The Saddlers travel 80 miles down the M1 to Stadium:MK, to play the Franchise.
The Opposition
On 9 August 2024, owner, Pete Winkelman, sold the club to a Kuwait-based consortium, with Fahad Al Ghanim becoming the club’s new chairman. After four losses in the opening six games, Mike Williamson was appointed as the manager of Carlisle United, with the Cumbrians meeting the release clause in his contract. Franchise appointed Williamson’s replacement, the Crawley Town boss Scott Lindsey, on 25 September 2024. Lindsey’s contract was terminated on 2 March 2025, with the club in 17th place, following a run of just two wins from 14 league games. Paul Warne was announced as the Head Coach with just 4 games remaining of the season.
Warne will be under pressure to deliver a better finish after last seasons dismal league placing.
Franchise have brought in many free transfers including Callum Paterson (forward from Sheffield Wednesday), Will Collar (midfielder from Stockport County), Gethin Jones (defender from Bolton Wanderers), Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (midfielder from Derby County) and Tom Finch (goalkeeper from Norwich City).
Permanent signings were Aaron Collins (forward from Bolton Wanderers), Rushian Hepburn-Murphy (forward from Crawley Town) and Marvin Epkiteta (defender from Hibernian). On loan Sebastian Stacey (goalkeeper from Worthing).
The Proposition
With 5 games gone Franchise find themselves in 3rd place with the Saddlers sitting in 7th. The gap is just 2 points though so a welcome away win would put us above them. 
Walsall’s last game against Salford at home was much improved and the best performance so far this season. A 1-0 win that could have been a lot more had chances created been taken. Harrison Burke scored his 1st goal of the season with an assist from Jamie Jellis. A solid performance from Aaron Pressley leading the line with a late cameo from loan signing Daniel Kanu hinting at good things to come from this pairing. Surely Adomah will be on the bench against Franchise with Pressley and Kanu starting up top.
Franchise are unbeaten in the league with 3 wins and 2 draws. They’ve only failed to score once (in their opening game against Oldham) with 10 goals coming in the remaining 4 played so far. In contrast they’ve only conceded 2, but they were in the last 2 games against Crawley and Newport so there’s hope for us making the it the 3rd game in a row.
SaddlerSteve Indulges
Give me a moment to say having lived down here for 35 years, I look forward to playing this lot. The 5 year gap in not playing them in the league after we got relegated was a pain both for the pisstaking I got from the 2 Franchise fans at work (yes 2 whole fans) 
and not having a very close game to get to. Stadium:MK is only about 5 miles away for me. I can remember those early away days in the temporary stands with no roofs getting soaked and having to endure us not winning for 5 years until our 8th meeting. And of course the 5-0 drubbing from 18 months ago did not go down well at all.
For me the golden era of games against this lot was 2012 when we beat them 3 times in a row, all in the same year.
Particularly those 2 away games as 5th May is my birthday and the other away being on Boxing Day made for a great Xmas.
So yes. I really want to beat this lot, even if it’s a 1-0 shithouse victory. 
The First Time
The first meeting between the sides, was in League One on the 30th October 2004, which resulted in a 1-1 away draw at the National Hockey Stadium.
The Worst Time
A 5-0 hammering at Stadium:MK on the 29th March 2024 which pretty much dashed our promotion hopes the season before last.
The Last Time
The Saddlers last meeting with Franchise was a 4-2 home win in League Two on 18th January 2025. Goals from David Okagbue, Liam Gordon, Harry Williams and Albert Adomah made up for the loss of Nathan Lowe. This was also our joint best result against them, having previously beaten them 4-2 at Stadium:MK on Boxing Day in 2012.
Played for both
Paul Downing currently plays as a centre-back for Worcester City.
West Bromwich Albion
Downing came through the youth system at West Bromwich Albion. He signed a professional contract lasting until June 2012, with an option of a further year in the club’s favour.
Downing was sent on several loans to Hereford United, Rotherham United, Shrewsbury Town and Barnet.
When Downing returned to West Brom at the end of the 2011–12 season the club announced that they were not offering him a new contract. Downing was released after three years at the club, having never made an appearance for the first team.
Walsall
On 1 August 2012, Downing signed for the Saddlers. He made his debut on 1 September in a 2–2 draw against Brentford and went on to play 156 times, scoring 6 goals.
Franchise
After declining a new contract with Walsall, Downing joined the Franchise on a free transfer, signing a two-year deal.
Blackburn Rovers
In August 2017, Downing initially joined Blackburn Rovers on a season-long loan. In January 2018, Downing joined the club permanently on a one-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee, then in 2019 left at the end of his contract.
Doncaster Rovers (loan)
In January 2019, it was announced that Downing had been loaned to Doncaster Rovers for the rest of that season.
Portsmouth
In June 2019, it was announced Downing had signed for Portsmouth on a free transfer, signing a three-year contract after being released by Blackburn Rovers. Having spent the second half of the 2021–22 season on loan away from the club, Downing was released at the end of the season.
Rochdale (loan)
In January 2022, Downing signed for Rochdale on loan for the rest of the season.
Hereford
In August 2023, after 16 months without a club, Downing signed for Hereford. In October 2023, it was announced that Downing had signed a contract to stay at Hereford until the end of the 2023–24 season.
Kidderminster Harriers
In June 2024, Downing signed a one-year contract with Kidderminster Harriers. He was released at the end of the season.
Worcester City
In June 2025, Downing signed for Worcester City.
Personal life
He is the nephew of former footballer and manager, and former assistant head coach of West Brom Keith Downing, a cousin of Judas Priest’s guitarist K.K. Downing.
Also:
Craig MacGillivray, Keith Andrews, Matt Carbon, Martin Devaney, Will Grigg, Lee Harper, Jabo Ibehre, Zeli Ismail, Ian McLoughlin, Pablo Mills, Craig Westcarr, Mark Wright, Zak Jules, Ellis Harrison, Russell Martin, Andrew Surman, Cameron Norman …
back in the early 2000’s my brother was down at the late night garage buying snacks and had his Walsall dugout coat on. Some bloke noticed and asked him what a Walsall fan was doing down here to which my brother replied almost all football fans down here support their home town teams rather than this Franchise… it was Clive Platt.
Comment below if you know anyone else.. 
Lump On
We beat them 4-2 in the last meeting against them at Bescot in January this year. It was the first game without Nathan Lowe and goals were scored by 3 defenders and Uncs. With 4 goals coming from defenders already this season and Uncs looking for his 1st goal of the season can they do it again?
Lump Off
Franchise slightly edge us on the wins with our overall record being (W8/D10/L11). They are in good form being unbeaten in their first 5 league games. Their only loss being in the EFL Cup against Bristol City.
Goal Tally (sponsored by Owly McOwlface)
Connor Barrett - 2
Evan Weir - 1
Aaron Pressley - 1
Harrison Burke - 1
UTS Match Poll
- Walsall Win
- Draw
- Franchise Win
was looking forward to it