Keys Park, home of Hednesford Town based in Staffordshire and play their trade in Step 3 of the Non League Pyramid in the Southern League Premier Division Central. Nicknamed the “Pitmen” after the town’s history of Pitwork.
A club that has been as high as the Conference in years gone by but today they are languishing in the relegation zone of Step 3… And it doesn’t stop there, the Chairman and Vice Chairman are resigning at the end of the season… As Paul Chuckle once said: “Oh dear oh dear!”
So what next for this club? Can they survive?! We must as a football fandom make sure this club is playing in the 2023/24 season!! The Merry Miller got his own guided tour of the ground by a fan named Trevor who I am looking forward to meeting today!
Onto the M1, to the A38 and across the M6 and into the ground with an hour to go before kick off. £3 for parking and £12 to watch this Step 3 tie! Fab! A little look in the club shop, no pin badges sadly and now to the stand and there is Trevor at the top! Great to meet the man himself after months of talk in the groundhoppers group chat!
A guided tour of my own now along with a bit of club history! Great to meet the groundskeeper, Tim who is the tannoy man and Kevin who has been with the club for many years! A look into the directors lounge, club bars and into the tunnel. That was fantastic! Thank you to Trevor and the club for that!
For the first time ever… “A big welcome to Jake Topliss of Topliss at the Turnstiles blog here today!” I have actually been announced on the tannoy at a ground! WOW! And I’m going to say a few words at half time… WHAT IS HAPPENING?!
The teams are ready, the fans are ready! It’s Hednesford Town vs Coalville Town and it’s TIME!
Kick Off! 2 minutes in and Hednesford have a free kick in the Coalville half, it’s played into the box, it comes for Hednesford on the left of the box with Maxwell Brogan who plays it across for Ethan Patterson running in… OH! It’s saved! Big chance there from inside the 6 yard box!
2 minutes later and it’s a free kick for Hednesford from around 30 yards out, Maxwell Brogan to take, he shoots… OHHHHH!! WHAT ABOUT THAT!! David Beckham eat your heart out! Top corner!! 1-0!
6 minutes now and Hednesford have made a great start here so far! They have it down the right, it’s crossed in, it comes for Jordan Graham sliding in… The keeper gets there and forces it wide for a goal kick.
The game has slowed down a bit now after that sizzling start from Hednesford but they are still looking worth their lead here.
29 minutes now and Coalville play down the left, it’s crossed in, it comes for Luke Shaw… It’s wide!
3 minutes later and Coalville come forward, they get into the box on the left, it’s played across for Joe Doyle-Charles… He’s hit the bar! How did he not score?! Coalville get it back and it’s played back across, it comes across to the left of the box and the shot comes in… It’s off the line! Hednesford clear. Brilliant defending there by Hednesford!
44th minute and it’s a free kick just outside the box for Hednesford, Maxwell Brogan to take, he crosses… It’s headed away and Coalville clear. Hednesford go into half time in the lead.
Now for the half time entertainment:
Great to spend half time in the directors lounge and help myself to a steak and ale pie! But now it’s time for the second half to start.
Second half, 59 minutes gone and Hednesford play down the right with Stanley Asomugha, it’s played across to Jordan Graham to shoot… It’s blocked and out for a corner, in it comes… The header… Just over!
2 minutes later and Ashley Chambers is played through for Coalville and he’s in… Saved! Coalville get it back and play it to Thomas McGlinchey to shoot in the box on the left… Keeper saves!
77 minutes now and Coalville play the ball forward, it’s flicked on by a Hednesford player and Timothy Berridge will get there… He’s past the keeper… And he rolls it in! Coalville are level! 1-1!
3 minutes later and Coalville break forward down the left, it’s played to Ashley Chambers in the box on the left and he goes down… Penalty! That’s not a Penalty for me! I think that’s a dive personally! He’s already been booked for one earlier in the game and he’s got away with that one there! Too soft that! Eliot Putman will step up for Coalville… And he scores! Coalville have the lead! So cruel on Hednesford… 1-2!
87 minutes now and Coalville play down the right now, it’s played in low and here’s Ashley Chambers going in at the near post… He pokes it home! That’s it now! Coalville surely have the three points! 1-3! That would be the last action of the game today.
FT: Hednesford Town 1-3 Coalville Town
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 6/10 – I thought the buzz around the place was fantastic! I’d love to see more fans here to make it even better!!
- The Ground: 10/10 – Absolutely glorious!! I’ve seen worse grounds in League 2! A definite Football League ground for me! Just fantastic!
- Expense: 10/10 – £12 to get in and a personal guided tour? What else would I give?!
- Overall Experience: 10/10 – Without question! Great to meet Trevor, Tim and Kevin here today! Made me so welcome here! A shame they didn’t win but I loved it here today! We need as football fans to make sure this club survives! Anyone in the area who wants to own a football club, Hednesford Town is the place to be!!
36/40
Very interesting article off the field the club the ground the people mostly volunteers work hard for the club sadly not on the pitch. But we have a proud history and will rise again
Fingers crossed that the club survives mate
Thank for the article very good PR for my club. I have shared amongst all my FB friends and asked them to share. It may just come to the attention of a possible new owner. We need to try everything we can. Thanks for your kind words on the club.
Thank you mate! All the best!