Review: A live show by Brit and Ivor Novello Award nominee Nerina Pallot has become as much about the between songs banter as it has about the music itself – a fact she acknowledged herself.
Twenty seven years ago, your humble scribe stood in awe as Ian McCulloch emerged through a shimmer of smoke, shouts and dry ice to show what indie music was all about.
An Aston Villa fan punched a West Bromwich Albion supporter, smashing a glass against his face, after football banter in a Black Country pub "turned nasty", a court heard.An Aston Villa fan punched a West Bromwich Albion supporter, smashing a glass against his face, after football banter in a Black Country pub "turned nasty", a court heard. Luke Meredith, aged 24, from Rowley Regis, avoided a prison sentence after pleading guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm following a row at The Malt Shovel in Blackheath last November. Meredith, of Moor Lane, has now been barred from the High Street pub. After exchanging words about football, Meredith sprayed the other man with a hosepipe in the car park. The victim later poured a pint of toilet water over Meredith's head inside the pub. The defendant reacted by punching him in the face, the court was told. Miss Kelly Hale, prosecuting, said: "There has been some talk and banter between the two about the teams which has then turned nasty." She said Meredith reacted to having the pint of water poured over him by jabbing the other man in the face with a glass. She added that since the assault the victim had been unable to work because he was suffering from a lack of confidence. Mr Trevor Bytheway, defending, said it was not a deliberate "glassing." Read more in the Express & Star
Walsall defender Scott Dann has handed the Saddlers a huge summer boost by declaring he will be fully fit for the start of pre-season. Walsall defender Scott Dann has handed the Saddlers a huge summer boost by declaring he will be fully fit for the start of pre-season. The 19-year-old centre-back has been given the all-clear to resume training following the broken foot that cut his season short this spring. And he is now confident he will be fully fit when Saddlers kick off their League One campaign against Carlisle at the Banks's Stadium on August 11. "The boot's been off for about a month now and the bone was in line, so it's healed fine," he said. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
Craig Pead and Hector Sam were high-profile casualties today as Walsall released another six players from their League Two title-winning squad.
Walsall Football Club today confirmed that Bescot Stadium is to change its name to The Banks's Stadium under a groundbreaking new sponsorship deal. Walsall Football Club today confirmed that Bescot Stadium is to change its name to The Banks's Stadium under a groundbreaking new sponsorship deal. The club held a press conference this morning to confirm news of its biggest ever sponsorship deal and its first ever stadium sponsorship. It means the Saddlers' home, which has been called The Bescot Stadium since it opened in 1990, has a new name from today. The huge sponsorship deal, which was revealed by the Express & Star last month, follows 11 years of various sponsorship at the club by Banks's including several years as the main shirt sponsors. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
Images of Walsall's fans celebrating their promotion to League One.
Walsall midfielder Dean Keates today revealed he has triggered an option to extend his Saddlers contract into next season.Walsall midfielder Dean Keates today revealed he has triggered an option to extend his Saddlers contract into next season.Keates is waiting for talks with the club over his future but he has already guaranteed himself a new Bescot deal by playing in 20 matches this term. "My contract is up at the end of the season but there was a clause to say it got re-negotiated after I'd played 20 games this season," he said. "So the option is there to extend it, but nothing has happened on that yet." Read the full story in the Express & Star
Walsall manager Richard Money today said Bescot contract talks will remain on hold until his players have closed in on League Two promotion, writes Steve Madeley.Walsall manager Richard Money today said Bescot contract talks will remain on hold until his players have closed in on League Two promotion, writes Steve Madeley. Money has already begun weighing up the future of a host of players whose contracts expire this summer. But he has insisted he will not be drawn into "wrangles" until his side are closer to the move up. Star goalkeeper Clayton Ince heads a list of soon-to-be out-of-contract players. "Obviously we're thinking about it and Paul Taylor (football consultant) and I talk about it a lot," said Money. Read the full story in the Express & Star
James Constable today insisted he still wants a Football League career with Walsall - but hinted he would be happy to stay at Kidderminster after this month.James Constable today insisted he still wants a Football League career with Walsall - but hinted he would be happy to stay at Kidderminster after this month. Harriers boss Mark Yates is keen to keep Constable beyond the end of his initial loan spell and has already held initial talks with Saddlers manager Richard Money about an extended deal. But while the 21-year-old said he is "loving it" at Aggborough, his long-term ambition remains a successful career back at Bescot. "I've tasted League football in my first season at Walsall and managed to get a couple of goals for them and that's a feeling I want back," said the former Chippenham forward. Read the full story in the Express & Star
Walsall manager Richard Money today spoke of his worry that the Bescot pitch could hamper his team's efforts to press home their League Two lead.Walsall manager Richard Money today spoke of his worry that the Bescot pitch could hamper his team's efforts to press home their League Two lead. Money was concerned to see the playing surface cut up in the damp conditions during yesterday's 1-0 win with 10 men against Shrewsbury. And, although the Saddlers boss was full of praise for the way his players coped with the conditions to see off the Shrews, he is praying that the pitch holds together for the remainder of the season. "I just hope that the pitch doesn't break up because we are a team that need to move the ball quickly on the ground to be at our best," said Money. Read the full story in the Express & Star
Walsall new boy Tommy Wright has opened the way for a potential permanent move to Bescot after admitting 'the writing is on the wall' for his Barnsley career.Walsall new boy Tommy Wright has opened the way for a potential permanent move to Bescot after admitting 'the writing is on the wall' for his Barnsley career. The 22-year-old loanee scored 27 minutes into his Saddlers debut on Saturday and caught the eye with an all-action display. And the former Leicester trainee has now admitted he might need to leave Oakwell to kick-start his career, with a possible move to Bescot one of his preferred options. Wright said: "I think the Walsall manager has been quoted as saying this a loan with a view to a permanent deal, but we'll have to wait and see." Read the full story in the Express & Star
The Ashes may be causing anguish for cricket fans Down Under - but there's no contest in the battle of the beers, according to a group of friends flying the flag for the Black Country in Oz.
Walsall have offered an extended trial to French goal keeper Bertrand Bossu after he impressed in last night's reserve game at Albion. The giant former Gillingham man will spend the next few days training with Richard Money's team after appearing in the 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns.
Walsall captain Michael Dobson today challenged the club's fans to recreate their Carling Cup noise in every Saddlers home game.Dobson paid tribute to supporters who screamed their team on to an heroic display against Bolton in last night's second round defeat.
