were issued by the Luke Team Free of charge to the club’s hard-working volunteers, who have, in turn, made a monetary contribution towards covering the cost of the signage.

The football clubs Directors and members are delighted with this outcome to finally recognise our existence after all these years and thank all who have contributed, especially the ongoing support from Luke Roper, a native to the Wood and the Creative Director of the Luke1977 Team.

We have been understandably frustrated in the past when emergency services have faced extreme difficulty trying to locate the ground, many times over the years when a player or visitor requires emergency medical treatment from the Ambulance service

At long last, this welcomed signage will really help to signpost the emergency services, local community and our visitors to our ground, all For The Good Of The Wood!

Andy Roper
Honorary President
Walsall Wood FC

Meanwhile there follows a mixture of footage and reports from matches in the last month or so:

Russell Smith for TheWood.TV posted footage of the 29th October 2019 Wood home tie to Tividale, which the Woodmen dominated the visitors 5-1 Check to Thewood.tv on Facebook here.

Walsall Wood FC 0 v 2 Boldmere St, Micheal’s FC
Tuesday 22nd October 2019

Uttoxeter Town played in their yellow away strip this evening

the customary prelude to the match is conducted

major problems with my camera..First half and the game is under way…

Walsall Wood and Uttoxeter battle it out in this hard contest.

end to end football..and vociferous away supporters adding to the fireworks exploding in the sky nearby. Quite an evening.

second half and the Wood break through the visitors’ defence to score their second goal and take the lead

second half and the Wood celebrate their second goal, out of the three they would finally score.

the match ends. This has been a hard game for all the players this evening, as the smell of fireworks drifts across the field of play.

Images and captions by the young David Evans

Walsall Wood FC 3 v 1 Uttoxeter Town
Tuesday 5th November 2019

On a cold Bonfire Night , and after a morning’s steady rain to lubricate and refresh the finely manicured grass, the scene was set for an eagerly anticipated game of football. The bright lights in the turnstyle beckoned sensibly-dressed spectators to the delights and magic of a FA Vase contest.

With beefburgers sizzling away in the welcoming refreshment van, and the mouth – watering smell of onions , good folk with sport in their heart ventured through, eagerly clutching their Matchday programmes.

A goodly number of the welcome visitors of various ages – and volume – made their way to the bar, doubtless thirsting for a glass of famous local Viking Ale, to share opinions and experience with friends and others steadying themselves by the bar as they expertly swallowed the golden ambrosia.

The match got under way to a raucous cry from the numerous visiting youngsters, known for their vocality and readiness to assist the three match officials.

Uttoxeter Town made a fresh, eager start to the game and used their youthful fleet-of-foot wing forwards to good effect, bringing a startled response by the surprised Wood’s defence. The productive move was repeated again and again and Uttoxeter scored a well-deserved and crafted first goal, to the delight of their supporters.

Russell Smith for TheWood.TV posted footage of the 5th October 2019 Wood home tie to Tividale, which the Woodmen aced 2-1 Check to Thewood.tv on Facebook here.

Walsall Wood now had the task of performing and working as we know they do, and the contrast between the two teams became more apparent. The dash and rush of the visitors; the calm, measured footwork of the home side. A modern version of an Aesop fable, in a way.

There was good accurate passing mostly, but some wayward passes, too. The cacophony of the fireworks in the sky from nearby houses and the Active Living Centre, too, did distract players, both by the sudden loud noises, and the bright lights.

The home teams scored the equalising goal shortly before half time and then both teams retreated to the privacy of their dressing rooms shortly after one of the visitors had been expelled from the field of play by the hard-pressed referee, and excluded from any further participation in the game.

The second half was a display of end to end football and increasing frustration by the visiting side. Yet, despite the frequent open dissent, which brought a Sin Bin imposition on one of the ten Uttoxeter players, the visitors played some fine football. Spectators saw and appreciated clever manoeuvres, turning with the ball, leaping high to claim a ball, and challenging shots at the Wood goal.

But, as in past encounters, it was to be Walsall Wood’s night. The fireworks, rockets, bangers, shrill noises from outside the ground was echoed by those inside the ground. Four yellow cards, one red card, one ten-minutes Sin Bin spell.

Spectators from near and afar saw all the emotions and passion of a hard FA Vase match in action. There was this and far more this evening.

Walsall Wood left the ground the winners by three goals to Uttoxeter’s one goal. Final score.

David Evans

Thanks to David and Simon Evans, Russell Smith of TheWood.TV and to Andy Roper. Hopefully the weather will settle now and we can get back to a more regular schedule – all For The Good Of The Wood!