And so to the Brinsford Stadium on Brinsford Lane in Coven Heath, near Wolverhampton, for a North West Counties Division One South match between Wolverhampton Casuals FC and Cammell Laird 1907 F.C.
Wolverhampton Casuals FC was established in 1899 as Wolverhampton Old Church FC, becoming Wolverhampton Amateurs before World War One. The club changed name again to Staffordshire Casuals, as part of a merger with Old Wulfrunians after World War Two.
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 last term, in bottom place, means they start this season in North West Counties Division One South, after a failed appeal to stay in the Capelli Sport Midland Football League. Four points from five games leaves the Casuals in 13th (of 19).
Cammell Laird's, 'The Camels', history dates back to 1899 when a team from the Upper Boilers shop at Laird Bros played in Birkenhead Park, before switching to rugby. Cammell Laird Institute AFC was established in 1907, playing in the West Cheshire League at Prenton Park in Tranmere.
After World War I the Cammell Laird company faced cutbacks due to reduced government spending on ships and the football team was taken back in house. In 1922 a team was entered into the Birkenhead & Wirral League under the name of Kirklands FC coinciding with the move to their current ground at St Peter's Road, now rebranded as The OWS Engineering Ltd Stadium in Rock Ferry, from two previous homes - Birkenhead Park and Bebington Oval.
The side was disbanded at the outbreak of World War II and reformed in 1946 as Cammell Laird AFC. The Lairds rejoined the Birkenhead & Wirral League before moving up to the West Cheshire League, where they were 19 time champions, including 15 titles in 20 seasons between 1975 and 1994.
The Shipyarders joined the North West Counties in 2004 and back to back promotions took them to the Northern Premier League Division One North. A sideways move to Division One South a season later brought promotion to the Premier Division as runners up, but the Camels were relegated at the end of their first campaign after failing ground grading criteria.
The club disbanded at the end of the 2013/14 season, and a new club, Cammell Laird 1907 F.C. went into the North West Counties Division One, earning automatic promotion at the first attempt. However the 2017 season produced only three league wins, all after relegation was confirmed, and a bottom placing with a goal difference of -100...... and the Lairds still remain in the bottom rung of the NWCFL - Division One South, consistently finishing below middle, epitomised by last season's 10th place finish (out of 18) after a good start 🤔. This time Laird have an identical record to the Cassies - four points from five matches - but sit 16th by virtue of goal difference. Both sides exited the FA Vase last weekend.
Overrunning roadworks, no surprise there, preface numberplates B16 AXE, 6OYA and N1NYT. I reach Roughley's Monumental Stonemasons before hitting the M6.
Then it's JENGR Bridge graffiti and a raft of advertising billboards - Cloudy2Clear Windows, Nitrous Competitions, BadRhino and Spooktacular Halloween. This amidst a proliferation of England and Union Jack flags plus an ancient vaudeville Crosville coach....
We leave the M6 at junction 12 and join Watling Street. There's Elefant Gratings and Laserkut at Calf Heath before the now sadly shuttered Four Ashes pub.
Then Jurassic Creek, 3 Hammers Golf Complex and a sign for Moseley Old Hall... That brings us to Brinsford Stadium, also home to Brewood Juniors FC (1975).
We pay £6 admission and drive the car into a capacious parking area - no problem today with a crowd of only 45. Beyond the car park lie an abandoned caravan and two forlorn lorry trailers...
The ground itself is tree-lined and thrums from the adjacent A449 and West Coast Main Line. Inside is a warm up pitch and on the near side a burger van, clubhouse, The Cass Bar and trophy cabinet plus a covered 4 row benched stand - much needed in the sheeting rain and stiff wind...
Opposite are the dugouts and in the corner is a small covered standing area. The rest of the 'Stadium' consists of a walkway and inaccessibility...
Cassies are in all green, sponsored by Vogue Ceramics. The Camels are in a horrific psychedelic away strip of grey, yellow and blue, sponsored by CB Accounting.
The match is delayed whilst dog mess is removed from the pitch. Cassies start well and on 9 minutes Owen Hesketh's free kick is tipped onto the bar by Ben Cadman; the resultant corner is headed wide.
Another chance arrives on 18 but Josh Simcox's shot is deflected wide. Then the Shipyarders berth - captain Joe Downey hits the bar on the half hour and Haydn Cooper sees his shot pushed aside by Chad Oseland.
No matter as a Camels' shot on 34 is palmed onto the bar by Oseland and Daniel Stephens mops up to put the Lairds 1-0 up. Half time arrives with the visitors still leading by the only goal.
On 53 minutes Cadman saves with his feet from a rare Wolves' attack, but normal service is resumed as Camels' Ben Wood sidefoots wide. Cassies' Kyri Kourouyianni has his header saved just after the hour.
Then on 69 minutes the game is wrapped up. Joel Whalley scores the second goal for the Shipyarders, curling into the corner, after a sublime dummy by Wood.
The Casuals hit the bar again with a quarter of an hour left, and the Camels respond with sub Thomas Davies clipping the post three minutes later. But ultimately it turns out to be a routine 2-0 away victory which pushes Cammell up to 11th and leaves Wolves 15th 😀
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