Most Visited Away Ground

I use the app Futbology which is good. Unfortunately now a monthly subscription to add a photo at the ground at each game but only a quid a month I think. Also a function to see games near by if you just want to tick off random games but I think that might also fall under the subscription now too, well worth using though if you like to keep a record of the games you’ve been to.

Another one is Momento, you can add a photo on that too but no subscription, doesn’t seem as many games though and isn’t just football, has a variety of sports.

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A mere 96 years ago.

  1. 4th round of the FA Cup. Technically our biggest “home” attendance.

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February 1970, lost to Brighton 3-0 at The Hawthorns. I am not sure, but I think FP was overly moist so we moved the fixture.
Incidentally, we played games against Brighton on five different grounds that season.

If we played any other home fixtures at The Hawthorns, I’m unaware of them.

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Had forgotten but I went there to see us play in an fa cup replay v Brighton. We won 2 -1 and I think Colin Taylor got both goals but could be wrong. He definitely got the winner though.

I went to the game against Brighton which was a “home” league game at the Hawthorns. We lost that one. But it was definitely in the early 70’s, not the 60’s. Can’t remember which year.

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Went to Highfield road to watch Walsall but also worked there a few weeks pre season refurbishing the ground.

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Yes, I saw us at Highfield Road.
A 3-0 win for us in a two legged League Cup tie, which saw us through on aggregate.
Can’t remember who scored.
Great performance.
Peter Barnes and Ken Hibbitt playing for them.

I think I went on a football special train from Walsall.
Remember a bit of shenanigans on the way back to the station in Cov.

I went in the sixties with Central, I don’t think we won I think they won promotion that season.

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Also saw Coventry play Everton first season they were in the then first division.

That’s still one of the few good things about modern football, you can still rise up the leagues to challenge for the prem if you sign well. Luton must’ve done it in about 8 seasons and I remember Swansea being 45 minutes away from relegation in May 2003. They won and were promoted to the prem in 2011.

Wrexham will probably be the next although that’s more cheat mode with their ownership model.

In other countries beyond the first two legs you have loads of regional divisions where hardly anyone gets promoted so fluidity of the English football league system is very much a good point even if clubs financially overstretch and get into issues when they don’t get promoted/get relegated.

Think Paul Jones scored and Kelly definitely scored one (the last goal) but I think he may have scored 2.

Jones and Kelly weren’t even first team players at the time.

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These are good points. Also, even in these days of mega money, we do at least have good competition at the top of the PL. Man City rule for the moment but it will not last forever.

I suppose kids today accept the likes of Brentford and Bournemouth as top division clubs. These impressions stick so I still think of, say, Sheffield Wednesday that way, while Bournemouth will always be intruders in the top league.

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I see Sheffield United more as a top level club now than their city rivals. Sheffield United had 5-6 seasons in prem in last 20 years and if they go down they’re usually in top 6 and close to promotion.

Sheff Weds more likely to be battling relegation to league one or actually in league one.

Chronically mis-managed since the late 90s.

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One of the “ancient hero’s” would’ve been Kenny Hibbitt. Played for Bradford PA who sold him to Wolves for about 5,000. What a bargain!!! Great player for the Wolves.

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Fabulous photo’s and article of a time now lost forever. As a Walsall fan always studied the lower leagues and remember in the 1960’s Bradford PA finished above Bradford City in Division 4. Can’t remember which season but there wasn’t a lot between the clubs at that time. The demise of the city of Bradford which had been the wealthiest city in England at one time probably did for it being able to support two professional clubs. As fortune would have it Bradford PA was the club that went under. Thanks for posting.

About 10 years ago my daughter had a house in Lumley rd, Chuckery. The gardens are long narrow strips. At the end of the garden there is a wooden fence which had been made from what resembled upright railway sleepers. Beyond the garden is a land locked “no mans land”. No-one seemed to know who owned it. You can see it on google earth. One person had cultivated some of it but admitted to not owning it. This land is between Lumley Rd, Chuckery Rd and The Crescent. One of the older neighbours recalled sitting on the fence, as a child and watching cricket being played on this land. So I can only conclude that this is what is left of the old Chuckery Ground where the Swifts and the Town played as well as the Cricket Club. There was a Pavillion I believe. Maybe another site that could be excavated by the Time Team.

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I went to that match at Highfield Road.
I remember thinking, “Can’t see these all-seater stadiums catching on!”

Cov manager Bobby Gould got sacked afterwards.

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I did one of my pub guides for cov away. We’d always been welcome in the sky blue tavern right next to highfield rd so that was my recommendation. Got there on the night and the fecker had been demolished :joy:

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That made me chuckle :rofl::rofl:

That is correct about that patch of land in Chuckery. The book by Mike Bradbury - The birth of the Saddlers - explains in detail about the Chuckery grounds and everything else up to around 1900 as well. Includes a photo of that patch of land. Well worth a read.