Pelsall Villa F.C.

History

Records from the Walsall Observer show that football was played in Pelsall as long ago as 1898. The two World Wars caused a temporary halt to proceedings, but in 1961 the club reformed and this heralded the beginning of Pelsall Villa as it is known today. Using changing facilities in the nearby Red Cow public house was never a satisfactory situation and in 1978 a liaison was formed by then Chairman, Vic Dolphin with Pelsall Cricket & Sports Club. As a result of the link-up, Villa not only gained improved dressing rooms, but also real headquarters.

In 1982 the club left the Staffordshire County League having been accepted into the West Midlands (Regional) League Division Two. Promotion was secured after two seasons at that level, but it was obvious that a number of improvements were needed at The Bush ground to bring it up to the required standard for an assault on the Premier Division.

During the summer of 1991 floodlights were installed and Aston Villa provided the opposition as they were officially switched on in front of a crowd of 2,000 in November 1991. Manager Reg Priest set about the task of strengthening the playing squad and success soon followed in both the FA Cup and FA Vase competitions. In fact, Villa were within three games of making it to Wembley Stadium in the FA Vase in 1992–93 before narrowly losing out to an extra-time own goal at the hands of Buckingham Town. The next stage of the club’s ongoing development saw hard-standing laid all around the perimeter and a 500-seater stand erected at The Bush end of the ground.

The aim was to secure a place in the newly formed Midland Alliance, but, having taken the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division title in 1994–95, the eagerly-awaited promotion was not granted. It did arrive at the end of the following season, however, following a second-placed berth during a campaign that also saw the League Cup and Midland Invitation Cup secured. The first season at the higher level ended with a mid-table finish as captain Adrian Horne won the Alliance Player of the Year. A position in the middle of the table was the norm for the next few years as the club consolidated.

1998–99 saw chairman Vic Dolphin and club stalwart Tony Gough resign after more than two decades of service. Ron New took over the chair in 1999–2000 before relegation followed in 2003–04 as the club returned to the West Midlands (Regional) League. In January 2004, former Wolverhampton Wanderers player Dean Edwards was appointed as player-manager, but was unable to prevent the club's relegation and left at the end of the season.

There was another change of personnel at the helm when former player Shaun Mason returned to the club, initially as first-team manager then chairman as Mark Bentley took over the reigns. For the 2009–10 season, the club was transferred into the Midland Combination, a new start which heralded in a new era at The Bush. In November 2014, former professional goalkeeper Scott Cooksey was appointed joint manager alongside Barry Dedman. Cooksey has since taken over the reigns with Adam Pearce becoming number 2 and Dedman dropping down to First Team Coach due to family commitments.

Players

Ladies' team

The club also has an open age ladies' team which was recently promoted to the West Midlands Regional Women's League, they also play their home matches at the Bush Ground.

Honours

Youth honours

Club records

Ground

The Bush Ground takes its name from the Old Bush pub which is next to it. It has a stand behind one goal which came from the ground of the defunct Telford-based club GKN Sankey, and seats which came from Molineux, home of Wolverhampton Wanderers, as well as unusually-shaped concrete dugouts.