Walsall Web-Fans

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Yearly Archives: 2012

1987-88 Promotion Season Recalled (Part 6 – December)

December 1987 saw Walsall kick off their month with an FA Cup Round 2 tie at the Priestfield Stadium against fellow Third Division side Gillingham. The home side took the lead on six minutes through leading scorer Steve Lovell however within a minute Walsall were on level terms with a goal out of nothing. Trevor Christie chased a lost cause, a long throughball. The striker kept the ball in play, crossed and thanks to uncertainty in the Gills defence David Kelly zipped in to claim his 11th Walsall goal of the season. Gillingham got what turned out to be the winner before half time through Karl Elsey. Saddlers had what looked like two perfectly good goals disallowed in the second half which had manager Tommy Coakley seething as he saw his side lose 1-2 when he should have witnessed a 3-2 win. One amusing incident in this game saw keeper Fred Barber make a clearance which shattered the bedroom window of a nearby house!  Continue reading →

A View From The Main Stand – ?? Deano

I’ve been to no games this season. Not one. So this isn’t really a view from the main stand. It’s more of a number of views chucked together from looking at Twitter and refreshing Nick Mashiter’s page whenever Walsall play and listening to Saddlers Player and BBC WM.

It’s not just because I’ve been in Sheffield at university for three months that I haven’t gone and because money’s tight. It’s also because I can’t wholeheartedly support a club who so obviously disregard fans’ views they don’t share, a club determined to so brazenly slump into League Two after dodging relegation for two seasons already. Continue reading →

Memory Lane – The Day Aston Villa Helped Walsall Survive Relegation

Walsall Web Fans looks back to an amazing twist to the end of Walsall’s 1970-1 season in Division Three in which, thanks to a bit of help from near neighbours Aston Villa, managed to escape the dreaded drop to Division Four by the skin of their teeth in a situation that was out of their hands. For most clubs the final day of the season was Saturday May 1st. In those days it was two points for a win, no play offs of course and for teams finishing on the same number of points league positions were determined by goal average which meant you had to reach for your calculator to divide your teams goals scored by goals against to come up with a mathematical calculation! Continue reading →

Match From The Day – Coventry (A) 1984

Walsall Web Fans looks back at a brilliant night in the history of Walsall Football Club on October 9th, 1984, in the second Leg of the Second Round of the Milk Cup against Coventry City at Highfield Road, in which The Saddlers were trailing 1-2 from the previous game at Fellows Park. Walsall had enjoyed terrific success the previous season reaching the Semi Finals with those memorable games with Liverpool and Arsenal. Coventry were also a top flight club and were in 20th position in the First Division whilst Walsall were in 11th spot in the Third Division. Despite The Sky Blues lowly position they were expected to progress, what with having home advantage plus the 2-1 first leg lead. City included in their line up midfield general Kenny Hibbitt who was destined to manage Walsall six years later. Continue reading →

Memory Lane – Player of the Month awards

With former Saddler Alex Nicholls being named Northampton Town’s Player Of The Month for the first three months of his Sixfields career before his horrific leg break injury, Walsall Web Fans looks back to the time when Walsall first started such an award in which was sponsored by a local businessman which created a lot of interest among the players and supporters alike. This season is the 40th anniversary in which Walsall FC did a deal with John Dore, from Aldridge, who kindly donated a cheque for £25 to the player who, in the opinion of local sportswriters, was deemed to be the best player of each month.  Continue reading →

1987-88 Promotion Season Recalled (Part 5 – November)

November 1987 threw up seven games for The Saddlers, but only four were Third Division games. Manager Tommy Coakley had called for a bit of pride and passion ahead of the opening month’s game, a Tuesday nighter against Aldershot and he wasn’t disappointed as has men turned in one of the most satisfying performances in weeks as they defeated The Shots 2-0 with some super football served up which took them up to second in the table, just a point behind leaders Sunderland. Continue reading →

Match From The Day – Hartlepool (H) 2006

Memory LaneWalsall Web Fans looks back to an early season game between Walsall and Hartlepool United on Saturday August 12th, 2006 in which The Saddlers recorded a 2-0 win but were far from convincing but nevertheless won the game with two smartly taken goals in recording their third successive victory in new manager Richard Money’s regime in the first eight days of the season in which his team had beaten Rochdale away on the opening day and secured a midweek victory on home soil against Stockport so after this game Saddlers found themselves leading the table having scored five goals without a reply.

Continue reading →

Match From The Day – Tranmere Rovers (A) 1989

Memory LaneWalsall Web Fans looks back at a Barclays Third Division game between Tranmere Rovers and Walsall at Prenton Park on November 10th, 1989. Tranmere were enjoying a decent season and occupied fifth place going into the game whilst Walsall were 20th and having a poor time following on from their relegation from the Second Division in May taking just one point from their previous five league games and finding goals so hard to come by.

Continue reading →

Deano on Lincoln Cup Slump – Nerves, Dominating, Dealing with Expectation, Injuries …

It never rains but it pours,  Lincoln City were the better side not only last night but also in the first leg at Sincil Bank where we were lucky enough just to snatch a draw at the death.  Last night’s performance was witnessed by a record low crowd at Bescot – 1762.  Walsall last won at Bournemouth in September and that feels a lifetime away, much has gone on since then 11 games without a win which includes a draw (and a loss on penalties to Port Vale – League Two) and a draw at Lincoln before last nights AET defeat.  In that time we have shipped 21 goals and thrown away winning positions for fun. Continue reading →

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