HEDNESFORD TOWN F.C.

'Hednesford Town Football Club' are an association football team based in Hednesford, Staffordshire, England. They play at Keys Park.

Contents

History

Stadium

Current First Team Squad

Honours

External links

History

The club where formed in 1880 by the merger of two leading Hednesford clubs, the Red & Whites and Hill Top, and after many years in local competitions they joined the Southern League in 1984. They gained promotion to the Football Conference in 1995, when they won the Southern League Premier Division, but were relegated again in 2001. The Pitmen celebrated promotion with a move to a purpose built stadium called Keys Park having played all of their games prior on the field behind the Cross Keys pub. They had their best run in the Football Conference in 1995-96 season, when they finished third in a tight league, although this was before the days of play-offs in the Football Conference.
The club reached the fourth round proper of the FA Cup in 1996-97, beating Blackpool and York City before losing 3-2 to Middlesbrough. They also reached the final of the Welsh Cup in 1992 (in those days selected English clubs were invited to enter), losing only 1-0 at Cardiff Arms Park. Hednesford have recorded many famous wins in friendlies and in the Staffordshire Senior Cup defeating, among others, Aston Villa (5-1), Walsall, Birmingham City and Wolverhampton Wanderers. The club also won the 2004 FA Trophy, beating Canvey Island 3-2. (Goals coming from Anthony Maguire, Les Hines and then assistant manager Chris Brindley) Manager Barry Powell was sacked after a poor league showing and was replaced by fans favourite Chris Brindley.
In his first season in management, Brindley took Hednesford to the playoffs and after beating Merthyr Tydfil on penalties in the semi, and Chippenham Town in the final 1-0, Hednesford were promoted to the Conference North.
The 2005/06 season saw Hednesford sack manager Chris Brindley and sink to the lowest reaches of the Conference North. Recent local press reports suggest the club needs major investment and is looking to sell off part of the car park for housing development. They were relegated on the last day of the league. They have since been placed in the Northern Premier League, which is 2 levels below the highest division in non-league football, the Conference National. Their first season in the league saw them finish seventh, despite being second for the majority of the season.

Stadium

Main articles: Keys Park


Keys Park is situated on Keys Park Road approximately 15 minutes from Hednesford town centre. The club previously played at the Cross Keys, a ground situated behind the pub of the same name.
The stadium was completed during the summer of 1995, with the cost at £1.3 million and was first used in a friendly against Walsall. Keys Park was officially opened by Sir Stanley Matthews later that year in a ceremony that included a friendly against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
In January 1997 Keys Park saw its highest attendance ever as over 3,000 people witnessed the Pitmen's 1-0 win over York City in the FA Cup Third Round. During the following season the Heath Hayes End was converted into a 1,000 capacity open terrace, whilst the Wimblebury side was turned into a large uncovered terrace and seating was installed at the previously terraced Hednesford End. Despite relegation from the Football Conference in 2001, the club proceeded with plans to make the stadium covered on all four sides, and installed roofs on each of the uncovered terraces.

Current First Team Squad

Honours

★ FA Cup

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★ 4th Round 1996/97

★ FA Trophy

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★ Winners 2004

★ Southern League Premier Division

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★ Champions 1995

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★ Playoff Winners 2005

★ Welsh Cup Runners-Up, 1992 against Cardiff City

★ West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division

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★ Champions 1978

★ West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division Cup

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★ Winners 1984

★ Birmingham Combination

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★ Champions 1910, 1951

★ Birmingham Senior Cup

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★ Winners 1936

★ Staffordshire Senior Cup

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★ Winners 1970, 1974

External links

★ Official Hednesford Town F.C. website