Old photos of Fellows Park

And the wording of “Butlers Ales” on the end of the stand.
Now we know where bloody corporate advertising started :laughing:

1 Like

23622327_930965617051353_999374151598642081_n

Ken Dodd opens the Saddlers Club in 1965 with John Wilson, Harold Davies and Bill and Ron Harrison.

1 Like

I was sitting on that wall when it collapsed. The picture was on the back page of the Evening Mail - still got the print.

2 Likes

One of my best seasons watching Walsall. Only lost one home game, same division as Wolves who we put out of the league cup and they were relegated! 90 goals scored in the league plus 7 against Preston in the cup, and then knocking Vale out in a replay in the next round after a game at Vale when nobody could see due to the thick fog. Man City game in the snow, and having to walk in even deeper snow with a hip flask full of brandy to a 10.30 Sunday morning kick off against Wolves as there was no public transport. 6-0’s against Reading and Brizzle, Cardiff…3-0 up, 3-3, won 6-3! Cracking night out 5-1 away at Newport on a Friday night on my 18th birthday with Ken Armstrong mysteriously not making his debut :thinking: Then that farcial Easter of missed pens against Derby and then two against Cardiff next game that ended our promotion hopes. Happy days.

5 Likes

That’s a match that wouldn’t go ahead in the modern game, isn’t it? Bit of snow, clear the lines and get the orange ball out. Pep and Jurgen would have a fit, they’d be crying about it for months if that happened now. :smile:

1 Like

Another game that probably wouldn’t have gone ahead today. During the 86 big freeze, temperatures well below zero from what I remember. The next season, I think we won there 4-2 in rather kinder conditions- Easter Monday?

Yes it was like a skating rink at Newport that night, neither wonder big Ken didn’t fancy it :laughing:
Think the only other one I’ve seen on a slippier frozen pitch was at Rotherham on Boxing Day mid 90’s.

1 Like

Remember that Rotherham game. Nearly everything else was off and can’t imagine that those pitches were worse than Millmoor. We won 1-0 and my 100% Millmoor record continued. Chris Nicholl was very happy at the end. He loved an ugly 1-0 away win.

1 Like

Line clearing just moments before the start of our game v. Man City FA Cup 1985-6 season

2 Likes

I think it was Boxing Day 1993 (or 94). I remember driving up there after working a night shift. It was freezing up there and the match definitely shouldn’t have been on. I’ve got a feeling that we slipped and slid to a 1-0 win. I nearly fell asleep driving back!

1 Like

Sure the guy pictured at the front,s nickname was maggot , good lad who went everywhere with Walsall

And that’s Julie the copper that was mentioned t’other day in the background! What great pics, you should have your own floor in that art gallery Fellows1926!!

I can remember (vaguely) an even worse snow-bound game than that, albeit in the Birmingham senior cup against Birmingham City, the match was played on a weekday afternoon with a crowd of about 600. Roger Johnson and his helpers were clearing the lines as the snow bleached down while the game was being played around them. As neither team had played for a few weeks due to the weather both sides fielded pretty strong line-ups, I think ours was 6 or 7 young first teamers plus Buckley, Pendry and the likes of Paul Jones and we won 4-2 I think. I think it was the red and blue year 82-83 a few weeks after they’d knocked us out of the FA Cup but I’m not 100%.

1 Like

@geordiesaddler Cheers. Here is Julie that you mentioned ( Julie Dale as was then, later Skidmore ) kicking the ball at a game in 1983. She was a big Saddlers fan as well as being a great copper! I spoke to her from time to time and she was always cheerful and game for a laugh. I remember if Walsall were chasing the game she would boot the ball to one of our players to 'speed things up ’ if it went out of play and likewise if we were in a winning position towards the end of the game she would look the other way and let the ball keep running! After her police days she would board the supporters coach with her daughter and her friend and follow the lads all over the country.

8 Likes

Not sure @Dhforever but I don’t doubt your word! Your knowledge of Saddlers characters from those days is first class.

Gilbert Alsop gives heading tips to the class of '78 before our FA Cup tie at Arsenal

2 Likes

Those flares!

1 Like

Great pic Dave.
I never liked flares but wore them to follow the trend but love the moustaches and i`ve still got mine after nearly 50 years now.

3 Likes

I abandoned my flares and tash decades ago Alan! Had the pleasure of speaking to Gil a few times in the 1970’s such a friendly guy.

1 Like

And also one of the very, very few WFC players who deserve that way over bestowed term “Legend”

Would I be right in saying Birch, Caswell, Beech? Serrella Buckley. Dennehy. Great photo dont know where you find em from.

1 Like