TT No.93: Mike Latham - Weds 17 October 2007: Sport Italia West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division. Lye Town 2-1 Pelsall Villa. Attendance: 50 (h/c); Admission: £3; 24pp programme: £1; FGIF Match Rating: 3*

View matchday images  01 02 03 04   Kerry Miller’s brilliant History of Non-League Grounds, published in the 1990s, has a memorable photograph of the barrel-roofed shaped cover behind one of the goals at Lye Town and it has long been one of my ambitions to visit the Stourbridge Road Sports Ground.   Finally another ambition was realised on a dry but chilly evening in the heart of the Black Country.  Lye is part of the sprawling urban conurbation between Birmingham and Stourbridge and the ground is to be found 400 yards on the left-hand side after Lye crossroads where the GBG listed Windsor Castle pub, home to Sadlers Brewery, makes an interesting and worthwhile diversion.   From J3 of the M5 motorway it’s easy enough to find- follow the A456 to Kidderminster, turn right at the lights at the bottom of Hagley Hill, then left along the A458 towards Stourbridge.  Though parking is limited there is ample space for the spectators, officials and players gathering for this game.   I had expected the fixture to be against Ledbury Town, judging from the excellent league website, and was somewhat worried when I was the first person to arrive at 6-15pm to find the gates open, the nets on the goalposts but the sports ground brooding in the fading light with no-one else in sight.   After a while a young man with a kit-bag materialised- it turned out he was the referee, a charming, easy going chap with a ready smile.  ‘The fixture’s been rearranged- they’re playing Pelsall Villa instead,’ he informed.  Relief then that my journey south had not been wasted but concern that the league’s normally infallible website was carrying false information.   Lye Town FC is shared with cricket- a green oasis amid the urbanity- and is effectively a three-sided ground, or two tonight as the banking behind the far goal is covered in plastic sheeting. Along the far side runs a dilapidated covered stand, half terrace, half seats with a disused tea-bar. The distinctive cover from the Miller book is to be found behind the near-side goal- and simply magnificent it looks- worth the long journey alone.   A small club-house, dressing room block and board-room are to be found at the entrance and Ollie the dog, a real character, gives friend and foe alike a warm welcome as he parades his patch. On a well-grassed pitch Lye belied their lowly league position to run out winners of a competitive game played in a good spirit that is well officiated by my friend from earlier.   The ground has suffered more than its fair share of problems recently with the historic cricket pavilion being burnt to a cinder and the club house a repeated victim of thieves.  But despite it all loyal club officials battle on to keep the flag flying and their persistence is rewarded on nights such as these when three points are gratefully received.   A visit to the atmospheric Lye Town FC ground comes highly recommended.

contributed on 19/10/07