BrownhillsBob's Brownhills Blog

I’m looking forward to trying this place out! Image from Emily’s Coffee House and Grill Facebook page.

Many regulars in Brownhills High Street will have noticed the sad, recent closure of the popular Brownhills Coffee House and Grill which had to shut following the unfortunate illness of Matt, the previous owner – thankfully Matt is now making a good recovery, but he has decided to hand on control of the High Street cafe, which reopened today, Friday 29th September 2017.

Emily and her team welcome you to a new, yet reassuringly familiar business! Image Kindly supplied by Emily Ashe.

The Coffee House and Grill is now operated by Emily and Gus, who’d like to welcome you to the rejuvenated eatery:

Work has been progressing well on our little refit at Emily’s Coffee House & Grill and we’re delighted to announce that we will be opening our doors this Friday.

Pop in and say “Hello” and treat yourself to a tasty full English, a delicious snack or full on home cooked carvery.

We will be open Sundays too for our well known Sunday Roasts.

We look forward to welcoming customers old and new

Emily, Helen & Gus x

They have a Facebook page here.

Oh gosh, look at those cakes! Bob heaven… Image supplied by Emily Ashe.

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Emily and Gus to Brownhills, and wish them all the best in their new venture – I will certainly be popping in for a butty or two and  a good brew, and I suggest readers do too.

People frequently moan about Brownhills High Street, but it has some excellent traders running some great, independent businesses, well worthy of your support.

See you there?

Go on, give the kids your support!

With all this grim weather, our cars are all looking a bit grubby at the moment – instead of popping to MacWarreners or Holland Park Garage this weekend for a wash and polish, why not take your motor to St Johns Church at Walsall Wood, where Lee Bragginton and the Walsall Wood Scouts will be washing your pride and joy in aid of the Walsall Wood Remembrance Appeal?

They’re a great bunch of kids, and there are sure to be big laughs and clean motors all over the shop. Wonder if they stretch to bicycles?

The Remembrance Parade Appeal is very important, as I’ve covered here before, and I’ll repeat the appeal post  below, in case you can’t make the car wash or don’t have a car!

Please, if you can, support the youth of Walsall Wood as they work to protect a long tradition in the area. They really are a smashing, kind-hearted bunch.

Here’s a very important appeal from Lee Bragginton of the 1st Walsall Wood Scout Group, who like all other folks involved with local Remembrance Parades, is appealing for help and donations so the Walsall Wood Parade can take place this year.

Options are available for individual donations online or by post, and Lee is also interested in any businesses locally who may be able to assist with sponsorship or other means.

Walsall Wood is unique in the area in being the only afternoon parade and one of the few that has no associated British Legion help.

The rights and wrongs of the current situation have been gone over many times, but we are where we are and donations are required. For my take on this situation, see this post and those linked from it.

Lee said:

Bob

Like other parades in the Walsall Borough, Walsall Wood parade needs to raise funds in order to continue in it’s traditional format.

Unlike other parades however, we have no Royal British Legion involvement in our parade and it is organised and funded by the youth organisations themselves.

We welcome any contact from any local businesses, organisations and individuals who may be willing to support our cause in any way.

See details of how to help below.

We will be holding a joint youth organisation fundraising car wash later in the year towards the parade.  Details will follow.

Thanks
Lee Bragginton

Group Scout Leader
1St Walsall Wood Scout Group
WWW.WALSALLWOODSCOUTS.ORG.UK

It’s not a huge event, but small, intimate and very community focused. . Image from the Parade Appeal Facebook page.

Walsall Wood Remembrance Parade needs your support to continue!

Our parade only receives a small contribution from Walsall Council in order for our parade to take place; we rely on donations in order to pay for this event to take place for the benefit of the youth and other members of our local community.

You can donate on our MyDonate page here.

You can also keep updated on our Facebook page here.

If you prefer, postal donations can be made using the form available here (also at the foot of this post).

Contact Lee Braggibnton: gsl@walsallwoodscouts.org.uk or call on 0844 414 2438

38th Walsall (1st Walsall Wood) Scout Group; Registered charity 1133604. C/0 50 Longacres, Hednesford, Cannock, WS121LD

You can print this form out and use for postal donations – please send to 38th Walsall (1st Walsall Wood) Scout Group, C/0 50 Longacres, Hednesford, Cannock, WS121LD

So where in Lichfield Road was ‘Ten Row’? This 1884 1:10,000 mapping shows a ‘Seven House Row’ – some confusion, perhaps? Click for a larger version.Image from NLS archive.

Reader Adam Hill has been in touch with a very interesting question related to house names on the Lichfield Road, Brownhills, after studying his Grandmother’s birth certificate from 1916.

Adam wrote:

Hello Bob

I have just recently came in to possession of my Gradmothers birth certificate, it lists her place of birth as being 10 Row, off of Lichfield Road, Brownhills. However I can’t seem to locate this location on Google Earth and there does not seem to be info online either pertaining to said location.

My Great Grandfather was a Miner and am wondering if this was property cheaply built specifically for the Miners and hencevbo longer being there. Can anyone help with any information they may know. My Grandmother was born 1916, so that is the time period am looking for.

Thanks.

My first reaction was there must be a word missing in ’10 Row’, then looked at the mapping of the time, and found something odd – there is a row of terraces marked on the 1884 1:10,000 map called ‘Seven House Row’ – note the difference to the current ‘Severn House’ near Silver Court.

This begs the question why Seven House Row? From the map, there are clearly seven dwellings – so was there a later row of ten? I can’t find such an arrangement on mapping of the day, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t exist.

Can anyone help please? If you can, please comment here out mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks – and cheers to Adam Hill for a very interesting enquiry.

This 1915 1:2,500 mapping shows a lot of houses sprouting up on Lichfield Road, but no rows of ten, although ‘Seven House Row’ is still there, but unnamed on the map. Click for a larger version. Image from NLS archive.

Macmillan are my favourite charity, and so very close to my heart.

That there Kate Cardigan from Lichfield Lore has been in touch to say that her new Friends of Chasewater group have a Macmillan Coffee Morning at the Innovation Centre this Friday morning (29th September 2017) between 10am and 1pm.

Here’s your chance to pop in for a coffee, shoot the breeze, find out more about Chasewater and the Friends group and raise money for a great cause at the same time!

They also have organised a litter pick on Sunday 15th October, at which all will be welcome – more details to come on that nearer the time.

The idea of the Chasewater Friends is to get together and promote the park and it’s interests – these could be improvements, events, talks or anything that concerns our favourite country park.

To this end, Kate has set up a Facebook Group you can join here, but if you’re not into Facebook, she’s on Twitter here or if you prefer, drop me the word and I’ll hook you up.

I adore Chasewater, and I know many of the readers do too. It’s time it was promoted better – can you help?

You can also get hold of Mrs. Cardigan in a variety of ways via her Lichfield Lore blog ‘About’ page here.

The Express & Star recently ran an appeal for members for the group, but seemed to omit how you could actually connect with them, so here you go.

The Express & Star wrote:

Chasewater in plea for volunteers

Volunteers are needed to help shape the future of an iconic beauty spot.

Chasewater Country Park is asking people to sign up to a new group called The Friends of Chasewater.

The group will be working on projects and ideas for the park and will receive help from members of the team at Chasewater where necessary.

Staffordshire County Council runs the park and said the friends group was a ‘great’ opportunity for people to work together to benefit the site. Helen Riley, deputy chief executive and the council’s director for families and communities, said: “The Friends of Chasewater is an exciting opportunity for members of the towns surrounding the park to come together and work on ideas and projects that benefit the community.

‘The Friends will take the lead on activities that local communities have said they want to see taking place at the park, and work with the Chasewater team to make the park a focal point for local people. It’s a really great opportunity for people with an interest in Chasewater to get directly involved with the park, so I’d urge anyone interested to join up.’

The group is expected to be similar to that of the Friends of Hednesford Park, which helps Cannock Chase District Council with projects and supports Hednesford Park.

Chasewater boasts a 90-hectare reservoir and plenty of green open space.

The Chasewater Innovation Centre provides visitor information, art and craft exhibitions by artists and a programme of summer holiday activities.

I’ve been asked by serial blog quiz bandit and top local driving instructor Tony Jakman if I’d help him with his quest to regime a rather special tabby cat that Tony has recently rescued from being a stray.

I thing most of you know I adore cats, so I jumped at the chance to help this rather handsome, lovely lad.

Please read what Tony has to say below, and if you can help, either call him on the number posted below, comment on this post or mail me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

Please help Teddy if you can. I think this stripy lad has a lot of love to give! l

Thanks to Tony and Judy too for helping a cat in shall we say… reduced circumstances.

Tony Jakeman wrote:

Teddy is a handsome lat with a good colour and rather special stripes. Image supplied by Tony Jakeman.

This is Teddy

Teddy needs a special home with special people.

We think Teddy is only young, less than 2 years old. He’s been roaming near us in Aldridge for about 6 months. After no success with finding his owners we decided to adopt him ourselves. After having him neutered and microchipped routine blood tests showed that he has FIV, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus.

This has serious consequences for Teddy and possibly other cats he comes in contact with. If he fights and bites another cat here’s a chance he can pass his infection on.

The more serious consequence for Teddy is that with a compromised immune system he’s more susceptible to picking up infections from other cats. Something simple that another cat would easily fight off could kill Teddy.

Images supplied by Tony Jakeman

What Teddy needs is a special home with special people who will help him lead a full and happy life. He’s very calm, friendly but a little nervous. He’s learnt that tickles are great and he’s relearning to play. Pictures don’t show what an adorable face he has and his fabulous markings. He really is a teddy bear of a cat.

Ideally he needs to be kept indoors in a home with no other cats or a home with another FIV cat. Contact with other cats or cat viruses in the environment are what he needs to avoid. He’s living with us at the moment and is happy in isolation. We have other cats. The hard choice we’ve had to make is that life with us is dangerous for him.

He has a bad mouth infection at the moment that will need ongoing monitoring and treatment.

We successfully homed an FIV positive cat a few years ago.

Teddy really needs his special new family to come forward.

If you think that might be you please contact us to discuss it

Judy and Tony 01922 743431 or 07847649057

Gas works will be taking place at this junction for about 6 weeks, which is what the signs on High Street are warning of. Image from Apple Maps.

In the last few days there has been a lot of consternation and misplaced anger about upcoming roadworks affecting traffic in Brownhills High Street and Ogley Road.

Here’s the deal: From Sunday 1st October 2017 until approximately 10th November 2017, Cadent Gas on behalf of National Grid will be replacing gas mains at the Ogley Road and High Street junction, adjacent to the former Warreners Arms pub.

There will traffic control in operation, closure of the junction and diversions throughout the works as appropriate, but some confusion seems to be occurring that the work will actually be on the High Street where it’s been resurfaced. This is not the case.

The facts:

• The works take place from around 1st October 2017 to around 10th November 2017
• They take place on the Ogley Road/A461 High Street Junction by the old Warreners Arms pub
• The signs on the High Street are correct and are warning of an upcoming road closure AFFECTING THE HIGH STREET.
• The signs are industry standard.
• The Ogley Road/High Street junction is the site of a major and complex gas main junction, one half of which was refurbished a couple of years ago. This work is on the other half of it.
• The resurfaced High Street will not be dug up as part of this. The work is nowhere near that section of the road.
• It’s going to be a fun time with works at Streets Corner and Shire Oak also ongoing.
• Please stop ranting at me, I’m trying to help here.

I appreciate this is frustrating, but work has to be done. The public notice for these works, as very helpfully sent to me by Mark Gorman, is included below, just so we’re all clear.

I have received, and dealt with, a lot of angry messages about this in the last couple of days, many expressing outrage about the idiocy of traffic engineers supposedly destroying a recently resurfaced road.

I would politely observe that if your default position is to resort to outrage and blaming them without being in full possession of the facts, the problem isn’t traffic engineers really, is it?

For Walsall Council’s weekly list of scheduled upcoming roadworks, you can visit this page here and download a copy. Obviously, this won’t cover emergency work. If you can’t get the PDF link on that page, try a different device/browser.

I hope this clears things up a bit.

Closure notice as sent by Mark Gorman.

Beowulf are a great local brewery based in the craft units at Chasewater.

Noted ale arse The Stymaster has been in touch to let me know that from 12 noon until 5pm today and tomorrow (Saturday and Sunday 23/24th September 2017), Beowulf Brewery in the craft units by Chasewater is having an open day.

This noted local microbrewery is now 20 years old and you can go check them out, sample their ales and meet the crew.

They said:

To celebrate TWENTY YEARS of The Beowulf Brewing Company we have an open weekend at Chasewater on 23rd & 24th September 2017.

All welcome from noon until five on both days. Cheers!

You can find out more at their website here and their Facebook page here. Cheers!

Locaks are wonderful pieces of engineering – find out about the Birchills Lock Flight in Walsall this Saturday! Image from the Canal and River trust.

Just a quick note to point out that this Saturday 23 September 2017 there’s a rather unique event happening at Lock Five on the Birchills flightt of the Walsall Canal, which is being refurbished at the moment.

This is a great chance to inspect past and present canal engineering at its finest, right on our doorstep.

The open day is free to attend, and you can find out more at the event Facebook page here.

It’s set to be a good weekend for the weather, so why not pop down?

The Canal and River Trust said:

Lock Five gate replacement – a short report from the Canal and River Trust.

Come along to our Open Day at lock 5 on the Walsall Canal. Talk to our team of experts about the essential works they have carried out to the lock to ensure it can continue to be used by everyone.

There will be many activities on offer for visitors, including fishing taster sessions and canoeing.

Access to the towpath is off Birchill’s Street. There is no parking on site, however Lock 5 is a short walk along the towpath from the town centre.

I hear the team have a new sponsor – looking good, lads! Image supplied by Dylan Somel.

My apologies to the Walsall Wood Under 18s team and their manager Dylan Somel, who this week asked me to advertise their away match on Tuesday 19th September 2017 against Romulus Youth, and I misread the email as Thursday, not Tuesday – bad Bob, s sorry for that one.

The good news is that the Wood under 18s beat Romulus convincingly with a four-one victory taking them through to the next round of the FA Youth Cup. Well done lads.

Once again my apologies for being useless there.

If you want to know more about the Under 18s team and are interested in joining (or know a lad who might be) team manager, Dylan Somel had this to say:

This year Walsall Wood Football Club are implementing youth side, who will play in the Midland Floodlit League. This has been made possible with the support from the youth section at the club and also George and Justin, who have made a great platform for the lads to succeed under the Wood banner.

Walsall Wood Under 18s Football Team need you!

We train Thursdays 6:30-8pm at Oak Park Active Living Centre 

Our league games coming up are 

Wrens Nest: Home 7:45pm Kick-off on the 15th August
Dudley Town: Home 7:45pm  Kick-off  on the 28th August

Please could you include special thanks to our Home Kit Sponsor Guy’s Dental based in Lichfield and our trainingwear sponsor Stonnall Fish Bar.. Thanks so much.

Manager is myself Dylan Somel and 07446348126 is my number for any players interested. 

The team have some great sponsorship. Can particularly vouch for the chip shop at Stonnal, which does great chips and most excellent kebabage! Image supplied by Dylan Somel.

Personally, I’ve always loved Georgie Girl the best!

There’s a splendid concert being staged this Friday, 22nd September 2017 at the Lamp Arts Theatre in Brownhills Activity Centre, just on the Miner Island in the centre of Brownhills – Sounds Familiar will be playing all the familiar Seekers hits you know and love all in aid of the Brownhills Remembrance Day Parade Fund.

Tickets are just a fiver a head and all proceeds go to fund the Brownhills Remembrance event we all value so highly. 

Nigel Anderson, events manager at the Community Association said:

I would particularly like to highlight a very important event that is raising funds for the Brownhills Remembrance Day Parade.

On Friday 22^nd September 2017 we are pleased to be presenting ‘Sounds Familiar’, a tribute act singing all the hits of  sixties group, ‘The Seekers’.

Tickets are priced at just £5 and all proceeds are going towards Brownhills very own Remembrance Day Parade. I have attached a publicity poster and any help you can give in spreading the word is, as always, greatly appreciated.

If you haven’t yet visited The Lamp for a show, you really are missing out; it’s a wonderfully modern and intimate community theatre with a wonderful atmosphere operated by a lovely community of dedicated folk, located in the old Annex or Brownhills Central Boys School right there on the Miner Island in Brownhills. You can find out more here.

There’s loads going on at the Activity Centre on the Miner Island in Brownhills!

Image Kindly supplied by Philip Harvey.

Image Kindly supplied by Stephen Hill.

Image Kindly supplied by Philip Harvey.

Image Kindly supplied by Stephen Hill.

Thanks to readers Mandy, Stephen and Philip I can share the information that there has been a road traffic accident in Brownhills this morning (Tuesday 19th September 2017) involving a car and a bus.

The collision between a Travel West Midlands double decker bus running the 10 service and an Audi took place near the junction of Ogley Road and High Street at about 8:20am and delays and traffic congestion have been ongoing since.

Thankfully, nobody appears to have been hurt. My sympathies to all involved.

Cheers to all the readers who helped with this post.

Stubbers Green and Walsall Wood in 1964 from a recently discovered collection. Click for a larger version.

A quick post here with a real curiosity found by the young David Evans – an aerial image from 1964 of Stubbers Green and southern Walsall Wood showing the brickwork, tilers and marl workings that did so much to shape the current area today.

There’s a whole bunch of stuff to come from the source, which I won’t spoil yet, but for today, just marvel at the view of a very much plundered landscape, the rapacious quest for brick clay and aggregates changing the geography here forever; and and the little bits of social history that lurk in-between.

David Evans has studied the photo and had this to say:

A childhood memory from the early 1950s, of sitting by Coppice Lane  and looking down into a huge quarry, seeing the digger and dumper trucks at work..the dumper truck labouring up a slope track out of the clayhole..

You can see the road, half way down the right of the image, heading across the image,  and the quarry, below the road and at the right-hand side of the image.

Just visible above the road and at the extreme right hand side..the rectangular Vigo Pool which was a dangerous yet irresistible place for youngsters…. Cloudy waters, sheer sides, and a raft made from two scaffolding planks.

Centre left is the quarry where a big unexploded Second World War bomb was unearthed by a hapless digger operator…

Just out of shot and to the right was the Vigo brickworks with its  tall square chimney belching out smoke that drifted across the area to the distaste of the ladies whose washing hung out to dry in the back gardens of the houses in Walsall Wood.

You can also see a railway track and raised loading platform from the kilns.

I notice at the right hand edge of the image are the lines of pre-fab bungalows beside ‘Paddys Graveyard’, the Irish part of the cemetery, by the railway track in Vigo Road.

To the upper left, in shadow, are the Coppy woods with the Jockey Meadows and Bullings Heath.

This is a remarkable photo!

Kind regards
David

Thanks to David for finding and illuminating a remarkable thing, and I’m sure this will provoke a lot of comment – either do so here on this post directly, or mail me – BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

My thanks to David for genuinely leaving me speechless. Just when you thought you’d found pretty much everything…

Derek Morris took this astoundingly beautiful, prize-winning image on his phone at Shire Oak Nature Reserve. It’s absolutely gorgeous. Thank you.

Everyone who reads this blog will know I love and prize several things above most others – the love of the outdoors, an eye for natural beauty and human creativity, however that manifests itself.

Over the past few weeks, there’s been a wonderful thing been going on that has delighted and surprised me.

Debbie Etches and the members and admins of the Shire Oak group on Facebook – a small,  friendly residents group for the area in south Brownhills – held a photo competition, with the prize being a meal at the Shire Oak Pub.

The only remit was that the photos should show something of the local area – and from the gallery below, I think you’ll agree the entries are stunning  and they are by turns beautiful, charming and very well taken.

There have been some great entries, and the winner by Derek Morris – of a wee lass and her dog off to explore the park – is genuinely stunning. I really, really love the image, as it doesn’t matter that the subjects are facing away from the camera – it’s the essence; that childhood eagerness and friendship in a beautiful local place. Just brilliant.

I asked to feature the images here as they’re so lovely I thought more folk should see them.

I’d like to thank everyone who took part for genuinely brightening my days as I looked at the latest entries as they were posted. I love to see how others perceive the world and this was a wonderful bit of sunshine in a rather grey autumn.

Apologies to any I’ve missed or miscredited – if I’ve dropped a goolie or missed anyone out, just shout up. Comment here or mail me – BrownhillsBob at Googlemail do com. Thanks

Laura Iveson

Irene Hodges

Irenen Hodges

Laura Iveson

Clive Read

Clive Read

Laura Iveson

Martin Morris

Jackie Phillips

Kerry Boffin

Martin Morris

Irene Hodges

Danni Foster

Clive Read

Laura Iveson

Julie Handley

Kerry Christie

Kerry Christie

Adrian Handley

Clive Read

Clive Read

Tom Glibbery

Martin Morris

Can’t find out who took this one, sorry!

Clive Read

Jackie Phillips

Tom Gilibery

Marin Morris

Martin Morris

Irene Hodges

Clive Read

Laura Iveson

A great event for folk into waterspouts at a great local centre.

There’s a great event taking place at the Chase Watersports Centre at Chasewater – The Big Air 2017 Wakeboard Competition is a whole festival of Wakeboarding fun for all the family, taking place this Saturday 16th September.

You can find out more on the Chase Watersports Centre Facebook page.

Dina Harrison wrote:

Hi Bob

As per our previous conversation please see below the details of the event being held at Chasewater Watersports Club next Saturday.  Can you please give it a shout as we would like to involve as many local residents as possible.

Less than a week until the 9th annual Ryan & Tony Birch Big Air Wake Comp. This event brings the whole of the UK wakeboard community together in memory of two of Chase Watersports Centres members who lost their life in an airplane accident in 2007.

The event is free entry to all, so please stop by and take a look at the action on and off the water. We have trade stalls, inflatables, a tombola with some fantastic prizes and surf simulator for the kids and adults, along with a Live DJ playing throughout the day.

We will be running practise sets from 3pm on Friday afternoon until 7:30pm. Friday evening we will be holding a welcome party in the clubhouse from 7:30pm. We have camping on site availble for both Friday & Saturday.

Saturday morning registration will be from 9:00am and rider breifing at 10:00am ready to start on the water by 10:30am.

The kicker comp will take place Saturday evening at 7:00pm.

Once all the on water action is finished, we have live music from the Rock Dogs in the clubhouse which is always a great party.

To book in for prastise sets, the comp, the kicker comp or camping please message on FB or email carl@chasewaterski.co.uk

There is also live commentary of the wakeboard event on the water with competitors aged 5 years right up to the age of 60 plus taking part.

There is a variety of both Hot & Cold food available along with a fully licensed bar.

Many thanks
Dina Harrison

What’s not to love?

Work has started on ground operations at the former site of Brownhills Market in the Town Centre.

A very quick note as I’m a bit tied up elsewhere today but I’ve had a lot of people ask what’s happening with all the earthmoving gear and construction at the old Brownhills market site between Pier Street, Silver Street and the Methodist Church – it’s going to be the site of a new housing development.

The close of 32 dwellings will completely occupy the site of the former market, and will face on to Silver Street. A new junction will be constructed in place of the bend that currently exists in Silver Street, which will also join a new access road to the Kier development currently underway at Silver Court Gardens.

Outline planning permission for this has existed since the development at Silver Court Gardens was granted, as detailed here previously.

The details of the project were finally approved in July after a number of modifications proposed by planning officers, and is being undertaken by Lovell Homes.

The full, very detailed application documentation can be seen at Walsall Council’s Planning Portal here. Of particular interest will be the Decision Notice here and Design and Access Statement here.

I wholly support this development: Although the market was great in it’s day, it’s not coming back; markets are dying across the UK and the site has been empty for over five years. New homes here will help footfall for the High Street, make that area of Brownhills less open and windswept, and help the place seem more occupied and less lonely at night.

If you have any comments, feel free: either on this post or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers.

Hoe the development at the former market site will look. Plan from Walsall’s Planning Portal. Click for a larger image.

A great image of match preparations posted on twitter by the @Wood18s account.

Simon Evans, deputising for the young old fella David who’s away, has sent a great report from last week’s Under 18s away match (Wednesday 6th September 2017) between Walsall Wood Under 18s and Racing Warwick Under 18s – and he witnessed a great match which the Wood lads won three goals to two.

For future reference, it’s worth following along with mach commentaries on Twatter: Usually one of the club official account @WalsallWoodFC here, or @Wood18s here or Simon Evans himself @Sy968 here are doing excellent coverage during matches. Thanks, chaps!

Simon wrote:

Walsall Wood reached the next round of the FA Youth club after a 3-2 victory away at Racing Warwick

Wood started brightly forcing corners and creating chances in the first few minutes. After 19 minutes Wood scored, but the linesman flagged for offside. Wood created more chances forcing the Warwick keeper making a couple of fine saves. After 43 minutes, Warwick took the lead, Woods shot finding the corner after. Straight from the kick off Wood went on the attack and were rewarded immediately when Hall’s shot found the back of the net. Soon after the ref blew for half time.

The second half started in the same, Wood probing for the second goal which soon came. After 55 mins a free kick was firmly headed into the net by Graham. Almost immediately Warwick created a chance, but the header was just over the bar. After 78 mins a Wood corner was bundled home by Hall. Wood now 3-1 up. Next up to test the Warwick  keeper was the Wood sub who’s curling effort was just over the bar. Warwick still created chances, forcing the Wood keeper to make some fine saves, and some great defending kept them out. After 88 mins, Warwick were awarded a penalty which Nelson converted. 2-3. It set up a grandstand finish, Warwick going for an equaliser, resolute defending by Wood kept them out.

In the end Wood held out for a victory and progression into the next round.

Simon Evans

Thanks to Simon for a great report, much appreciated – for The Good of the Wood!

Also, the team are looking for players, and applications are open – see the foot of this post!

Team manager, Dylan Somel wrote:

This year Walsall Wood Football Club are implementing youth side, who will play in the Midland Floodlit League. This has been made possible with the support from the youth section at the club and also George and Justin, who have made a great platform for the lads to succeed under the Wood banner.

Walsall Wood Under 18s Football Team need you!

We train Thursdays 6:30-8pm at Oak Park Active Living Centre 

Our league games coming up are 

Wrens Nest: Home 7:45pm Kick-off on the 15th August
Dudley Town: Home 7:45pm  Kick-off  on the 28th August

Please could you include special thanks to our Home Kit Sponsor Guy’s Dental based in Lichfield and our trainingwear sponsor Stonnall Fish Bar.. Thanks so much.

Manager is myself Dylan Somel and 07446348126 is my number for any players interested. 

The team have some great sponsorship. Can particularly vouch for the chip shop at Stonnal, which does great chips and most excellent kebabage! Image supplied by Dylan Somel.

This looks fun!

I know it’s late notice, but down at the excellent Oak Tree Farm tonight (Saturday 8th September 2017) from 7pm to 11pm there’s a fun and entertaining Wild West night planned with lots of entertainment for all the family.

There will be food, a licensed bar, rodeo bull, dancing, tin can alley, bouncy castle, ferret racing, axe throwing, shoe toss, lassoing, air rifle shooting and loads more.

Find out more at the farm’s Facebook Page here.

Entry can be without tickets and costs $5 for adults, £2.50 for sprigs and £12.50 for a family entry. Activities are an extra £1 a pop.

Oak Tree Farm is just near Stonnall in Gravelley Lane: Head down the Chester Road out of Brownhills, past the Stonnall turn and it’s up the lane next right, postcode WS9 9HJ.

If you don’t know about Oak Tree Farm, it’s a lovely smallholding/farm shop with loads of interesting animals, produce for sale and lots of stuff for kids to do. They even have a wallaby!

You meet lots of interesting characters at Oak Tree Farm near Stonnall, maybe even Eric here…

There’s a party going on at Brownhills Costa this Saturday! Image from Tripadvisor.

Well, it’s been a whole year since the Costa Coffee franchise opened up in Brownhills and to celebrate the milestone, Barista Phoebe Bellingham has been in touch to let us know that there’s a party on all day tomorrow (Saturday 9th September 2017).

Phoebe said:

Hi, I’m Phoebe.

I work at Costa Coffee, Brownhills – as it is our first birthday down at Costa on Saturday, 9th September 2017, we would like to invite folk to join us for a little ‘party’ with little activities for kids and just a great time…

We’re raising money for the Costa Foundation, and we thought what better way to do it than a party?

We will be having a range of activities that are all suitable for families!

The Costa Foundation supports families in need and helps build schools and change lives for children in coffee growing communities across the world. All proceeds from the activities will all go to this cause as we are very involved with it down at Costa Brownhills!

Thank you for your time we appreciate it x

I personally really like the local Costa and particularly appreciate it being open late afternoon, and the staff are a friendly, cheerful bunch who make a good brew – so why not pop down there?

Thanks to Phoebe for letting us know and if you pop down why not take a few pics and share them on the blog? Comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers.