by Garry Clarke
JUST 90 minutes from Wembley, Warrington Rylands 1906 playing in their first-ever Buildbase FA Vase semi-final on Saturday, face another first-time semi-finalist in Walsall Wood who play their league football in the Midland League Premier Division.
Playing in the FA Vase for the 40th time Walsall Wood, who were placed 10th in their league when non-elite leagues were curtailed, entered the competition in its first season 1974/75. Prior to this season their best season was 2012/13 when they reached the quarter-final stage losing out in a replay against Guernsey.
To reach the semi finals of this season’s Vase campaign Walsall Wood who were exempt until the 2nd round having reached at least the third round in each of the past three seasons, have knocked out AFC Bridgenorth, Newark, Stourport Swifts, Anstey Nomads and Leighton Town. Two of their wins, Newark and Anstey Nomads, have come via a penalty shoot-out.
Walsall Wood is a large village (pop 13,207 at 2011 census) approx 4 miles north east of Walsall in the West Midlands. The village evolved in the late 18th and early 19th century with its inhabitants primarily involved in the mining of limestone. The population of the settlement expanded in 1894 with the opening of the Walsall Wood Colliery. The mine was closed in 1964 when the supply of accessible coal had been exhausted.
The village’s mining heritage is incorporated into the club’s badge which depicts the winding gear of a coal mine alongside a cross representing the club’s early connections with a Methodist chapel plus a castle and an oak tree each representing former local landmarks.
The Football Club originally known as Walsall Wood Ebenezer Primitive Methodists, stemming from its affiliation with a local Methodist chapel was formed in the early part of the 20th century; although the exact date of their formation is unknown the earliest surviving records mentioning the club date to 1915. In 1982 they merged with Walsall Sportsco under the name of Walsall Borough FC, but reverted to the Walsall Wood name in 1986.
Usually dressed in red and white the “Wood” as they are known play their home games at Oak Park, known for sponsorship reasons as Boston Bailey Group Stadium. Located almost in the centre of the village the Park was originally laid out in 1928 as the Welfare Ground for the Walsall Wood Coppice Colliery.
Over the years Walsall Wood have played in several leagues starting out in the Walsall Senior League they played in the Worcestershire Combination, Midland Combination, Staffordshire Senior League, West Midlands (Regional) League and Midland Football Alliance before becoming a founder member of the Midland League in 2014.
Placed in the Premier Division they finished 4th and 7th before a disastrous 2016/17 season saw them relegated to Division One. 2017/18 was one of the club’s most successful seasons as they regained their top flight status as Division One champions and also won the Midland
League Cup. Their good form was carried on into the 2018/19 season when they finished second in the Midland League Premier Division behind champions Ilkeston Town only on goal difference. When the 2019/20 season was called to a halt and everything was null and voided Walsall Wood were 6th in the Midland League Premier Division and when the 2020/21 season was curtailed they were in 10th place with 17 points from 10 games.
Walsall Wood are managed by Jamaican International Darren Byfield who rejoined the club in January 2020 for a second spell in the hot seat. A forward he scored over a hundred goals in a 400 plus game career which started at Aston Villa and took in clubs as diverse as Walsall, Sunderland, Millwall and Solihull Moors plus numerous other clubs. As well as managing Walsall Wood he has been in charge at Redditch United, Stratford Town and Alvechurch.
The prize on offer for the winners of Saturday’s game will be a Wembley final on Saturday 22nd May against Bracknell based Binfield FC of the Hellenic League who came from behind to beat United Services Portsmouth on penalties in the first semi final played last Saturday.
The final will be part of the FA Non-League Finals Day kicking off at 12.15pm ahead of the FA Trophy final between Hereford United and Hornchurch at 4.15pm. Both games will be broadcast live on BT Sport 1.
Although Saturday’s semi-final is to be played behind closed doors due to the government’s covid restrictions virtual tickets to watch the game priced £5, including donation to St Rocco’s can be purchased using the link below:
https://ticketpass.org/event/EGPAIK/warrington-rylands-v-walsall-wood-fc
