Bilston Town F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | Bilston Town Community Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Steelmen | ||
| Founded | 1894 | ||
| Ground | Queen Street Stadium, Bilston | ||
| Chairman | Denise Frankham | ||
| Manager | Dave King | ||
| League | West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division | ||
| 2018–19 | West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division, 13th of 20 | ||
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Bilston Town Community Football Club is a football team from Bilston, England. They are often called "The Steelmen." The club has had a few different names over the years, like Bilston United and Bilston Borough. They currently play at Queen Street in Bilston.
Contents
Club History: The Steelmen's Journey
Bilston Town Community Football Club has a long and interesting history. They have played in many different leagues and won several trophies.
Early Years and First Wins (1894-1920s)
The club started in 1894. It was formed when two local teams, Bilston Rovers and Bilston Wanderers, joined together. They were first known as Bilston United. In their very first year, they joined the Walsall & District Junior League. They quickly became successful, winning the league title in 1895–96. They won it again in 1900–01 and 1901–02. In 1907, the club moved up to a bigger league, the Birmingham Combination. They finished second in their first season there.
Changes and New Leagues (1920s-1950s)
Bilston left the Birmingham Combination in 1921. They then joined the Birmingham & District League. In 1922–23, they were runners-up to Shrewsbury Town. After a few years, they left this league and went back to the Walsall & District League. At this time, they changed their name to Bilston Borough. They won the Walsall & District League title twice more in the 1930s.
The club stopped playing in 1939 because of World War II. They started up again in 1946, now simply called Bilston. They rejoined the Walsall Senior League and won it in 1947–48. Then, they went back to the Birmingham Combination in 1948. In 1954, this league joined with the Birmingham & District League. Bilston was placed in the Northern Division.
Success and FA Cup Adventures (1950s-1980s)
Bilston won the Division Two title in 1956–57, which got them promoted. The league became a single division in 1960, and Bilston won the championship in 1960–61. In 1962, the league was renamed the West Midlands (Regional) League.
A big moment came in 1968–69 when the club reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time. They lost to Halifax Town. Even better, in 1972–73, Bilston reached the second round of the FA Cup! They beat Barnstaple Town but then lost to Barnet. That same season, they also won the Premier Division title and the Premier Division Cup.
Modern Era and Community Focus (1980s-Today)
In 1983, the club changed its name to Bilston Town. They were runners-up in the Premier Division in 1984–85. This earned them a promotion to the Southern Football League. They played in this league until 2002. Then, they decided to move back to the West Midlands Regional League.
In 2007, the club faced some challenges and had to reform as Bilston Town (2007). They were placed in Division Two of the West Midlands Regional League. They quickly moved up, getting promoted to Division One in 2007–08 and then to the Premier Division in 2012–13. In July 2017, the club received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. This award is a big honor for volunteer groups in the UK.
After the 2020–21 season, Bilston moved to Division One of the Midland Football League. They continue to play there today.
The Queen Street Stadium: Home of The Steelmen
Bilston Town Community FC plays its home games at Queen Street Stadium. It's been their home for a long time.
Stadium History and Features
Before 1919, the club played at a place called Prouds Lane. They moved to Queen Street in 1919. The first game at the new stadium was an FA Cup match against Tamworth Castle, which Bilston won 1–0.
In 1953, floodlights were added to the stadium. The first game played under the new lights was a friendly match against Wolverhampton Wanderers. A record 8,000 fans came to watch that game! The record attendance for a competitive game was 4,300. This happened in 1968–69 for an FA Cup match against Halifax Town.
Challenges and Reopening
Sadly, the stadium had to close in 2007. This was because of many attacks by vandals. The ground was considered unsafe. For a short time, the club had to play on an open field at Bantock Park.
However, in 2008, plans were made to fix up and reopen the stadium. The work was finished in time for the 2008–09 season. The club signed a 99-year lease, meaning they can play there for a very long time.
Other Teams at Queen Street
Queen Street Stadium has also been used by other football clubs. These include Bustleholme, Dudley Town, Wolverhampton Wanderers Reserves, Wolverhampton Wanderers Women, and Willenhall Town.
Club Honours: Trophies and Achievements
Bilston Town Community FC has won many trophies throughout its history. Here are some of their main achievements:
- West Midlands (Regional) League
- Champions: 1960–61, 1972–73
- Division Two champions: 1956–57
- Premier Division League Cup winners: 1972–73
- Division One League Cup winners: 2003–04
- Walsall & District League
- Champions: 1895–96, 1900–01, 1901–02, 1932–33, 1935–36, 1947–48
- Staffordshire Senior Cup
- Winners: 1957–58, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1997–98
- Staffordshire Junior Cup
- Winners: 1905–06
- Staffordshire FA Challenge Cup
- Winners: 1921–22, 2002–03
- Walsall Senior Cup
- Winners: 1968–69, 1971–72, 1972–73
- Bilston Charity Cup
- Winners: 1900–01, 1913–14
- Birmingham Junior Cup
- Winners: 1895–96
- John Martin Trophy
- Winners: 2009–10 (joint), 2010–11, 2013–14 (joint)
- Rugeley Charity Cup
- Winners: 1966–67
- Smedley Crooke Memorial Charity Cup
- Winners: 2017–18
- Staffordshire Junior Cup
- Winners: 1900–01
- Walsall Charity Cup
- Winners: 1901–02
- Walsall Hospital Cup
- Winners: 1900–01, 1901–02
- Walsall Junior/Challenge Cup
- Winners: 1900–01, 1905–06, 1932–34 (shared), 1934–35, 1935–36, 1946–47, 1947–48, 1948–49
- Wednesbury Charity Cup
- Winners: 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85
- Willenhall Nursing Institute Cup
- Winners: 1908–09
- Wolverhampton Charity Cup
- Winners: 1895–96, 1899–1900, 1900–01, 1903–04
Club Records: Facts and Figures
Here are some interesting records for Bilston Town Community FC:
- Best FA Cup performance: Second round, 1972–73
- Best FA Trophy performance: Fourth round, 2000–01
- Best FA Vase performance: Quarter-finals, 1992–93
- Biggest win: 12–0 vs Norton Wood, 15 February 1936
- Heaviest defeat: 19–1 vs Worcester City, 21 November 1931
- Record attendance: 8,000 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers, friendly match, 10 March 1953
See also
- Bilston Town F.C. players
- Bilston Town F.C. managers
