Match Information
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Allscott Heath 1-3 Wednesfield
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When: Saturday 3rd February 2024
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Kick-off: 3pm
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Where: Shawbirch Road, Allscott, Telford, Shropshire TF6 5EQ
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Competition: Midland Football League Division One
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Attendance: 89
I have travelled up to Telford a couple of times in the past for matches. My first venture there was during the 1984/85 campaign whereby I went to a random game in every round of the FA Cup and proceeded to write a book about it.
I saw a true giantkilling in Round Three on Saturday 5th January 1985 which certainly defied available football odds. To my utter amazement, homesters Telford United of the Gola League (now the National League) toppled Third Division leaders Bradford City 2-1 before 6,254 raucous fans.
I subsequently returned to Telford United’s Bucks Head ground on Sunday 7th May 1989 in my Clubcall Non-League Editor role.
I had taken a particularly keen interest in the Premier Inter-League Cup - a knockout tournament embracing teams within the Football Conference (National League), Isthmian League, Northern Premier League and Southern League.
So I decided to officially sponsor the competition and it became the Clubcall Cup. Telford United staged the eventual final. It finished Barnet 3 Hyde United 3 prior to Barnet winning 5-3 on penalties to satisfy most punters betting on the outcome.
It was a real honour for me to personally present the Clubcall Cup on the pitch afterwards in front of 1,100 spectators.
Anyway bringing the story up to date, Telford club Allscott Heath FC are newcomers in the national Non-League Pyramid at Step 6 this season having been promoted to the Midland League Division One as champions of the West Midlands (Regional) League.
Significantly, they only lost once in 30 WMRL fixtures throughout 2022/23. Therefore I decided to groundhop Allscott Heath and set off on a 300 mile round trip via the M1, M6 and M54 motorways.
The host club were very helpful in tweeting me a photo of their playing surface early on the matchday morning to show it was playable following previous rain. Allscott itself is a small village based four miles north-west of Telford.
Incidentally, the Google Maps app listing for “Allscott Heath FC” is totally wrong and my phone incorrectly took me to a narrow lane in the middle of nowhere! It is probably best to just use the football club’s postcode when visiting.
Ground description:
I believe a great deal of work took place in fully enclosing the venue to meet Step 6 grading requirements. In addition, floodlights were unveiled back in October 2023.
For spectators, a 50-seater prefab grandstand sits on one side of the pitch and further cover lies opposite incorporating some bench seating.
A massive new housing estate is currently being built directly outside the football ground that will no doubt help boost Allscott Heath FC’s attendances in the future.
Programme details
A professionally produced 12 page edition on sale at the entry hut.
Contents included a ‘From The Dug Out’ welcome, club sponsorship details, history of the opposition, fixtures and results, action photos plus details of the Allscott Heath ladies’ and youth teams.
The match
Amidst light drizzle, third entertained sixth in the league table.
Wednesfield came out on top courtesy of strikes by Rees Wedderburn (28 minutes), Jay Holdcroft (36 mins) and Reagan Wardle (69 mins). Steven Hole converted a penalty for the home side on 62 minutes.
The people
I received a warm welcome from the friendly Allscott Heath volunteers. They all justifiably shared an immense sense of pride reflecting the rapid progress their club has made since formation as recently as 2011.
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Tony Incenzo*
