Park 'home' for Bilston Town FC

After being forced out of their own ground by vandals, Bilston Town FC are getting used to life at Bantock Park. The 113-year-old club were forced to move after council officials declared the Queen Street stadium unsafe.

It means a move from a ground with a grandstand and floodlights for a park where the main attraction is a cafe and the children's playground.

New chairman Alan Owen said: "It's all well and good but it's just not home. It's taken a bit of getting used to. Our old pitch was one of the finest in the league, and now we're playing on an uneven slope.

"However, the council and staff here at Bantock have been nothing short of wonderful."

The move to Bantock has also hit the club's finances. Last season, spectators paid £4 admission and £1 for matchday programmes but now they can watch the games for free.

Mr Owen said: "It has hurt us financially, as we are also paying for all the repairs at Queen Street. But there's light at the end of the tunnel, and we're hoping to be home by the end of the month.

The club were rescued by a consortium this summer after a player walkout and mounting debts.