Club facing oblivion now looks to the future

But now just six months on, bosses at Pelsall Villa FC are looking to the future by setting up a youth academy, merchandise range and website.

A small group of volunteers was responsible for running the club - with Mark Bentley taking on both the chairman and manager roles.

But they had reached breaking point and warned that unless people came forward to help, the club would fold.

Since then a new manager has been recruited and residents help with the upkeep of the ground.

And former player Mr Bentley says the club has gone from surviving from day to day, to planning for the years ahead.

Tracksuits, replica shirts, hats and scarves can be ordered through the club shop, while a new mobile phone app has also been designed featuring team news.

Next season bosses are planning to start an academy for 16 to 19-year-olds, offering official training courses.

Money is being generated through new sponsorship deals and Mr Bentley today said he was 'excited' about the coming months.

He said: "Things are looking good going forward. These are big projects and I think it will all work out well for us.

"From where we were six months ago, the outlook is now a lot brighter."

The team are currently 14th in the Midland Football Combination league premier division, but Mr Bentley hopes these latest plans will boost the club's profile and attract new fans.

Match discounts are being offered to season ticket holders of Walsall, West Brom, Wolves and Aston Villa.

And chiefs have now recruited photographers and writers to compile match reports.

Mr Bentley, who last season was balancing his day job as a roofer with running the club with colleague Shaun Mason, said he was delighted with the response since the rallying cry to help save the club was sent out during the summer.

Records show that football was played in Pelsall as long ago as 1898.

The two world wars meant football took a back seat for a few years, but the club reformed in 1961, which heralded the start of Pelsall Villa as it is known today.

The club attracted one of its biggest attendances in 1991 when Aston Villa stars turned out for a match celebrating floodlights being installed at the ground.