Fire crew are five-a-side champs

A fire crew from Walsall have proved themselves to be the best firefighters' football team in the West Midlands this year.

The Green Watch crew are the first from the town centre station to get to the regional finals of the firefighters' five-a-side annual tournament.

They beat all the other teams in the area and are now looking forward to the regionals which will be held in Leicestershire later this year.

Neil "Topsy" Turner, watch commander at the station, said the lads were delighted with the win, and said they even beat Walsall's Blue Watch along the way.

He said: "We weren't expecting to win, so it's great, it's quite an achievement for us.

"We haven't won anything like this before, usually it's the West Bromwich or Birmingham fire crews who win.

"The tournament has been going since the 70s and this is the first time a crew from Walsall has won.

"We practice at the fire station and go to Bilston Goals to play together."

Mr Turner added that the squad is looking for a sponsor to help with the cost of buying a team kit.

Any sponsors who are interested can call 07872 031041.