Black Country rivals go head-to-head in football charity match

Bilston Town FC and Darlaston Town FC haven't played each other for several years so the match is shaping up to be quite a showdown.

Councillor Stephen Simkins said the Bilston Remembered group has been set up along the same lines as the original cenotaph group in the 1920s, and aims to raise £80,000 over the next four years.

It is hoped the restoration project will be completed in time to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.

"We wanted to do our bit in regards to commemorating all of the people who fought and lost their lives, and those who came back as well.

"We are fundraising for the cenotaph but also doing our own commemorations for people who have fallen during conflicts, not just the First World War and Second World War, but later conflicts like the Gulf and Falklands wars."

As well as restoring the Oxford Street cenotaph, Councillor Simkins said they hope to revamp the area around it to make it more attractive for people to use day to day.

Set up about a year ago, the group had run two weeks of First World War centenary events in August, and planned to run more throughout the next four years.

Mr Hodson said Bilston Town games were usually attended by a couple of hundred people, and with Darlaston fans heading to the match as well they hoped there would be 400 to 500 in the crowd.

Bugler Karen Mason will play the Last Post at the match, and the Bilston Royal British Legion standard bearers will form a guard of honour as the players run on to the pitch.

The Bilston versus Darlaston game kicks off at Queen Street Stadium, Bilston WV14 7EX at 2pm and is £3 at the gate.