Unused Sub

Noted that the football special to Witton was back again last night, seems to me to be just for the European games. Was a bit strange considering it went against the club advice for home fans to use Aston, unless it was for aways fans. The announcements at New Street were in English not Dutch like previous games which suggests not. Not sure if the railways and the club were on the same page, maybe one for the FAB group to discuss with the club.

For my £5 last night I got 6 goals, one disallowed goal, woodwork twice rattled, a missed pen, a couple for meaty challenges, some handbags plus a penalty shootout. Money well spent and credit to Lye on the pricing. In the first half we gave the ball away too many times and it wasn’t a surprise we found ourselves two down. Moore put us back in it from close range, so we trailed 1-2 at the break. The second half was entertaining. They hit the post and then scored of a corner. You could throw a blanket over most of the players, as was their tactic for corners. Very dangerous from corner all night. Emery was lucky to stay on the park when he bundled over a forward when rushing out of his goal. We got a goal back when the ball fell nicely in the box for Wilson to score. Other reports this morning state Moore, but it looked like No. 15 to me. The equaliser was similar, a cross into box made its way to Moore to poke home. With time running out a pen was given after a surge into the box, Bogarde was felled. It was a nice height for the keeper to save down his right hand side. From the corner, a bar was hit following a scramble. The Lye right-back bizarrely pushed Jimoh following a tackle and they squared up to each other. Handbags followed involving all 20 outfield players plus our head coach. It was nice of the Lye coaching staff to remind the ref that our head coach had entered the playing field and should be booked! In the dying seconds it looked like we had won it but ball over the top was given offside. So, onto the pens, most of ours were well taken. Moore decided to take an identical penalty and unsurprisingly it was saved again. A Note on Afoka’s pen, a fanny-dribble effort that took an age to roll into the net. It reminded me of a Bert Traore goal against the Abion. Overall for us, Wilson made a difference when he came on at half-time and should have scored but lobbed over. Katsukunya looked calm on the ball, Borland is neat and tidy. Rowe was very good, up and down the right flank all night. Team: Emery, T.Rowe, Munroe (sub: Wilson); Katsukunya, Bogarde, Borland, Young (sub: Afoka), Alcock, Moore, Jimoh, Patterson Unused Subs: Lynch, Lewis, Pavey Goals: Moore 31&79mins, Wilson 76mins For record, the shootout: 0-1 Palmer - Scored 1-1 Bogarde - Scored 1-2 Funge - Scored 2-2 Wilson - Scored 2-3 Meacham - Scored 3-3 Alcock - Scored 3-4 Hall - Scored 3-4 Moore - Saved 3-4 Ngbeken - Saved 4-4 Afoka - Scored 4-4 Tye - Saved 5-4 Borland - Scored

Individual comps I have: 40 - 1886-87 - FAC 29 - 1960-61 - LC 25 - 1985-86 - LC 23 - 1962-63 - LC 22 - 1974-75 - LC 21 - 1976-77 - LC 20 - 1912-13 - FAC 20 - 2019-20 - LC 20 - 2023-24 - UECL

40 - 1886-87 - FAC 37 - 1960-61 - FAC & LC 31 - 1985-86 - FAC & LC 31 - 1981-82 - FAC & LC & Europe & Charity Shield 31 - 1974-75 - FAC & LC 30 - 2009-10 - FAC & LC & Europe 29 - 1976-77 - FAC & LC 27 - 1988-89 - FAC & LC & Simod 27 - 1962-63 - FAC & LC 24 - 2008-09 - FAC & LC & Europe 24 - 1999-00 - FAC & LC 24 - 1995-96 - FAC & LC 24 - 1989-90 - FAC & LC & Zenith Data 24 - 1964-65 - FAC & LC 23 - 2023-24 - FAC & LC & Europe

The simple answer is if the street signs are brown then you are in the borough of Walsall!

It was converted into a gym in the 1950/60s. I think it was flattened during the 1989-90 season. Doug put in planning permission for a hotel in its place in the corner of the North Stand, but nothing came of it.

Big Ron, Big Cyrille, Dalian Atkinson, Ugo, Stan, Rico, Paul Mortimer, Teale & Les Sealey. Only Big Ron, Stan, Rico, Paul Mortimer & Teale still with us.

Another non-league ground ticked off the list and £10 lighter in the wallet, I found myself at Sutton Coldfield last night. I can confirm it was a bit nippy out. Controlled the game throughout and deserved to progress to the next round. Could have been 6 or 7 and no one would have complained, but 3-1 will do very nicely. Richards could have had a couple more. O’Reilly, Broggio, Bogarde and Wilson on another day would have scored. First time I’ve seen Broggio, and can see why there is a bit noise around him, looks quite easy on the eye when running with the ball. Shame he went off holding the top of his leg/hip early in the second half. Richards went off late in the game with cramp. A note on Tristen Rowe, it’s the first time I’ve seen him at centre-back since the Albion U21 game last season where we were turned over 2-6. The Albion forwards that night looked like they were on ‘big dinners’ and Rowe struggled a bit. Last night he looked very good, and handled the Sutton forwards well. His distribution was very good as well. So then the goals; Richards found the top corner from long range early in the second half, The Royals equalised with a header from a set piece, roughly 15 minutes to go. The assist for our second goal should go the chap on the PA system who announced “the referee has indicated that there will be an additional 4 minutes added on time, if the game is still level after this there will be a penalty shootout.” Just as he finished this announcement, the ball was swung in from the left and Teddy Rowe, unmarked at the far stick, tapped home from six yards to much amusement to the crowd. From the kick off Sutton got the ball down their right-hand side, the cross was mis-hit and looked to have caught Proctor off guard having expected the cross to come in, the ball looked odds-on to go into the net at the near post, but somehow Proctor managed to tip it around the post. From the resultant corner there was a scrimmage on the edge of the box, the ball was won and Borland was sent clean through. With the Sutton goalkeeper up the for the corner, Borland had the simple task of dribbling the ball the length of the half to score. Goals: Richards 54’, E.Rowe 90+1’, Borland 90+4’ Team: Proctor, Ealing, Munroe, T.Rowe, Feeney, Alcock, Jimoh, Bogarde (sub: Borland), Richards (sub: E.Rowe), T.O’Reilly, Broggio (sub: Wilson). Unused subs: Emery (gk), Katsukunya.

A great list. Note that one of the own goals was by Ivo Stas. He was signed shortly after, but retired 12 months later without playing a competitive game. Staunton’s goal was unusual as it was from a corner. Not direct from a corner as he done before for us (like Douglas Luiz), it was towards the back end of this career and was at centre-back. Nodded it home from a few yards out. For many years he took corners, just seemed odd to see him on the end one instead. Yorke should have had few more but for the 3 overseas player rule. Staunton, McGrath & Saunders would generally be the 3. How the system worked was very strange to me. At the time we had 4 Ireland Internationals; Irish born Staunton was an overseas player, McGrath was an English born overseas player, Townsend was English and didn’t count, while Scotland born Houghton didn’t count either!

Can you ask for any feedback regarding the bus shuttle relay experiment from the Brighton game in May. Any plans from the club to try again this season? (especially as more train strikes are due at the arse-end of this month)

Sorted mine, plenty of seats behind the goal.

For what its worth, all want is a rampant lion facing left with a big tongue. A really big-ass-long tongue like the 1980-90s badge. The rest I couldn’t give a monkeys about.

First time in this thread, not my thing really. A lot of old badges have appeared there. Not really worth clearing up as its not really that interesting, but for clarity, the 1956 version was basically our badge from the start if the football league in 1888 until the late 1960s boardroom revolution. It was on the clubs letterheads, in the programmes, and of course the old Trinity Road Stand. Its wasn’t until 1956 that we had, as a standard, the badge on the shirts. Anyway, nobody remember the very short lived 98 badge used in some club literature, so its not the first time this has happened:

Not sure if it’s the same cup but its in the window of the trophy shop in Old Hill. I’ve walked past it many times. Looks more like Neil Rioch close up.

Nothing was announced at the ground at the time (that I can recall, however excitement might have got the better of me). Unofficially I have seen elsewhere 42,212. I'd probably wait a few more days and see if anything comes to light.

I’m keen on the reserves. If he had took part in the summer trials in August I wouldn’t have any record but if he trialled during the season I might know him. I’ll just need a surname if you’re interested.

Must be great to know. This is what I have on him from Villa programmes:

Wow. Must be great to say that. Can I ask who?

I was stood by the half way line with an elevation of about a foot. We had the previous penalty saved and my first instinct was that it hadn’t been a costly miss as the ball had bounced out (admittedly with my claret and blue tinted glasses). It was one of those ones where the ball concertinas the bar and goal line. In all honesty there wasn’t much in it all either way. From my view I would say the ball was more in than out. Whether the whole of the ball was over is debatable. I would say possibly not. Note, possibly not probably if that makes sense! I didn’t think the ref would give it. The ref didn’t signal anything, it was the lineman’s call. He walked up to ref with their gk in his ear. It took quite a while to give it. Suggests it wasn’t given on a gut reaction. Following this, their gk then threw the ball over the head of our next taker. There was no doubt that their gk was a clearing in the woods. The real test is that in my nerdiness (don’t judge me) I quickly note the takers shirt number as he walks to the spot and it put a squiggle next to his number if he misses. I squiggled.

Got my money’s worth last night. 10 goals, 1 disallowed, chances & some super saves. Boths teams won’t be happy with some of the goals; Lutz’s first came from robbing the centre-half on the half-way line and running clear and finishing well in the bottom corner. Alvechurch’s second looked like it went straight through Zych. Alvechurch started the brightest, but once we scored (with a rocket) we were well in the game and had some good spells. But in saying that, Zych tipped a scorcher onto the bar. After good work by Afoka, Pierre missed an open goal that would have made it 3-0. Alvechurch’s first came from virtually the last kick of the first half, direct from a (debatable) free-kick. 2-1 HT. Second half was just madness. We looked a bit ragged at times, but both teams were going for it. I thought we were going to win, then it lose, then win, then lose, Zych pulled one out of the bag so we were on for win again, though we were done for but for a lineman’s flag to chalk off a Alvechurch goal, Lutz and Pierre had efforts on goal that could of put us through, then we down and out, but somehow it ended a draw. Madness. So onto pens. Munroe, Afoka & Lindley all scored with really well taken pens. Zych got a hand to a few. Note that Alvechurch changed goalies for the shootout. Overall, played quite well and unlucky not to be in the next round. Afoka was busy as usual, Lutz did well as centre-forward despite getting bumped about a bit. 2 good finishes and mopping up a rebound for his third. O'Reilly looked good a the back, defended well, calm on the ball. Blotted his copybook with a sinical foul on the halfway line in the second half. Probably why he was taken off late on. A word on Barnes; not seen him before. Unfortunately a clash of heads ended his night prematurely after roughly 20 minutes. Walked off a bit gingerly. Team: Zych, Ealing, Munroe, Smith, A. O'Reilly (sub: McDowell), Lindley, Pierre, Alcock (sub: Simpson); Lutz, Barnes (sub: Mitchell), Afoka. Unused sub: Pavey. Note: Didn’t notice any No. 13 on teamsheet but Wright was there warming up with the team pre-match. Goals: Munroe 9mins, Lutz 18,56,90+mins, Mitchell 78mins The shootout, for the record: 1-0 Munroe 1-0 Abby (saved onto post) 2-0 Smith 2-1 Waldron 3-1 Afoka 3-2 Soule 3-2 Lutz (saved) 3-3 Clayton-Phillips 4-3 Lindley 4-4 Neto-Teixeira 4-4 Mitchell (saved) 4-4 Jones (Panenka missed) 4-4 Simpson (landed in the carpark) 4-5 Burton

The QF of the BSC is tonight; Alvechurch. Interestingly, the last time we lifted the cup (1985) we put seven past them in the semi-final (Paul Kerr hat-trick). I’ll be surprised if we’re in the hat for the SF this year, but you never know. Wonder if Diego Carlos could make a comeback appearance?

I’d echo what the chaps have said above. The easiest starting point is knowing someone that was alive in 1921 or 1911, so talk to someone old and hopefully get back to that point in time with a name and a location. In general, censuses and marriage certificates are to the main documents to aim to find. I think most libraries have access to Ancestry for free if you want to keep the costs down. Sending off for certificates can be a costly business (it was about £10-12 a pop when I did mine about 10 years ago). Knowing local genealogy societies/groups will help massively. For me, I’m 75% Black Country so I had a few really good sites to help: https://bcconnections.tribalpages.com www.westmidlandsbmd.org.uk I think most Churches records have been copied to microfilm and are located within most local libraires. I must have saved around £100 from getting the marriage reference numbers from westmidlandsbmd and popping into the Smethwick & Dudley Archives and finding them there instead of sending off for them. Also, newspapers archives are available in findmypast so you can search there. I found one of my lot being done for speeding in Cradley Heath High Street, got fined for doing about 20mph on a horse and cart.

An indifferent game late night, we weren’t at our best. Had a few good spells of possession first half, struggled a bit second half. As always, a few hairy moments passing the ball about at the back. That’s where the Tividale goal came from, Munroe getting caught in the left back position. From the free-kick I was expecting a cross to come in, unfortunately, so was Wright as he was beaten at his near post. The equaliser was it bit lucky, a ball across the box somehow fell to Afoka, who’s shot deflected in, with the goalie getting a hand to it. The best chance of the night fell to Frith, who put a free header at the back post wide. For Tividale, they had two shots cleared off the line second half. Shame Pierre was subbed at half-time, as I thought he was having a good game, trying to get forward from midfield. Raikhy came on down the right, freeing up Afoka to move about more centrally. 4 really good penalties scored in the shoot-out, Lindley struck his well but a good height for the keeper to save. Team: Wright, Ealing, Munroe, Smith, Feeney, Lindley, Afoka, Alcock, Frith, Pierre (Sub: Raikhy), Lutz. Unused subs: Barnes, Onuchukwu, McDowell, Hammond (GK). For the record, the shoot-out: Frith 1-0 Melvin 1-0 (missed) Afoka 2-0 Blake 2-0 (saved) Lutz 3-0 Lewis 3-1 Lindley 3-1 (saved) Wood 3-2 Munroe 4-2

I can’t seem to find it online now on the Tividale Twitter page, but the third round Birmingham Senior Cup tie at Tividale is pencilled in for Tuesday 24/01/2023.

Adrian Randall, trialist from Aldershot I think. Probably preseason friendly at Witney 1991. Sticks is bending forward next to him. Definitely 1991-92 judging by the tracksuit McGrath is wearing.