Walsall F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | Walsall Football Club | |||
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| Nickname(s) | The Saddlers | |||
| Founded | 1888 (as Walsall Town Swifts) |
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| Ground | Poundland Bescot Stadium | |||
| Capacity | 11,300 | |||
| Owner | Trivela Group | |||
| Chairman | Benjamin Boycott & Leigh Pomlett (co-chairmen) |
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| Head Coach | Mat Sadler | |||
| League | League Two | |||
| 2018–19 | League One, 22nd of 24 (relegated) | |||
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Walsall Football Club is a professional association football team. They are based in the town of Walsall, in the West Midlands, England. The team plays in League Two, which is the fourth level of English football.
The club's nickname is "The Saddlers". This name comes from Walsall's history as a place famous for making saddles. Walsall moved to their current home, the Bescot Stadium, in 1990. Before that, they played at Fellows Park for almost 100 years. The team wears red and white kits. Their club badge shows a swift bird. Walsall has rivalries with nearby teams like Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion. They also have regular rivalries with Shrewsbury Town and Port Vale.
The club started in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts. This was when two local teams, Walsall Town and Walsall Swifts, joined together. They were invited to help create the Football League Second Division in 1892. After some ups and downs, they became a founding member of the Football League Third Division North in 1921. Walsall won the Fourth Division title in 1959–60. They also got promoted from the Third Division the next season. In 2006, they were back in the fourth tier. But they quickly won the League Two title in 2006–07.
Walsall played at Wembley Stadium for the first time in 2015. This was for the 2015 Football League Trophy Final, but they lost to Bristol City. In 2016, they almost got promoted to the Championship. They missed out by just one point. They then lost in the play-off semi-final against Barnsley. In 2019, Walsall was relegated from League One after 11 years.
Contents
Club History: How Walsall FC Began
Starting Out: The Early Years (1888–1939)
Walsall Football Club was formed in 1888. It happened when two teams, Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C., merged. Walsall Town started in 1874. Walsall Swifts began in 1875. Both teams played at a ground called the Chuckery. The new club, Walsall Town Swifts, continued to play there.
Their first match was a 0–0 draw against Aston Villa. This was in the Birmingham Charity Cup final in April 1888. They couldn't agree on where to play the replay. So, Aston Villa was given the trophy.
Later that year, Walsall Town Swifts played friendly games. They faced two teams that helped start the Football League. They beat a strong Burnley team 1–0. They also drew 2–2 with West Bromwich Albion. This game was watched by 7,000 fans at the Chuckery. Walsall's first league game was a 2–2 draw at home. This was against Crewe Alexandra in September 1888. They finished 3rd in that league season.
The club joined the Football League in 1892. They were one of the first teams in the new Second Division. In 1893, they moved to the West Bromwich Road ground. This was because local people complained about games at the Chuckery. After finishing 14th in 1894–95, they were not re-elected to the Football League. In 1895, the club moved grounds again. This time it was to Fellows Park. This stadium was their home for over 100 years.
In 1896, the club changed its name back to just Walsall F.C.. They joined the Midland League. A year later, they returned to the Second Division. In 1898–99, the team finished 6th. This is still their highest ever league finish. But two years later, they were not re-elected again. They dropped back into the Midland League.
They moved to the Birmingham League in 1903. In 1910, they joined the Southern League. After World War I, the Football League grew. Walsall became a founding member of the Third Division North in 1921. They have been a Football League team ever since.
Walsall's biggest "home" crowd was in 1930. They played in front of 74,646 fans. This was a 3–1 loss to Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round. Even though it was Walsall's home game, it was played at Villa Park. This was to let as many people as possible watch the local match. It was a record crowd for Villa Park at the time.
From 1921 until World War II, Walsall's success was limited. They finished 3rd in 1922–23. They were 5th in 1932–33 and 4th in 1933–34. These were their closest chances for promotion. A great player named Gilbert Alsop helped the team in the early 1930s. He scored an amazing 169 goals between 1931 and 1935.
Alsop also helped Walsall achieve their best ever FA Cup result. He scored the first goal in a 2–0 home win against Arsenal in 1933. Arsenal was considered the best team in the country then. They won the First Division that season and the next two. So, this cup defeat to a Third Division North team like Walsall is still one of the biggest upsets in FA Cup history.
In the next season, 1934–35, Walsall reached their first senior final. This was in the Third Division North Cup. But "The Saddlers" lost 2–0 to Stockport County at Maine Road.
Post-War Era: First League Title (1945–1980)
The 1945–46 season was the last for local wartime competitions. From January to May 1946, the Third Division South Cup was played. This was before full league football returned. Walsall reached the final to play Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic. The game was at Stamford Bridge. But like in 1935, they lost 2–0.
After the war, many clubs saw more fans attending games. Walsall was one of them. In the 1947–48 season, many fans came to Fellows Park. One game against Notts County had 20,383 people. The club had its highest average league attendance of 15,711. In the same season, Walsall finished 3rd. But they again missed out on promotion to the Second Division.
The early 1950s were tough for Walsall. The club faced the re-election process for four years in a row. They finished last in the league in 1951–52, 1952–53, and 1953–54. They only improved to second-to-last in 1954–55. However, the club managed to stay in the Football League. This was mainly because many fans still came to Fellows Park. This showed there was a strong desire for League football in Walsall.
In 1958, the Football League was reorganized. Walsall became one of the first teams in the Fourth Division. This means they were founding members of the Second, Third, and Fourth tiers. Under manager Bill Moore, the club won two promotions in a row. They scored 102 goals and won the Fourth Division title in 1959–60. They then finished as Third Division runners-up in 1960–61. The league title in 1960 was the club's first in its 72-year history.
In their first season back in the second tier since the early 1900s, they finished 14th. This was a post-war record. In this season, the club also had its record attendance. A crowd of 25,453 packed into Fellows Park. They watched "The Saddlers" beat Newcastle United 1–0 in August 1961. But after only two seasons in the Second Division, the club was relegated back to the Third Division in 1962–63. A sad loss to Charlton Athletic in a replayed final game sealed Walsall's relegation.
One of Walsall's best players, Allan Clarke, started playing regularly in the 1964–65 season. He was only 18. He scored 23 league goals in 1964–65. He scored another 23 goals in all games in 1965–66. He was sold to First Division team Fulham for £37,500 in March 1966. This was a club record fee then. He went on to play 19 times for England. He also won a league title with Leeds United.
The 1970–71 season saw the first league game between Walsall and their first opponents, Aston Villa. The two clubs met in the Third Division. Walsall won the home game 3–0. Geoff Morris scored two goals. Colin Taylor scored a penalty. The away game at Villa Park later that season ended 0–0.
Ken Wheldon, a local businessman, took over the club in 1972. This brought hope for a better future. The next few years were mixed. But there were some good cup results. Also, Alan Buckley became a key player. He joined the club in 1973. He became a great goalscorer for the club. Walsall stayed in the Third Division until they were relegated again to the Fourth Division in 1978–79.
Buckley became player-manager to help rebuild the team in the fourth tier. "The Saddlers" rose again. They secured an immediate promotion. In 1979–80, Walsall went 21 games without losing. This is a record that still stands today. This period started an era of exciting football in Walsall. Under Buckley, the team slowly became strong contenders for promotion in the Third Division.
New Stadium and League Cup Excitement (1980–1995)
While Walsall was getting stronger in the Third Division in the early 1980s, problems off the field became important. The club's home, Fellows Park, was falling apart. In 1982, owner Ken Wheldon announced plans to share Molineux with Wolverhampton Wanderers. Walsall fans quickly protested this idea. The "Save Walsall Action Group" was formed. The move never happened.
The 1983–84 League Cup campaign was one of Walsall's best moments. They beat Blackpool, Barnsley, and local rivals Shrewsbury Town. Then, they defeated First Division club Arsenal 2–1 in the fourth round at Highbury. A 4–2 win over Rotherham United in the quarter-final meant "The Saddlers" reached the semi-final. They faced the current champions, Liverpool. An amazing 2–2 draw at Anfield in the first game made Walsall dream of a cup final. But they lost the second game 2–0 at Fellows Park. Walsall lost the tie 4–2 overall.
By 1986, new plans were announced to share a stadium with another local rival. This time it was at Birmingham City's St Andrew's ground. The "Save Walsall Action Group" protested again. After peaceful protests and support from local newspapers, the Football League stopped the move. Walsall was then bought by millionaire Terry Ramsden. With his money came famous player signings and national media attention. In 1986–87, under new manager Tommy Coakley, Walsall almost reached the play-offs. They also did very well in the FA Cup. They beat First Division teams Charlton Athletic and Birmingham City. They also took Watford to two replays in the fifth round.
Walsall finally got promoted to the Second Division for the first time since 1963. They won the Third Division play-offs in 1988. They beat Bristol City 4–0 in a replayed final at Fellows Park. David Kelly scored three goals. However, the 1988–89 season saw the club immediately relegated from the Second Division. Ramsden's business empire also collapsed. Walsall was very close to going out of business. But they survived again, thanks to their supporters and local business people. A second relegation in a row happened at the end of 1989–90. Walsall was back in the Fourth Division.
The club moved to the Bescot Stadium in 1990. At that time, it was a very modern stadium. It was only the second new Football League ground built since the 1950s. Moving to Bescot Stadium brought some stability back to the club. Jeff Bonser took over the club in 1991. Kenny Hibbitt managed the club for four years. He set the stage for a great era for the club. New manager Chris Nicholl led the club to promotion back to the third tier. This was in his first season. They won four straight games in April. Walsall needed just one point from their last game against Bury to get promoted. They drew 0–0, and the fans celebrated.
Ups and Downs: Modern Era (1995–Present)
Two stable seasons followed in Division Two. Then, Nicholl resigned. Jan Sørensen took over. He led the club to the fourth round of both the League Cup and FA Cup in 1997–98. Both runs ended away to Premier League teams. West Ham United won 4–1 in the League Cup. A big game at Manchester United ended in a 5–1 loss in the FA Cup. Despite cup success, a poor league finish ended Sørensen's time at Walsall.
In 1998–99, Ray Graydon became manager. He led the club to second place in Division Two. They beat Manchester City to get automatic promotion. After this unexpected promotion to the second tier, Walsall found it hard. They fought until the last day of the season. But relegation was confirmed. A 2–0 loss at Ipswich meant Walsall returned to the third tier. This was despite winning derby games against Wolves, Birmingham, and West Bromwich Albion earlier that season. "The Saddlers" returned to the second tier of English football right away. They beat Reading 3–2 after extra time. This was in an exciting play-off final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
Graydon was fired in January 2002 after a 2–0 loss to local rivals West Brom. Colin Lee took over. He kept the team in the second tier for the first time since the early 1960s. The 2002–03 season saw Walsall avoid relegation again. However, the 2003–04 season ended in relegation. This was despite a great start that had the club near the play-offs by New Year. A drop in form led to Lee being sacked in April. Star player Paul Merson was appointed manager. But this did not stop the slide. Walsall was relegated by just one goal. This was despite a 3–2 win over Rotherham United on the last day. A record crowd of 11,049 watched at Bescot Stadium.
Despite relegation and no past managing experience, Merson became full-time manager in May 2004. A poor season in League One almost led to another relegation. The 2005–06 season was very bad for Walsall and Merson. After more and more pressure from fans due to bad results, Merson's time as manager ended in February 2006. This followed a 5–0 loss at Brentford. But it was too late. Walsall was relegated on April 22, 2006, after losing 3–1 to Huddersfield Town.
Richard Money was given the job of improving the club's fortunes in League Two. They had a great start to the season. Walsall stayed in the top three for almost the whole season. They were promoted back to League One after beating Notts County 2–1 away. On the last day of the season, Walsall drew 1–1 at Swindon Town. Dean Keates scored a last-minute goal. This secured the League Two title for Walsall.
Walsall's good form continued into the new season. The club played strongly in 2007–08. They went 17 league games without losing. Two promotions in a row seemed possible. But in January 2008, important players Danny Fox and Scott Dann were sold to Coventry City. This caused a drop in form. The club's promotion challenge ended after bad results in March. Richard Money resigned as manager in April.
The next seven seasons in League One were mostly stable. They were usually in the middle of the table. But they did have some close calls with relegation. In the 2010–11 season, the club was in the relegation zone from October to March. But they survived thanks to better form after Dean Smith became manager in January 2011. Walsall had been ten points from safety. Even with only 48 points, they avoided relegation by one point.
The 2014–15 season was special for the club. They reached a Wembley final for the first time in their 127-year history. Walsall beat Rochdale, Tranmere Rovers, Sheffield United, and Preston North End. This led them to the Football League Trophy final. They lost 2–0 to Bristol City on March 22, 2015. "The Saddlers" had over 29,000 fans supporting them in a crowd of 72,315 at the national stadium.
Walsall started the 2015–16 season well. This led to interest in manager Dean Smith. At the end of November, "The Saddlers" were fourth in the table. Smith left Walsall for Brentford. At that time, he was the fourth longest-serving manager in the Football League. Walsall chose Sean O'Driscoll to replace Smith. However, after six games without a win and only 16 games in charge, O'Driscoll was sacked. John Whitney replaced him. Walsall missed promotion by just one point. They lost in the play-off semi-finals to Barnsley.
After losing many of their promotion-challenging players, Walsall struggled for the next three seasons in League One. After a very bad time under former player Dean Keates, Walsall was relegated back to the fourth tier at the end of the 2018–19 season. After relegation, a new era began. Darrell Clarke became manager. Jeff Bonser ended his 28-year time as owner and chairman. He sold his shares to Leigh Pomlett in July 2019. Walsall did not challenge for promotion in League Two in the 2019–20 or 2020–21 seasons. They finished 13th and 19th. Clarke left for Port Vale halfway through the latter season.
Before the 2021–22 season, Matthew Taylor was appointed new head coach. Neil McDonald was his assistant. But after seven losses in a row, Taylor was sacked in February 2022. The club was in 21st place. Michael Flynn replaced him. Flynn saved the club from relegation. They finished 16th. On June 6, 2022, the club announced that Trivela Group LLC, an American sports investment firm, bought most of the shares. They became 51% majority shareholders. In April 2023, Flynn was sacked after a mixed second half of the season. The club again finished 16th.
Club Rivals: Who Walsall Plays Against
A 2013 survey showed that Walsall fans see their Black Country neighbours Wolverhampton Wanderers as their main rivals. But games between these teams are not very common. Wolves have spent most of their history in the top two divisions. Only 16 competitive games have been played between Walsall and Wolves. The last one was in 2014. Games with the other Black Country club, West Bromwich Albion, are also rare. "The Saddlers" and "The Baggies" have played only 14 times. However, they played many times during wartime regional leagues. A match between any two of these three clubs is called a Black Country derby.
Walsall has more regular rivalries with Shrewsbury Town and Port Vale. These are often "The Saddlers'" closest league games. Walsall has a better record against Shrewsbury and Port Vale. They have won many more games than they have lost.
Home Grounds: Where Walsall Has Played
The Chuckery: Walsall's First Home
This was a sports ground with many uses. It was near the Walsall Arboretum. It had about 12 football pitches and four good cricket areas. It was the first home ground for Walsall F.C. from 1875 until 1893.
West Bromwich Road: A Lucky Ground
The new ground on West Bromwich Road could hold just over 4,500 people. It was a lucky place for "The Saddlers" between 1893 and 1896.
Fellows Park: Home for a Century
Fellows Park was a football stadium in Walsall, England. It was the home ground of Walsall F.C. from 1896 until 1990. The team then moved to the Bescot Stadium.
Bescot Stadium: The Current Home
Bescot Stadium is the current home of Walsall Football Club. It is also known as the Poundland Bescot Stadium for sponsorship reasons. It was built in 1989–90. It cost £4.5 million. It replaced the club's old ground, Fellows Park, which was nearby. Sir Stanley Matthews opened the stadium.
When Jeff Bonser left his role at the club, Leigh Pomlett agreed to help Walsall own their stadium again. On December 16, 2022, the club officially bought Poundland Bescot Stadium. They now own the stadium, the Saddlers Club, and the land next to it. On January 27, 2024, the Supporters Club, once called the Saddlers Club, reopened as a sports bar named The Locker.
Team Players: Who Plays for Walsall
Current Squad
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Players Out on Loan
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Youth and Reserve Teams
Club Management and Staff
First Team Staff
Academy Staff
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Medical Team
Club Directors
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Information correct as of 30 August 2024.
Famous Players and Managers
Players of the Year: Fan Favorites
These players were voted best by Walsall supporters each season. Current players are in bold.
- 19??–??
Tony Richards - 1968–69 Bob Wesson
- 1970–71 Bob Wesson
- 1971–72 Colin Harrison
- 1973–74 Alan Buckley
- 1975–76 Alan Buckley
- 1980–81 Colin Harrison
- 1981–82 Peter Hart
- 1994–95
Kevin Wilson - 1995–96 Adi Viveash
- 1996–97 Adi Viveash
- 1997–98
Jeff Peron - 1998–99 Jimmy Walker
- 1999–2000
Gino Padula - 2000–01
Jorge Leitão - 2001–02 Jimmy Walker
- 2002–03 Ian Roper
- 2003–04
Paul Ritchie - 2004–05 Matty Fryatt
- 2005–06
Anthony Gerrard - 2006–07 Dean Keates
- 2007–08 Anthony Gerrard
- 2008–09
Clayton Ince - 2009–10 Troy Deeney
- 2010–11 Andy Butler
- 2011–12 Andy Butler
- 2012–13 Will Grigg
- 2013–14 Sam Mantom
- 2014–15 Richard O'Donnell
- 2015–16 Adam Chambers
- 2016–17 Jason McCarthy
- 2017–18 Joe Edwards
- 2018–19 Andy Cook
- 2019–20 Josh Gordon
- 2020–21 Liam Kinsella
- 2021–22 Liam Kinsella
- 2022–23
Donervon Daniels - 2023–24 Isaac Hutchinson
Top Goalscorers: Who Scored the Most Goals
This list includes only league goals. Current players are in bold.
- 1994–95
Kyle Lightbourne (23) - 1995–96 Kyle Lightbourne (15)
- 1995–96 Kevin Wilson (15)
- 1996–97 Kyle Lightbourne (20)
- 1997–98 Roger Boli (12)
- 1998–99 Andy Rammell (18)
- 1999–2000 Michael Ricketts (11)
- 2000–01 Jorge Leitão (18)
- 2001–02 Jorge Leitão (8)
- 2002–03
Júnior (15) - 2003–04 Jorge Leitão (7)
- 2004–05 Matty Fryatt (15)
- 2005–06 Matty Fryatt (11)
- 2006–07 Dean Keates (13)
- 2007–08 Tommy Mooney (11)
- 2008–09 Michael Ricketts (12)
- 2009–10 Troy Deeney (14)
- 2010–11 Julian Gray (10)
- 2011–12 Alex Nicholls (7)
- 2011–12 Jon Macken (7)
- 2012–13 Will Grigg (19)
- 2013–14 Craig Westcarr (14)
- 2014–15
Tom Bradshaw (17) - 2015–16 Tom Bradshaw (17)
- 2016–17 Erhun Oztumer (15)
- 2017–18 Erhun Oztumer (15)
- 2018–19 Andy Cook (13)
- 2019–20 Josh Gordon (9)
- 2020–21 Elijah Adebayo (10)
- 2021–22 George Miller (12)
- 2022–23 Danny Johnson (12)
- 2023–24 Isaac Hutchinson (12)
International Saddlers: Players Who Played for Their Country
This is a list of players who played for their national team while at Walsall. Current players are in bold.
- Alf Jones (2) 1882
- Albert Aldridge (1) 1889
- Caesar Jenkyns (2) 1898
Jack Taggart (1) 1899- Mick O'Brien (1) 1929
- Roy John (1) 1931
- Dick Griffiths (1) 1934
- Mick Kearns (15) 1973–79
- Miah Dennehy (2) 1975–77
- David Kelly (3) 1987–88
- Kyle Lightbourne (?) 1993–97
John Keister (3) 1999–00
Paul Hall (5) 2000–01
Gábor Bukrán (1) 2000- Fitzroy Simpson (10) 2001–03
Danny Hay (4) 2002–03- Jamie Lawrence (6) 2003
- Carl Robinson (1) 2003
- Chris Baird (1) 2003
- Paul Ritchie (1) 2004
- Clayton Ince (15) 2008–09
- Will Grigg (1) 2012
Romaine Sawyers (15) 2014–16
Neil Etheridge (9) 2015–17
Jason Demetriou (5) 2015–16- Tom Bradshaw (1) 2016
- Andreas Makris (7) 2016–17
Simeon Jackson (2) 2016–17
Maziar Kouhyar (6) 2017–19
Liam Gordon (15) 2023–- Brandon Comley (4) 2023–
- Donervon Daniels (6) 2023–
- Cayden Bennett (1) 2024–
Players with Many Games Played
This list includes all competitive games. Current players are in bold.
- Jimmy Walker (535) 1993–04, 2010–13
- Colin Harrison (527) 1964–82
- Colin Taylor (504) 1958–63, 1964–68, 1969–73
- Nick Atthey (503) 1963–77
- Kenny Mower (493) 1978–91
- Alan Buckley (482) 1973–85
- Chris Marsh (481) 1987–01
- Peter Hart (476) 1980–90
- Brian Caswell (459) 1972–85
- Frank Gregg (445) 1960–73
- Stan Bennett (438) 1963–75
- Darren Wrack (384) 1998–08
- Sammy Holmes (381) 1888–02
- Ian Roper (380) 1995–08
- Albert McPherson (367) 1954–64
- Craig Shakespeare (355) 1981–89
- Tony Richards (355) 1954–63
- Ken Hodgkisson (352) 1955–66
- Billy Bradford (352) 1926–38
Charlie Ntamark (338) 1990–97- Adam Chambers (331) 2011–19
- Mick Kearns (322) 1973–79, 1982–85
- Dave Serella (304) 1974–82
Players with Many Goals Scored
This list includes all competitive goals. Current players are in bold.
- Alan Buckley (202) 1973–85
- Tony Richards (197) 1954–63
- Colin Taylor (189) 1958–63, 1964–68, 1969–73
- Gilbert Alsop (171) 1931–35, 1938–47
- Sammy Holmes (108) 1888–02
- Kyle Lightbourne (85) 1993–97
- David Kelly (80) 1983–88
- Jorge Leitão (71) 2000–06
- Richard O'Kelly (65) 1979–86, 1988
- Bill Evans (64) 1934–39
- Craig Shakespeare (60) 1981–89
- Don Penn (58) 1977–83
- Ken Hodgkisson (56) 1955–66
- Jack Aston (55) 1896–99, 1903–04, 1905–06
- Moses Lane (55) 1920–21, 1927–29
- Wally Brown (53) 1938–44, 1945–48
- Jack Vinall (53) 1940–43, 1944–47
- Darren Wrack (52) 1998–08
- Nicky Cross (52) 1985–88
- George Andrews (51) 1972–77
- Johnny Devlin (51) 1947–52
- W. Robinson (51) 1907–09, 1910–13
Notable Managers: Leaders of the Club
These managers have achieved important things for Walsall. Each one helped the club get promoted, reach a cup final, or have their best league or cup season.
| Name | Years | P | W | D | L | Win% | Honours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G. Hughes sec |
1898–99 | 35 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 42.86 | Second Division 6th place 1898–99 | |
| Andrew Wilson |
1934–37 | 130 | 47 | 30 | 53 | 36.15 | Third Division North Cup runners-up 1935 | |
| Tommy Lowes |
1937–39 | 102 | 32 | 21 | 49 | 31.37 | FA Cup fifth round 1938–39 | |
| Harry Hibbs |
1944–51 | 305 | 113 | 73 | 119 | 37.05 | Third Division South Cup runners-up 1946 | |
| Bill Moore |
1957–63 1969–72 |
470 | 190 | 113 | 167 | 40.43 | Fourth Division champions 1959–60 Third Division runners-up 1960–61 |
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| Doug Fraser |
1974–77 | 163 | 60 | 45 | 58 | 36.81 | FA Cup fifth round 1974–75 | |
| Dave Mackay |
1977–78 | 72 | 30 | 27 | 15 | 41.67 | FA Cup fifth round 1977–78 | |
| Alan Buckley |
1979–82 1982–86 |
349 | 148 | 92 | 109 | 42.41 | Fourth Division runners-up 1979–80 League Cup semi-finals 1983–84 |
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| Tommy Coakley |
1986–88 | 148 | 62 | 37 | 49 | 41.89 | FA Cup fifth round 1986–87 Third Division play-off winners 1987–88 |
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| Chris Nicholl |
1994–97 | 157 | 72 | 38 | 47 | 45.86 | Third Division runners-up 1994–95 | |
| Ray Graydon |
1998–02 | 199 | 79 | 49 | 71 | 39.70 | Second Division runners-up 1998–99 Second Division play-off winners 2000–01 |
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| Colin Lee |
2002–04 | 116 | 38 | 30 | 48 | 32.76 | FA Cup fifth round 2001–02 FA Cup fifth round 2002–03 |
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| Richard Money |
2006–08 | 102 | 44 | 33 | 25 | 43.14 | League Two champions 2006–07 | |
| Dean Smith |
2011–15 | 260 | 84 | 96 | 80 | 32.31 | Football League Trophy runners-up 2015 |
Club Achievements: Trophies and Records
League Titles
- Third Division / Second Division (level 3)
- Runners-up: 1960–61, 1998–99
- Play-off winners: 1988, 2001
- Fourth Division / Third Division / League Two (level 4)
- Champions: 1959–60, 2006–07
- Runners-up: 1979–80, 1994–95
Cup Achievements
- Football League Trophy
- Runners-up: 2014–15
- Third Division North Cup
- Runners-up: 1934–35
- Third Division South Cup
- Runners-up: 1945–46
- Birmingham Senior Cup
- Winners: 1880–81, 1896–97, 1897–98, 1993–94
- Staffordshire Senior Cup
- Winners: 1881–82, 1884–85, 1922–23, 1926–27, 1928–29, 1967–68
- Walsall Senior Cup
- Winners: 1888–89, 2014–15, 2016–17
Club Records: Amazing Facts and Figures
Competition Records
- Highest ever Football League position: 6th, Second Division 1898–99
- Highest post-war Football League position: 14th, Second Division 1961–62
- FA Cup: 5th Round, 1938–39, 1974–75, 1977–78, 1986–87, 2001–02, 2002–03
- League Cup: Semi-final, 1983–84
Game Scores
- Biggest League Win: 10–0 vs. Darwen. Second Division, March 4, 1899
- Biggest League Defeat: 0–12 vs. Small Heath. Second Division, December 17, 1892
- Biggest Cup Win: 12–0 vs. Warmley. FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round, September 27, 1890
- Biggest Cup Defeat: 0–7 vs. Worcester City. FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round, October 11, 1913
Game Sequences
- Most Games Won in a Row (7): 1959, 2005
- Most Games Lost in a Row (15): 1988–89
- Most Games without Defeat (21): 1979–80
- Most Games without Victory (18): 1988–89
Attendance Records
- Highest League Attendance (at Fellows Park): 25,453 v. Newcastle United. Second Division (now Championship), August 29, 1961
- Highest League Attendance (at Bescot Stadium): 11,049 v. Rotherham United. First Division (now Championship), May 9, 2004
- Highest Third Division (now League One) Attendance: 19,589 v. Notts County, March 18, 1950
- Highest Fourth Division (now League Two) Attendance: 15,403 v. Carlisle United, September 10, 1959
- Highest FA Cup Attendance: 24,045 v. Fulham, 4th Round Replay, January 30, 1962
- Highest League Cup Attendance: 21,066 v. Liverpool. 4th Round, February 17, 1968
- Highest Football League Trophy Attendance: 10,038 v. Preston North End. Area Final Second Leg, January 27, 2015
- Highest Average Attendance (at Fellows Park): 15,711, 1947–48
- Highest Average Attendance (at Bescot Stadium): 7,853, 2003–04
Player Records
- Most Appearances: 534 – Jimmy Walker 1993–04, 2010–13
- Most League Appearances: 473 – Colin Harrison 1964–82
- Top Goalscorer: 202 – Alan Buckley 1973–85
- Top League Goalscorer: 185 – Tony Richards 1954–63
- Most League Goals in a Season: 39 – Gilbert Alsop 1933–34 and 1934–35
- Most capped players:
- 15 Mick Kearns 1973–79
- 15 Clayton Ince 2008–09
- 15 Romaine Sawyers 2014–16
- Highest Transfer Fee Paid: £270,000 (€300,000) – for Andreas Makris to Anorthosis Famagusta, August 2016
- Highest Transfer Fee Received: £1,500,000 – for Rico Henry from Brentford, August 2016
See also
In Spanish: Walsall Football Club para niños
