Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Ken Wheldon, a local businessman made good, took over the club in 1972 and brought some optimism of a brighter future. [20], Despite the club's relegation and no previous managerial experience, Merson was immediately appointed as full-time manager of the club in May 2004. Upon Jeff Bonser stepping down from his role at the club, Leigh Pomlett agreed an option to reunite the saddlers with their stadium freehold "in due time". [24] On the final day of the season Walsall drew 1–1 at Swindon Town, thanks to a last-minute goal by Dean Keates in front of 3,419 travelling fans, to secure the League Two title. 2020-09-16T09:00:00 Europe/London Property Auction Please note that the Auction will be livestreamed via our website with Remote Bidding by Proxy, Telephone or Internet Only. The club's promotion challenge ended after a run of poor results in March leading to Richard Money resigning as manager in April. Last edited on 17 September 2020, at 12:58, "Walsall FC to host Aston Villa in 125th birthday bash", "Arsenal v Walsall 1933: The Greatest Cup Upset Ever", "Walsall v Newcastle United, 29 August 1961", "Allan Clarke was the magnetising frontman of Don Revie's Leeds", "100 Owners: Number 76 – Ken Wheldon (Walsall & Birmingham City)", "Ex-Walsall owner Terry Ramsden back at the races", "25 years at Bescot: The stadium that changed Walsall's fortunes", "Jeff Bonser saved Walsall and boosted his savings", "Cole and Solskjaer the perfect partnership", "Up where we belong! [39], A 2013 survey revealed Walsall fans consider Black Country neighbours Wolverhampton Wanderers to be the club's main rivals. The dilapidated state of the club's Fellows Park home was becoming a problem and, in 1982, the intention to move in to groundshare Molineux with Wolverhampton Wanderers was announced by owner Ken Wheldon. This saw the beginning of an era that became a hallmark for some of the most attractive football seen in Walsall as, under the guidance of Buckley, the side gradually established itself as promotion contenders in the Third Division. Walsall, metropolitan borough, metropolitan county of West Midlands, historic county of Staffordshire, west-central England. Fast trains from London to Walsall take around 2 hours and 23 minutes, covering a distance of approximately 175 kilometres.There are frequent services on the rail route between London and Walsall. Current players in bold. The club's nickname, "The Saddlers", reflects Walsall's status as a traditional centre for saddle manufacture. To complete your registration, click on the link in the email that we have just sent you. New manager Chris Nicholl led the club to promotion back to the third tier (now known as Division Two after the formation of the Premier League) in his first season, building the nucleus of a strong and under-rated team. Walsall reached the final to face Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge but, in a repeat of their previous final appearance in 1935, they lost the match 2–0.[1]:189. However, the 1988–89 season saw the club immediately relegated from the Second Division and Ramsden's business empire collapse. He was sold to First Division Fulham for a then club record fee of £37,500 in March 1966 and went on to earn 19 caps for England and win a league title at Leeds United.[8][1]:98. The Saddlers returned to the second tier of English football at the first attempt, defeating Reading 3–2, after extra time, in a thrilling play-off final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. By 1986 further plans were announced to groundshare with one of the club's local rivals. The away tie at Villa Park later in the season ended goalless. See you soon! Walsall Police said in a tweet: “We need to urgently identify this man after we were called to reports of a man waving a gun inside St Paul’s Church in Darwall Street, Walsall, at about 9.40am. Aged just 18, he scored 23 league goals in 1964–65 and a further 23 goals in all competitions in 1965–66. The 2002–03 season saw Walsall avoid relegation again. [1], More regularly-contested rivalries exist with Shrewsbury Town, Coventry City and Port Vale.