Welcome to the fascinating world of Walsall FC, a football club with a rich history and a vibrant present. Founded in 1888, Walsall FC, also known as “The Saddlers”, has been a cornerstone of the town of Walsall, West Midlands, England.
In this piece, we’re set to embark on an exploration of Walsall FC’s story. We’ll trace its roots, chart its progress, and examine its present position in EFL League Two, the fourth level of the English football league system. Additionally, we’ll illuminate the meaning behind the club’s nickname, “The Saddlers”, and its relevance to the club’s identity.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a newcomer to the sport, this article promises to offer a comprehensive and engaging insight into a club that is much more than just a football team.
The birth of Walsall FC, can be traced back to 1888. This was the year when two prominent clubs in Walsall, Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C., decided to merge, giving rise to Walsall Town Swifts.
In 1892, Walsall FC were among the founding members of the Football League Second Division. However, the club faced a setback in 1895 when they failed re-election, leading to a brief stint in the Midland League before returning to the Football League.
The early 20th century saw the club spending two decades primarily in the Birmingham & District League, after failing re-election again in 1901. In 1921, they were invited to form the Football League Third Division North, marking their return to the third tier of English football.
The early 21st century saw Walsall FC facing new challenges. Two relegations in three years left the club in the fourth tier in 2006, but they quickly rebounded with an immediate promotion as the 2006-07 League Two champions.
In 2015, Walsall FC played their first match at Wembley Stadium in the Football League Trophy Final, which they lost to Bristol City. Walsall FC narrowly missed out on promotion to the Championship by a single point and lost the resulting playoff semi-final against Barnsley in 2016 season.
However, in 2019, Walsall FC ended an 11-year stay in League One with relegation. Today, Walsall FC continues to compete and evolve, embodying the passion and resilience that have been hallmarks of its journey in EFL League Two.
Trivela Group LLC, a sports investment firm hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, USA, made its foray into UK football by acquiring a 51% stake in Walsall FC, thereby becoming the majority shareholders of the club.
As of October 2023, Trivela Group’s shareholding in the club has increased to approximately 90%, and the club now holds the freehold of the stadium.
Walsall Football Club, has played in three different stadiums throughout its history:
The Chuckery: This was the first ground where Walsall FC played.
Fellows Park: After The Chuckery, the club moved to Fellows Park, which was their home for almost a century.
Bescot Stadium: In 1990, Walsall FC moved to Bescot Stadium, also currently known as the Poundland Bescot Stadium due to sponsorship . It replaced Fellows Park, which was located a quarter of a mile away.
The Bescot Stadium, built in 1989-90 by GMI Construction. The reported build cost was £4.5m. The stadium has a capacity of 11,300 and is an all-seater stadium.
The Bescot Stadium has four distinct stands:
The Main Stand: This stand has two tiers that are separated by corporate boxes.
The Community Stand (St Francis Group): This is a single-tier structure that has supporting structures for its roof that sometimes impede your view.
The University of Wolverhampton Stand: This stand is behind one of the goals and is used for the away fans.
The Homeserve Stand: This stand houses the dugouts, executive facilities, and the television gantry.
The stadium was known as Banks’s Stadium between 2008 and 2022 due to Walsall’s sponsorship agreement with Marston Brewery, owner of Banks’s Bitter. Many fans still call it Banks’s Stadium due to the length of the sponsorship. The name “Bescot” comes from the area in Walsall where the stadium is located.
The emblem of Walsall Football Club, is a distinctive and meaningful symbol. Central to the badge is an image of a swift, a bird celebrated for its speed and agility, qualities that resonate with the dynamism of football.
The swift is depicted in mid-flight, a representation of the club’s forward momentum and high aspirations. The backdrop of the badge incorporates the club’s traditional colors: red, white, and black, adding a vibrant visual appeal to the emblem.
The mascot of Walsall Football Club is a character named Swifty. The club’s crest features a swift, which is reflected in the mascot’s name. The name “Swifty” is a nod to the club’s origins as Walsall Town Swifts in 1888.
The club has ventured into children’s literature with a book named ‘Swifty’. This delightful tale narrates the journey of a small swift bird that eventually becomes the beloved mascot of the Saddlers. The book, which is perfect for young readers aged three to six, is the result of a joint project between Walsall FC and Walsall Studio School.
“The Saddlers” is a nickname of Walsall FC. It carries a lot of historical significance for Walsall Football Club.
This moniker is deeply rooted in the town’s past, as Walsall was once a major hub for the saddle-making industry. The craft of saddle making symbolizes qualities like skill, durability, and excellence, which are also attributes that the football club strives to embody.
The chant “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” holds a special place in the hearts of Walsall FC fans and is often regarded as their anthem. Here are the lyrics to this beloved chant:
She wore, she wore, she wore a Yellow Ribbon,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_6OOp-K51U
She wore it from the Spring time,
Till the merry month of May,
And when I asked, her why the hell she wore it,
She wore it for the Walsall fan far far away,
Far away, far away, when the Walsall boys play away,
We won’t be far away, far away, far away….
Other popular chants include “To See the Walsall Aces“. Lyrics for which are below
All the lads,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdody6xoZxQ
Should have seen the faces,
Going down the Wednesbury Road to see the Walsall aces,
All the lads and lasses,
All the smiling faces,
Going down the Wednesbury Road to see the Walsall aces…
Everywhere we go
Everywhere we go (Everywhere we go)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRMNJTtGmlQ
People always want to know (People always want to know)
Where the ‘ell are we from (Where the ‘ell are we from)
We’re not from West Brom, (We’re not from West Brom),
Sh*tty sh*tty Baggies, (Sh*tty sh*tty Baggies)
We’re not from Wolverhampton, (We’re not from Wolverhampton)
Wnky, wnky Wanderers, (Wnky, wnky Wanderers),
We’re not from Birmingham, (We’re not from Birmingham),
Boring, boring Brummies, (Boring,boring Brummies),
We are not from Shrewsbury, (We are not from Shrewsbury)
Sheep Sh**ing Ba*t*rds, (Sheep Sh**ing Ba*t*rds)
We’re from Walsall, (We’re from Walsall),
The mighty, mighty Walsall
Saddlers, Saddlers ,Saddlers, Saddlers…….
We Are The Pride Of The Midlands
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d2Vn7SYtc4We are the pride of the Midlands,
The Villa are scum,
We hate the Wanderers,
The Baggies and Brum,
We are the Walsall and we are the best,
We are the Saddlers so f*ck all the rest.
other simple chants include but not limited to
We love you Walsall, we do,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dYVrvJTReE
We love you Walsall, we do,
We love you Walsall, we do,
Oh Walsall we love you…
Saddlers, Saddlers, Saddlers,
https://www.saddlers.co.uk/
Saddlers, Saddlers, Saddlers,
Saddlers, Saddlers, Saddlers,
Saddlers, Saddlers, Saddlers,
Saddlers!
Der de der, Der de der,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO1yIZs4TbE
Der de der, Der der,
Der de der de, Der de der de,
Der de der, Der de der de,
Walsall!!!
Albert McPherson: A lounge at the club’s home ground, Bescot Stadium, was named after him.
Ray Graydon: Another Saddlers legend who has a lounge named after him at Bescot Stadium.
Alan Buckley: He is also honored with a lounge named after him at the stadium.
Other notable players include but not limited to Gabby Bukran, Tony Barras, Darren Byfield, Sean Geddes, Brian Palgrave, Andy Reece, George Bowerman, Mick Evans, Martin O’connor, Paul Jones, Dickie Gardener, Wayne Thomas, Peter Till, Martin Gethin.
If you have any memories of these players please share them in comment section below.
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