Former Grounds

By TheSaddlersFC
April 13 2004

TheSaddlersFC takes a look at the 6 footballing homes we have had since our formation in 1888.

	Ground: The Chuckery	Dates: 1888-1893
	This ground provided the club with its first home for 6 years period after it's formation. It hosted it's first ever league game on September 3rd 1892. The opposition that day were Darwen.
	Ground: Wood Green Oval	Dates: 1893
	This was a temporary home for the Club which staged two games at the start of the 1893/1894 season. They used the Wood Green Oval while work was done on their soon to be new home at West Bromwich Road.
	Ground: West Bromwich Road	Dates: 1893-1896 & 1900-1901
	The West Bromwich Road ground held 4500 people and provided the Saddlers with a home for three years.  They left for Hillary Street in 1896, but had another short spell at the West Bromwich Road when they were unable to pay the rent in 1900
	Ground: Fellows Park	Dates: 1896-1900 & 1901-1990
	Apart from a short spell back at the West Bromwich Road Ground, and a one off home game at the Hawthorns, this was Walsall Football Clubs home ground for well over 90 years. It was initially called the Hillary Street Ground until  it was renamed Fellows Park, after popular Director - HL Fellows in 1930. The Club began planning a move in the late 1980s as the club sought to modernise and restructure how it worked. The last League game at the ground was played against Rotherham United on May 1st, 1990. Fellows Park played host the best attended Walsall game of all time. 25,453 fans crammed in Fellows Park to see the Saddlers play Newcastle United on 29.8.61. (Visit fellowspark.co.uk)
	Ground: Bescot Stadium	Dates: 1990 - Present
	The Bescot Stadium is located no more than half a mile away from the old Fellows Park ground. The Bescot has undergone a series of changes since the clubs move in 1990. The Purple Stand was opened in November 2002, and the ground became all-seater in the Summer of 2003. The club plans to build a replica of the Purple Stand behind the other goal. (Guide to Bescot Stadium)
	www.saddlers.co.uk has a detailed history of all our former homes, which is well worth visiting if you would like to look find our more. Click here to visit now.