| ***quick links*** |  |
***latest news***fixtures***table***directions***forum***home*** |  |
UP
TO-DATE* |
| HALESOWEN TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB HISTORY |
| the early years |
| Halesowen
Town were formed in 1873 and, as records show
have always played at their current ground, The
Grove. “The Yeltz” as they are known
entered into the Birmingham Combination several
years after their formation and at the breakout
of war in 1939 had not won any major honours. Following the declaration of peace and the eventual re-organisation of the standard leagues the club joined the West Midlands Regional League in 1946. Their first season in the competition proved to be a fruitful one as they were crowned league champions, albeit with only ten teams competing. The next thirty years did not bring much cheer to the Yeltz faithful, with only a couple of Worcestershire Senior Cup victories being added to the honours list in 1952 and 1962. 1955 did see the club’s current record attendance set when 5000 spectators saw Hendon pick up a 4-2 victory at The Grove in the FA Cup. |
| the eighties and all that |
The
most successful decade in Halesowen’s
history came in the 1980’s whe n several appearances at Wembley
put the club onto the non-league map.Their first piece of silverware won was in the 1982/3 season when after thirty-seven years the club were re-crowned West Midlands League champions. And the season ended on an even better note when the league and cup double was completed with a victory over Hednesford Town. 1983 also saw the club reach its first FA Vase final at Wembley against league rivals VS Rugby. However Rugby would win the contest 1-0. The Yeltz did get some retribution for the defeat when days after the final they beat Heybridge Swifts in the Thorn EMI Floodlight six-a-side tournament. The prize was a set of floodlights. The 1984/1985 season proved to be the greatest in the club’s history. Not only was the league (third successive West Midlands League championship) and cup double completed for the second time but the FA Vase was captured at Wembley in front of a crowd of 16,715 against Fleetwood. The goals in a 3-1 victory came from Geoff Moss and a brace from Lee Joinson. 1985/1986 proved to be Halesowen’s last in the West Midlands League. The November saw Town reach the first round of the FA Cup loosing out to then Conference Frickley in a replay. The disappointment of this was muted with another league championship and an FA Vase win, this time a 3-0 victory over Southall at Wembley (programme pictured). The 1986/7 season saw the club enter the Southern League. Another FA Cup 1st round fixture was on the cards this time loosing out to Southend. This was the second of eventually seven consecutive FA Cup first round appearances. Promotion to the Premier League was gained in 1988/1989 when they were crowned Midland Division champions. |
| the inconsistent nineties |
The
early nineties were dominated by players leaving
The Grove to join  league clubs. In this pack were
Dean Spink (Aston Villa), Stuart Cash (Notts
Forest), Andy Pearce, Tim Clarke (pictured), Sean
Flynn (all Coventry City) and Evran Wright
(Walsall).In 1994 the club appointed Stuart Hall as manager to replace John Morris. After a disappointing finish of 13th in his first season Hall built a side strong enough to challenge at the top and did so the following year. The Yeltz took the title race down to the wire before being pipped by Rushden to promotion. A series of top five finishes continued until the first signs of trouble came at the beginning of the 1998/1999 season. The club struggled and after a 1-0 loss at home to King’s Lynn languished in fifteenth position. Hall resigned and was replaced by Willenhall boss John Chambers. Chambers turned the clubs fortunes around and with the help of the leagues top scorer, Steve Piearce, guided them to an eighth place finish. |
| ups and downs of the new millennium |
The
1999/2000 season started badly with the news that
the club would work  on a reduced budget for the
season. Chambers however was the right man for
the job and although The Yeltz struggled at times
he took them to a top-half finish.Chambers did eventually run out of time after a dismal start to the following season. Alan Moore was his replacement but could not turn things around. By February the club were rooted to the foot of the table and in came Brendan Phillips (pictured). Phillips couldn’t keep the club up but some improved performances gave them confidence going into the next season. A mixture of youth and experience were the right tonic in 2001/2002 as the Yeltz cruised to the league championship. Only Chippenham Town showed any resistance in the title race. The Yeltz only lost once on the road, a 2-0 defeat at Sutton. Last season saw a lack of inconstancy which resulted in relegation. Phillips did squeeze everything he could from the smallest squad in the league but missed out on another season in the Premier Division on the last day of the season. |
| CLUB
CALL --------------------------- For all the latest up to the minute news from The Grove call: 09066 55818 |
| USEFUL
LINKS --------------------------- Yeltzland HTSA Non-League Daily Halesowen News Western Division Forum Fanzone Pyramid Football |
| AROUND
HALESOWEN --------------------------- Pub Guide Hotels AA RAC Merry Hill Travel WM Central Trains |
This website has been designed and edited by Christopher Davis. This site has no official connection with Halesowen Town FC Ltd and that all comments/views posted onto the site are those of the editor or its contributors unless stated.