Wolves Almost Too Casual - But Ultimately Jockeys Unseated

And so to Dawley and the Hamer Leisure (Caravan Repairs) Theatre of Jockeys, a play on the Theatre of Dreams, and referencing a tribute to the town's strong ties to horseracing. Today's North West Counties Division One South match is between Dawley Town FC and Wolverhampton Casuals FC.

The home club was established in 1970 as Telford Juniors FC, joining the West Midlands (Regional) League from the Mercian League in 2015 and departing during Covid.

The reboot, Dawley Town FC, the Jockeys, was set up for the 2020/21 season, winning the Shropshire League in the 2022/23 campaign (27 wins and one draw) and again last time with 26 victories, 3 draws and one defeat to achieve promotion to NWCFL 1 South, but only two points above Church Stretton Town. However one point from six and a Edward Case Cup elimination is not the start that the Jockeys were riding on 🤔

Wolverhampton Casuals FC, from the Brinsford Stadium in Coven Heath, was established in 1899 as Wolverhampton Old Church FC, becoming Wolverhampton Amateurs before World War I. The club changed name again to Staffordshire Casuals, as part of a merger with Old Wulfrunians after World War II.

The retitled Wolverhampton Casuals joined Division Two of the West Midlands (Regional) League in 1982. The Cassies were promoted to Division One in 1984 and then to the Premier Division in 1988.

However the Casuals were demoted in 1991, but won the Division One title in 1994/95 to go back up to top tier status. The club had to relocate to the Aldersley Stadium due to a lack of floodlights at Brinsford Stadium, but this was rectified in 1998 and Wolves moved back.

Based on their performances in the Covid seasons the Cassies were placed in the Premier Division of the Midland League in 2022. But relegation in bottom place in 2025 meant they started last season in North West Counties Division One South, after a failed appeal to stay in the Capelli Sport Midland Football League. Last term saw Wolves finish 14th of 19. After 9 points in their first three games and no goals conceded, Wednesday saw Wolves eclipsed 2-1 by Eccleshall; the Cassies remain top on goal difference from Eccleshall.

Numberplates today are 40PA and F11LTH plus a BJS van 'Lighting Up Blackpool' and we pass the Billy Goat pub, the Miners Arms supporting Ashton United and an Audacious Church. Into the scenic and parched Shropshire countryside there's a billboard advertising Wurkflow.ai (?) on another warm, sunny day but with slightly more cloud.

Then Wychwood Park, Gorsty Hill Garage and into Betley, Autobarn and the Falcon Inn at Woore. Through the villages of Ireland's Cross and Pipe Gate, avoiding Loggerheads, brings us to the Gingerbread Man roundabout at Market Drayton, dominated by the Muller Factory and the Gypsy/ Travellers Site still coming soon...

Thereafter Weobley Farm at Hodnet, the village of Sandyford & Cold Hatton and the infamous Crudgington junction. That brings us to The Ugly Duckling at Long Lane and the tree-lined outskirts of Dawley and the Theatre of Jockeys.

£4 in, and the crowd numbers 115, with a sprinkling of Cassies' away fans in official club merchandise. The ground is situated in a residential area, with changing rooms then the bar and a 50 seater stand (the bare minimum requirement) opposite wooden dugouts and entry to the far end out of bounds.

Dawley are in purple and blue, sponsored by Hazel's Kitchen and Casuals in all green, with no shirt sponsor.

Another dust bowl produces a truly dreadful first half.

Danar Saber is wide for the Jockeys and there are feeble efforts from the Cassies' Archie Kirton and Kieran Cook. Then Dawley's centre forward Brodie McLean nods beyond Stanley Amos - in truth the Wolves keeper has very little to do this afternoon.

Then on 33 minutes the miss of the century: Tyron Oliver spills a shot directly into the path of Wolves skipper Cook. The open goal is already being celebrated by the away supporters but Cook screws horribly wide 🙄

Five minutes later the Jockeys' Ross Jones, who has already earned himself a ridiculous yellow card, is fouled and injured. Cue a minor altercation which ends with a booking for Cook and red card for Dawley's Dyerel Graham-Hoof.

The second period is better, but not by much. As anticipated little is seen from the Jockeys, and we endure twenty minutes of torpor as Wolves singularly fail to take advantage of their superior numbers.

Then on 66 minutes a long range shot is fumbled, not for the first time, by Oliver and the ball sits up invitingly for Cassies sub Liam Kirton to volley home into the roof of the net.

Eleven minutes from time Cook hits the post, and sixty seconds on has a flicked header brilliantly pushed on to the underside of the bar at point blank range by Oliver. But ultimately it finishes 1-0 to the visitors. 

Daisies Feel The Blues - Cut Down To Size And Conceding Penalties...

And so to Premier Kia Seel Park in Mossley for an Edward Case Preliminary North Round Cup clash between North West Counties new boys Uppermill FC and Daisy Hill FC.

Previously playing at the Churchill Playing Fields in Greenfield, a ground share with Mossley at Seel Park from 2024 onwards has allowed the Mill to gain promotion to the North West Counties Division One North this time.

The Uppermill Blues were established in 1923 with their first honour being the Ashton District League Birkby Cup in 1952. Mill won the League in 1956 and switched to the Huddersfield & District League; the Division 4 title arrived in 1963, and Division 3 the following year.

After a yo-yo existence between Divisions 3 and 2, the Blues won Division 2 in 2005 and were runners up in Division 1 in 2008. Uppermill finally won the Division 1 title in 2013, a precursor to moving up to the Manchester League.

Promoted to the Premier Division in 2015, Mill only lasted one season up top - one win and 8 points from 30 games.... However the Blues regained first tier status in 2022, winning the League title in 2024 - runners up last term saw a successful application to join the NWCFL Division One North, with Uppermill taking one point from six from two away League fixtures thus far.

Daisy Hill FC, The Daisies, or The Cutters, was established in 1894 playing in the Wigan & District League. By the time of World War 1 the club had moved to the Leigh & District Senior Sunday School League and then the Westhoughton League, playing at New Sirs. The club folded before World War II, but reformed in 1951 playing again in the Westhoughton League but now based at (the adjacent) St James Street & Cricket Ground - they moved back to New Sirs in 1957.

The Daisies then joined the Bolton Combination, which they won four times, before moving to the Lancashire Combination for 4 seasons and then becoming a founder member of the North West Counties Football League in 1982.

The club was renamed Westhoughton Town during the period 1989-94, thereafter reverting back to Daisy Hill FC - they have never been promoted or relegated from the North West Counties, but only escaped demotion in 2014 because Leek CSOB and Formby resigned from the league, and further reprieves happened in the 2018 season because of the league being restructured, having finished bottom of the pile, and in 2019 finishing next to bottom. 

The Daisies fared better last season in 11th place, but social media influencer Aaron Hunt resigned as chairman in March - crowds had increased enormously with fellow influencer AngryGinge in attendance at games. The Cutters have started this campaign with two home league victories.

Numberplates today are 80KG and W4LTA - and a broken down BJS van 'One Thing Leeds To Another'. Past old favourites Barberian and Marvel Guitars to the new Sew Crafty, then it's Stockport Pyramid, synonymous for its Crystal Methodist, and now the huge Royal Nawaab Indian restaurant.

Beyond strange graffiti 'Abolish the Parasite Class' and Tudno Mill and Ashton Old Baths brings us to Mossley and the old Highland Laddie pub, now apartments, next to the football ground. £6 admission and the crowd is 106 including a fair few Daisy Hill Ultras.

Seel Park 'Cream of the Pennines' is in the Bottoms area of the town, and inside hosts a blue plaque commemorating Mossley AFC. To the left is the small James Anderson main stand with the Bob Murphy Suite and bar with balcony.

The Park End is a covered terrace and there is another part covered terrace on the far side, framed by panoramic hill views. The top end is a raised terrace with a tractorway to the pitch in the corner.

The image is of a ground chiseled into the hillside, an undulating pitch and some quite glorious views. 

Uppermill are in all blue and Daisy Hill, managed by Nicky Hunt, are in change all red. Another warm, dry day but at least the pitch is in a good state, compared to last week's dust bowl.

However the first half is execrable. Indeed it takes 37 minutes before any notable action - the Daisies' Gerald-Junior McCallion is played through and forces a good save from Blues' keeper Thomas Moule. The rebound from Jenalil Blake is cleared off the line.

Uppermill respond five minutes later and Michael Sholabi's rasping drive is diverted wide by Cutters' goalie Jonathan Hughes. From the ensuing corner home skipper Tommy Lent grabs the final touch in a penalty box mess and the Blues lead 1-0 at the break.

The second period is marginally better as Daisy Hill start stronger. Hubert Nowacki curls just wide on 52 and William Shallcross hits the outside of the post three minutes later.

Mill respond and Samuel Parr heads wide from a free kick at the midway point. But some atrocious defending on 71 minutes allows Nowacki to reclaim the ball and shoot across goal with the ball ending up 2 yards out in front of an open goal - James Salkeld cannot miss and we're level at 1-1.

Nothing much else transpires and that leaves penalties - easily the most exciting part of today's game. Uppermill triumph 4-3, Moule saving two spot kicks, Hughes only the one.

Assuaredly - Meadow Men Leave Foley With Meir Consolation...

And so to Crown Meadow on Innage Lane in Bridgnorth for a North West Counties Division One South curtain raiser between AFC Bridgnorth and Foley Meir FC.

Bridgnorth Town existed in the 19th century playing in the Shropshire & District League in 1899. A new club was formed in 1938 joining the Worcestershire Combination for one season only. 

The team was refounded again in 1968 and the Meadow Men won the Midland Combination in 1980 and again in 1983. Town was promoted to the Southern League Midland in 1983 but folded due to financial problems in 2013. 

A fourth iteration in the form of new club AFC Bridgnorth was established in the same year and the club badge depicts the iconic Town Hall. West Midlands Division One champions in their first season, moving to the Premier, then on to the Midland League in 2021 - finishing 10th last time and laterally moving to the NWCFL One South this season.

The visitors hail from the McIntosh Arena, or Trentham Foods Stadium, on Whitcombe Road in Meir, Stoke on Trent. 

Foley Football Club was founded in 1947 by a group of friends and ex-servicemen from the now forgotten Foley district of East Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent.

A replica of Arsenal's strip was purchased from the late Les Evans, later club president, who had a shop in King Street, Longton and the club, based next to the Foley Arms, playing at 'The Open Holes', joined Longton League Division 2. Foley moved to their current ground on Whitcombe Road in Meir in 1982.

In 1996 the club joined Midland League Division Two, winning the league at the first attempt. In 2005, following the Midland League's merger with the Staffordshire County League, the club became a founder member of the Staffordshire County Senior League. 

The Foley changed name to Foley Meir - the former Midland Combination Meir KA (Kings Arms) becoming defunct in 2010. The team won the championship in 2020/21, and placed 4th the season after, earning promotion to the North West Counties Football League Division One South. Immediate relegation followed but Meir rejoined the North West Counties in third position in 2024 and finished 11th last time.

Numberplates today are C1UFC - the official Carlisle United team bus - and AG61 USA, plus a van emblazoned with Franking Sense. We then pass J3NGR graffiti on the M6 before heading to Stoke on Trent... and oatcakes 😊

A detour follows via Monkey Jungle and Ashtag Barbers in Stone. Then over the River Sow and past Buttercups and Daisies in Eccleshall and through Chetwynd Aston and Woodcote.

Over the River Severn brings us to Bridgnorth. The town is home to the Severn Valley Railway (with the Railwayman's Arms), the Cliff Railway, Lavington's Hole and Bridgnorth Castle & Gardens.

£7 in and North are in blue with white trim, Foley Meir in change yellow and grey. Curiously some away shirts display a poppy, and others don't... The crowd today is 135 with limited away support.

Inside, past the bar and changing rooms, is the Sameday Freight Stand, a covered terrace complete with a pair of stocks. The main seated stand abuts Crown Meadow Park and Playing Fields - the other two sides are walkways with benches with residential housing behind.

    

On another hot, sunny day the match commences on a parched pitch. The first half is epitomised by a Pug escaping its owner and doing its business on the touchline - fortunately its owner cleans up 🙄

And there's a strange minute's silence - surely not for Franco Baresi 🤔 But there are a glut of chances for the Meadow Men just before the hydration break - Kobi Love and Sam Preece forcing good saves from away custodian Monty Parkes and Craig Tuckey shooting just wide.

The sole Foley effort is a swerving shot narrowly beyond the goal on 34 minutes by captain Harry Livingston. Five minutes on North's number 9 Suar Dedja heads wastefully over from a free kick.

But the deadlock is broken bang on half time. A messy corner sees the ball in the net, Preece claiming the credit but to the rest of us it looks like a Parkes' own goal; Bridgo lead 1-0 at the break.

The second period starts quietly but on 59 Meir substitute Archie Ellams turns and fires in an equaliser, the ball squirming through home keeper Craig Pain's hands. Dedja misses badly for the Meadow Men ten minutes later.

And so when we are all expecting an undeserved draw for Foley, matters change with six minutes left. North's left back De Quarnai Williams hits a beautiful curling shot that smacks the frame of the goal and Dedja is deadly with the rebound.

Sixty seconds on Love sees Parkes save and again Dedja poaches the rebound. And there we have it, despite 8 minutes of stoppage time, as Bridgnorth triumph 3-1.