Historic Darlaston Town back in league again

After a nine month campaign, which has seen £5,000 raised to save the 140-year-old club, the renamed Darlaston Town (1874) FC last night received official confirmation that its application to re-join the West Midlands Regional League was successful.

The club was pulled from the fixture lists last season after the side folded due to financial problems.

But following support from residents and local businesses, officials announced in April that the necessary cash had been raised to cover the running costs of the team for the coming season and that an application to re-join the league had been made.

After hearing the news from the league that their application had been accepted club chairman Neil Chambers said "This is fantastic news for the people of Darlaston who have supported the campaign over the last nine months.

"It was devastating when news of the club folding was made public and the support of local businesses and local community has meant that non league football will now return to the town."

He added: "Our original goal to bring senior football back to Darlaston has been achieved. We are optimistic that we can bring the glory days of the past back to Darlaston and that the club will go from strength to strength. The committee and directors can now look forward to delivering our five year plan which involves bringing youth football back to the town."

He went on to add that the club is already thinking about expanding: "We are a community club and it is unacceptable that a town the size of Darlaston does not have representative youth teams. It is vital to the success of the club that we provide youth football in Darlaston and this is our next goal".

Following the club's demise a group of committed supporters held a series of public meetings with the aim of setting up a new committee and raising funds to cover the running costs needed to set up and run the club. Following the public meetings a new committee was formed and fans voted a new name for the club, Darlaston Town (1874) FC which has now been registered with the FA.

At the League AGM member clubs unanimously approved their application to re-join for the 2014/15 season. They will join the league together with several other new clubs including Herefordshire based Kington Town, Telford based Oakengates Athletic and Conygree based Tipton Youth FC.

Darlaston FC which boasts two former England internationals and five FA Cup winners amongst its ranks folded in July 2013 after 139 years.

The club played at the Waverley Road based City Ground for 115 years but after it fell into a state of disrepair it has found a new base on Bentley Road South, to play at for next season.

However officials want to return to the club's historic home and are waiting to hear from Walsall Council over whether the site can be brought back into use. The ground is regularly visited by non league followers and is famous for its slope and 111 year old grandstand.

Mr Chambers said "The ground has fallen into a state of disrepair and the external fencing is an eyesore. We know that the ground will not be in use this season and presume that it will be maintained by the council.

"We have approached the council regarding future use of the ground as it is our only sustainable option. We are keen to hold early discussions with them to sort out our future and return to our historic home. We understand that a sub-committee of the council is meeting to discuss the future of the ground on June 25. We are optimistic that there will be a favourable outcome and that we can open discussions with them soon about an early return to our historic home".

The club will share the Bentley Road South ground with the former Bentley Youth FC venue with fellow Division Two team Red Star Alma FC.

The club appointed former player Mark Swann as manager in May.

Swann, a school teacher at the town's Grace Academy, said "This is great news for people in the town and everyone who has worked hard supporting the formation of the new club. It is important that with such an illustrious history Darlaston has a senior team playing in the non-league structure.

"I have received a lot of interest from players who wish to play for the club and with pre season training starting next week I am eager for the new season to start. It is a privilege to be the first manager of Darlaston Town (1874) FC and I am optimistic that we will do well next season".